If I can do it...so can you! Just follow your dreams! Keep doing the things you LOVE!
-xx.Alex
As I continue on this journey to a better self worth, I have realized one thing in particular. I have found joy in all the things I used to love! I've started writing again, obviously. I can keep up with my blog. I've decided that I want to write a book or an e-book, even though I am not sure what about yet...IT WILL HAPPEN! I have also started reading again. I have my e-reader and have also purchased lots of books. Right now I am on my 4th book for this year. The one I am reading you can find in my Friday Faves! I have a whole list of others I want to get to and I am determined to keep up with it. Finally, I have always enjoyed taking pictures. I have a project called Project Life that documents just that, pictures. I am also so excited to announce that I got a job doing just that! I am so HAPPY that I get to do something that I love as a job!!!
If I can do it...so can you! Just follow your dreams! Keep doing the things you LOVE! -xx.Alex
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January is on its' way out the door and I am both ecstatic and sad to see it go. Winter and I have a love/hate relationship. Winter Faves - The first thing I think about when it comes to winter is the holidays! I love Christmas! I can't wait to see all the Christmas lights and decorations. We make plans with the family to see the Plaza Lighting each year on Thanksgiving and we always visit Christmas in the Park and the Magic Tree near Longivew. Let's not forget the cheesy holiday movies because let's face it...A Christmas Story is the best movie ever! I watch it at least 5 times during its 24- hour run each year! Netflix always has some pretty good ones during this time of year too! - I cannot resist the smell of winter. The scent in the air when snow is coming and once it blankets the groud. Cinnamon and real Christmas trees. Cookies baking in the oven. Wood burning in the fireplace. I have every candle and Scentsy bar stocked every year! - I also get my blanket obsession fix. I swear I have boxes full. Fluffy blankets, thin blankets, blankets from Mexico. Nothing beats being wrapped up in one of my flannel blankets, next to a blazing fireplace with my favorite book. - Snow! Lots and lots of snow! I cannot justify cold temperatures unless there is snow on the ground! And it has to be perfect snow so we can build snowmen and go sledding! I can't wait for Little Man to be old enough to tolerate the white fluffy stuff. - Boots/sweaters/leggings, oh my! I definitely don't reserve this comfortable clothing for cold temperatures. All the best colors and styles come out this time of year...and that leads to shopping! Can't help stocking up on some fleece lined leggings! - Can't forget those Kansas City Chiefs!!! No matter how they do during football season...I will ALWAYS be a Chiefs fan! (I vote Jeremy Maclin!) - Finally, my most favorite thing about winter...hot chocolate! My nightly hot chocolate drink is unhealthy, I know, but I can't help it. Mint hot chocolate, lots and lots of whipped cream, and marshmallows, can't forget loads of marshmallows! A little touch of baileys from time to time doesn't hurt either! My Winter Woes may take a bit longer so let's begin. - Cold. I only like being cold at night so I can wrap up in my blankets. Like I said before, I can't justify cold temperatures unless it's snowing. At least there is a reason for it to be cold. - Driving around in snow and even worse, ice. That stuff is dangerous to walk on let alone driving! I avoid getting out of the house at all costs if there is the slightest chance for the slippery precipitation. - My car gets dirty and it looks like I go off reading daily. There is nothing "cute" about that in a van. Dirty windshields are just gross. Make sure you have your windshield wiper fluid filled! - I hate not being able to warm up. Having to go outside and warm up the car, even though you aren't supposed to. And then once your driving you begin to sweat and you can either a-struggle to get your coat off, or b-turn on the AC. But by then you can't level off the temperature for anything! - Sometimes Mother Nature likes to tease us with warm temperatures to remind us of how much we miss the warmer seasons. Then BAM, we're back to freezing and Little Man is so upset he can't go out to play like he did yesterday. -Flu/cold...NO! I thought I was in the clear but oh no...I am battling it now. :( - Dry skin and chapped lips top this list. I have a nice, large collection of lotion and moisturizer for winter. Eco Chapstick and Baby Soft are applied hourly, if not every 15 minutes. They are my best friends this time of year! Woe is me!!! It's time for winter to pack it up and go! Don't hate me for saying this but I could use a good snow fall before this season is gone for good. Told you our relationship is very love/hate! Don't forget to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest! All of my links are up at the top! #teamfollowback !
I hope to start my Friday Favorites on Friday! -xx.alex This one goes out to all the Single Mamas! If parenthood wasn't hard enough...single parenting is just THAT much harder. But OH SO WORTH IT!!
YOU are doing GREAT! YOU are doing your BEST! YOU are worth it! YOU are making all the right choices...YOU know what is best for you and your children! You are Loved! You are Beautiful! You are enough! Keep your chin up Lady! It's only going to get better! Here are some cute pictures to remind you how AWESOME you really are! I like the first one in particular...My son would say my super power is the BEST HUGS! -xx.Alex With everything so digital this day and age, handwriting seems to be a lost art! I love to write! I look for every opportunity to write! When I write my blog posts, I hand write them first and then type them out. I've tried to do the list and calendar thing on my phone but I always end up just doing it myself. Here are the notebooks I write in everyday: My blogging ideas, my planner(artwork courtesy of Little Man), and my journal. Here's a look inside my planner just to show how far I take hand writing. (I'll do a post on bullet journaling later!) Here are a few ways to celebrate!
