Dress for the Job You Want...?

You know that saying "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have"?

I was thinking about that today... My dream job is being a stay at home mom and author (preferably in a nudist colony... but we'll ignore that and carry on like I'm not crazy). So pretty much I could wear yoga pants and my husband's t-shirts all the time and no one would notice or care. And I would be pretty OK with that. (Yeah I know, we should dress for ourselves and feel pretty and yada yada yada, but I would at least like the option of staying in m pj's all day if I wanted too...).

I don't think my current job would be OK with that though.

If I were to dress for the job I want, I would be wearing this:

Comfy looking, huh?

My employer would prefer that I dress like this:

And my husband would prefer it if I dressed liked this:

You didn't think I was actually going to show you that did you?!

But seriously, I just wish I could wear my yoga pants everywhere, all the time.

I don't know.. maybe it's just me. I just want to wear me some stretchy pants.

"Chancho. When you are a man, sometimes you wear stretchy pants in your room. It's for fun." (tee hee)

How would you dress if you were to dress for the job you want?

PS - I just BARELY noticed this:

Yup.... I walked out the door this morning with two different boots on. Oops.

(Linking up with: Oh How Pinteresting, Friends to Followers, Weekly Wednesday Blog Hop, GFC Blog Hop and The Pleated Poppy)

A Break

Dear friends,

Due to lots and lots and lots of stuff needing to be done this week, I'm going to take a leave of absence.

This doesn't mean I won't post at all. It just means I am not going to be trying to post every single day. If I can, I will! I love my little space on the internet. But right now, I've gotta get stuff done!

So, please forgive the absence. I'll have a guest post for you this week! (If anyone else wants to do a guest post and reach a new audience, please email me!)

Love you all dear friends!

Sincerely,
A Very Busy Jeannie

Tidbits, Odds and Ends and News

So I have all this stuff I keep meaning to write about... but then I end up writing an entirely different post when I sit down and start typing. So here is a post about the odds and ends and tidbits. And some news. Some hair news. (Be ready to be amazed).

Last Saturday I got to take a much needed study break and go see Hotel Transylvania with my sisters. All three of them! The movie was hilarious (seriously, a must see for kids and adults. I laughed so hard.) And then we got to go over to the Sweet Tooth Fairy and get a cupcake! The little girls got fairyfetti. The big girls got Pumpkin White Chocolate Cheesecake (all in one cupcake. And yes, it was divine).

This was the first time I realized that all us sisters have the same nose!

These girls are the best. The youngest one with the missing teeth is 15 years younger than I am (she was born one week before my birthday!). We have a special bond being the "book ends" of the family. Us girls have to stick together cause we have four brothers (that is eights kids in all, y'all. My mother is a freakin' saint!)

They are such beautiful girls. I love them (and the oldest sister *not me, the second oldest sister* is really blooming. Not only is she almost taller than me, but she is drop dead gorgeous. Her brothers have to go with her to every party/outing to keep the boys at bay!)

I know that fall has been in the air, but... look at these pictures. Fall wasn't just in the air it was everywhere!

This is outside "my" house (it's really my in-laws, but I live there right now too). Gorgeous right?!

And it wouldn't be fall if I didn't show off my boots :)













 Of course, the morning after I took the pretty leave pictures:

That is snow. Everywhere. That picture on the left is me in my car, after my sweet neighbor helped dig it out and brush it off. And that is snow in my hair! WHY?!?!?!

Speaking of hair, some things have happened. If you follow me on twitter (what you don't follow me? WHY NOT? Pretty please follow me? I'm lonely with my five awesome followers. And sometimes I actually say stuff that is funny...) you'll see that I dyed my hair.

And then, do you remember that post I wrote about the whole liebster thingy and what I would change? Well, I don't really have a whole lot of patience with the growing out the hair thing so...

Yup. I put my extensions back in! (I had them in last year, took them out... long story short. They are back!) And I lllloooooooooovvvvveee having long hair. For me, I just feel infinitely more attractive when I have long hair. I don't know what it is, but for me my femininity is pretty much tied to the length of my hair. Go figure.

And last but certainly not least, my incredible sister brought me a Sausage McGriddle thingy and caramel hot chocolate this morning. Cause Friday was acting like a Monday. And because she loves me lots and lots. I don't know what I would do without my sister!








So there we go folks. An update of this week!  (And some of last week too...) Do you have any tidbits you'd like to share? I would love to hear about the little moments that made your week into a wonderful one!

(Linking up with: Faith Filled Friday, Friday Favorite Things, That Friday Blog Hop, Womanhood With a Purpose, Weekend Blog Hop, Feed Me Friday, Casual Friday )

Addicted... to Running

Miracles DO happen.

Yesterday I was able to run! For the first time in two weeks!!!

Shin splints have stopped me, and boy did I miss it. And I didn't realize how much until yesterday.

