My Year With Eleanor + Noelle

I finally feel like I actually have something non-narcissistic to post.  Sometimes I feel like my blogs are all about me, me, me and no one wants to know that much about me personally.  [I think]

My new book I'm reading has inspired me in more than one way - so why not brag blog about it.

My Year With Eleanor.

I saw it at Half Price Books and was immediately drawn to it, as the author's name was Noelle - spelled correctly the everything.  After I opened up the front cover and began to read more about this memoir, I realized that her Noelle and me Noelle were basically the same person.  From her former job as a celebrity blogger (a job I WISH I had) to her time unemployed and searching for a job/career/life that is fulfilling and happy and purposeful - she works on conquering her fears after seeing the Eleanor Roosevelt quote in a coffee shop - "Do one thing every day that scares you."
She uses the time between her 29th and 30th birthdays to discover herself, the world around her and  overcoming her worst fears.

I only got through maybe 30 pages last night, as I swear, every other page, I had to write down quotes from the book that I wanted to remember.  Among other things, only 30 pages in, it is already inspiring me to use this time in my life to think, discover, overcome and enjoy every day.  I KNOW I have a million and one things to work on internally and externally - and it is okay to actually work on them and try to change.  I'm keeping a list on my phone of things to do or ways to keep me on track and organize every piece of my life.  Organization is key! Says Noelle Hancock.  And I agree.

Amelia Noelle

There is not much more I can even say - as words are not even close to enough to talk about the birth of my niece, Amelia Noelle.  Not only that, but I'm beyond honored and quite speechless by the choice of middle name.  Needless to say, I had no clue until I found out she was born and boy, did that blow me away.  Good thing I was at work.  lol
In any case, I couldn't be happier and couldn't be more proud of my sister for already being an amazing Mom for the 2nd time around.  Not an easy job by any stretch of the imagination.  Especially with limitations like living in a different state.  

I am only four days away from FINALLY getting to meet Amelia.  And let me tell you, it has been a LONG couple of weeks waiting for my trip to Florida.  But I know it will be worth it and I know it will be great timing to help my sister attempt to fly home with a 3 year old and a 3 week old.  It will be an adventure to say the least.

And now, for your viewing enjoyment...

Don't you think she looks like her Auntie Noelle??

Like Butter

He never ceases to amaze me....never disappoints or let's me down.  I guess there are a few men that I could describe using those words but the man of the hour that I'm talking about is Mr A-Z himself.....


JASON MRAZ.

[I'm pretty sure I use any excuse to post these pictures...]

My love for him has only grown in the 9 years I have been listening to him.  I've seen him live in concert at least 7 times - mind you, each of those shows was at a completely different venue - which only shows how much he has grown in popularity.  Each show is unique in its own right and his voice sounds just as good live as it does recorded. 

Yesterday, Mraz released a new single in which I am HOH [headoverheels] in love with.

Watch, listen and melt away....

Do You Believe?

I couldn't help but watch these videos, as I was doing my daily lunch look-over of People.com.  


This 18 year old man boy was born with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.  I can barely say the word, let alone live with such a scary disease.  This young man's lifelong health struggle made him face some pretty tough things from a young age.  The way he so beautifully told his stories through note cards and youtube is just breath-taking.  Unfortunately, the reason for this video to start on its viral journey is because Ben Breedlove passed away on Christmas Day.  These videos are bringing the family a small piece of solace that Ben is okay and that he believes.

Every now and then [more than I would like to admit] I always need something like this to jolt me from my pity party and realize that my life is pretty great compared some so many battles that people fight on a daily basis.

All I can say after tearfully watching Ben's last two videos is - I believe.

It's a Pajama Jeans kind of Christmas

I mean what I said.  2011 was a pajama jeans kind of Christmas as I received a pair of beyond comfortable pants.  They look like jeans and feel like pajamas.  Can't go wrong. 

Here I am sporting the PJs.  Tell me they don't look like regular jeans!

My parents were also beyond generous and bought Rian and I (and my sister and Bryan) an HP Touchpad.  It will be perfect for skypeing when the Pershings are off in sunny Florida for January and February!




