wise words wednesday {27.}...

Just a quick one today! I think ALL of us should be reminded to do this!

{27.} Wise Words...

I hope everyone is having a lovely week.

xoxo

some families are a bit dysfunctional...

So today let's take a dive into my dysfunctional family, shall we?

When I was 8 my mom's sister passed away. She left behind my 18 year old cousin Jen, my four year old cousin Megan, and my 2 year old cousin Sean. The death of my Auntie Bee devastated my entire family. It was one of the most awful times I can ever remember. The story gets worse...my aunt's husband was a lousy parent and a hardcore alcoholic. Basically even though everyone tried to help with the kids, it wasn't enough. They were raised by freaking wolves. Sean has had an especially tough time. He never knew his mom. He has not one single memory of his own about her. He started drinking, drugging, and being promiscuous and the ripe old age of 12. This has led to screaming matches, my cop brother almost having to arrest him, him running away, becoming an addict, and then being in and out of juvenile hall many, many, MANY, times. It was hard, to say the very least. After his last bought in the hall, Sean came out with a different attitude. He started attending Juvenile Drug Court and counseling (at the place where I work). His girlfriend Rachel has pretty much the same story, only difference is she is also in a foster home. One day at work I went out to see Sean, and he told me Rachel was pregnant. I could have killed him. Here we had two SEVENTEEN year old recovering addicts who were in the juvenile justice system, and now they are going to have a baby. I was pissed. I also wanted the kids to get a paternity test. Let's just say I was NOT supportive in any way shape or form. I was straight up mean to Rachel, I acted like she did not even exist. I honestly did not want to deal with the situation. Plus, she is a snotty 17 year old, and if she would have rolled her eyes at me one more time I would have probably strangled her. After a lot of work on myself I finally decided that it was best to just love Sean and welcome Rachel and their baby into the family. That is what they needed. They didn't need judgement, they didn't need anyone unsupportive, they needed love and acceptance. Might I also mention that ever since they found out a baby was on the way the have BOTH stayed clean and sober and out of trouble. I am very proud of them.

So after all the growth and change I saw happening for both of them I started trying to be more supportive. I started by taking them to get belly pictures taken before Baby Jayden arrived. Rachel really wanted to document her pregnant belly, but they couldn't afford to get pictures done. Even though it was last minute I booked an appointment at freaking WAL-MART (which was the only place available) , picked them up, and off we went for a photo shoot. A few hundred bucks later (yes. expensive) we had some beautiful pictures. Although, I hated they were from Wal-Mart, I have to admit they turned out better than I expected, even though I felt like I was on an episode of '16 & Pregnant'. I am going to share a few of them here...

{1.} Rachel and her big ol' belly.

{2.} This little idea was Sean's. He wanted to do the typical heart on the belly, but with each side of the heart being one of their hands. Rachel freaked because she didn't paint her nails. Oh, to be 17...

{3.} This picture is my absolute favorite out of all of them. It is beyond precious.

{4.} I wanted to smack him for leaving his hat on, but at least it matched her outfit...right?!

{5.} This is another of my favorites. They look so cute.On March 21st Baby Jayden was born. After 20-something hours of labor, Sean and Rachel welcomed their handsome baby boy to the world. A post of pictures of the handsome little man will be coming soon! I would really appreciate some prayers/love/positivity (whatever you believe in) sent to this new family. The three of them will need all the help they can get.

xoxo

30 day (post) photo challenge {1.}...

Here is the deal, I try super hard to schedule my blog posts and at least try to post three times a week. Unfortunately, life happens and my creativity sometimes dies. So, I decided to *yoink* this lovely idea from the always adorable Elyse. It is a 30 day photo challenge, that I am turning into a 30 post photo challenge. Why? Because the odds of me actually posting 30 days in a row is SO never going to happen. Anywho, here we go...

Post #1: A picture of yourself and ten facts

{1.} I work for G* County Mental Health as a counselor.

{2.} I am obsessed with Glee. I love the show, even more I love the songs. I have every song from every episode downloaded. I am seeing them in concert in May with Bff Jil. You could say I am an intense breed of fangirl.

{3.} My favorite color is black.

{4.} I have two older brothers who irritate me, but I love them anyway.

{5.} I watch entirely too many trashy reality shows. Real Housewives, anyone?

{6.} I have a mild undiagnosed case of OCD. I also have diagnosed anxiety.

{7.} I love my iPhone 4.

{8.} I watched 15 episodes of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' over the weekend.

{9.} My favorite author is Jodi Picoult.

{10.} I only eat raw veggies.

There we go! Post one down, 29 more to go. Thanks Elyse for the great idea! Hope you all have fun and fabulous weekends!

xoxo

wise words wednesday {26.}...

I really love these wise words posts. They normally turn out to be some of my favorites. I enjoy looking up all the quotes, and getting inspired by them. I find it funny that no matter what my issue of the week is, I can always find a quote that relates to it. Most of the time those quotes make me feel a bit better.

