I hate having to come up with post titles.

Oh hi. I don't know what the deal is with me.. I have like eleventy billion post ideas, and things I want to write about, but I never do it. I think it's probably more because I spend so much time at my desk doing actual work that when I'm done with that, all I want to do is go somewhere, anywhere else where my computer isn't. Obviously, that sort of attitude is not exactly conducive to blogging, so we find ourselves here.

But in the interest of showing up, and at least getting something down on the "paper" that is this white space with a blinking cursor, I thought I'd fill everybody in on some happenings in my life recently, and on some of the topics I'm mulling over.

Happenings:

I have been doing a lot of Zumba lately, and I discovered muscles in my arms for the first time in years. I'm not like, ripped or anything all of a sudden, but now when I flex my arms, something actually happens. It's basically like the most exciting thing ever.

I had my very first Skype date with a fellow blogger - none other than the oh-so-wonderful Belinda, who I absolutely adore. Seriously guys, she is SUCH a fun girl! We had some connection issues during the call, so it ended up getting cut short, but it was still so much fun! We were talking about something specific, that if I can ever get my act together and actually put together something interesting like I want to, will show up on this here blog at some point soon. *fingers crossed*

I went with my sister to take the boys to an indoor playground on Monday evening. I know I talk a lot about how I have the cutest nephews ever, but seriously, I dare you to argue with these pictures. They're just the best. (And that is really the only picture I could get of ZJ, since that kid pretty much never stops moving - I don't just purposely take more pictures of Rett and ignore ZJ.)

They stopped over to visit me at home the other morning, and ZJ wasn't feeling well (poor kid!), so he did manage to hold still enough for me to get a couple pictures at least.

And as for post ideas I'm overthinking? SO MANY. But to give you a bit of an idea....
...technology is actually more trouble than it's worth sometimes
...diversity should be celebrated, but is there a point when that celebration becomes too much and does more harm than good?
...there are a lot of things I've learned in the past few years that I wish I had known when I was younger. 
...why do Americans have such a bad rep in the world? 

And there are a bunch more, but just trying to organize all my thoughts on these topics alone is somewhat daunting. Ahhh, if only I weren't such a dang perfectionist. Oh well. 

What are you up to these days? 


Check out my fabulous sponsor!

I'm the kind of girl who...

What a fantastic idea this is. Love it. 

...wishes she were cool enough to drink black coffee

...yearns to travel the world, to learn, explore, discover, and change

...strives for self-awareness

...thinks showers (and all of the stupid "getting ready" aftermath of showers) are completely overrated

...wishes she was a gourmet chef

...has a difficult time narrowing down a career plan and committing to the appropriate education

...loves beauty products and makeup but doesn't use them very often

...overthinks EVERYTHING

...has no trouble at all drinking all the water she is supposed to drink (on most days, anyway)

...loves to talk about everything

...actually really enjoys flossing her teeth

...is slowly but surely turning into a homebody/introvert

...will drop everything to be there when someone she loves needs her

...LOVES high heels, but can't wear them, like ever

...is a hopeless romantic and totally swoons over the cheesiest stuff like flowers or photo strips or forehead kisses

...hates cleaning showers and mopping floors, but actually enjoys cleaning the rest of the bathroom

...works hard to recognize and overcome flaws

...is usually always smiling or laughing about something

...forgives easily

...is completely in love with oceans

...believes in the amazing power of positive mental processes

...loves to make people laugh

...loves sunshine and warm weather and absolutely hates cold and snow

...thinks blogging is totally weird, but also completely awesome

...gets easily distracted

...could eat at Chipotle every single day and be completely, blissfully happy

...loves deeply and fully

...is learning how to stand up for herself, and working on finding courage to ask for what she needs

...loves reading and is always looking for good suggestions for books

...loves snuggling babies, especially her nephews

...is late to linkups and forgets to post A LOT of the time 

Cheers! 

Check out my fabulous sponsor!

