Z is for ZERO 7

If a movie has a great soundtrack, it makes the movie that much better to me. 

I really enjoyed the movie Garden State starring Zach Braff and Natalie Portman.

Garden State had a fabulous soundtrack, full of great artists.  One of my favorite songs from the movie was  In the Waiting Line by ZERO 7.

It's a really chill, mellow song, and right now the only artist I can compare their sound to would be Dido, but that's a pretty bad comparison because their sounds are different.

Anyway, check out the Garden State soundtrack.  It's a good one!

P.S. Sorry!  This is such a sorry excuse for a post, but I'm really, really, really glad this challenge is over.  I'm glad I did it, but not sure I ever will again.  :)

Y is for YOUTUBE

I love YouTube.  I've never actually uploaded a video myself, but I have received countless good times while watching random videos that completely random people have made.

One thing that just blows my mind about YouTube is that people become famous from it.  They become rich from it.  It's insane.

If I knew that NOT knowing the answer to this question would make me famous, I would've stopped learning years ago!

Who knew having such an affinity for rainbows was so funny?



I don't know where I'd be if I couldn't watch this masterpiece with just a few clicks of a button.



And I'm pretty sure all of Britain was put to shame the minute this woman began to sing.

Let's face it, the world is a better place now that we have YouTube.

Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but let's just pretend it's true for today.

X is for generation X

I think the differences between generations is so interesting.  I really ought to do more research on the matter.  

Anyway, according to this website, I am a generation Xer.  There are plenty of interpretations of when Gen-X begins and when it ends, but it seems most people agree that this generation was born between 1965 - 1980.  And, despite the fact that there are plenty of words that begin with X {most of which I have no idea how to pronounce, let alone define and write a blog post about} I'm going with characteristics of Generation X for my post today.

Here we go!


Gen-Xers are geeks. Some of the most influential Web sites of today -- including YouTube, Amazon.com, and Google -- sprang from the minds of yesterday's video gaming, flannel-wearing slackers.


Gen-Xers are independent thinkers. Gen-Xers are often referred to as first latchkey kids. As the divorce rate rose in the 1970s, Gen-Xers were left to look after themselves while both parents entered the workforce. As a result, many Gen-Xers developed independence and self-reliance. They prefer to do things their own way and thrive in casual, friendly work environments [source: Theilfoldt and Scheef].


Gen-Xers are artists. There are well-known Xer artists (director Quentin Tarantino and actors Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt come to mind), as well as those who are known only inside their own circles of expertise. Kevin Bradley and Julie Belcher of Yee-Haw Industries are making waves in design, bringing back old letterpress techniques. Abattoir's up-and-coming Chef Joshua Hopkins is reimagining whole animal and farm-to-table cooking. Sarah Marks and Lori Kishlar of Third Half Studios regularly make the rounds of festival and craft shows with their macabre anime-like melamine dinnerware, prints and textiles.


You can read more about this article here.


I think I fit into a lot of this.  I do like technology.  My independence is very important to me.  And I do enjoy music, a lot.  


Are you apart of Gen-X?  Do you fit into any of these defintions?

W is for WATER

Is there anything more lovely than the sound of water?  I seriously doubt it.

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I love the water.  I love to watch it, listen to it, walk in it, swim in it.  You name it.

Before I was married, I had a small water fountain in my apartment.  It was the best thing to listen to at the end of a stressful day.  There was always something so tranquil and rejuvenating about it.  

I have the tendency to worry.  It's an innate quality that I'm not too fond of.  I can recall a few times when my worrying has got the better of me which has some unpleasant consequences.  Over the years, I've learned how to control my thoughts and feelings so that I don't let myself get too overwhelmed.  Because, usually, my worrying is exaggerated.

I think that is one reason why I'm drawn to water.  It automatically calms and relaxes me.

I hope, once Isabelle is older, I can get another fountain for my entryway.  I think it's a great focal point and a nice thing for people to see and hear when they first enter an area.

