I have really been bad about blogging lately. Not sure why. I blame someone or something other than myself, but truth be told, I know all the blame lies with my laziness.
All that to say, my sweetie has recently started blogging, and, though they can be lengthy, his posts are funny, nostalgic, real, and in my humble opinion, overall fantastic.
Check it out: www.minnesotabert.blogspot.com.
Also, shout out to my dear friend Beth for reminding me that I actually have a blog. :)
7.15.2010
strengths vs. weaknesses...
Our leadership team recently completed StrengthsFinder assessments, and I found mine to be interesting and a reminder of who I am. My top five strengths:
- Strategy
- Woo
- Communication
- Ideation
- Competition
A point of the book is that by applying a little effort, we can make our strengths even better, because they are natural for us. However, we often make the mistake of focusing on our weakness and trying to make those better, which really can just lead to mediocrity.
In an effort to blog more, I'm going to tackle my five strengths in upcoming blog posts and talk about the good, the bad and the ugly that goes along with each.
3.03.2010
the house that built me...
I heard this song on the radio while driving home from work yesterday. I can't even find the words to describe the feelings this song brought to the surface. Being a girl who grew up in the same house for the first 18 years of her life, this song hit home. No pun intended.
Here are the lyrics; go find someplace to listen to it. (I can't find it in the online media system that I use.)
I know they say you can’t go home again
I just had to come back one last time
Ma’am I know you don’t know me from Adam
But these handprints on the front steps are mine
Up those stairs in that little back bedroom
Is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar
I bet you didn’t know under that live oak
My favorite dog is buried in the yard
I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me
Mama cut out pictures of houses for years
From Better Homes and Gardens magazine
Plans were drawn and concrete poured
Nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to mama’s dream
I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me
You leave home and you move on and you do the best you can
I got lost in this old world and forgot who I am
I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me
Here are the lyrics; go find someplace to listen to it. (I can't find it in the online media system that I use.)
I know they say you can’t go home again
I just had to come back one last time
Ma’am I know you don’t know me from Adam
But these handprints on the front steps are mine
Up those stairs in that little back bedroom
Is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar
I bet you didn’t know under that live oak
My favorite dog is buried in the yard
I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me
Mama cut out pictures of houses for years
From Better Homes and Gardens magazine
Plans were drawn and concrete poured
Nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to mama’s dream
I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me
You leave home and you move on and you do the best you can
I got lost in this old world and forgot who I am
I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me
2.16.2010
toes...
Livi loves her toes. She can't go long without sucking on them. (She didn't learn that from me. Ryan, maybe?) She's constantly trying to take of her socks to get to her toes. They are pretty much the cutest little toes I've ever seen.
Ryan's been working 60 hrs a week at a contract job. (Leaves at 6 a.m. and gets home at 8 p.m., MTWTFS.) Livi gets so excited when she sees him. She has the biggest grin on her face, starts drooling, and gives the occassional squeal of delight. Sweeter greetings I have never seen.
Ryan's been working 60 hrs a week at a contract job. (Leaves at 6 a.m. and gets home at 8 p.m., MTWTFS.) Livi gets so excited when she sees him. She has the biggest grin on her face, starts drooling, and gives the occassional squeal of delight. Sweeter greetings I have never seen.
2.09.2010
there's s'no days like snow days...
We're snowed in. Well, not currently, but we were snowed in from Friday until Monday and will be again beginning later today until at least Thursday. I must admit, it's kind of nice. We packed up on Friday morning and made the trek to my parents'. They have a generator* (and a big house) so we figured we'd stay here during the Great Snow of 2010 -- just in case. Plus, it's nice to have other people to take care of Livi. And my parents have vehicles with four-wheel drive, too -- again, just in case.
So, I've relaxed, eaten too much, took some naps while Gramma watches the baby; this is the life! And now, I'm sitting in the office working while my mom plays The Man at Mahjong tiles -- if she wins, it's her way of sticking it to The Man. If she loses, she says The Man beat her down again. She suffered a bad beat-down today and is retreating to work on her Christmas letter. See how entertaining this is?