How To Stand Out So Your Doctor Remembers You

Have you ever had a really embarrassing medical moment that actually had nothing whatsoever to do with what was actually wrong with you? Maybe something along the lines of being surprised by a ridiculously attractive doctor, and then subsequently making such a fool of yourself at the emergency room that said ridiculously attractive doctor actually remembered you for years after?

Well I have. And take it from me, people...  It. Is. Awful.

Let me take you back to my hometown in Wisconsin, circa early 1999, when I was 14. I was quite sick, as were the rest of my siblings. We had kind of dropped like flies, which was generally the case with us. When one of us got sick, the rest were not far behind. Which sucked, by the way, because in my house, the best part of being sick was being able to get the best spot in the corner of the couch, and watch Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music…when all six of us were sick, it got a lot more logistically complicated.

Anyway, so there I was, feeling all kinds of miserable, and trying to find some semblance of comfort in the big blue rocking chair. My chest was hurting, I was coughing uncontrollably, and I had a crazy fever, too, as I recall. My cough got to the point where my mother was concerned I might have pneumonia, so she bundled me up and  commissioned my dad to take me to the ER.

As soon as I got to the ER, they set about dressing me in one of those stupid gowns and getting some chest x-rays. After that, I was sent back to the room to wait for the doctor. I had what was probably the worst headache of my life up to that point, so I just laid there with my eyes closed, taking comfort in my dad’s quiet presence.

{via}

 When the doctor finally came in and started talking, the first thing that struck my teenage girl mind was that his voice was iiiinnnnncredible. Seriously, it was like melted chocolate. All deep, and smooth… *shiver*

So then, I opened my eyes to see Adonis. That's not even an exaggeration. This man was talk, dark, and handsome..the trifecta. And as if that wasn’t enough, he clearly worked out. **Side note: to this day, his nickname in my family is Dr. Biceps.**

Apparently, the symptoms I was experiencing were very similar to those of spinal meningitis, so after asking me a bunch of questions that I could barely answer through all the blushing and stuttering I was doing, he decided I needed a spinal tap.

{via}

**Side note #2: For those who haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing a spinal tap, it’s this really awesome procedure where they take a 20 gauge lumbar needle (aka a really long, thick needle) and remove spinal fluid from the very base of the spine. The patient is required to curl up as much as possible (effectively putting their rear end in the doctor’s face) for the duration of the procedure, and then remain completely still for 30 minutes thereafter.**

So as if getting to hear his chocolatey voice, and view his lovely biceps that could have rivaled my thighs for size wasn’t enough, I also got to shove my haven’t-showered-for-a-couple-of-days-because-I’ve-been-sick-and-haven’t-even-left-the-living-room-for-two-days behind in his face. 

Awesome.

Eventually, of course, I got over that silliness. Once I could move again, and had finished the IV bags of saline and antibiotics, and felt better enough to actually believe I might make it until morning, they gave me a couple prescriptions and sent me home.

You’d think that I would have just left well enough alone, since up to that point I hadn’t actually done anything humiliating, I had just endured some embarrassing and uncomfortable procedures, right? Yeah, not so much with this girl. 

My dumb butt happened to catch a glimpse of Dr. Biceps at the nurse’s station while I was being wheeled outside, and, because I either a.) really thought he wanted to know and didn’t have the information in front of him in my chart, or b.) just decided that he HAD to know so that he’d know how long he would have to wait for me, decided it would be a good idea to yell (loudly, in the hospital, at 2:30 in the morning) that “I’ll be 15 in July!!”

Seriously. SERIOUSLY? Yes. That happened.

And yes, he really does remember that moment. Quite a few years later, my dad hurt his hand and ended up in the ER for stitches, and of course Dr. Biceps was there. He even asked my mom how her crazy daughter was doing. *sigh* 

I suppose that’s one way to make an impression….

Adult ABC's

Okay, so confession: Technically, I wasn't tagged to do this (probably because not too many people even know that I exist, but whatever), but I saw it on Pinky's page and decided I wanted to do it anyway. So there you have it. You're welcome. 