You see, I had a day from H-E-Double-Hell yesterday. The last two hours of work felt like I was being repeatedly rammed with a forklift. And the entire time I just kept on repeating to myself, "You can go home and run. Just make it through this and you can just go and R-U-N." I had forgotten about my shin splints and immediately reverted to the most stress relieving, happiest thing I could do (by myself... There are certain "marriage activities" that can be even better, but I digress).*

Well I made it home in one piece, and scowled at the clouds and gloomy weather and cold wind. And after I walked in the door... my dears, stuff hit the fan. It wasn't pretty. I may have had some angry tears spilling from my frustrated eyes. (And believe it or not, it wasn't all my husband's fault!) So when I had finally thrown on my running clothes, bundled up and found some gloves, I was out the door like a shot.

Even though it had been two weeks I was so angry I managed to run my first mile in decent time (compared to my time, which is the only time that matters). But what surprised me wasn't that my anger melted away as I pushed my feet against the cold pavement. Or that breathing in that crisp air filled my soul with serenity. The surprising thing was that once I started running this feeling of comforting familiarity settled over me. Much like finally getting to curl up on the sofa and have a nice long chat with your best friend. That feeling of, "This is where I belong. This is where my soul flourishes and my body finds peace."

And that is when it hit me: I am a runner.

I've always thought I was just a wanna-be runner. I have only ever done more than 3.5 miles once (and I thought I was going to die). It is only in the past two months that I have been truly consistent (until the shin splints...). And yet, my mind more than my body craves running. I almost feel addicted. Something in me is satisfied and at peace once I can run. And if I go too long without running I start to feel mentally itchy, and running is the only way to scratch.

God gave me an incredible gift while I was calming mind and sou and pushing my body. It had been cold and cloudy and rainy all day. It was a real gloom fest. Until my run. And then the early evening sun bathed the clouds and leaves in a warm, golden light that blessed this time of change. Everything became instantly more beautiful. As the light hit my face I felt like Autumn herself was giving me a loving caress.

This was the tale end of the light. You should have seen the golden
glory that splashed the world in wonder!

What I want to do is encourage all you "wanna-be's". I used to hate running. Sometimes, in the midst of pushing myself past my comfort zone, I still do. But you can reach a place of addiction too. (You know, rarely is there at time when one can say that and not mean something incredibly unhealthy...) And if running isn't what you want, then I think you should find something that is just for you. I don't run for anyone else. I run for me. I run to healthy in body and mind. I run so I don't have to take anti-depressants. What do you do for you?

(Linking up with It's Almost Friday Thursday Blog Hop, Black Tag Diaries, First Day Of My Life, Kate Says Stuff, Pretty Little Inspirations Blog Hop, Friends to Followers, Link and Mingle, Weekly Wednesday Blog Hop, Follow Me Wednesday, Pretty Little Inspirations and Lovely Little Whimsy.)

Fact Is...

Fact: I don't think there is any way on earth I'll be ready for my 10K in a month. These shin splints and I are at odds about this whole experience. Its lame.

Myth: I can run five miles consistently while singing "Call Me Maybe" (not that I know all the words or anything....)

Fact: I have to come up with an alternative way of working out without murdering my shins (I've thought about it, but then I realized I don't have the admirable lizard quality of regrowing limbs). Last year I got into the best shape of my life while doing P90X and Yoga (not the P90X yoga, a different one). So that's the plan. I looked and felt amazing. I was confident and my body was strong. So I am going back to that plan. It really worked!

Myth: I once ate an entire lasagna.

Fact: Sometimes I struggle with how in the world I am supposed to have a healthy self image, especially when it comes to working out. You see, I know I've been writing a posts about healthy body image and working out for the right reasons. And I can honestly say I am doing so much better. But I still get really frustrated because I know I am not doing my personal best. Remember how I said last year I was in the best shape of my life? I want to be back there. I was so healthy! I was in shape. Really, really good shape. I had to go out and buy new clothes cause mine were too big! I don't fit in any of them any more.

I guess what I am trying to say is I am trying to go about this in a healthy way. I want to look my best (which I think is healthy, as long as I am not comparing my best to someone else's best. See the difference?) and I want to fit back into those clothes from when I was in such good shape. I know I can do it (I did it before!). But I need to keep my focus healthy! I don't think it is bad to want to be where I was... (and I have all these adorable jeans I want to fit into!). Do I sound hypocritical? Writing helps me figure things out, and that is what I am trying to do now...

Myth: I enjoy eating tacos in the rain.

Fact: I think the word "squat" is an incredibly ugly and horrible word. And a terribly hard exercise to do repeatedly. 

Myth: I once ate an entire banana. 

So there you have it. How do you think I should approach this whole "wanting to fit in my skinny skinny-jeans" dilemma? I still want to be a good example to others and myself by staying true to me. But I really do want to be smaller and fit into smaller clothes. I don't feel that I will have greater worth if I am back to a Size 6 (what used to be my ultimate and once reached goal). I just know that I will 1) be healthier and more active. b) have more jeans to wear. c) feel more attractive. 

