Belated Music Video Monday

Hey!

I was so excited to post my new favorite song on here for music video Monday yesterday but I got busy and forgot! Before I knew it, it was 3:00 and I had to get ready for work.

So, the video I wanted to post is by the Lumineers, Hey Ho. I LOVE this song!!! So much fun!
I cannot wait to dance to this song at our wedding, it will for sure be on the music list. :)

Hope you had a great Monday and have a great week!!

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.  :)

Website

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

The Beginning of Insanity

Insanity is here and it begins! My journey to get fit, healthy and STRONG! :)

I have always wanted to be fit and strong but never fully reached my goal. Even when I was on Team Fredbird and at a weight that I was happy with, I still wanted to have more muscle and strength.

After having a baby I was thinking I would give up on the whole idea. If I could just loose that baby weight and get back to where I was when I was at my ideal weight, I would be happy. Well now I  have reached my goal weight, but my body is different after having a baby. So now what?

Now it is time for some Insanity. :)

When I got the box I immediately got nervous. What did I do!? I don't look anything like these people on the box. Am I going to be able to do this?

As you go through the book there are different DVDs and in the back there is a calendar that maps out your workouts. There is also a nutrition guide. That is my favorite part.

The nutrition part not only helps you figure out your calories but it also gives you meals to choose from! I often struggle even coming up with meal ideas for my family. Now I not only have meal ideas but it even tells you how to make them!!

Now my Fiance and little man Max may not be thrilled with always eating this new way but that is okay because I can still eat healthy and make them something different. For example, there is a healthy pizza recipe in the book. So if they want to order pizza one night I can make mine and still feel a part of pizza night! :)

I know this is going to be hard work and a lot of dedication but I am ready for the challenge. Once I get the hang of it I would really love to be a Beachbody coach! I'm just going to take it one day at a time though and focus on getting through Insanity.

I did the Fit Test yesterday but I am not going to start until next week. Let me tell you...that was not easy! I am feeling it today. I am not starting until next week because I like the rest day being on Sunday so starting on Tuesday will work best. Plus I can get my grocery shopping done so I am ready to roll! At first I thought that would be perfect because I can eat whatever I want on this Labor day weekend but after thinking about it some more I don't think I am going to do that. I don't want to make it even harder for Tuesday. Next purchase I am going to make is the Shakeology drink. I am excited to see how it tastes!

If you do any of these programs please email me at abbeycarmen14@yahoo.com or comment below! I would love to have a work out buddy so we can motivate each other!!

It was a hard decision to make if I wanted to put my before pictures on here but I decided to go for it. Why not? If I am going to write about my journey I should show some before pictures so people can actually see if there is progress right? I took my photos myself so they aren't the best but here they are:

 

 

AHHH!!! Haha that was tough to do. Notice how the pictures are the smallest setting possible?  :)  Gives me even more motivation and excitement to make some changes though! My biggest problem area is my mid section. That has always been a tough spot for me but even more so after having my little boy 2 years ago. My arms have also been challenging for me to tone so I am excited to see what happens!

Well, here I go!! I will update my blog once a week with how the working out and new eating plan are both going. Wish me luck! :)

Tuesday Tip: Eat Your Breakfast

We hear it often, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Often people forget or are so busy in the morning they skip it. Well I found a shake on pinterest from a blogger Fit is The New Black that I have to share! This Breakfast Protein Shake is awesome because it         

                      

1.) Makes eating breakfast on the go easy

2.) Tastes amazing

3.) Has COFFEE in it!!! 

There were a few things I did differently when I made the shake but I mostly stuck to the directions. One thing I did do differently is I did not add the banana. Instead I ate the banana or made a couple pieces of whole grain bread. Livestrong suggests eating breakfast within the first half hour of waking up to best jump-start your metabolism. Grabbing a banana made it easy to get something down while getting ready and also something to eat as the coffee brewed. 

The shake takes less than 5 minutes to make and I am out the door or ready to chase my little man around the house on the days I stay home. 

So there you go! A breakfast on the go plus the caffeine!! Thank you Fit is the New Black for sharing this awesome shake!!! :)

Some Nights....

Music Video Monday!!!

This music video took some searching because I just wasn't sure what I wanted to post.

But then it hit me.

Some Nights by Fun! I know it is a bit over played on the radio right now but it is such a good song. I wasn't 100% sure what the song meant so I looked it up on song facts. I like songs that are inspired by real people and it is cool how he gets his inspiration from his family. The song makes me want to have a dance party in my car each time I hear it.