A. Attached or Single? Attached. J

B. Best Friend? Boyfriend, Anica, Sven, my sisters…

C. Cake or pie? Depends on what kind of pie or cake.. But usually neither. 

D. Day of choice? My days right now are all kind of the same, so it doesn’t make much difference.. 

E. Essential item? Vaseline Lip Therapy. And a fingernail clipper.

F. Favorite color? Pink

G. Gummy bears or worms? Either/or

H. Hometown? Tiny little town in Wisconsin

I. Favorite indulgence? Mani/pedis

J. January or July? July. Partly because I hate cold weather, and partly because my birthday is in July, which just makes it awesome

K. Kids? Yes, please

L. Life isn’t complete without? Family, friends, red wine 

M. Marriage date? I’ll let you know when I figure it out……

N. Number of brothers/sisters? Two brothers, three sisters

O. Oranges or Apples? Honeycrisp apples

P. Phobias? Centipedes, snakes, the dark, feet..

Q. Quotes? “You’re my favorite and I love you.” “Be yourself…Everyone else is taken.” 

R. Reasons to smile? Pretty much anything and everything. Life is GOOD.

S. Season of choice? Summer!

T. Tag 5 People: Patricia, Amberly, Jolynn, Lisette - and you only get four, because I don't know anybody else. :) 

U. Unknown fact about me? I sometimes watch stupid MTV shows like “16 & Pregnant” and “Catfish”. Judge away, I know it’s awful. 

V. Vegetable? Fresh, perfectly ripe tomatoes (even though they’re technically fruit), green beans, peas, corn, carrots, radishes….. I like vegetables

W. Worst habit? Assuming I know what people are thinking, and thinking I am always right

X. Xray or Ultrasound? Either one, makes no difference, as long as its not an MRI

Y. Your favorite food? Pizza or Mexican

Z. Zodiac sign? Leo. Apparently I’m a stubborn lion. Who knew?

Linking up with Northern Belle Diaries and Confessions of A Northern Belle for Just Because! 

Ten Questions....

I'm late getting into this, but I came across this post on one of my favorite blogs, and since I was feeling a little uninspired today, I decided to cheat a little bit and just answer these questions. 

1. If you could do one thing differently in your life, what would it be?

I would have finished my bachelor’s degree when I was in college originally. Part of me is glad that I didn’t continue to spend such a ridiculous amount of money on a degree I didn’t really want, but most of me is upset with myself for being so short-sighted, and not just switching my major or something so that at least I would have the degree.

2. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Hopefully in five years I will have completed both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Psychology, and I will be working as a therapist. I doubt that I will be able to get all of those things done in five years, especially with the way my life is going, but hey, a girl can always dream and work for it, right?

3. Do you honestly want kids?

Yes, I do.

4. What has been the best moment of your life so far?

Um…. This one is tough, because I've had a lot of really great moments. I guess the best moment of my life was when my plane back from the Philippines landed in the United States. Coming home to a culture I understood, safe water, and working plumbing was kind of amazing.

5. What is your life theme song?

"The Climb" by Miley Cyrus. It may be cheesy, but as far as I'm concerned, life really is all about the climb, and going through the journey, rather than trying to get to a specific destination.

6. What is one thing you have yet to accomplish that you want to do before you die?

I want at least one stamp in my passport from every continent (except Antarctica). Traveling the world is definitely on my Bucket List, so hopefully someday I will have both the time and money to do it. 

 
7. If you could choose one thing to be known for, what would it be?

I want to be that person who is known for being sweet, for loving, for forgiving, for always being honest, for accepting others, who is intelligent, whose company is desired…

8. If you could do anything you wanted right in this very moment (no consequences, no fear, etc), what would it be?

I would buy a brand new car, and a completely new wardrobe. I’d also buy a house, or at the very least, rent a really nice apartment.

9. What has been the most challenging moment in your life?

I think I’m living it right now…I've gone through some pretty significant life changes lately, and while I really believe them to be positive things, the changes and adjustments I've had to make are still somewhat difficult to handle.

10. Summarize yourself in one word.

Analytical.