And maybe if I'm really lucky, I'll have a pool in my backyard.  :)

INSTAGRAM wednesdays: V is for VIOLIN

I began taking violin lessons when I was six years old.  It all started when I saw a violin in a music store.   Since then, I've had 4 different teachers, have played in countless recitals, participated in school and university orchestras.  Nowadays, though, I usually only play upon request at church functions or funerals.

I'm hoping to get more involved with a community orchestra because it really is a skill I'd like to keep up as long as possible.

If any moms or dads out there are reading this, if your children express interest in learning a musical instrument, please indulge them.  My parents knew absolutely nothing about the violin prior to me taking lessons, and if that had stopped them from letting me learn to play I guarantee my life would be completely different.

Share your INSTAGRAM photos!  Grab our button {right} and link up at Karen's blog.

U is for UTAH

I live in a nice suburb just north of Salt Lake City, Utah.  With the exception of a few years I spent in Idaho, I've lived in Utah my entire life.  It's a great place to live, and I'm happy here.

And, in case any of  you are wondering

Yes, I'm Mormon.

No, I'm not one of 15 wives married to the same man.

Ok, moving on...

Here are a few things I love about Utah

An good skyline with gorgeous mountains

An awesome library (aka where everyone gets their engagement pictures taken) right in the center of the city

A place for Winter sports

And a place for Summer activities

At Christmas time, I can walk through this whenever I want.

And the newest addition to the city is an indoor/outdoor mall.  Only shop here if you're fans of stores like Nordstrom and Tiffany & Co. just to name a few.

So, there's a little tour of my place of residence.  Utah is an easy target, but when all is said and done, it's not too shabby.

MUSIC mondays: TRAVIS

I first heard of Travis back in the day when we actually bought physical CDs and when it was still considered AMAZING to be able to preview an album at a music store like Borders before actually buying it.  

In other words, I've been a Travis fan for awhile.

I would guess that if you're a fan of bands like Radiohead or Muse, you'd enjoy Travis.  Their music is beautifully written, unique and powerful.  It's chill, but rockin' all at the same time.  Definitely something you'd hear at a coffee shop or on a One Tree Hill episode.

My favorite songs by Travis are Re-Offender {featured in the One Tree Hill episode} and Love Will Come Through

Be sure to add Travis to your music library.  They're definitely a band worth listening to.

S is for SO, ANYWAY

Do you ever have days that throw you total curve balls?  I tend to have days like that.  I'll prepare to do one thing, and then something completely different happens that throws the entire day off.

We had a day like that yesterday.

It all started when Dustin decided to take our dog Tod for a walk.  We had had a lazy morning so far, and I was still in all of my morning time glory - bed head, PJs, etc.  Anyway, as Dustin was stepping out the front door with Tod, our other dog Sammie decided she wanted to go too.  She ran out of the house NOT on a leash.  Dustin and I immediately went into panic mode because when Sammie gets loose it's a process getting her back.  With cheese in hand, Dustin went back outside and I came out to help.  Isabelle and Tod were left inside.  I closed the door behind me and immediately realized I had locked us out.  Right before Sammie escaped, Dustin had locked the door and I didn't know.

"Do you have keys?"  I said.

"Yes."  I stopped panicking.

We caught Sammie and started to head to the door.  Dustin tried the knob.  It was still locked.

"You said you had keys."

"I thought you said cheese."

Crap, we were locked out with our daughter inside.

Luckily, our neighbor was out and about, so we used his phone to call a locksmith.  As usual, they said it would "be awhile."  I suggested we call the police since Isabelle was in the house.  So, we called the cops and they agreed to come out to help, but when they got there they said all they could do was kick the door down.  I didn't want to have to pay for a new door, so that wasn't an option.  Plus, it would've scared Isabelle to death and I wasn't willing to put her through such trauma.

So, the cop called another locksmith that said they could come out in about 15 minutes.  Our only choice was to just wait.

In the meantime, I was talking to Isabelle through our window right by the door.  Thankfully, it is low to the ground so she was able to see us and we her.  I tried over and over to get her to unlock the door, but, of course, she had no idea what to do.