If you have never heard the song, check it out! If you have heard the song you should watch the video because it is a great one.

Hope you like this song as much as I do! :)

I love hearing new music so please comment below if you have any new or old music to share!

As We Grow Up

It is crazy when you find a quote by an unknown author and it can sum up exactly how you feel at a certain time of your life. Even better is when you find one that continues to apply to how you feel about life. The quote below is one of my favorites. 

In this quote you are reminded to appreciate the moments in life, to forgive and love. I love this quote because it is real. The quote does not sugar coat anything. 

The part of the quote that applies to me today is the theme of forgiveness. As I have grown up I have learned how important it is to forgive others. It is easier to forgive if they apologize but even when they don't it is important to forgive and Let It Go. Not everyone is perfect. The one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will because they are not perfect. And guess what? Neither are you. Holding on to the hurt does not prove to that person anything. All it does is make the hurt last longer.

Although forgiving is somewhat difficult, it really is the easy part. Trusting them in the future, that is where it gets tricky. Do you forgive and forget, with the possibility of getting hurt again? Or do you hold back and keep the relationship at a distance? Either way it will be hard. Then think about how you would want to be treated if you hurt someone else. Would you want them to forgive you but not forget what you did? Would you want them to never trust you again?

As my son Max says, No way! I would want them to forgive me AND trust me again.

I guess it all comes down to the person. If you surround yourself with people who you know are good people then it shouldn't be a problem to forgive and forget. Thankfully, I have some pretty awesome people in my life and I can say I would be able to forgive and forget while not worrying about getting hurt again. If you have to worry about it, then maybe you should rethink the amount of time you are around that person.

As you grow up you become less naive and are able to make decisions on your own. This helps because there is less of a need to talk about things with everyone. When you take the time to reflect on what is best for you, you will not be so concerned with what others think. If you are less concerned about what others think about you or say about you, then it makes it easier to forgive because the hurt is not as deep. You will also find yourself not needing to discuss everything you are going through with people in order to have them validate your feelings, because you start to realize that it doesn't matter if they validate it or not.

Overall it is important to realize that nobody is perfect. Don't expect so much from others and instead focus fully on how to be the best you can be. I hope I can teach this to my son and future kids as they grow up. It stinks being hurt but if we never experienced pain how would we appreciate the great moments in life. Pain is a part of life. 

It would be great if instead of completely forgetting past hurts, we would only remember the part of how it felt. Haha that sounds cotradicting of what I am saying in this post, but what I mean is to remember only enough of how it felt so we would all do our best to not be the cause of the hurt to someone else. 

Everyone's story is different. We have all been through different difficulties. Forgiving and letting it go will make you a much happier person. 

What part of the quote applies to you? Do you struggle with forgiveness or letting past hurts go? Do you blame a new love for what old ones did? Do you forget to relax and enjoy the moment? Please comment, I would love to hear how this applies to others! :)

Who Wants a T-Shirt?

I don't know about you guys but I love t-shirts. Don't get me wrong, getting dressed up is fun, but nothing can beat that comfy t-shirt that you throw on and feel good in.

If you go to a St. Louis Cardinals game, the best baseball team ever, you will see some people who really love t-shirts. I was on Team Fredbird for the Cardinals for a couple of years and would sling t- shirts into the stands. People would go crazy for a t-shirt. I don't blame them, they are pretty awesome shirts. :)

I have always been the girl of the group who suggests having t-shirts made for any event that our friends or family would be organizing. From float trips to vacations to pub crawls, as soon as someone suggests making plans for an event, I am the one who quickly adds "and lets make t shirts!'. Not only do the t shirts make picking out an outfit so much easier but it is fun and a great keepsake after the event! Another bonus is if you are traveling in a largely populated area you can quickly find your group with bright colored shirts.

Today I wanted to share the latest t-shirt I designed and made for one of my best friend's bachelorette party.

The Front

The Back

My friend found the t-shirts for a great price from Bella wholesale. I then designed the text and ring and had transfers printed from Jumbo Sticky Pics. When I got the transfers I just simply ironed the design on and blinged out the ring with Tulip bling fabric paint and was done! It was a cheap and fun and since I am a big DIY fan, I had so much fun making them with the Bride to be.

For the Bride's shirt we did the opposite, white shirt and Teal lettering. The girls all loved the shirts and we all had fun wearing them for the bride!
                      

                                                    

 

So next time you have an occasion, see if you can add shirts to the mix! If you want to design your own and need any help with how to do it or need information about the transfers feel free to email me at abbeycarmen14@yahoo.com.