How would you answer these questions?

Day 30: Letting Go...

Letting Go: What does that mean? There’s the physical sense of letting go of something – of physically opening up your arms or hands and releasing that which you were holding. And there’s also the notion of letting go of something in the emotional sense, of giving up trying to fight for something, of accepting that something might not happen the way you had wanted, or of walking away from something that you want but know probably isn’t the best thing for you.

Personally, I don’t like to let go of things. I want to hold on to everything, because I don’t like the idea of giving up on something in which I have been emotionally invested. Plus, if we’re talking about material things, I might need it later, so why would I get rid of it now, just to have to buy it again later? That would be silly. But I digress…

Letting go is really hard. It sucks. It’s terrifying, because most of the time, at least for me, whatever it is that I am letting go is the very thing that is anchoring me. Sometimes the anchor is negative, yes, but it’s often easier to face the evil you do know rather than the evil you don’t.

One of my biggest flaws is that I worry too much, about everything. I am trying/learning to let go of those unnecessary worries, since they do me no good at all, and in fact, probably do the opposite instead. I’m trying to let go of things that are outside my control, and save myself the stress of trying to change things all the time. being in complete control of everything is actually kind of exhausting, so if I can just start to think about what a favor I’m doing myself if I stop insisting on worrying about everything, I think I’ll be doing pretty well.

What do you think about when you hear the term “letting go”? 

Day 29: I Got the Music In Me

To say that I love music would be a bit of an understatement. To that that I’m completely obsessed with listening to music might be a bit more like it, but still doesn’t quite cut it. I love the way music can completely transform a moment, how it can take you from wherever you are to another time and place in an instant. So when I saw that today’s challenge was to list five songs that “bring me back”, I was instantly excited! The only hard part is figuring out which five songs I want to use!

In an effort to make this monumental task a bit easier on myself, I decided to choose songs based on categories of my life – high school, college, after college but still in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Las Vegas.

So without further ado…

High School: Ignition (Remix) – R. Kelly

Even though I was home-schooled, I had a boyfriend my senior year, so I got to go to prom! This was not only his favorite song, but also his entire class’s favorite song, so they played it twice at prom, and it was practically on repeat at the after-party. Any time I hear this song, I am transported back to that night, and I feel again the magic of wearing the beautiful dress, and having my hair done, and dancing and laughing all night long.

College: Shake Ya Tailfeather – Nelly ft. P. Diddy and Murphy Lee

This song was so hot my freshman year of college! It was right after Bad Boys II had come out, and everybody was talking about it. I loved the movie, so of course I loved the song, and I used to blast it in my dorm room like nobody’s business. I was probably really annoying to my roommate everyone on the floor, but any time I hear that song, I go back to freshman year, my tiny pie-slice shaped dorm room, and remember how liberated I felt because I had unlimited internet access *gasp* and could listen to whatever music I wanted! Also, I would like to point out that I liked this song before I really came into my own musical tastes, which have become considerably more refined since then.

After College but Still in Chicago: Cosy in the Rocket by Psapp

I couldn’t find an official video for the song, but it’s played on this one, so I think it counts the same. Anyway, after I left college but was still living in Chicago, I spent a lot of time alone in my apartment. I lived pretty far away from where I worked, and where any of my friends were, so I didn’t have much of a social life. I started watching “Grey’s Anatomy” on DVD just to give myself something to do. Hearing this song always makes me think of my tiny little apartment in Roger’s Park, with the dark blue carpet that I loved, and the ridiculously tiny kitchen with no counter space that I hated. It makes me think of long nights of not sleeping, lounging on the futon in my living room because I was lonely and my brain wouldn’t shut up. It’s not the best song memory I have, but it’s a pretty defining one for that time in my life.

Minnesota: She Will be Loved – Maroon 5

I was never really a big Maroon 5 fan, but my best friend in Minnesota really loved them has an unhealthy obsession with them, so we listened to them a lot. This was one of the songs she would always put on the jukebox when we’d be hanging out at Buffalo Wild Wings, drinking beers and eating “Nate fries” (which are basically the best kind of potato wedges ever, in case you were wondering). I never hear a Maroon 5 song that doesn’t make me think of her, and remember with fondness all the nights we spent together at BDubs, laughing and talking. 