The locksmith arrived and within minutes, we were back in our house.  Isabelle had quite the adventure with some leftover Easter basket grass.  I think she enjoyed her time alone and I was so grateful to be back in the house I didn't mind having to clean it all up.

After we paid the locksmith, we tried to go about the rest of our day as planned.  It was such a "so, anyway" moment I couldn't help but laugh.

P.S. Isabelle now knows how to unlock the door.

R is for ROSES

I feel like roses sometimes get the shaft.  Have you ever heard anyone ever say, "Roses are so typical.  I like unique flowers." 

Ugh.

If someone gives me flowers, I don't care what kind they are, I love it.  There's nothing like a vase full of fresh flowers to brighten up my day and my house.

One year for my birthday, my co-workers bought me this vase of absolutely stunning pink roses.  Seriously, look at them, aren't they just amazing?

So, yes, I'm one of "those girls" that loves and adores roses.  Call me bland or not unique, but I think they are the prettiest flowers around.

Q is for QUOTES

I stumbled upon this quote while I was in college.  I have no idea where it came from, but I immediately wrote it down and kept a copy of it in my day planner.

Become not weary in doing that which is small

for only persisting in that which is small

do we lay the foundation for that which is great

Too often, I find myself worrying about the big things:  having the right house, the right car, the right wardrobe, the right gadgets, etc.  

But, this quote reminds me that it is the small things that really count.  If I make a small effort to keep my house clean every day, I'll never have a huge mess to clean up.  If I make a small effort to lose 1 lb a week, I'll lose 52 lbs in one year.  If I take one second out of my day and smile at a stranger, I might just make their day.  If I make dinner, I know my husband will appreciate it more than anything when he comes home from work.  If I read one book to my daughter, she'll love it just as much as if I took her to Disneyland.

Never underestimate the small things in life.  

The small things are what build character.  The small things build lasting relationships.

INSTAGRAM wednesdays: P is for PASTA

I love, love, love pasta!

If I absolutely love a dish, it usually involves pasta.

Join the fun!  Link up at Karen's blog and show off your pictures!

<a href="<a href="http://www.emilysthoughtblog.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#163872">http://www.emilysthoughtblog.blogspot.com/</span></a>" target="_blank"><img src="http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m205/eclark730/IG-Blog-Button.jpg" border="0" /></a><br/>

O is for OPEN

I try to be very open in my life.

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I think there are several ways to accomplish this.

I try to be open in my mind and be respectful of new ideas or new opinions.

I try to be open with new people by not judging them by the way they look.

I try to be open with trying new things or traveling to new places.

I try to be open in how I spend my time by going outside and enjoying the great outdoors. 

And most recently I'm trying to be open with how I cook by experimenting with new recipes.

I think being open is such a refreshing way to live.  It is very easy to get stuck in our ways which can lead to missed opportunities.

I have found that by trying to remain open, I am able to get along with a lot of different types of people, I find out new things about myself and am overall a more well-rounded person.

MUSIC mondays: N is for NO ONE'S GONNA LOVE YOU

Ok, despite the seemingly downer title of the post, I am really excited to feature the song

NO ONE'S GONNA LOVE YOU

by Band of Horses from their Cease to Begin album.

Perfection.  I absolutely LOVE this song and it has pretty sweet lyrics.

Check out Band of Horses if you haven't yet.  They have some great, great albums and songs!

M is for MOTHERHOOD

This is a post I originally wrote right before Isabelle turned one year old.  I enjoy reading my previous posts, especially when it comes to motherhood.  Motherhood has rocked my world.  I don't think I'll ever consider myself anything but a "new mom" just because I feel like I'm constantly learning new things and changing and growing as a person all the while taking care of my little Bellie.

Enjoy!

THE HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE

My doctor decided to induce me six days before my due date because I was progressing well and my blood pressure was so high. It was a surreal experience waking up the morning of my appointment knowing, in a matter of hours, Isabelle would be here. It was much less exciting than having my water break randomly and rushing to the hospital, but I personally preferred having more control over the situation.

