My Pleasure Book

This little book is inspired by an email my Mama sent me sometime last year, that I thought was absolutely adorable & wanted to start this year. It was about a lady that started writing in a "Pleasure Book". A lot of us write in "Gratitude Journals/Books", which I have & try to do every day, but I've never heard of a Pleasure Book & thought it was adorable! What you do is write mini, random things throughout your day that well...bring you pleasure. A great conversation with a friend, a beautiful sunset, a warm bubble bath...

Here is mine that I created. Inside the book on the left, reads an insert from the email that I cut out & glued to my book. It is just an example of every day pleasures that she wrote in her book. It reads...

"One day's entries ran thus: Had a pleasant letter from Mother. Saw a beautiful lily in a window. Found the pin I thought I lost. Saw such a bright, happy girl on the street. Husband brought some roses in the evening."

I thought this was a perfect way to document all of the little joys that fill up your day. You'll be surprised at how many you can list! In the midst of all of our trials & struggles...if you stop for a minute and look around...you'll notice how beautiful life truly is! On the days you need a little extra sunshine sprinkled on your heart...get out your little book & read about the things that made you smile, until once again...your smile returns.

May your little book overflow with entries that make you smile on the outside AND the inside,



Never Settle

I wanted to write, to answer the question that many people ask me. “How did you get so lucky, to find your one true love?” First of all, that is one heck of a compliment, and I appreciate all of the love and support that I continuously receive. Honestly though…I AM, without a doubt a VERY lucky girl, but I think the real secret lies in two simple words- NEVER SETTLE. As a woman/man, we know exactly what we want, and know exactly what we don’t. Even if you think you don’t, as soon as certain instances happen in your life, and they make you feel amazing/horrible…your questions will soon be answered.  No matter what anyone says- Yes, it’s true, there is no such thing as the perfect person, but believe me when I tell you; there IS someone perfect for YOU. I always told people that I wanted to find a male version of me, and that is exactly what I found. Very similar interests, likes/dislikes, morals, beliefs, etc.  Also…You MUST be able to talk to each other. I’m sure we all can relate when talking about meeting your mate and wondering why girls can’t talk to guys the way we talk to our girlfriends…you CAN, it just takes the right guy, who actually cares about you & what you have to say. What a concept, right? I am a hopeless romantic, and have always had a difficult time knowing when to say when. I am not a quitter, and always wanted to try to make as much lemonade as I possibly could. When you no longer feel loved, appreciated, respected, enjoyed, important, etc…99.9% of the time, it is not going to get better.  And…when a guy/girl EVER tells you “You deserve better than me”…YOU DO! YOU are in control of your own destiny. EACH one of you is beautiful, and YOU DESERVE THE WORLD! GIVE THE WORLD as well, but make sure the hands that receive it, love you the same. Believe me, I too, have kissed my share of frogs, but it takes these experiences to help you realize the feelings you never want to forget, and the ones you never want to remember. The worst way to feel alone is to be in the arms of someone who doesn’t love you the same. Is it SO much better to actually BE alone. At least that way, you won’t be wasting your life away, waiting for the phone to ring. You can actually breathe. The pain of being in love with the wrong person is SO much worse than the pain of being alone. BELIEVE me. Love yourself the way that you want someone else to love you, and the rest will all be history.  Your Prince/Princess IS out there…You just have to believe. 

“If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away.
If he doesn't want you, nothing can make him stay.
Stop making excuses for a man and his behavior.
Allow your intuition (or spirit) to save you from heartache.
Stop trying to change yourselves for a relationship that's not meant to be. Slower is better. Never live your life for a man before you find what makes you truly happy.

If a relationship ends because the man was not treating you
as you deserve then heck no, you can't "be friends." A friend wouldn't mistreat a friend. If you feel like he is stringing you along, then he probably is. Don't stay because you think "it will get better". You'll be mad at yourself a year later for staying when things are not better. The only person you can control in a relationship is you. Avoid men who've got a bunch of children by a bunch of different women. He didn't marry them when he got them pregnant, why would he treat you any differently? Always have your own set of friends separate from his. Maintain boundaries in how a guy treats you.

If something bothers you, speak up. Never let a man know everything. He will use it against you later. You cannot change a man's behavior. Change comes from within. Don't EVER make him feel like he is more important than you are... even if he has more education or in a better job. Do not make him into a quasi-god. He is a man, nothing more nothing less. Never let a man define who you are.