Las Vegas: Runnin’ – Adam Lambert

Shortly after I moved to Vegas, I went through some pretty intense personal struggles. One sleepless night, I was laying on the couch in my living room, listening to my iPod on shuffle. For some reason, this song really stuck out to me that night, and I ended up listening to it about ten times in a row. I don’t know how I missed it before, or why it helped so much that night, but it was the only thing that calmed me down. I still love this song a ridiculous amount, and could probably listen to it on repeat for days and be completely happy about it. There’s just something about it that makes me feel strong, like I can handle anything that gets thrown at me.

What are your favorite songs? 

The ABC's of Thankfulness {Link-Up}

I’m so excited to participate in this link up with Marquis from Simply Clarke today! This is such a great idea, and apart from everything else listed here, I am quite thankful to Marquis for sharing this idea and giving me the idea to stop and really take some time to be grateful!

A: Advil! Seriously, sometimes those little pills save my life. God bless whoever came up with that chemical concoction.

B: Bubbles! They’re fun and playful, plus they make my little nephew giggle, which makes me incredibly happy.

C: Caleb! With an age difference of only twenty months, my brother Caleb and I have always been close. As I have gotten older, though, I have gained a whole new appreciation for his love, protection, and wisdom. We don’t always agree on everything, but I honestly don’t know where I would be without him.

D: Daddy! I am one of the luckiest girls on the planet, I think, because I really do have the world’s best father. He is always available to me when I want to laugh, cry, ask advice, or even when I just need to hear a friendly voice or see a smiling face on Skype. My daddy loves with the love of Jesus, and I am forever grateful for God’s blessing in the form of a perfect example of His love for me.

E: Eggs! I don’t really like to eat eggs by themselves, i.e. in the form of omelets, scrambled, or on a sandwich. However, I love baking, which is tough to do without eggs, so I’m glad they’re around. Also, I made crepes this morning, which were delicious if I do say so myself, and that would have been impossible without eggs.

F: Food Network! I’m obsessed. Like seriously, it’s probably unhealthy. I could literally sit and watch Food Network all day every day. I get totally inspired by the shows, and have actually used a lot of ideas I learned from various shows in my own cooking.

G: Gum! Is it silly to have this on here? Maybe, but I don’t care. I love chewing gum, it’s true. I love Orbit Wintermint, or Eclipse Spearmint. I love trying new flavors, too! I just think gum is really fun.

H: Heat! I absolutely hate being cold. If I could live on a tropical island for the rest of my life, I probably would, only making the occasional pilgrimage back to cool weather.

I: Ideas! I love love love idea sharing. I love getting to talk to other people about their thoughts, and learning from them. I love writing ideas for the blog. Ideas are the springboard for everything, I think, so I am grateful for the ability to think and share and brainstorm, even moreso when I get to do it with others.

J: Jergens! I love Jergens lotion – the smell, the hydration, everything. Yay for Jergens!

K: Keyless entry! It’s a small thing, but I am thankful for the ability to lock/unlock my car with just the push of a button, instead of having to manually unlock it.

L: Learning! I am beyond thankful for the fact that I grew up in a country that not only allows education for women, but also encourages it. I know there are a lot of women in the world who are less fortunate than I in this, am I am very grateful for the opportunities I have been given to learn and grow and expand my horizons.

M: Money! I hardly ever have any of it, but I’m not destitute, either, and I appreciate the fact even though I may not have much, I have enough.

N: Negative feedback! Obviously, I don’t love hearing negative things about myself, but the thing is, without that kind of honest feedback, it would be a lot more difficult for me to identify areas for growth and improvement.

O: Ovaries! I’ll be the first to admit that I hate getting periods, but I am grateful for the opportunity I will have to be a mother. Obviously, it’s not going to happen for a while yet, but I am looking forward to when it does, and goodness I couldn’t do it without the good ol’ ovaries.

