Rewind

Inhale, exhale... Practice the wisdom above. Easier said than done, right? Since I have been MIA for two years to the blogging world, I figured a quick refresher on what exactly my "past" since 2010 has been. I got a little chit-chatty during my last post so we will keep this short, sweet, and mainly a story through pictures.. (After all, who would ever pick a novel over a good ole' picture book?)

Headed Back to School to Show Dad I'm Not a Fool

After a good bit of pouting... whining about the real "costs" of an education... and telling everyone and their brother how overrated a single piece of paper is, I am back in school. Last Fall I started taking classes again at Georgia Southern University. In typical "me" fashion, I am taking online classes and don't actually live in the booming metropolis of Statesboro because going the normal route is well... too normal. As much as I still debate whether I'm making the right decision, I have managed 17 A's in less than 10 months & have a perfect GPA. Now what happened to the days when you got a buck for every A? Mom? Dad?

New Day, New Job

Entourage > Nanny > Entourage > Something up my Sleeve > Time will Tell

Adios Athens....Welcome to Atlanta (insert song)

Can't say I have a single negative thing to say about leaving Athens in my rear view mirror. Athens is a beautiful town and will always be home, but there is something not so fun about when a city of 40,000+ starts to feel like it has one stop light. Small-minded people, gossip and stale memories are sometimes best left in the dust... and it doesn't hurt that the bright lights of Atlanta are so stinkin' pretty!

Let me tell ya 'bout my Best Friend..

 

I never would've thought in the Fall of 2010 that I would be dating a guy two years later who I met begging my boss to let him walk down the runway to Taylor Swift or Top Gun tunes during a bachelor auction. No, I didn't bid on him (although that would add a new level of cheese to this story) but due to a good friend, we did end up together. I've made so many mistakes in the guy department, but I think it is safe to say I have this one right. If not, at least I know we will both be coping through the break-up with a little assistance from T-Swift.

Don't Worry About Tomorrow, God is Already There.

I've always had a relationship with God, but certain things in my life in the past few years have made me open my eyes to why I don't have a more open line of communication with Him. I've been disappointed in myself, friendships I've had, decisions I've made and why things haven't run smoothly and it all makes sense in the end. I have realized I can't expect to be surrounded by good, positive people until I become one myself. Luckily, the journey is half of the fun. 

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own . 

Matthew 6:34

Better Late than Never

It's funny how two years can go by and still feel like yesterday. I originally began this blog for a short-lived English class but slowly realized how helpful it was to vent out loud. If you know me, you know I am driven by others. Writing in a journal wouldn't give me the same satisfaction that a blog does because even the idea that others may stumble across my thoughts gives me more purpose than a notebook shoved under my bed.

I have often been told that writing a blog that speaks to one audience or serves a single purpose is a great way to make money, but as much as I've tried... I can't seem to get my life directed on one path enough to even write a simple blog entry on a daily basis. This is how the cycle has played itself out...

Blog Fail 1: It's a Monday, I wake up feeling energized and refreshed. I stand in front of the mirror, suck in my stomach... exhale. I twist my body around seeing what ways are least flattering to my love handles and what kind of bends I have to do to get a dimple to appear on my not so toned butt. I decide that I am getting healthy. I know I'm not fat, but I want to be toned darn it. I'm going to write a blog about my journey to a Victoria's Secret body, motivating girls and maybe making a little money on the way. I weigh myself and come up with a goal weight, ideal workout schedule and improvements I'd like to see on my body. Next I eat a super healthy breakfast and go to the gym. After the gym, I binge on a kit-kat bar, salt & vinegar potato chips, a mountain dew and head to Chick-fil-A an hour later... It's okay though because I start tomorrow and that means I have 24 hours to stuff my face. Cycle repeats. I decide to stick to being "fit" on my Pinterest Board.

Blog Fail 2: I'm crafty. I have no shame in the game about tooting my own horn at the fact that I was born trying to become a small Martha Stewart (minus the jumpsuit.) I saved up allowance in elementary school for shopping trips at Party City and spent my Sunday mornings cutting coupons that my parents rudely forgot before every grocery store run. A DIY and craft-themed blog has seemed like a "duh" move on my part... that is until I checked out the competition. There are so many DIY blogs, they literally make my head spin. Moms and new wives with beautiful big houses to decorate, kids to dress up and parties waiting to be thrown. There is no way I could compete. A 20 year old in college, no house to decorate, a dog my boyfriend won't let me accessorize, parents that hate parties and nieces & nephews that have outgrown most of my crafting stages. One word, doomed.

Blog Fail 3: Ever heard of Barstool Sports? Well I have. In fact, Barstool has more communication with my boyfriend than I do. Any piece of news, humor, celebrity gossip, history or sarcasm that he shares with me... well, it normally originates here. Don't get me wrong, I think Barstool is genius. A group of guys surf the internet all day, write extremely vulgar and witty summaries of what they see, rate girls in a somewhat creepy fashion (but give guys like my boyfriend an excuse to look at half-naked girls "on accident") and make tons of money. I've wanted to do a female version of this more times than I can count, but it isn't very becoming of a Southern girl to make fun of people all day (even if it may be fun.) And, like my mama always said... If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Whoops, there goes that.

Blog Fail 4: Advice. Advice has ruined some of my best friendships. You know when you start to feel more like Dr.Phil than a friend? Yeah, it's not that fun. It's a tricky line to walk when you want to offer support and guidance for your loved ones but feel like no one wants to open an ear for you. My life is a beautiful mess that could use 100 Dr.Phil's, but I have had a really hard time finding even one or two. I love giving people advice but feel like it is better if you don't expect anything in return (hard to do this in a friendship) but who am I kidding... I don't know how to guide my own life. Go ahead and cross this one off the list too.

SO WHAT IN THE HEAVENS DOES THAT LEAVE ME?!

After a lot of thought and consideration, I found the happy balance. That happy balance is my mess of a life. I may not attract one audience, or any readers at all for that matter, but I promise it will be genuine. My blog used to be called "Between the Lines" and had a bubbly damask background, but lets just call that outdated. A lot has changed in 2 years yet also nothing at all. My new look represents where all of my paths cross... where the mess begins to make sense. I would love for you to join me on my journey & I pinky promise most posts won't be novels. 

XO