Any ways, I'll stop rambling... (but seriously, I would love some feedback guys!)

(Linking up with Nicholl at Fact Is Tuesday)

The Monday Blues

This Monday seems to have a bad temper. The weather is acting like a tired, hungry two year old: grey, tempestuous winds, dusty, and on the brink of losing total control.

I was attacked by a spider at work. There I was, minding my own business when out of no where this spider crawls right next to my hand!  And then on to my calculator. It just sat there in it's big, yellow, skeleton looking glory. It freaked me out. I, of course, ran from the room to find the first man I could. I found two of my co-workers (truly lovely, older gentlemen with daughters) and did a little panicky dance while quietly screeching, "There is a spider on my desk. Kill it! KILL IT!"

And being the sweet old souls they are, they did. And they only laughed at me for about ten minutes. Especially as I hid behind them while they found and killed it dead.

But that wasn't all Monday had in store for me. Nope. As it was Monday, I had lots of work to do. So the gremlin living in my printer decided to make things difficult. I innocently try to print something when it starts to make odd whirring noises. Lights were blinking and I swear I saw smoke coming out of it somewhere. The printer started shaking too. I bravely faced that demon printer and had to pretty much take it completely apart to find out what the matter was (nothing). I put it back together. Five minutes later BAM. Printer Gremlin: 2 - Jeannie:0

Stupid gremlins.

Well, I thought maybe that was all the chaos, when I was innocently typing and my computer just shut off. It didn't want to turn back on again. A co-worker came and fiddled with cords until it turned on. And I thought my troubles were over.

Wrong!

It turned off randomly three more times! I don't know what got into it! Or why?! I even asked it, pleading with the electronic gods and gremlins to plllleeeeeaaaasssssseeee just let the computer WORK. I think my agonized plea worked! It hasn't turned off since (Don't even THINK about it computer!)

Other things happened too. Like my yogurt exploding. Standing in line for an eternity at the post office. Things like that...

Luckily, the day is almost over! And I've survived this long, I am pretty sure I can make it through the rest of the day unscathed.

Any one else have some good Monday stories?

Story

Sometimes I just want to know what people are thinking. I mean, look at that lady over there in her car totally rocking out? She looks awesome. And maybe right now she is just thinking about rocking out, but after? I want to know. I want to know her story. When I have had the chance to overlook a city, I can't help but think about how many stories there are in every house. How much heartbreak and victory, joy and loss and feeling is happening as I sit watching those twinkling lights. Everyone has a story. It is another reason I love cemeteries. I often feel like I am standing in a wonderful, invisible treasure trove of stories. Each headstone marks a life of stories. Stories everywhere I look.

I love stories. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love stories. I love reading. I love movies. I love TV shows. And it isn't always just to be entertained, but because I love being a witness to a grand display of human emotion. Is it usually fictitious? Yes. But that doesn't change the fact that some brilliant person was able to channel their emotions, their understanding of other people's emotions and create a story that is touches me to the core.

That is why I want to be a writer. I want to let human emotions shape a story that touches someone. I want to move people to tears (happy or sad). I wrote a short story once that I put my heart and soul into. I could feel my heart pouring its emotional lifeblood into those words. It is currently my masterpiece (and is being reworked to be a full story). When I finally let other people read it be they professor, parent or peer, I am told how the story had resounded with them. It had stolen their sympathy and even brought some to tears.

I'm not telling you this to brag. I worked on that story for over three years (and I still am!), but each time I heard that my story meant something to someone, I felt my entire being want to burst into happy tears, a joyful dance and an outpouring of gratitude.

This is what I want. I want to write. I want to pour my whole self into something until it shapes itself into a meaningful tribute to life. It sounds like both an exhausting and exhilarating way to live. I believe that as we empty ourselves into something or someone, we will allow ourselves to be filled up again with truth, light and knowledge. I don't want to hold back love from anyone because it only makes room for more love. I don't want to stop myself from pouring everything I know into my stories because I am just making room for more. More everything. We don't need to worry about emptying ourselves because we are always being refilled.

I've been questioning why on earth I am taking the class I am right now. It is hard. It is overwhelming. It is fascinating. And it is teaching me more than the history of women. I am learning about human experiences. I am learning what people have been through. I am beginning to see how many stories have not been given a voice. And more than anything, a desire has been sparked to be that voice. I may create a fictional character, but my main goal is to give a face to the story of thousands. A voice to the sorrows, the hours of waiting, the intense joy and contentment felt over the years.

Sometimes I wonder if I am up for the task. It is a big responsibility, offering to be the voice of the silent and bygone. But I do know that I am going to try. Every person deserves to tell their story.

(Linking up with: Faith Filled Friday, Friday Favorite Things, That Friday Blog Hop, Womanhood With a Purpose, Five Minute Friday, Weekend Blog Hop,)