-Write a Letter You can send a letter, leave one for someone to find, slip a little one in your kids lunch! There is something personal/loving about receiving a handwritten letter. -Read a Book! If writing isn't your thing...read a book! It is just another way to appreciate the art of writing. -What Does Your Handwriting Say About You? Your handwriting can tell you a lot about yourself or someone else. It can tell you about willpower, confidence, and your current mood. Check out this link to find out about yours HERE! Mine says I'm shy and imaginative...SPOT ON! -Start a Journal/Diary!Studies have shown an increase in self worth and confidence when writing about your own daily events. Just taking a few minutes each day to write about it can bring you so much joy! Don't believe me? Try it out for a week! It is even more amazing to look back to see how much you have improved! Hand writing is therapy! -Write a Poem or Short Story! Get a piece of paper and your favorite writing utensil. Take 30 minutes and express yourself! Doesn't have to rhyme, it doesn't even have to be real life, and no one will ever have to see it! This is your time to be yourself! "The idea of just wandering off to a cafe with a notebook and writing and seeing where that takes me for a while is just bliss." -J.K Rowling What does your handwriting say about you?? What will you do to celebrate?? -xx.Alex ![]() So far, this month, I have been on a search for self improvement. I've tried to come up with some ways to boost my ego as a person, Mom, friend, sister, and daughter. When all comes down to it, I JUST WANT TO BE HAPPY!! I choose Happy! What does that mean to me? - Going with it! - Let it Go! (in my best Elsa voice!) - Looking for all things positive. - Doing the things that I want to do. - Pursuing things that I have dreamed about doing. - Looking at my lifestyle as a new book. It's beautiful and clean! - Choosing what is best for my Little Man. - Working on my health and my fitness. - Working towards finishing projects that used to bring me joy! - Doing everything to make life worth while. - My Litte Man and everything about him. The gentleman that I want him to be. - Choosing what is best for me. Choosing Happy means choosing all the things that make me feel good, I mean really good! Fantastic! Awesome! Inside and out! When you Choose Happy there are no regrets! What does "Choose Happy" mean to you?
All of my Social Media links are listed at the top of the page and on the side...FOLLOW ME! #teamfollowback -xx.Alex A bad day isn't the end of the world. Not everything has to be awful. We all have bad days and that is all it is! Tomorrow is just around the corner and if you cannot wait until then? Make your change now. Don't let it get you down...turn it into something positive and most importantly...just go with it! Follow through and don't ever give up! We all deserve something great! Start now! Be Epic Be You! -xx.Alex ![]() This weeks Sunday Encouragement comes right on the heels of a most groundbreaking realization. How can I possibly climb this exceedingly high ladder that is my future if I don't have the motivation? How can I find new groups of friends if I don't carry myself the way I should? How can I be an exceptional Mother if the unconditional love I have for my son, I don't have for myself? Answer? I need to LOVE myself. Seems simple right? Well the thought alone seems simple enough but actually succeeding means having to walk against the current and change the direction of this whirlpool. The light switch is flipped on but the breaker has been tripped. Next question, how? A little therapy never hurt no body. If you have a hard time rising yourself above it all, you need some time to talk it out. Even talking it out with a friend or family member can help. Unfortunately, for me...I also have a hard time with that. They know my story. I need a new slate, a new sheet of paper to lay it all out. I've done just that. "They are wrong...I am a GREAT person/Mom...here are three reasons why..." That's the first line in my journal every night. After listing reasons that sometimes seem hard to come up with...I rant. My journal is mine and mine alone. It doesn't have to be full of positive things if what I'm thinking and feeling is anything but. The only thing is, when I write these things out...I shut them away and leave them there. My hope is that, with time, the negative thoughts I have will become smaller and smaller...down to one line, one word even, and the first line will lead into a full page of nothing but love for myself. Nothing conceded about it...you have to love yourself before you can really succeed. You can have no doubts, no slip ups...you know you...you are perfect the way you were made...you can do this and you will come out of it with more strength than you ever thought you had. Keep repeating the things that make you feel good about yourself. Keep doing the things that make you feel good. Eventually your mind and soul will follow suit. The breaker will be fixed, your light will shine brighter than ever...the current you used to struggle against will carry you towards the things you will succeed in. Life will be much more free. Don't worry if the waters start to become a bit choppy. You were made for this...there is nothing in this world you can't overcome...you'll make it through!
Aside from journaling, there a few other things I plan to do to boost me up a bit. I love to read and I love to write. I am currently putting together a book collection...starting off with the After Series. (any other suggestions?) Blogging, like I'm doing now. I love writing...I love writing about things that mean something to me. My plan is to use what I know and learn on myself and the others. I hope you have enjoyed what little I have done so far! My biggest dream is to write a book. I would love to write something that others would enjoy. I have had ideas but have been unable to expand on them, that is until now. My only problem now is...time. I think I will start out slow and eventually, hopefully, have something started soon! I think this has turned into more of a blabbing session than anything but it has helped me! What are your hopes, dreams, ways of switching the current? All of my social media links are posted at the top of the page and the sidebar! Follow! I promise that I will follow back! #teamfollowback I have also added a new page up at the top called "Currently". Every month I am going to post a new current post. I may add in another for more significant events! Check it out! Until next time! -xx.Alex
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