P: Pants! Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy wearing skirts every now and again, but I really like being able to curl up in a cozy pair of sweatpants (usually stolen from Boyfriend…I do wear my own sometimes, but I mean, really, what’s the fun in that?!), and who doesn’t love a pair of perfectly broken in jeans?

Q: Quarrels! This sort of goes along with the negative feedback part. I don’t like fighting, but sometimes when in relationships, whether familial, friendly, or romantic, quarrels are a necessary evil. And in my experience, a good, honest quarrel has always been the stepping stone to a much more peaceful and settled relationship.

R: Roads! Driving is one of my favorite ways to clear my head, so I appreciate long roads leading to random, unknown places. Also, I have a strong appreciation for well-kept roads, since in Minnesota, roads tend to be either covered in snow/ice, or under construction.

S: Sleep! Sleeping is awesome. ‘Nuff said.

T: Treats! There’s just something about a treat, be it a delicious snack in the afternoon or a pedicure that stretches the budget, that has the ability to brighten up my day. And since they’re not something I get all the time, that makes it even more special. And um, does this picture look delicious, or what?! ---->>

U: Underwear! I may or may not have an unhealthy obsession with Victoria’s Secret, so I am very thankful for the fact that I live in a time and place where undergarments are a normal part of getting dressed.

V: Variety! Life would be really boring if everything was the same all the time, don’t you agree? It’s quite true, I think, that variety is the spice of life, and I love the fact that there is always something new to see, hear, read, think about, etc.

W: Wine! Ahhh, a glass of red wine at the end of the day is an amazing thing. It’s a great way to relax, and if you get good stuff, it’s also delicious.

X: X-Rays! I’ve gotten a lot of x-rays in my life, and I’m very thankful for the fact that x-rays gave doctor’s the ability to properly treat my injuries/set the broken bones.

Y: Yelling! Sometimes, yelling just feels good. I don’t really like the anger that usually comes along with it, but yelling is often cathartic, and I like that part of it.

Z: ZJ! I know that I have listed two family members already, and obviously I am thankful for everyone in my family, but boy oh boy, I sure do love my first nephew a lot. He is just so cute, and sweet, and loving, and smart! There has never once been a time when I’ve been around him and he didn’t make me smile a hundred thousand times. I love him more than life itself, and I count myself blessed to have that little bundle of joy in my family. 

Seriously, how could you not love this little guy?!

What things make your "ABC's of Thankfulness" list?

Day 28: Photos

ZJ and Grandpa playing peek-a-boo at the Ethel M company 

My brother in law lifts weights, so of course ZJ has to do it too...

 

I am obsessed with this kid's smile.

My favorite puppy - Ridley aka Snarfles aka Farfel. Love.

Pugs are so stinking cute. 

ZJ's mad face literally always makes me smile. 

 Trains!

Awww. I love it when my baby sister takes pictures with our nephew and sends them to me. 

Baby yawns are the best.

Navy Pier from really far away. I walked all the way there from where I took this picture. Yep. That happened.

Thinking about getting mad....

...and now definitely mad. But still so cute!!

Quick side note... I'm finally caught up!!!!

Day 27: A Letter To You

Dear Reader,

First of all, thanks for being here. I appreciate your willingness to give me and my writing a chance.

Thanks for sticking with me even though I’m new to this, and completely inexperienced, and even though sometimes I write things that are probably awful, because I secretly have no idea what I’m doing.

I started blogging because I needed some kind of outlet, a way to get out of my own head and redirect my thoughts when I started to get stressed. I thought that maybe, starting a blog would be a good way for me to accomplish the goal of distracting myself from stress while also providing a cool space to meet people, and maybe even develop some new friendships.

And I was right.

I have connected with some wonderful women, and look forward to getting to know more of you! I’d love to hear from you, through a comment, or even an email. I want to get to know you!

Thank you for being part of such an amazing community. I’m excited to see what happens!

~Jordan