And you wonder why I don't stay at my own place...
*My mom just informed me they don't have a generator, they have a propane heater. Crap. Ignorance was bliss.
So, I've relaxed, eaten too much, took some naps while Gramma watches the baby; this is the life! And now, I'm sitting in the office working while my mom plays The Man at Mahjong tiles -- if she wins, it's her way of sticking it to The Man. If she loses, she says The Man beat her down again. She suffered a bad beat-down today and is retreating to work on her Christmas letter. See how entertaining this is?
And you wonder why I don't stay at my own place...
*My mom just informed me they don't have a generator, they have a propane heater. Crap. Ignorance was bliss.
2.01.2010
normal is just a setting on a dryer...
I remember reading that book title once. I didn't read the book -- just the title. Because at that time, my life was normal by all accounts. My daily activities were set, and I could be as gluttonous with my time as I wanted to be.
But now... Now is a whole different story. When I wake up in the morning, I have a list of things in my mind that I want to get done during the day. Work trumps them all, of course. Well, Livi trumps them all, actually. But work is a close second. I usually get 100% of the things Livi needs completed. Bath time, play time, nap time, diaper changes, feedings, etc. Work -- I get about 85% of those things done. Everything else -- cooking, cleaning, getting dressed, combing my hair, etc., etc., etc.... well, I'm lucky if I get 5% of that done. Thankfully I've got a pretty laid-back husband who doesn't care if I cook, clean or get out of my pajamas. I'm still waiting to get surprised by the What Not to Wear team from TLC when I make a quick run to the grocery store in my glasses, sweat pants, carhart coat and old tennis shoes.
I'm learning to not get stressed out by this. I'm sure there will be plenty of time later in life to 'have it all together'. In the meantime, I enjoy my time with my baby and am grateful that I get to work from home. I listen to music and pretend I'm the put-together gal I used to be, and I sometimes look at cookbooks and convince myself I'll try that recipe one of these days.
Maybe in 20 years.
But now... Now is a whole different story. When I wake up in the morning, I have a list of things in my mind that I want to get done during the day. Work trumps them all, of course. Well, Livi trumps them all, actually. But work is a close second. I usually get 100% of the things Livi needs completed. Bath time, play time, nap time, diaper changes, feedings, etc. Work -- I get about 85% of those things done. Everything else -- cooking, cleaning, getting dressed, combing my hair, etc., etc., etc.... well, I'm lucky if I get 5% of that done. Thankfully I've got a pretty laid-back husband who doesn't care if I cook, clean or get out of my pajamas. I'm still waiting to get surprised by the What Not to Wear team from TLC when I make a quick run to the grocery store in my glasses, sweat pants, carhart coat and old tennis shoes.
I'm learning to not get stressed out by this. I'm sure there will be plenty of time later in life to 'have it all together'. In the meantime, I enjoy my time with my baby and am grateful that I get to work from home. I listen to music and pretend I'm the put-together gal I used to be, and I sometimes look at cookbooks and convince myself I'll try that recipe one of these days.
Maybe in 20 years.
1.28.2010
word of the year...
Since it's nearly February, I figure I better get my New Year's Resolution up here. In 2010, I resolve to be austere -- Having no adornment or ornamentation. As I'm tweaking to make it my own definition, I'm going to try to spend as little $$$ as possible.
I don't expect it to be easy. My biggest downfalls are eating out and buying new clothes (frankly because my pre-pregnancy clothes don't fit). So, I figure by practicing some Callie-defined austerity, I'll save money, lose weight (eating out is apparently unhealthy) and fit into my old clothes (which will feel new), thus eliminating my need to buy new pieces of attire.
I think I could be on to something here.
I don't expect it to be easy. My biggest downfalls are eating out and buying new clothes (frankly because my pre-pregnancy clothes don't fit). So, I figure by practicing some Callie-defined austerity, I'll save money, lose weight (eating out is apparently unhealthy) and fit into my old clothes (which will feel new), thus eliminating my need to buy new pieces of attire.
I think I could be on to something here.