Overall, it was such a blessed Christmas and was so happy to spend time with family.  The older I get, the more I appreciate that time and wish we could all be together more often.  Maybe it's on me to start that!

30 Days....

I have 30 days to do something cool.  To live a little more life than I usually do.  That is my goal for June 2011.  I find myself more and more struggling to get through each week...not the weekends, really, but the week days.  I wish away the days during the week...the days I have to work....thinking that they are only preventing me from living a great life on the weekends.  Now I know that has a lot to do with the fact that I'm [still] not satisfied with my job and work life.  BUT, another huge goal of the upcoming months is to dig deep to find out what I might want to do career wise.  Now that my fantastic husband is employed [thank ALL of the Gods that I've been praying to for that] - I feel a little more free to really discover what is going to make me happy in my work life.

Career Searching Tip - I suggest keeping a work journal on your desk for you to write down things you like and don't like about your job - or what some dream/nightmare aspects of a job would be for you.

So as I set out on this 30 day journey...please bare with me.  I may miss a few postings, I may not do extraordinary things every single day, but I will do my best to live a little more and a little better.  I know I have so much to be grateful for and I should treasure every day A LOT more than I do.  Every day is a gift that is never promised to us, but we should acknowledge how special each day is and appreciate the people around us who make our lives worth living.

10

1. Vacations – planning, counting down, taking them, experiencing them [but not coming home from them]  You know those people who say, "it's been a good trip, but I can't wait to get home to my own bed, etc" Well, I am NOT one of those people.

2. Concerts - As you can see from my previous post, I have a thing for live music and entertainment.  There is no other rush like it that I get when the lights completely go dark, the music begins and the show has started.  Nothing like it.

3. Owen - My nephew and Godson is one of my most favorite people in the world.  The closest thing I have to a child of my own and I love him just like that.  Every minute I get to spend with him and watch him grow up and teach him things and hear him call me 'TeeTee' is a blessing.

4. Time with good friends - As I grow older and my world starts to change, more and more I realize the value of friendship.  I am blessed with some amazing friends, some I've known forever and some that I just feel like I've known forever.  Day after day, our lives grow more and more busy, so the time we spend together is limited, but it only makes me appreciate the time we DO get to spend together even more. 

5.  All Things Disney - Anyone who knows me probably knows about my love of Disney.  It started when I was probably 4 years old and has multiplied every year.  All the trips to DW and DL, watching vacation planner videos every Saturday morning, listening to Subsonic Radio every day at work {wishing I was in DW instead of a cube}, sharing information and watching Disney videos with my Dad, taking my husband on his first {of many} trips to DW and seeing him enjoy it and thinking about how happy all things Disney makes me.  

6. My Workout Buddy - Never have I ever worked out and gone to the gym on such a regular basis as I have since I found my workout buddy, Kelly.  Since January, her and I have had a pretty good weekly schedule of what days we do which classes at which YMCA location.  {For me} the motivation for going to classes and keeping to that for a long time has been huge.  Not only has it helped me with myself and taking care of myself, but it has been a huge gift to have a friend supporting you along the way.  It is SO different having someone you can talk to before, during and after class - but most importantly - someone to look over at, roll your eyes and say 'I'm dying!'

And yes...Kelly and I wore our wedding dresses last summer for the Bachelorette finale!

7. Sun - Something that we haven't had much of in the past couple months.  I cannot believe the winter we have had and how much I am looking forward to nice weather.  With sun comes sand volleyball, outdoor patios, backyard BBQ's, outdoor baseball, zoo trips with Owen and of course walks around the lake with my dog and my husband.     

8. My Future - If I have learned anything this year, it is that you cannot completely control or predict your future.  But, I am learning to embrace the unknown and realize that wherever life takes me - my future will be amazing.  Down the road, there are so many adventures that await R and I and I am happy and excited to get there.  

9. My Family - Without the love and support of my family, I would be nowhere.  Every day and I more and more appreciative.  And one thing I appreciate more and more each day is how much I LIKE my family.  I know not everyone does.  But I am lucky enough that I like my family and enjoy the time we spend together. Liking your family and loving your family are two very different things -- I do both!

10. Scrabble - Someday I will beat my husband at this tricky, tricky game...