After I was hooked up to all the machines, I learned I was in the middle of a contraction. My labor and delivery nurse asked if I was in any pain, which I wasn't. I realize now (assuming the nurses/doctors would've let me), had I got the epidural as soon as I arrived I may have escaped the pain of contractions altogether. Because I waited a few hours before asking for the epidural, I now know the pain and discomfort they cause. It wasn't an enjoyable experience by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm glad I know what they feel like.

I've come to the conclusion that more often than not, nurses are really inconsiderate, condescending and overall lame. While I really liked my labor and delivery nurse, my recovery nurse and Isabelle's nurse were not my favorite. My nurse didn't seem too concerned with my needs, but rather getting through her shift. Isabelle's nurse focused more on scaring me half to death by letting me know all the horrible things that could happen if I didn't follow her guidance explicitly. I suppose I could've asked for new nurses, but taking my ER experiences into consideration I knew I didn't have a great pool of people to choose from. Bottom line, I learned not to take them too seriously.

THE INSTANT BOND

Being pregnant was a wonderful experience for me. I realize I had a cake walk of a pregnancy compared to others, but feeling Isabelle and experiencing her movement multiple times a day was very fun. She and I were buddies and it was a special 9 months.

On the other hand....

All of my life, I heard women express the instant bond they felt the first time they saw their baby. This was definitely not the case for me. Isabelle was born 5.5 hours after I got to the hospital. It was a very fast process and I pretty much went from one thing to the next with very few "waiting" periods. Before I knew it, I was looking at Isabelle. The first thing I remember thinking is how much she looked like Dustin. I wasn't overcome with any strong feelings. It wasn't until a few weeks had gone by that I began to bond and love her the way I always imagined. The bond grew when I knew she trusted me, when she recognized me and smile at me. It's a little difficult for me to admit I didn't bond with my daughter right away, but that's just how it happened.

FULL-TIME MOM

Anyone who reads my blog on a regular basis knows the transition from full-time employee to full-time mom was not easy for me. I had no idea how much I relied on my job for validation and a sense of worth and purpose. It was very difficult for me to appreciate the role of a stay-at-home-mom. Often times, I felt like I wasn't doing enough or that I was lazy. It wasn't until months had gone by that things started to click. It sounds very irrational, even ludicrous, that I didn't realize the importance of what I was doing, but I'm glad I went through it all because it was a great learning experience for me.

INFORMATION VS. INSTINCTS

My Bachelor's degree is in Family Studies. While in school, I often joked about how I would be such a great parent because I studied so much about parenting skills, childhood development, etc. As soon as Isabelle was born, I learned that my wealth of information wasn't always useful or practical. In fact, doing what "they" say you should was usually overshadowed by what would work in the here and now. While having information is a great tool and I refer to it often, I learned it was also important not to overlook my instincts and to trust my abilities. After all, "they" don't know everything. :) (Side note...during my pregnancy I started to read "What to Expect When You're Expecting." After a few chapters, I decided to use the book as a reference when I had a specific question. I liked this routine because it helped me focus on what was really going on with my body rather than filling my mind with what could potentially happen.)

TV

Although unexpected, my view of TV has changed this past year. I'm a big fan of crime shows, but I can no longer stomach watching shows in which children are harmed. It used to be just TV, nothing personal. Now, it's really personal. While I'm not paranoid or live in constant fear, I now realize more than ever the importance of good quality entertainment.

I always knew child abuse in any form was wrong; however, I now believe a person that abuses a child is nothing short of evil.

And now, last but not least........

DUSTIN

I absolutely love Dustin. He is a great husband and father. He is always there for me when I need him. I know he was nervous and unsure about having a baby, but I know that throughout this year he has grown to love Isabelle in a way I don't think he anticipated. I know he enjoys being a father.