Never borrow someone else's man. If he cheated with you, he'll cheat on you. A man will only treat you the way you ALLOW him to treat you. All men are NOT dogs. You should not be the one doing all the bending...compromise is two way street. You need time to heal between relationships...there is nothing cute about baggage... deal with your issues before pursuing a new relationship. You should never look for someone to COMPLETE you...a relationship consists of two WHOLE individuals...look for someone complimentary...not supplementary. Relationships should be based on a 200% quota rather than a 100% quota- 100% you and 100% him. “-Author Unknown

LIVE. LOVE. DREAM... BELIEVE.

“DON’T WASTE THE PRETTY”-He’s just not that into you.

 

There IS someone, perfectly imperfect waiting for you. NEVER SETTLE. You deserve EVERY happiness & I'm praying you find it,

 

KiKi & LaLa

While on the treadmill today, I was watching a really cute "girly" movie I picked up called MATERIAL GIRLS! 

Not only is one of our good friends Ty Hodges in it (fun surprise)...since it stars real life Sisters Hilary & Haylee Duff...it of course, reminded me of my Sister. When we were really little, me about 3-4 & her about 5-6...we started telling our Mom stories about certain random things. Knowing that my Mom wasn't aware of these things happening, she would ask us when they happened & we would say, "when we were up to God." Both at completely different times, with neither of us knowing the other said the exact same thing! Kinda crazy for kids so little, unaware of anything like that. Since then, we always believed that we knew each other before being born, and we well...chose each other as Sisters. Our nicknames for each other are KiKi & LaLa, from Hello Kitty, because they are called "The Little Twin Stars", and since we were up in the stars together...it kinda just fit! He He. 

Verenia is KiKi & I am LaLa. Even though one is a boy & one is a girl...we loved them just the same. They are always together & that was our favorite part. As a symbol of our time "up to God" & "in the stars", we bought each other gold bands, scattered with tiny little diamonds "stars" to always remember those special moments in our lives & celebrate our bond as Sisters.

Kinda hard to see, but it looks a lot like the top ring in this picture, only skinnier & instead of the diamonds perfectly placed...they are more scattered. More like stars. 

The last year or so, has been such a busy one for me, but now that I am very happily Married & all of my self induced stress is over...I look forward to spending so much more time with my Sister again. I have missed her so much more than she knows & can't wait to share the rest of life's precious moments with her! Life is much too short & family is much too special! Hug your siblings EXTRA tight today & make sure they always know how much you love them. They truly are one of life's...most precious gifts! I love you, KiKi! Thank you for being the greatest big Sissy I could ever ask for! 

I LOVE my Sister,

The Ultimate Gift

The PERFECT Friday Night! 

Pizza, Cuddling on the couch with B and D&G, and watching one of our favorite movies of all time...

If you haven't seen it...here's a sneak peak...

I can honestly say that it probably IS our very favorite movie of all time. It is a must see! One thing I am happy to say that I manifested through thoughts...is the dream of finding a Man JUST like me. I can VERY happily say that I have found him & even happier say that he is my Husband! To find someone who's heart and soul is so much like your own...to me...is also...The Ultimate Gift. I love you, B & thank God for you, every single day. Grab you Family & those you love, (my whole Family watched it with us when they were in town), grab a blanket, some popcorn...and enjoy! Hope you love it as much as we do! 

Love, Hugs & The Ultimate Gift,

Think Happy Thoughts

We've all heard it before that "Thoughts are things", What you think about...you bring about.", "Be careful what you wish for"...

I've always believe that was true, but after my 2nd insane encounter...I KNOW it is true. With a Wedding to plan, working 2 jobs, both families in town & staying with us, cards to write, a million emails to send, calls to make, stuff to plan, friends & family to see, and so much more going on...let's just say I was a little stressed out. Add being a complete perfectionist to the mix, and there you have ME! So...for months leading up to all of this, I kept telling bobby..."God I just need to stay home, not make any plans, and just get ALL my stuff done...once and for all. I just wish I could hit the pause button on life for a minute, get all caught up...and then push play again." I was also getting so lazy about wanting to get "all ready" for my days, which is something COMPLETELY of of character for me since I love every minute of beauty, fashion, and doing what I can to look & feel my best. I just wanted a break from everything. I would think these thoughts so often...I actually MADE it happen. I stressed so bad & thought this so much...God said..."wish granted" and here I sit... 

