Most people who know me know my love of lists. Therefore, to organize my thoughts, I like to number things, it keeps them straight in my mind however it does not necessarily prioritize things.
#1. I kind of like living on my own.
I know, I know, this won't come as a shock to a lot of people. I tend to not be the most social person in the world. I'm not saying I'm a hermit, just that I like my space. Living with two roommates my entire college career, I realized that I like that my entire apartment is mine. That I can leave my shoes near the door, my stuff on the coffee table, my computer on the couch and no one is going to get mad or pile up my stuff near my door when they clean. This fall I finally moved in to my own, tiny one bedroom apartment and am enjoying every second of it. Even if my grandma calls to check up on me all the time because she hates the idea of me living alone, I just remember that I am blessed to have people who care.
#2. I like to be domestic.
I love to cook. It's in my blood. I must say that I come from a long line of people who like to cook and are pretty darn good at it. Not only do both of my parents cook quite well, both of my grandmothers were cooks at one point or another in their lives. My dad is mostly where I get my desire to cook from. It's been a revelation of his over the past 15 years that he actually likes to cook and has fun creating new dishes. From him, I get my fearless nature in trying a new recipe or whipping something up from the top of my head. This may transcend into other aspects of my life.......
New toy!
So, in my journey of loving cooking, I decided that I needed my own slow cooker, while dragging Jeff down the housewares aisle of Wal-Devil. Then, my dearest Lendy gave me a slow cooker recipe book for my birthday after she heard me rave about my new toy. Therefore, I have been a slow cooking machine! Brunswick stew, steak and mushrooms, pulled pork. You name it, I'm going to try to slow cook it. This is a bond that will last a very long time, a girl and her slow cooker.
#3. Pumpkin, and all it's Goodness
Fall is the most wonderful time of the year. I know that there is this song about Christmas taking that title, but not in this girls mind. Now most people I tell this too think it's because my birthday is in the fall. Not neccessarily true. Birthday's to me aren't this big production, never have been. No, I wasn't a deprived kid, I had birthday parties, big ones even. I just don't think it's a big deal. However, this year was one of the best birthday's since I've been away from home. Front Ricks 207 was bombed with confetti and streamers, which are still up a week later to my disgression. My fabulous office family decorated the entire office, showered me with presents and took me out to lunch. I couldn't have asked for anything else. It was absolutley wonderful and many thanks go out to all those involved. My amazing day ended that way- amazing with Mr. Jeff coming all the way from Greenville, on a Wednesday, to celebrate my birthday.
Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins. I heard pretell there was a pumpkin shortage in New Mexico, but thank God it didn't come east. I would be one depressed girl. I love the smell of baking pumpkin. Which led me to bake three loaves of pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins all with chocolate chips. My apartment smelled AMAZING. I have also purchased a canned version of this smell in the form of a candle which is a good substitute but almost completely burnt down because I love it that much. Obviously, I must replace it soon.
#4. My love obsession with Fall.
Not only do I love to cook with and smell pumpkin, I cannot wait to carve pumpkins! Again, this is the one season where I transform back into my childhood self and allow myself to get giddy, which I don't do very often :) I cannot wait to go to the pumpkin patch, drag Mr. Jeff along, scoop out all the seeds, bake them off, and then carve my pumpkin into what ever odd design I find. Mind you, I am not all that artistic, but pumpkins are the one things I try on.
With all this love of fall, it may be surprising that I really don't like Halloween. It's one of those holidays that I wouldn't mind just skipping all together. Actually, now that I think of it, it's the only holiday that I would really want to skip. I just want to go straight to Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday. Fall colors, oranges, reds, yellows, browns, gerber daisies, leaves falling, cornucopias, pilgrims, dried indian corn, pumpkin and apple pie, family getting together, cool weather. It just warms my heart thinking about it.
#5. Flowers-instant mood brightener.
Speaking of gerber daisies, they are probably my favorite flower ever. My brother got married in October, two years ago, and as a bridesmaid I carried the most GORGEOUS boquet ever, gerber daisies, sunflowers, I don't even know what all was in it, but it was sooo pretty. I stopped by Food Lion the other day on my way home from the office, and right there at the front of the store, were some really pretty gerber daisies. I bought them. It's amazing how they can instantly brighten your mood. I immediately came home, got out a vase, cleared all the junk off my table, and put up my flowers. They are still sitting there, and I smile as I write this. No wonder they are the go-to for guys to get out of the dog box.
While in Idaho this summer, Jeff and I had a garden out back in the yard. I had significant input into what was planted and was adamant about sunflowers. Now for the longest time, I didn't really care for sunflowers. But then, I realized it
was the context I was putting them in. Ugly sunflower trim for a kitchen and tacky dishes and paintings. Then, I took them out of that scenario in my mind, put them outside in a garden, or growing wild on a hillside, and I fell in love with them
all over again. They kind of became a mantra for the summer, where ever we went in our travels, somehow some little yellow flower would pop up and I would snap a picture :)#6. Constantly Struggling
Everyday I get a reminder that I need to be a better person. This constant struggle is to be more compassionate, understanding, and to shut up and listen at times. I try to be a better daughter, sister, girlfriend, friend, researcher, teacher and follower of the Lord. Every time I start in to complaining about someone my dad politely reminds me that it takes all kinds to take the world go round. That not everyone is like me and that I need to accept and appreciate that. Mostly, I think I do an ok job of recognizing people who are not like me in some ways and connecting to them through our similarities. However, there are just some people who are so opposite of my personality that it takes some time to wrap my head around it, and sometimes I just don't get it. Patience is a virtue that I know I need to work on. I've been independent, bossy, and impatient since the day I was born (quotes my mother). I realize that I need to work on other aspects of my personality.
In this reflection of trying to be more compassionate, I realize that I have lost some friends of mine along the way of life. We fell apart, an argument happened, something of that sorts. Looking back to high school, most of them were inevitable, high school friends who were really only friends because it's a small town, and options are limited. Again looking at undergrad, maybe it was the same thing, I fell into a group of friends that I was comfortable around and just stayed, out of convenience maybe? It's definitely a reflection sort of night. Yes, there are some things I would have done differently, but I am a firm believer in there is a reason some people don't make it through your life. True friends, I know who they are. I have a small, (small), group of friends that I have the amazing pleasure of calling my friends. The rest merely are acquaintances, not that it demeans their involvement in my life, however the ones that will drop everything for me, know me and accept me as I am, those are the ones that will be with me along life's journey, no matter where it takes me.
#7. Getting too deep.... lighten it up
#7. Getting too deep.... lighten it up
I like to not get too deep, let's say deep-light on my blogging. I don't mean to aim anything at any one person, cause really what I say here can be applicable in so many situations in my life. On a lighter note, G. Moore enlightened us today in seminar on the Franklin Covey method of planning and organizing, and I kind of fell in love. I am a sucker for school supplies anyway, so I knew it was just a matter of time before I would succumb to the evil of this. I love sharpies, fresh mechanical pencils, a new notebook, a set of three steno pads to start the semester, and of course a new planner. However, I kind of fell hook, line, and sinker, for the Franklin method and now am willing to dish out at least $50 for the overpriced binder and fill in sheets. G. Moore should really get a sponsor, or at least a cut of the profits from seminar and his time management class.
On another side note, G. Moore told us to write down goals for our lives. Which I may actually do. I am a firm believer in if you write it down or say it out loud, it is more probably to happen. Actually forming, and visualizing your plans, that is the step that starts the journey. It may even be the next blog....... stay tuned.