Isabelle absolutely adores him. She knows when she hears the sound of the garage door opening, it means daddy is home from work. She gets so excited that she screams when she see him walk through the door. I love watching the two of them interact.

In the end, this year has left me feeling so content, so complete. I love my little family and I look forward to all the challenges and fun times that lie ahead.

P.S.

They say "it's different with your own kids." It's true. There's no explaining it. It's just true.

L is for LEFT

Are you right handed or left?  I'm left.

Are you right brained or left?  I'm left.

Do you have a daughter that is being completely whiney, making it almost impossible to hear your own thoughts? Affirmative.

I'm left with no choice but to call this post good for L.

K is for KNIGHT

It's almost 6:00 PM and I'm just barely posting about the letter K.  I'm a little behind and lacking a little bit of inspiration.  But, then I remembered a funny story about my friend Karen {whose name just happens to start with K and even though she lacked inspiration on E day and didn't write about me, I'm not bitter and still writing about her on K day}.

And, I swear I'm not bitter.

Anyway, Karen and I initially met through mutual friends at church.  We later became roommates.  And then she encouraged me to apply for a job at her work.  The job was taking incoming phone calls from all sorts of people involved in the trucking industry.  It was a glam job, let me tell you, but it was perfect for college students so it all worked out.

Anyway, part of our job was to authorize checks.  In order to authorize the checks, we had to get what was called a money code.  Money codes were ridiculously long alpha-numeric codes that were often very confusing to understand when you found yourself talking to someone whose first language was not English and had a very strong accent.  It was our job to always verify the money code after it was given to us, and part of that process was to be very clear about the letters.  So, we'd say "A as in apple, F as in Frank, etc." 

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Well, one day Karen was talking to a lady that gave her the letters phoentically, and she chose to say "K as in Knight."  Karen, being the smarty pants that she is, thought it was funny that someone chose to use Knight to represent K when clearly the K is silent and completely voids why you say things phonetically.  So, anyway, when Karen went to verify the money code, she said K as in Knight so this lady hopefully picked up on the fact that it was a horrible word to use.  Why not K is for Kite?

Apparently this lady, after hearing Karen repeat the money code, said, "I guess Knight is kind of confusing, huh?"

We had a good laugh after that one.  Clearly, our job was lacking in the entertaining department.

P.S. Do you remember that phone call, K-Lo?

INSTAGRAM wednesdays: J is for JUNK food

Easter is still lingering in our household.

To consume or not to consume.  That is the question.

As a side note, I'm happy to announce that Karen will be co-hosting INSTAGRAM wednesdays with me.  This amazing and fun app is now available to Android users.  Check it out and be sure to link up next week!

I is for ISABELLE

I refer to my daughter as "the daughter" or "my daughter" a lot on my blog.  But, after thinking about it for awhile, I decided it's time to reveal her name:

ISABELLE

I don't think I'll post any pictures of her for privacy reasons, but I don't think there is much harm in people only knowing her name.

I've always loved the name Isabelle.  Long before I was married, I knew if I ever had a daughter I would name her Isabelle.  Luckily for me, Dustin also had a liking for the name, so whenever we discussed baby names, Isabelle was always on the top of our list.

As far as nicknames go, there is only one that is off limits:  Izzy.  I can't stand the name Izzy!  Blah.  Other than that, we're pretty open.  We call her Belle, Bells and, our favorite, Bellie.  Sometimes I call her Isa, much to Dustin's dismay.  :)

I really hope as Isabelle grows older, she loves her name.  I wanted to make sure I gave her a strong name, one that she could grow into and that would be a good fit no matter her age.

MUSIC mondays: H is for HARDER to BREATHE

I remember first hearing HARDER to BREATHE on the radio and loving it.

I remember hearing it again awhile later.

And again a bit after that.

Each time, I thought to myself, "How come this song isn't played more often?  It's great!"

I also thought, "How come I don't own this album?"

So, seriously, after months of sporadically hearing this song, I finally bought the album, Songs About Jane by Maroon 5.