This is what I created for myself. Not sure exactly what it is yet...Ha Ha, but by process of elimination...I think B & I are starting to figure it out. At first we (& the Dr.) thought I had an allergic reaction to something...Make-up, body wash, shampoo/cond...I did try a new body wash from Bath & Bodyworks. Maybe that was it, but I was already half way through the bottle before I had a reaction. Thought I would have noticed something sooner if that was it, but I threw it out anyway, along with the scrubber I was using it with. 2 weeks later...still no change. We went to see the Dr & upon entry he says, and I quote..."What the F*** is that!" Ha Ha! Gotta love Dr's. He had no idea what I had & just gave me a shot of steroids & prescribed a $100 steroid cream & sent me on my way. 2 weeks later & an appetite the size of King Kong...still no change. Bobby found a forum online & found a lady's story that said she had the same sort of reaction from Bed Head products. I have used Bed Head Hairspray for a million years, so that couldn't be it, but wait...I have been using Bobby's Shampoo/Cond. for over a month now, since mine ran out. Could that be it? We read her story further. "To get rid of it completely I used Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo, for about a week & all of my symptoms were gone." DING DING DING!!! It was like we won some sort of medical lottery! B went straight to the store, got me 3 variations of J&J Baby Shampoo & we were on our way! Straight to the bathtub to wash my hair, my face, body...ALL with the shampoo! I'm gonna wash this all out once & for all! Ha Ha! 2 weeks later...still no change. I was about to go to a Dermatologist & or Eye Doctor & get another diagnosis, but knowing that they wouldn't really know what it was...I decided to do some more research myself. Remembering the word Eczema (my Brother & I always thought it sounded so funny. Have no idea why.) I decided to look it up. Since my symptoms are dry, itchy, burning eyelids, I looked up pictures relating to Eczema in those areas. Sure enough...I looked just like them, but THANK GOD...a lot lot less. Good Lord some of those pictures...absolutely horrible. I felt so bad for them. Knowing how miserable mine made me...there's had to hurt so much worse. I am praying for all of you out there & hope it gets better...ASAP! Guess what one of the #1 causes is? Yep. You guessed it...STRESS! I went straight online to research the best medicine for what I thought I had next. I found a cream called TriDerma Eczema Fast Healing-Medical Strength cream, at Walgreens for about $15. Since that was a lot less than my steroid cream...I figured what the heck! At this point...it's worth a try! With me hiding in the car...B runs in to once again...save the day! 3 days later...I am SO happy to say that I think it just might be working! YEEEAAAYYY! It looks a million times better, so we are keeping our fingers crossed & of course...I will keep you posted! Since I don't really have sensitive skin & I've never had an allergic reaction to anything in my life...this makes a lot more sense. Day 3 out of my almost 30 day House Arrest (Ha Ha)... I PRAY I am on my way to recovery! Not only have I not been able to leave my house since Christmas, per Dr's orders...I am not allowed to wear any make-up until it all goes away. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR! Mama always said that...and I knew that...but let's just say now...I've lived it! Lesson learned. Moral of the story..."worry is like a rocking chair...keeps you busy...but never gets you anywhere" and MOST of the things we stress about will never even happen! It isn't worth your heart...or your health. You body is it's last defense, so when it gets to this...you know it was bad! It has been proven that 90% of Doctor visits are stress related. Only 10% are not. CRAZY, SCARY thought! So...think only Happy Thoughts & remember...it is NEVER that bad! Be thankful every day that you are able to go out & conquer the world! I can't wait to see the world through these eyes again! 

Thank you, with ALL of my heart, to THE GREATEST live in Dr. I have ever known! I love you to heaven, my beautiful B & I am SO grateful to you & for you! 

Thinking Only Happy Thoughts,

Simple Pleasures

 A little trick I like to use to make my days much more pleasant is to find little, simple pleasures and sprinkle them throughout my day. They’re not big things, but they're sometimes THE BEST things.

 Life is filled with simple pleasures, the little satisfying effects you never really anticipate, but always take great pleasure in.  They are the gifts of life that we each celebrate in our own unique way. Here are just a few of mine today...

My New Phone Cover! SO SO fun! From LUXADDICTION.



Our welcome to our Financial Planner's office! I LOVE seeing my name on things! Ha Ha.



My "surprises" from B. Even a Hello Kitty pen! He is SO adorable & I couldn't love him more if I had 2 hearts!