Music Video Monday 4/16/12

Love this song and this video. The lyrics are beautiful.

Enjoy!

Lead Me On!

Music Video Monday!!

Happy Monday everyone! :D Today's song is by Jamie Grace called You Lead. Love, love, LOVE this song!! So upbeat and a wonderful thing to remember when starting out the week.

No matter what your going through, God's mercy will never fail. Trust in Him and follow Him. Your life opens up and is so much better when you follow Him. Trust me, I know! :) My parents, teachers and mentors always told me I could do/be whatever I wanted to be in life. Just stay focussed and do it. Well, my pride got in the way and I kept trying to figure out what it was that I wanted to do and what would impress others. Then I realized that is not what life is about. Once I put my focus on finding my purpose in life and following God I became a much happier person and so much more at peace. Focussing on my relationship with the Lord, joining a church that has provided such amazing support and guidance and fully putting my trust in God has been the best decision in my life. Now I fully understand that with God I truly can be and do anything. I always had that little voice down deep (you know that voice that tells you what you really want to do?) but pushed it so far away because I had an overwhelming contradicting voice that told me it was just too good to be true...and also that other people would not think it would be good enough. I finally am seeing that little voice is breaking through and I am not only realizing that it can be true in my life, it is better than I imagined! I just needed to trust in Him that it could be possible!

So if you are reading this and you haven't fully trusted in our Father, I encourage you to please make that step. The best part? He already wants you in His!! He is there with open arms waiting for you...you just have to make the decision to accept Him in your life. He loves you and wants you to follow Him. He forgives you for your sins, you just have to let go of any guilt, pride, hurt or whatever it is that is holding you back and fully trust in Him. Don't be hard on yourself, life is a journey and is full of highs and lows, each giving us something in life to allow us to learn and grow with Christ. Your journey will be much easier if you have Him with you and are following His purpose for you. So this week, a week in which we remember how Jesus died for us, let go of what is holding you back and accept Him in your life. If you already have accepted Him in your life, work hard to make each day focussed on following Him. Play this song and feel it in your heart, "You Lead, I follow!!" :)


Revelation 3:20 (NAB)
            "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, (then) I
              will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me."

John 3:16
            "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him
              might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to
              condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."

My Review of the Hunger Games

I was almost finished with reading the Hunger Games when I heard the book was coming out on movie. I was ecstatic. I went running downstairs to my fiance and told him how much he was going to love the movie and went on and on about how fantastic it was going to be...well much like my other movie reviews I may have overdone it a little. (I will always stand by my review of Elf...one of the best movies ever!)

My fiance (who has not read the book) said he liked it. Not sure if he was just saying that to be nice, or if he really did. :) I was somewhat disappointed. At first I couldn't pinpoint why the movie was not as good as the book. The casting of the movie was amazing. I really don't think they could have casted anyone better for each character. I enjoyed seeing the visuals of the capital and each district. I just cant pinpoint exactly why the movie is not as good as the book, but is the movie ever as good as the book?

When you read a book you understand the characters much more. You know more of their past and why their story. For now on I think I will watch the movie and then read the book. It will be like getting to know the character more! I cannot wait to do this with Catching Fire because I couldn't wait to read the next one. I am going to do this with Twilight for sure though!

Through this entire experience it really made me appreciate reading a book more. I have always been a TV and movie watcher. Never really could get into reading. I have been enjoying books more lately, but now that I know how much more you get from reading a book than watching a movie, I get why my Mom gets into reading so much.

So if you haven't read the Hunger Games, I recommend watching the movie first. Then you have to read the book! If you have read the book I still recommend the movie. After you see it you should back here and let me know what you thought! I would love to know if you had the same experience as I did.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Thanks for reading!

XX

Abbey

Music Video Monday!!!! :)

Hello all!!

I wanted to find a music video for today that was motivating and positive to start out the week. I then remembered a song my sister Kristy put on a CD for me one time. It is Mary J Blige's song Just Fine. AWESOME song and the video is great too. I love the first part where she says "You know I love music." and then goes on to say..."This song right here makes me wanna....WOOOOOH!!!" Haha it really does!! :)

Anytime you are in a funk or can't get out of a cruddy mood, play this song!! Really though, you can play any song of hers and you will be in a better mood. I just love Mary J. :)

Although I do believe to fully grow in life you must make changes, I also believe that life is about accepting what you DO have. Remembering that your life is just fine and keep focussed on the blessings in your life. Just as Mary says, there is no time for negative vibes...so turn your head and stay focussed on what is good. The more you have a positive attitude and see the good, the more the good will come to you. It is hard sometimes, but the more you practice staying positive and seeing the good side of what comes your way, the better you will be at it.