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And then, seriously, what felt like a minute later, it, along with all the other songs from the album, were played non-stop.  I pretty much stopped listening to the album because of overkill.  But, every now and then, I'll listen to HARDER to BREATHE {because, for whatever reason, I still don't hear it as often as the other songs} and I still love it.

G is for GIRLFRIENDS

The older I get, the more I realize how important girlfriends really are.  I'm lucky enough to have a few close friends.  Some live close by.  Some live in different states. Regardless of location, whenever we get together, it's as though no time has passed at all.

I am still good friends with three girls I met in junior high school.  

We remained friends all throughout high school and, thanks to the Internet, stayed in touch when we all went our separate ways upon graduation.  Now, nearly 13 years later, we're all married, have 7 kids between the four of us and can still spend hours and hours talking to each other just like the good ol' days.

I also met a lot of really great people during my college days.  I had numerous roommates, but have really only kept in touch with one.  And that person is Karen.  I can't really say enough good about Karen.  She was my rock during pivotal moments of my life.  She introduced me to my husband.  She listened to me vent, didn't judge when I made stupid mistakes and overall the best influence in my life at that time.

Now, years later, we live in different states and are in different phases of our lives, but we continue to be close.  We text regularly.  We e-mail frequently.  And we try as best we can to visit each other a few times a year.

As my daughter grows and meets new people, I hope she can find good, solid friends like I have.  Friends really do influence us, be it good or bad.  And I hope my friendships with these lovely ladies will encourage my daughter to find a new of her own BFFs.

F is for FLEXIBILITY

My high school gym teacher always had her students stretch at the beginning of class.  I remember her explaining to the class that stretching and being flexible is so important because as we grow and age our bodies change.  But, she told us, if we did stretching exercises each day, we would have less problems later in life.

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I don't know why I've always remembered that, and I think I'm going to have to start doing my stretching exercises every day because I think bending over to pick something off the floor will prove useful throughout my entire life.

But, this post isn't just about the importance of physical flexibility.  It's more about being flexible in life.  I have learned that life tends to throw a lot of curve balls.  I have also come to believe that all things happen for a reason.  Because of this, when life takes me in a different direction that I want or have even planned, I try to look at the situation with a greater perspective.  I often ask what I'm suppose to be learning from my new path, or what I'm suppose to be doing instead of what I was wanting to do.

For example, this time last year I had told my husband I felt very strongly about having another baby.  As a family, we were in transition mode.  We were living in a small apartment while we looked for a new house and my husband had just started a new job.  Adding another bundle of joy to the mix was probably the last thing he wanted to do, but we came up with a plan that worked.  Because it took practically no time at all for me to get pregnant the first time, we prepared for me to get pregnant right away.

Well, after a year of trying I'm still not pregnant.  And in some ways I'm surprised and wonder if there is something wrong with me.  But, in other ways, I feel a sense of peace when I think about the fact that maybe it's just not the right time.  I'm not sure why I thought it was the right time a year ago, but life works in mysterious ways sometimes.

Instead of being mad or angry, I'm choosing to be thankful for the daughter I already have.  I'm also choosing to be flexible with my life in terms of where I go from now.  Not too long ago I had this strong impression to apply for a job and am already seeing the benefits the extra income has had on my family.  The time away from my daughter has also proved worthwhile in that I cherish my time with her so much more.  And, my husband and I are making the most of the time we have together, even if it's just cuddling and watching videos on YouTube for a few minutes before we go to bed.

I'm grateful for whatever it is inside me that enables me to be flexible with life.  I'm grateful that when things don't go the way I expect, I'm able move forward and continue to be happy and find joy on the road I've been led to.

E is for EASTER

When it comes to holidays, Dustin tends to be really low key about everything.  He's your typical "put the Christmas tree up on December 24th and take it down once the presents are all open" type of guy.  And after nearly seven years of marriage, I'm totally cool with his perspective and the two of us have come to compromise on a lot of things.  For example, the Christmas tree can't be put up before Thanksgiving {for him}, but it can't come down until after New Years Day {for me}.