The Rainbow on our wall from our chandelier. Ha Ha. Every time I see a Rainbow it reminds me of my beautiful Brother who lives in Hawaii. I love you, Aram.  

My Sister has one too. So cute!

Fun travel stuff that came in the mail! All from FLIGHT001.

Mail from a dear, long-time friend. I LOVE regular mail & I love you, Mel!

Something I found. Have no idea if it really exist, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

A few more of my favorites...

1. Sleeping In on a Rainy Day – As the rain beats lightly against the window, you nestle your head deeper into your pillow.  The sound is soothing and your bed feels like a sanctuary.  There is no place you would rather be.
2. Finding Money You Didn’t Know You Had – You reach into your pocket and find a $20 bill from the last time you wore these jeans.  You aren’t rich, but you are richer than you were a second earlier.
3. Skinny Dipping – There is something mysteriously liberating about being naked in a body of water.  You are naked, but it feels natural, a sense of unrefined freedom.
4. Receiving a Real Letter or Package via Snail Mail – E-mail has become the primary source of written communication.  Most snail mail these days is junk mail.  When you check the mail and find a real letter or package from someone you know, excitement overtakes you as you tear into this rare gift.
5. Telling a Funny or Interesting, True Story - One of the most enticing roles you lead in life is that of the storyteller.  You love to share stories, especially those that will captivate your audience with deep curiosity and humor.  There are few things more satisfying than telling a true story that others enjoy listening to.  
6. Hearing the Right Song at the Right Moment - It doesn’t matter what the setting is, hearing the right song for that moment is one of those simple pleasures in life that instantly lifts your spirits. You could be driving home from work, hanging out with friends, or working out. When the right song rattles your ear drums the entire meaning of life seems crystal clear.
7. The First Sip of a Beverage When You’re Thirsty – You just finished cleaning or a long workout. The only thing on your mind is an ice-cold glass of water.  When you are really, really thirsty, that first sip of any liquid beverage is sheer bliss.
8. Saying the Same Thing Simultaneously – There is a moment of silence.  Then all of the sudden you and your friend/husband blurt out the same exact set of words simultaneously.  This rare occurrence is something to smile about.
9. The Parking Spot – You pull into a parking spot and are delighted to see the availability of the parking spot immediately in front of you. 
10. Realizing You Have More Time to Sleep – Something abruptly awakens you and you think it’s time to get up.  Then you squint over at your alarm clock and realize you still have 2 more hours to sleep.  A warm euphoric feeling shoots though your body as you glide gracefully back to your dreams.
11. People Watching – Sitting there on your bench you can see people in every direction.  Tall people, small people, thin and plump.  Blond, brunette, and redhead alike.  Each of them has a different stride and a unique expression.  As you drift from body to body you are mesmerized by what you see. How awesome that we are all so unique. What a beautiful, rainbow world we live in!
12. Putting On Clothes Straight from the Dryer – As soon as the dryer buzzes, you pull out your clothes and put them on.  They feel soothingly warm on your skin and emit a fresh-scented aroma into the air.  A sentiment of ease comes over you as you head out to conquer the day.
13. The Feeling You Get When Your Idea Works – You have been struggling to resolve a complex problem all day and you just can’t seem to get it right.  Filled with frustration, you decide to exercise one last idea before calling it a night.  You’ve had many ideas before that failed miserably… but this time it works.
14. Fresh, Clean Bed Sheets – You yank at the corner of the bedspread to create just enough space to slide your body under the freshly cleaned sheets.  The sheets feel cool to the touch.  Everything seems so clean, like nobody has ever slept in this bed before.
15. A Beautiful View – As the car veers around the side of the mountain you gaze out the passenger window.  It’s a clear, sunny day and you can see the entire valley below filled with wild flowers and bright green vegetation.  The scenery reminds you of something you once saw in National Geographic.  But here it is live, right before your eyes.
16. Reminiscing About Old Times with Your Closest Friends – Pink Floyd once said “the memories of a man in his old age are the deeds of a man in his prime”.  There is no simple pleasure more satisfying than recounting the greatest moments of your life with your closest friends who lived these moments alongside you.
17. Receiving an Unexpected Compliment – It’s been an average day.  Nothing really great has happened, but nothing terrible occurred either.  This monotonous day has put you in a blah mood.  Unexpectedly, an older, attractive man taps you on the shoulder, calls you “beautiful” and says he loves your hair.  The day just got a whole lot better.
18. Having a Good Laugh – Laughter is the greatest cure of all.  Life is extraordinary in the moments when you are laughing so hard you can barely breathe.  These moments of deep laughter are divine in the sense that they cleanse your mood and set your mind on a positive track.
19. The Feeling After a Healthy Workout - It’s a giddy feeling of self accomplishment; the one true activity that actually makes you feel better and look better simultaneously. When you walk out the front door of the gym you are on top of the world.
20. The Celebration in the Instant Something Makes Sense – Even now that it has explained to you for the third time, you just don’t understand how it works.  Everyone else seems to understand but you.  Then out of the blue the dots connect in your mind.  You finally get it, and it feels great!
21. Relaxing Outdoors on a Sunny Day – As you relax sprawled out in a lawn chair, the sun warms your skin and a light breeze keeps the temperature comfortable.  Birds are chirping merrily in the trees behind you.  You are at complete peace with the environment.
22. Holding Hands with Someone You Love – Every time he grabs your hand you are overcome with an awareness of how much she means to you.  Holding hands is sensual and physically intimate, yet subtle.  There are few people you allow to hold your hand, so when it happens you can be sure that the moment is special.
23. Playing in the Water – Water marvels people of all ages.  From jumping in puddles as a child, to doing cannon balls in the pool as an adolescent, to enjoying a cocktail in the Jacuzzi as an adult… water is enjoyable.
24. Making Someone Smile – You notice that your colleague has been under a great deal of stress with meeting a deadline, so you take it upon yourself to complete one of her indirect responsibilities for her.   As soon as she realizes what you did, she comes into your office with a big smile on her face.  “Thank you”, she says.  You just hit two birds with one stone, because making her smile just made your day.
25. Finishing What You Started – You just finished up a big project you’ve been working on for the last few months, or maybe you just finished your first marathon… Either way, you finalized what you set out to accomplish.  The feeling of self accomplishment you get when you finish what you started is by far one of the most rewarding simple pleasures life has to offer.

