Tag: football

lifestyle

Hey new girl!

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What a fun night learning to make an adorable wreath with @shopiveylane! We are old friends and I’ve admired her whimsical creations for a long time! When I had the opportunity to attend a workshop with @t2kuhle it was not just a “yes” but a “heck yes!” Didn’t they turn out great? And look at all these beautiful women! What you don’t see in this picture is my anxiety hiding behind my creation! Sometimes being the new girl is hard- we literally moved here 1 week ago from dallas! I was excited to attend until it was time to attend! Ever feel that way? I thought of a million reasons to stay home…there were so many boxes to unpack still, I couldn’t find my cute clothes (still in a box) and I won’t know anyone…just to name a few! Are you as good at creating excuses as I am? My sprained brain can get very creative! But…I put on my big girl pants, added a cute top and long vest to hide the stress eating from the past year, threw on a long necklace (to elongate the look from the stress eating) and walked in the door! There was my precious friend Tonya who I haven’t seen in real life (irl for the cool kids) in about 20 years! She was so friendly and adorable and hasn’t aged a bit- in fact- she is cuter than ever! I confessed my temptation to stay home and she totally understood but was glad I showed up anyway! I found a seat at the end of the table and was soon joined by a beautiful woman and her daughter-in-law who had come together! (That made my heart smile). Then out came the mesh, ribbons, bows and laughter- everyone working away to create the cutest wreath ever!

But perhaps the most important thing I learned last night was the importance of showing up even when you don’t feel like it! Of meeting new friends and being the first to say hello when others don’t. I think maybe everyone feels a little insecure? When we sat down- another sweet gal next to me said-“I don’t think I can do this!” By the end of the night she had figured out all the things and was ready to make another for fall! Do you ever go into something thinking “I can’t do new things?” I sure do! What is something you have done lately to step out of your comfort zone?

lifestyle

The lay-off!

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Day 1- The news came on Friday-Jeff was being laid off from his pharmaceutical sales specialist job of 15 years! The job that transferred him across the metroplex 6 months after we built our beautiful new house! The house we sold 18 months later bc the commute was brutal and we needed to live closer to his territory! That was just 3 months ago! 😬 Yep- that job!

So Friday was numbing! We found out recently it was coming but hopeful the chopping block wouldn’t come down on him (us). Well, it did! So that was Friday! Fortunately, I was at a business retreat with awesome friends who have known us well for decades and love us! The best place to be when you get bad news is with your friends! To clarify- only if your friends are super encouraging! If your friends aren’t going to make a bad situation better- maybe reconsider. Just sayin’! Choose wisely!

So Jeff came to join us for lunch and rub shoulders with uplifting people- always a good idea! While I remained at the retreat, Jeff drove back to take care of our furry kids- Oliver and Ivy Bichon, and do the only acceptable thing on a Friday night in Texas- go to a high school football game with our daughter and son-law! Friday night lights! Now exactly our experience growing up in a Little Rock, Arkansas. Everything IS bigger in Texas!

The shock didn’t set in til Saturday as we grieved for amazing friends and colleagues who were also “reorganized!” REORGANIZED-that is the word they choose to use because it sounds so much better than downsized! Not really- but what ever makes the decision makers sleep at night! No discussion here about the process – heartless as it may be- bc we aren’t looking back!

Then Sunday—it was a day of refocus, encouragement at Gateway church and an amazing message by Tony Evans. Want to be encouraged to defeat the giants in your life? Here is the link- https://youtu.be/ld7P6DQbDiA

We finished the day with Jeff’s favorite meal at Texas Road House! Because sometimes you need a yummy steak and rolls!!! Yep!!!! CARBS with butter!!!! This was not the day to pass on the rolls!

Hello Monday!!!! ❤️ The first day of a new future and transition is exhausting! Change is hard! Life is hard! Tying up loose ends, closing expense reports, clearing out storage unit, accounting for samples but…the biggest expenditure of energy? Choosing a mindset of moving forward and letting go of the secure! #ivybichon – who usually will prefer to sit with me- was full on therapy dog and loving on her daddy! So rest!!!

Restorative rest! Not for long but in the in between! I’m so proud of Jeff! He has been weighed down for a while and working so hard! The lay-off was certainly not in our plan but the peace we have reminds us of Gods care, protection and covering! He has shown up and gone before us to protect us when we didn’t even know we needed it!

This is not the end – it is a new beginning! But for this minute- rest! Recharge! Renew! And dream big dreams!!!