Easter, however, is a whole other ball game.  He absolutely loves Easter.  And, now that we have our daughter, he loves the holiday even more.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy Easter too, but it's not my favorite.

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We always buy our daughter a new dress to wear to church.  We always do an indoor and outdoor Easter egg hunt, per Dustin's standards the eggs MUST be real.  We do not hunt for fake, plastic eggs in our household.  We also fill our daughter's Easter basket full of fun goodies that usually include candy, books and some bigger gift like a movie.  And we always prepare a nice meal to enjoy together as a family.

I'm starting to look forward to Easter more and more because I love that Dustin loves it so much.

Enjoy your Easter holiday this weekend!

INSTAGRAM wednesdays: D is for DOGS

We have two dogs.  Sammie, the crazy Cocker Spaniel and Tod the mutt.  Tod is a rescue dog, so we're really not sure what he is exactly.

Most days, time with the dogs is great.  Other days (like when I find them sleeping on my recently washed linens), I have to look at fun pictures I've taken of them to remind myself that they really are good dogs.

{This post is linked up with iPPP}

C is for CREATE

Next week is the two year anniversary of my thought blog.  To celebrate, I'm going to share the video that inspired me to start it in the first place.   I know I've posted it at least two other times, but I just love it and can't imagine anyone else not being inspired by it's simple, yet profound message.

This blog serves a great purpose for me in my life.  It is my creative outlet.  I often lose track of the basic reason for this blog, and that is to write and to express myself.  It's not about giveaways, having a huge following or even making money.  I've noticed that when I divert my attention from what this blog really is, I'm less satisfied with the result.  But, when I'm true to myself and write about things I love {even when they don't generate a lot of comments or attention}, I'm overall much more content.

Thanks to all of you for your comments and support.  It has really had an impact on my ability to CREATE.

P.S. For anyone who is interested, this video is based off of a talk that can be read here.
Learn more about my faith here.

MUSIC mondays: B is for BRAND NEW DAY

I've mentioned before that I love Joshua Radin.  His music just gets me, if that makes any sense.  It's simple, it's uplifting, it's relaxing.  I seriously could listen to him all day long.  And somedays I do.

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Today, I'm featuring his song BRAND NEW DAY from his Simple Times album.

I love what brand new days represent.  To me, they represent new beginnings, a chance to fix problems, or to try something new.  I try to wake up each morning with the perspective that that day is brand new, and that I don't have to live a same ol' same ol' kind of life.

If you haven't heard of Joshua Radin yet, be sure to check out his music.  You won't be disappointed!

a is for ALWAYS ASKING

I am participating in the A to Z Challenge this month.  I plan to continue doing my weekly MUSIC mondays and INSTAGRAM wednesdays throughout the month just in case any of you are big time fans of those posts.

Today's post is inspired by my daughter.  She is ALWAYS ASKING for something.  I seriously mean ALWAYS.  It is a new phase that's she's going through and it's both mentally and physically exhausting.

She always wants the one toy I neglect to get down from the shelf.  As soon as I get her breakfast ready and sit down to eat my own, she's asking for more cereal.  More juice.  More milk.  As soon as she's dressed and ready for the day, she's asking to wear something different.  As soon as we get ready to play outside, she wants to go inside.

It makes for difficult, long days.  She never seems to be content with the here and now.  She is always looking for something else to feed her or entertain her.  Don't get me wrong, I realize this is typical 3 year old behavior, but it's a new development and I'm still adjusting.

You might wonder why I give in to all her demands.  I don't give in to all of them.  And, when I don't, I get to endure a long, loud tantrum.  The easy way out is to definitely give her what she wants, but obviously that is not how I want to raise my daughter.

So, in the meantime, I take it a day at a time.  I try not to be too difficult on myself by constantly wondering why nothing I do seems to suffice.

Of course, when my daughter says, "Mommy, look," and I glance in her direction only to see her signing "I love you" it makes everything else worthwhile.