Here is the deal folks, it is time for me to get real. I was doing really well in the watching what I eat/working out at least three times a week routine for awhile. Then I slowly stopped working out, thinking that if I stuck to eating healthy it would all be a-okay. Then I started to go back to my crappy eating, and now I just feel gross and fat (so not a ploy for y'all to tell me I am beautiful. seriously). To sum it all up I am not happy with who I am, or what I look like. Instead of complaining about it I want to empower myself. I want to make good eating choices, while not depriving myself. I want to workout and enjoy the way it makes me feel. I want to try on jeans and just once look in the mirror and say, 'Damn. I look good.' I want to feel beautiful on the inside, and on the outside. Basically I want everything this quote is about...

{26.} Wise Words...

Is happy the goal? Of course it is. Is confidence the goal? You bet your ass it is. Is skinny the goal? Nope. While being a skinny Minnie would be fabulous, I just want to be healthy. I want to look in the mirror and like what I see. Not for anyone else, but just for myself. So, here goes another attempt. Wish me luck friends!

xoxo

must have monday {11.}...

It has been quite awhile since I have done a 'Must Have Monday' post! So, since I was not productive at all this weekend I spent a great deal of time window shopping online. However, this time I had a specific purpose and destination for the clothing I was lusting after. In April we are having a bachelorette party extravaganza for work pal Tania! Tania's maid of honor also works with us, and she has planned quite the little party. Only a few work girls are going (which has caused interoffice drama. Hi, I thought we were done with high school) but with the addition of Tania's other pals we are going to have a blast! So, the itinerary includes heading to a swanky hotel in Lake Tahoe, hitting up the shopping, buffets, clubs, and the spa! I am pretty much excited to have a Friday off work, and a fun filled girls only weekend. Now all I need are some cute tops to wear when we head out on the town. I am pretty basic, even when it comes to getting dressed up. So, here are some of the blouses I have been lusting after...

{1.} 'Fizzy Delight Tank'-ModCloth

{2.} 'Well Thought-Out Top'-ModCloth

{3.} 'Capirona Blouse'-Anthropologie
{4.} 'Les Fleurs Rouges Top'-Anthropologie

{5.} 'Stage Presence Vest'-ModClothI am pretty much loving on all of these cute tops. I want/need them right at this very moment. Stay tuned to see which ones I actually bought for our girls trip!

Happy Monday loves!

xoxo

iphone photos {2.}...

I apologize for my lame week of posts. I was super busy over the weekend, which is normally the time that I write my posts for the week. So...I decided I would iPhone/instagram it up...again. I picked a theme this time though, let me take you on a mini tour of my office. My name is Alexandria and I will be your tour guide for the next 3 minutes, climb aboard (and yes that IS what he told her) and enjoy (he said that as well) *ahem*...

{1.} The ring I was wearing the day I snapped all these photos. Isn't it cute?

{2.} My keyboard...which is always stocked with lip gloss. Just in case, ya know?

{3.} My bitch face when a coworker is bugging me and another coworker is 'playing' with my iPhone, and secretly snaps a photo of this horrible face.

{4.} One of my favorite quotes ever. I got this sticker at the Prop 8 protest.

{5.} I read this every morning when I get in my office. It helps me keep my sanity throughout the day. It reminds me I am powerless over other peoples actions, but that I have full control over my own.

{6.} My lovely corkboard. It contains pictures of the people I love, a key chain Bug made for me, and a wedding invitation for Work Bff Tania's wedding

{7.} My ghetto work phone. I spend my day attached to this damn thing.

{8.} My coffee cup/pen holder that was given to me by my supervisor as a welcome aboard gift. I love it.

{9.} My little cupcake that Bastina made for me. He is named 'Sprinkle', he loves his new home under my computer screen. He told me so.

{10.} A headband that will be going in the Mama Made Shoppe soon! This has nothing to do with my office, but I needed 10 pictures so my OCD could relax.

I apologize for the lameness of this post. I am doing nothing but relax this weekend, so hopefully I can write up some semi-decent posts! Happy Friday folks!

xoxo

iphone photos {1.}...

A few weeks ago I finally joined the tech savvy world and purchased a smart phone. I headed down to my local Verizon (which trumps AT&T, psbtw) and bought the iPhone 4! I am SO happy with it! Happy and addicted, but let's focus on the happy. I have been going app crazy as of late, but my very favorite app is instagram. It let's you edit your photos and has so many funky options. I adore it. I snap really random photos throughout the week just because I like to play on instagram. I decided I would share some of my favorite/random pictures...

{1.} My Starbucks drink of choice.

{2.} A funky new ring I purchased at Forever 21 over the weekend.

{3.} The BEST smelling strawberry candle I purchased at Bath & Body Works. Their candles are amazing.

{4.} The newest must try yummy from Starbucks. Birthday cake pop, anyone?

{5.} Snapped a photo of myself while on my way to work.

