A favorite photo

Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why

I have a picture of myself circa 2008 I always loved. It was my junior year of college and at a Christmastime Gala my friends put on. I think I just really liked my hair, makeup and borrowed dress. It was my Facebook profile picture for way too long so I am bringing it back out of retirement for one last hurrah!

What makes me happy

 

Day 14, Tuesday: Ten things that make you really happy

 

1// Snuggling with Edgar, Bean & McCoy

2// Driving with Dave singing at the top of our lungs to "Bohemian Rhapsody"

3// Fresh, warm folded laundry

4// Making a wonderful meal for Dave and feeling pride in my creation

5// Watching my nieces and nephews open presents on Christmas morning

6// Winter's first snowfall

7// Opening the windows once spring arrives

8// Lighting a new candle

9// Giving gifts to loved ones

10// Looking at my engagement ring and remembering the day Dave

asked me to marry him on the beach in Door County... waves rolling by,

sun shining down & tears in our eyes

 

 

 

11 year old Callie, mortified.

Day 10, Friday: Most embarrassing moment (s). Spill. 

There is one embarrassing moment in particular that happened about a year ago. It involves a voicemail recording. I'll stop there. One however that can be shared in a public forum.......

This is still, for some reason, the first truly mortifying moment I can remember. I was 11, in 5th grade. I was recently interested in a boy named Alex. We had been trading notes for a couple of weeks and we just so happened to go to the same church. For some reason that day I was wearing a new pair of black dress pants, I mean how much more mature can you get at 11, and shoes with a half inch heel and therefore I thought I was looking pretty fly. To say I was having a good hair day was an understatement. That day was MY day. I remember almost prancing around I felt so good. Call it a puppy love high if you will. Me, Alex and Sonny Korth were walking in front of the group during Sunday School and Sonny thought it a great idea to trip me. I had an extra brisk pace going so I didn't just trip. I, FLEW, forward. And yes, it happened in slow-mo just like this football players faceplant.

After a few seconds of being stunned I pretty much did a Cory Matthews.

And bolted. I ran to the bathroom so fast whilst crying/shrieking/bawling. I didn't come out for the entire church service until everyone left. Dramatic much? Yes. But come Monday at school I pretended nothing happened and no one dared say a thing. I mean, isn't that the way to handle it? Keep bruised and carry on?

Precious Moment

Day 9, Thursday: A moment in your day

 

I've mentioned here and there that Dave and I recently moved back to where I grew up. My parents live here, my brother and sister and their spouses and my seven nieces and nephews and my other brother travels for work but is back often. It's an adjustment after being gone since I went off to college.

 

Here is a moment from this weekend. My sister's four kids.. Max, Kate, Maysen and Liv watching Scooby Doo on our bed with Dave while Shanna and I were chatting. Simple and precious. I know we made the right choice in moving back home.

 



 

My advice?

Day 8, Wednesday: A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.

Advice. For some reason today’s prompt is easy. It’s not original. I’m sure everyone has heard it from someone at one point or another. But it just rings so true for me.

Don’t settle. Don’t ever ever settle for less than what you deserve. Whether it be in love, or life, or career or friendship. Just don’t settle. I think so many times people settle because they are scared and/or comfortable. Go for that new job. Go back to school. Dump the guy who you’ve been with foreverrrrr but don’t want to risk being single because you don’t know when/if you’ll find someone better. Just do it. Don’t be scared to after what could be great. Don’t settle.