Ch-ch-ch-Changes!

"If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies."
~Author Unknown

So I got to thinking about all the changes that have been going on around me and thought I would give you an update on the changes in my own life...

First of all, I have decided to go back to school at Eagle Gate College in April for the Graphic Design program. I'm really excited about this! I feel its the right time to start working on me, finally. I've been waiting and waiting and I know the only way I can feel whole is to better myself through using my God-given talents. I can finally work towards a life I've always wanted, one that can be spent not really working, but doing what I love and enjoying every minute of it. I hope to someday be able to design custom blog templates for personal or business, maybe even make custom invitations, business cards, stationary, advertisements- I'm up for anything!

Ever since Josh has been working for O'Currance, our happiness has multiplied! He is finally doing something he can grow in, and he's amazingly good at what he does. He is coaching the agents on the phones and teaching them how to sell like a pro. He has this energy- this self motivating excitement- and his boss sees it and wants him to go far in the company. I'm so happy for him, that he has finally found his niche. Not to mention we're finally getting back on track with the billy-bills!

And I've also seen some seemingly negative changes in my work place. My company is going through major changes and letting people go left and right. I'm really starting to feel the effects of this economy. It's really sad to me, to watch people lose their jobs that they have worked so hard for. But I also realize that its necessary if we want to keep afloat. We have to consolidate, let go people we love, in order to save ourselves. That's business for you I guess... but I do see the positive parts in it. My office is going to be transitioning into our biggest one yet. We're going to go from 35 agents to 70 in the next week! I'm pretty excited actually, and grateful that my superiors see me as someone who can handle all of it, and value me enough to keep me around.

This year is going to be huge, and I can feel myself transforming into the butterfly I've always wanted to be :)

Things to think about...

I received an e-mail from my mom the other day and it listed 24 things that I too often forget. I thought I would share my top 10 favorites with you, and wish that we all remember these important but simple things throughout this new year:

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in ::SILENCE:: for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God (or a friend) about what is going on in your life.

3. Drink Green Tea and Plenty of Water. Eat Blueberries, Wild Alaskan Salmon, Broccoli, Almonds and Walnuts.

4. Try to make at least 3 people smile each day :)

5. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts, or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy on the positive present moment.

6. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

7. DON'T TAKE YOURSELF TOO SERIOUSLY... no one else does.

8. Don't compare your life to others... you have no idea what their journey is all about.

9. However good or bad a situation is, it will CHANGE.

10. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

Slum Dog Millionaire

"The story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show's questions. Each chapter of Jamal's increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show's seemingly impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out. At the heart of its storytelling lies the question of how anyone comes to know the things they know about life and love." (courtesy of imbd.com)

This was an extremely powerful and captivating story- me and Josh both loved it. It is nominated for 4 Golden Globes and I'm not surprised! I would highly recommend seeing it!

I mean really...

...does it get any cuter than this?

Sammy and the Scarf

Since the weather has been sooo cold lately, I thought Sam would appreciate a little extra warmth from my scarf...

What a stud.

You may think he is good at posing..
but it seriously takes me at least 10 shots to get one like this!

I love the tongue.

Making faces :-P

He is so cute I can't stand it.

My younger sister told me she got Sam a little jacket for Christmas,
I'll make sure to take pictures :)

Resolutions

Happy New Year Everybody!!

And you know what that means... time for writing out my 2009 resolutions!!

I know everyone hates these things, but I believe setting goals for yourself are important. Not saying that I will accomplish everything in one year, but hey it's a start right? So here we go...

1. Stop smoking cigarettes... it's a terrible habit, and quite expensive too. If I want a long and healthy life I'm going to have to stop treating my body like an ash try. I know that in order to accomplish this both me AND Josh are going to have to do it together. Which leads me to my next goal...

2. Start exercising. Seriously people, I think I may have exercised maybe... 3 or 4 times last year? That's embarrassing. Truth is, I'm getting older and my eating habits are going to start showing on my ass if I don't do something about it. Josh and I have been researching this workout/nutrition program called P90X. Have you heard of it? We have watched a few friends try it out and it seems to really work! They say you will see your results within 90 days. However, it really kicks your ass by giving you a different exercise routine every day so you never get bored. I got Josh a pull up bar for Christmas so we can start it soon!

3. Stop eating so much JUNK FOOD. The holidays are over and I overindulged on all the delicious food around and got that out of the way, so now is the time to turn over a new leaf. Not saying I'm going to start shopping in the organic section, or stop eating all my favorite foods, but I need to learn how to eat those foods in moderation. I'm going to try to start bringing my lunches to work instead of always ordering out. I did my budget for this month and together Josh and I spend more money on eating out than we do groceries! Lowering the amount of times we go out to eat will not only help our bodies but also our budgets, which leads me to my next resolution...

4. Get our finances organized already! I am guilty of past due bills and credit card debt. And I'm also guilty of not dealing with it properly. If I want my credit score to ever recover and maybe actually be a homeowner someday, I need to start caring about how I look on paper and deal with my debts. We need to budget more carefully and start paying our bills on time. Therefore if I keep at it I hope to pay off at least 50% of my debt this year, and hopefully have a savings built up. If I can do that I know I'll sleep better at night...

5. Be more POSITIVE and OPTIMISTIC! Every time I face a challenge I seem to surround my thoughts with negativity, with thoughts in my head like "I can't.." or "This is impossible". Josh points this out to me all the time. I don't do it intentionally, I guess it's just engraved in my brain to think that way. But that will only lead me to failure.. so in order to succeed I need to start thinking "I can!" and "I'll find a way.."

6. Go back to school. I've been wanting and waiting for the right time to go back to school. However, it's a very intimidating thing to do. This year my high school classmates will all be graduating college. Even my younger sister will have completed her first year of college which is more than I can say. I love my job and all, but it's definitely not what I want to do for the rest of my life. I need to live my passion.. in art and design. It's what I do, it's what I've been blessed with and it's about time to start using it to my advantage. I'll not only make more money, but I will feel better about myself and my life. Graphic Design is my calling and I'm going to make it happen this year even if it kills me!!!!

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right!"
-Oprah