Have their been times in your life when you have had to recharge? What makes you feel renewed? What is your self care strategy when you are wiped out? If you don’t have one, praying you will look at yourself and see what you can do to rejuvenate! Are you a caregiver for someone else? That is exhausting! Just like on the airplane- when the oxygen mask drops- put it on yourself first! Praying peace and rest for you and new beginnings! Kelly

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Turkey Day

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That’s what it was called when I was in high school! It was actually a huge football game tradition between two rivalries in Little Rock, Arkansas-Hall High School (where my husband attended-although I didn’t know him yet) and my alma mater-Central High School). The focus of the day was friends and football but always, the food!

Now that I am older and my kids are grown “turkey day” has changed from thanksgiving feasts at school to thankfulness to GRATEFULNESS for life and health and love!  Life soars past us at super sonic speed and every year that passes leaves me gobsmacked (I think that’s a word -I’ve always liked it) at what I have NOT accomplished in the previous 12 months.

Do you ever feel a little depressed at this time of year?  I know that I do.  What I’ve been told is that we are normal-we are not alone.  While it SEEMS that the whole world is a picture perfect photo op and my house is anything but, I have to remember, that what we see on facebook is only a highlight reel-its not the messy reality that we all live in.  I can tell you-FOR REAL-that should I ever post a perfect photograph of an awesome plate of food -said food may or may have not been made from scratch by me AND it was perfectly lit BEFORE it was photographed IN portrait mode AND everyone had to move their dirty dishes out of the way first.   THAT, my friends, is real life.

Here is also real life! I’m an only child married to an only child! For many reasons, holidays make me sad. One day, I might share about some of those things-I’m still “unpacking” that.  But…. these things I know.  In this world we live in, although easy to forget, we do have so much to be grateful for.  The little things mean a lot! Take time to SEE the people around you! They might be feeling a little lonely too -especially this time of year.  Create memories with your family-not just buy more STUFF!!!  Say “hello” to strangers, smile at a struggling mom with a crying baby-we have all been there (she is doing the best she knows how to do), give out some grace this year, don’t be afraid of the messy-you don’t have to be perfect.  Oh yeah-it’s not a competition.  And… in case you need permission, that toxic “friend”? – it’s ok to create healthy boundaries- you are not the problem. (check out Dr. Henry Cloud-Boundaries-great book-life changing) drcloud.com

Oh-and the TURKEY?  yeah…… you can buy that…. Funny thing? I don’t even like turkey. But we will have turkey because my husband loves it and so does my new son-in-law- But because there are only 4 of us-and 2 of us are always counting calories/carbs, it will be a limited feast-I’ll  head over to 407 BBQ across the road and buy a small amount of turkey and ham and pulled pork (yep-because I’d rather have that).  We will have lots of left overs which will make for yummy sandwiches later! 407bbq.com

We walk a fine line between the traditional and non-traditional around here-one year we actually had pizza for thanksgiving-or was it spaghetti? Shocking, I know. It’s just soooo much food for so few people.  All I remember about that year is that both my kids were home and that was all that mattered to me.

So I’ll go drink my protein shake for now and make the shopping list. Sure wish our son could be here-oh well, I can’t spend time on things I can’t control-I will be GRATEFUL for my son and his life, pray for him and look forward to seeing him again.  Life is short!  Thankful is not a strong enough word.  Lets be GRATEFUL!!!!!!  Happy Thanksgiving! Kelly ☘️

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Pumpkin spice and everything nice! 

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It’s fall, ya’ll! At least, that’s what the menu tells us! Pumpkin spice everything! Starbucks is my def go to but you can find pumpkin infused into just about everything these days, not just candles! The “PSL” (pumpkin spice latte) actually has its own social channel on Twitter. That is serious devotion y’all! Check it out today to find out when our fav fall beverage makes it debut. Check it out on starbucks.com as well!  


Looking for your pumpkin spice fix in other forms? How about cereal? For realz, y’all!!! 

So why do we looooove Pumpkin Spice Latte season? Is it the pumpkin? Is it the espresso? Is it the promise of a crisp breeze or fall leaves? Now that I live in Texas- it feels more like summertime- except for one thing. That one flavor that appears this time every year. Pumpkin spice! For me-That fragrance and taste reminds me of happy days of my past! It brings me sweet memories of old friends, laughter, flannel blankets, football games, comfort, my babies in footie pjs, snuggling with them on the couch, school days, Halloween costumes, the pumpkin patch, bonfires and hayrides.  

Welcome Pumpkin spice!!! So glad you and all your memories are back! PSL- I’ll be looking for you to make your debut next week! Can’t wait!!!!! I’ll be the one standing in line at Starbucks! See you there? Kelly ☕️