Can I Ask You A Weird Question?

This is for ladies. Ladies who do a lot of daydreaming.....

(you've been warned)

(via)

Do you ever wonder what it'd be like to be pregnant? I basically spend "nap time" at work daydreaming, and I have the thought train of a rabbit on speed....and this came up. Also, I'm following a grand total of six blogs that are pregnant or have a newborn, and I have five friends in the real world with new babies/babies on the way, and it just got me thinking.

I can tell you a few things for certain: A) I will be the most hormonal pregnant woman you've ever met. Bet on it. B) I will claim to have/actually have more medical issues than anyone ever should. C) I will gain weight like a whale; not one of those cute, basketball-belly ladies.

However, I also know it'll be worth it. What about you? Do you ever think about that? Or, if you're not so weird and have actually been pregnant before, what was it like for you?

Disclaimer: I also daydream about what it'd be like if I were Italian, what I'll do when the zombie apocalypse hits (yes, WHEN), and what my future students/house/kids/job/hobbies/life will be like....so pregnancy isn't so weird right? Right??

Also, a realistic baby photo....hah!

The Word for 2012

When I worked at Pinecove two summers ago, I first learned about the idea of having a "word" for a year. You pick one personality trait and use the year to focus on improving that specific quality in yourself for the whole year. I've done it every year since then, although not always successfully. This may be one of those years too. Because, I'm picking a hard word. 

(dun dun dunnn)

If anyone knows me AT ALL (literally, I think if you even only know me by name, you instantly know this about me as well), then you know that I am a loser. And by that, I mean, I lose things. All the time. Every day. All day. Constantly. Where's my wallet, where's my phone, where's my backpack, where's my keys .... it's incredibly immature and irresponsible and a HUGE hassle. (That's why I'm using so many all-caps this post...because it's a BIG deal). I'm forgetful and I don't pay attention to things that are pretty important.

Therefore, my word for this year is going to be...

MINDFULNESS

Attentive, aware, careful, etc. Not just of where I set things down (although that is certainly the largest part), but also that I let the dogs out 10 minutes ago and they don't need to be outside for too long. And that I have an assignment due at midnight tonight, so I probably shouldn't start it at 11:30. And that I owe my roommate for bills. And that I need to send Thank You cards before the end of January. Etc, etc, etc. 

Wish me luck! And good luck with your words, if you choose to have one! 

First Day of Summer!

Happy Summer Solstice! 

What are your plans for (the rest of) the summer? Any fun vacations? Visits to family? Big parties planned? Or maybe all three? We'll just be here in good ol' LBK, taking classes and working. But I'll be having a girl's weekend on the lake with my roommates in July, as well as a trip back to Abilene for a big, family birthday party. And then a weekend on the lake for my birthday in August! And I'm hoping I can slip in a trip to Ruidosa somewhere in there too (but shh...Rex doesn't know about that!). Anyway, be praying for at least a little rain this season for us here in Texas...it's getting pretty dangerously dry. 

Hope you are excited about this summer and already enjoying the season!

(Photos found here, on this gem of a Flickr. Don't you just love all of his work?)

The Slimdown Throwdown

Not even joking, that is the name that my dear Rex has given our new health and fitness kick. Not that I'm surprised at all... but anyway, I just wanted to inform y'all that if I start getting complain-y or grouchy in posts, it's because I'm being deprived of desserts, Cokes, and Chik-Fil-A. And doing P90x cardio three times a week (my inner thighs have been threatening to secede from the rest of my legs all day).

However, since we're planning a vacation next January to Destin (and because Rex went into crisis mode about his weight gain since high school), neither of us feel like we're in the position to be parading scantily clad around the beach for a week and a half. We figured if we started 7 months in advance, we'd have some room for error. Plus, homeboy wants to lose 30 pounds, and that takes a little while if you're not even overweight to begin with (ahem, someone's being a bit dramatic...but don't tell him I said that, I'm being supportive!).

Anyway, we took measurements and everything, and I'm kind of excited! I never necessarily took on the Freshman 15 or anything, but I could stand to get in better shape, if only for the sake of health (and looking better...let's be real ladies, who out there wouldn't mind losing a pound or two?). Anyway, that's our newest adventure at our house! This will be my inspiration when my sweet tooth is yelling at me:

Hah! Not. I will never look like that. Which I am okay with! Not everyone is meant to be blonde and boob-y with skinny thighs. But we'll see how it goes!

Also, sweet Bear escaped from the yard on Saturday, giving me and Rex a heart attack (mostly just me, but you know that). But no worries, some saint took him to the pound and we picked him up after only a few hours. Now the sweet boy is enjoying sleeping in bed with me and getting lots of treats. Crisis averted!

Well, that's all for this week so far! Hope you're all starting off the new week well! Maybe this will help cheer you up...

Heehee! Too cute. Happy Monday, all! 

A Much-More-Important Epiphany

This is my new favorite (and sometimes most difficult) thing, the background on my computer, and soon-to-be a framed print for my living room wall. 


I am officially in a stage of my life that I have dubbed "In Recovery". Much less dramatic than it sounds, trust me. However, I'll explain a little bit of what this means to me.


Supposedly, about 60% of your personal happiness is genetic. The other 40% is within your control, based on attitude, general outlook, decisions, etc. My mother and two of her sisters struggle with depression, so I got the proverbial short end of the genetic stick. But that's no excuse for being a downer (and lately, let's be real, I have been). Yes, chronic depression and anxiety are chemical and/or mental problems within the brain, therefore much more difficult to control, but there is always some effort, no matter how small, you can make to improve your situation. Soaking in the totally devastating, wholly overwhelming, completely consuming powers of a depressive episode is healthy for no one.


All this to say, it's time to pull the curtains and blinds to let the light in.

A Small Epiphany.

Can I confide something very silly to you, my friend? It's a little embarrassing, very cliche and overused, and completely opposite from something I might've confided a year ago. 


I desperately want to be a mommy.




There, I said it. Not now, of course. That'd be a little scary. 


But I follow a total of seven (I know...) mommy blogs, I've been working in the nursery at Redeemer Child Care, and I've been student assisting a Pre-K class this semester that I just adore. But really, what is more rewarding than rocking a sweet little six-month-old to sleep? Or when students draw you pictures with "Miss Claire" written at the top? Or being able to calm a sobbing toddler? 


Now I don't necessarily just want to be a mother. I still can't wait to teach, and I honestly feel that if I ever am able to open my own bakery, I will be the happiest woman alive. But, I also think I'd be happy to be a crafty, baking, sewing house-mommy for at least a part of my life.


Anywho, that's the discovery I've made about myself this week. Riveting, I know. But still fun.