LOVING Life's Simple Pleasures & wishing you a treasure chest full,

 

Make It Count!

No matter how wonderful, or not so wonderful your 2010 was...the thing I love the most about a new year is that it's a brand new start. The possibilities are endless. Like the rainbow after the storm. The world is clean & the canvases of our lives are erased & ready for whatever we choose to create. Your life is a stage & YOU are the star! NEVER forget your worth or the power that lies within you...to do or be...ANYTHING you wish. Starting today...starting right now...BEGIN TO REALLY LIVE! 

Take a nap whenever you want. 

Go for Sunday afternoon drives. 

Sing in the shower. 

Sing in the car. 

Be yourself. 

Make goals. 

Reach goals. 

Don’t nag. 

Don’t gossip. 

Be forgiving of yourself and others. 

Keep it simple. 

Keep good company. 

Keep your promises. 

Believe in yourself. 

Be a good loser. 

Be a good winner. 

Say “Thank You” a lot. 

Say “Please” a lot. 

Be spontaneous. 

Try it. 

Compliment others. 

Be there when people need you. 

Make a difference in someone’s life. 

Make a habit to do nice things for people…who will never find out it was you. 

Don’t rain on other people’s parades. 

Don’t deprive someone of hope…it may be all they have. 

Don’t be afraid to say “I’m Sorry”. 

Don’t be afraid to say “I’m Wrong” 

Live so that when your children think of fairness, integrity, caring & honesty…your children think of YOU. 

Take responsibility for every area of your life. 

Take care of your reputation. It’s your most valuable asset. 

Don’t postpone joy. 

Know who your REAL friends are. 

Never give up on anyone. Miracles happen every day.

 Smile. You never know who’s watching. The world is watching. 

Dream BIG. 

Make your dreams come true. 

Do things that others only dream of. 

Do whatever it takes to make you happy. 

Live each day as if there is no tomorrow. 

Yesterday is just a memory. 

Pay attention to what is in front of you. Your life…is in front of you. 

Don’t waste another day. 

IT’S YOUR LIFE. . 

Enjoy it before it’s too late.

Here's to us and a year FILLED with butterflies in our tummies, wishes upon stars, eternal love & laughter, and our EVERY dream come true! Today is the first day of the rest of your life...MAKE IT COUNT!

I believe in you & I'm cheering for you,