{6.} The beautiful almond orchards that are in full bloom. My favorite time of the year.

Happy Monday, folks!

xoxo

handwriting...

A little over a week ago I was tagged in a post from the lovely Elyse! I was super excited to be tagged to participate in this fun little blog game. I love seeing people's handwriting...I think you can tell a lot by it. Plus, it is just fun to look at. I happen to not be a super big fan of my handwriting, but I decided to participate anyhow. So...I did!

Here are the rules:

Write all of these down on a piece of paper...

{1.} What's your name/blogger name?

{2.} What's your blogs URL?

{3.} Write, "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."

{4.} Favorite quote?

{5.} Your favorite song?

{6.} Your favorite band/singers?

{7.} Anything else you want to say?

{8.} Tag 3 bloggers to participate!

Thanks for the tag Ms. Elyse! Everyone make sure to go and check out her blog, she is an absolute doll! Ashton, Lauren, and Sam y'all have been tagged. If anyone else does this fun game, make sure to tell me so I can creep over and see if you are a serial killer based on your handwriting.

xoxo

wise words wednesday {25.}...

I had a perfect lazy weekend. I didn't really do much at all, I did laundry, I made some headbands for the Mama Made Shoppe, and I watched some movies with my mama. It was actually quite lovely. I finally watched, 'Love & Other Drugs' it was amazingly beautiful, and not only because Jake G is naked throughout the entire flick. If you haven't watched this movie go watch it now, also don't read this because it is a recap of one of the last scenes in the movie. This scene touched me in a lot of ways. Mainly in how much I related to both of the characters. I have been known to be very guarded in relationships. I don't let a lot of people in to really see me. I don't let myself need other people, or at least I try not to. Which is why this scene really got to me...

{25.} Wise Words...
Jamie- I am full of shit, okay? No, I'm knowingly full of shit. Because...because...I have...I have never cared about anybody or anything, in my entire life. And the thing is that everybody just kind of accepted that. Like, "That's just Jamie!" And then you...Jesus. You. You. You didn't see me that way. I have never known anyone who actually believed that I was enough. Until I met you. And then you made me believe it, too. So, unfortunately, I need you. And you need me.

Maggie- No, I don't.

Jamie- Yes, you do.

Maggie -No, I don't.

Jamie- Yes, you do.

Maggie- Stop it. Stop saying that.

Jamie- You need someone to take care of you.

Maggie- No, I don't.

Jamie- Everybody does.

Maggie- (sobbing) I'm going to need you more than you need me.

Jamie- That's ok.

Maggie- No, it's not! It isn't fair. I have places to go.

Jamie- You'll go there. I just may have to carry you.

Maggie- I can't ask you to do that.

Jamie- You didn't. Hey, let's just say in some alternate universe there is a couple just like us. Only she's healthy and he's perfect. And their world is about how much money that they're gonna spend on vacation, or who's in a bad mood that day, or whether they feel guilty about having a cleaning lady.

I don't want to be those people. I want us. You. This.

This scene had be bawling. It was so well acted, and so heartfelt. It also really made me think...is it so bad to *let* yourself need someone? No, I don't have the answer...but I am currently looking for it.

xoxo

dear starbucks...

Dear Starbucks Coffee Company,

I love you. Oops! Was that a bit too forward? Was it a bit too soon? No? I didn't think so. See we have had an ongoing relationship since 1998. I still remember the first time that I ever met you. I was in Ashland, Oregon with my Aunt Barbara. We were in town to attend The Shakespeare Festival. It was a cold night, and we were in the outside theatre so we decided to hook ourselves up with some warm beverages. We somehow wandered into your store. It was there that I first consumed my Starbucks drink of choice, a grande hot white chocolate mocha, no whip. From then on out we had a great love affair. I visited you often, even though for many years your nearest location was 45 minutes away from where I lived. My love for you grew so much more when you relocated to my hometown. Now I get to see you every day, sometimes more than once a day, and we are no longer in that horrible long distance relationship we had for years.

Over time I switched my Starbucks drink of choice. After awhile I decided to ditch the calories that were contained in my beloved white chocolate mocha, although I do still indulge every once in awhile. My daily drink became a delicious iced green tea. It was half the price of my mocha, and less than half the calories. It is basically an amazing beverage. Now whenever I visit you, dear Starbucks, your employees greet me by name and they honestly don't even have to ask what I am ordering (well...they ask if I want one or two because coworker Tania, shares my drink of choice). Then around Valentine's Day, you surprised me with a way to make my drink even better. You introduced a new size...the one, the only, Trenta. Holy mother of all things delicious, I was so excited to see the introduction of this ginormous new cup. Now I get to say these lovely words to you every weekday, "I will have a Trenta iced green tea, no water, extra ice, and four Splenda. Thank you!"

Starbucks you are my one true love. A constant in my never ending hectic life. Here is to our our twelve year long relationship! May the joy just keep on coming.

Forever Yours,

Always Alexandria

xoxo