I recently had to overcome worrying about what others say. I realized in my life I was not able to do anything unless I first knew what others thought about it. If they thought it was a good idea I would move on it, but the minute someone said something negative I would immediately change my mind. It overcame my life!! I was so worried about pleasing everyone and what everyone else thought. Then one day I realized I had completely lost myself. Let me tell you, loosing yourself is one of the worst things. I didn't even know what it was I wanted anymore!

After coming to this realization I now am taking life day by day. Focussing on the good and listening to my inner voice. Not worrying so much about what others are doing and what they think, but rather what I want to do and what I think. I appreciate everyone's wisdom, but sometimes you have to learn from your own mistakes. That is life. Plus, everyone's journey is different. What didn't work for them may have not been God's plan for them. How do you know if it isn't in His plan for your life if you don't try it yourself?

On the same note, you can't worry about what everyone else is doing and try and push your advice on them. Falling down is hard, but seeing people you care about falling down is just as hard...if not harder. Sometimes you have to allow them to fall though. If you don't then they wont ever learn their life lessons and you are also taking away their confidence if you are constantly trying to tell them what to do and not to do. If they think you don't think they can do it or if you are constantly pointing out the negatives to them, then they will do the same not only to situations...but to themselves. Worrying will really will get you nowhere. Most of the time the things you worry about never happen...or they do happen because you in some weird way made it happen from thinking about it so much. So just as Mary says, don't worry about what others are going to do, stay classy and stay focussed on being the best you can be. Send out positive vibes, smile and just breath. Appreciate what you do have and stop thinking, I will be happy when _____ . Remember, life on this earth will never be perfect, so choose to be happy right now. My life is Just Fine!!! :)

I hope you all enjoy the video and have a great week!! Oh and I have a question, does anyone know how to allow comments on a blog? For some reason mine does not work. If you do know how, please email me at abbeycarmen14@yahoo.com. I would really appreciate the help because I want to hear what people have to say and I have not been able to figure out how to fix this.

Thanks for reading my blog!!

XX

Abbey

I'm Back!!!

Hello all! :) It has been a while since I have blogged last, and a lot has happened! I am finally done with school. The last semester was a tough one, but I am so excited to be done and have my Masters!

Although I am glad to be done with school, the next step is job searching...and man is that a tough one! Lol at times I think it is harder than getting the Masters. I'm ready though. I am currently enjoying helping my fiance with his business, while also being able to have my son with me but I am ready to start my own career now. It's time for me to get out there and use my talents. The other night I got a fortune cookie that said "The world is ready to receive your talents". That was the best fortune cookie I have ever read. :)

I contemplated coming back to my blog. Most of all because I could not pinpoint exactly what I wanted to blog about. What do people want to read about?? My past posts have been somewhat all over the place, and I believe it is important to have a theme when you are blogging. So I really wanted to make sure I would have something to write about. Then I was reading a great book by Katie Couric, The Best Advice I Ever Got. I did get some great advice, and right away, from Mario Batali. Batali is a celebrity Chef and restaurateur. His advice is how life is not a recipe and know your own truth and live by it. I loved this. My goal with this blog is not to impress or make posts to change people's opinions or life. My blog is real. A twenty something who is trying to reach her dreams while helping her fiance achieve his dreams and most of all cherishing every moment as we raise a sweet and wild soon to be two year old little boy. Whew!!! That is a lot huh?

Although I still believe you should have a theme when you blog, I'm not going to set any rules for the moment. However, my topics may be random but they will be real...my thoughts, my opinions and my beliefs. Some topics you may already know about, if so please add your thoughts and knowledge! Recently I learned a life lesson about not trying to please others. I consumed myself with pleasing everyone else and set myself up for disappointment and frustration. I was always worried about what others would think if I said or did something. I am now focussing only on pleasing God and being the best I can be for my family. This is not something that can happen overnight, but I am working hard on doing this from here on out. I have had the amazing help making this a reality from a book I suggest to you all. The book is The Purpose Driven Life  by Rick Warren. This book is changing my life and I am so incredibly thankful for this book and Rick Warren!!

Blogging is great because not only does it allow me the opportunity to record my thoughts but most of all I can get feedback from others! It is like a journal, but the journal writes back!! So please feel free to comment!! I'm excited to be back and blog again. Oh and one thing I will be keeping on here is MVM...loved starting out the week with a good song. :)