Marvelous Marvelous Man.

 

 

You wanna know what is marvelous?

Seeing Luke Bryan last night in concert.

You wanna know what is even more marvelous?

Have our lower level tickets upgraded to front row floor seats, for freeeeeeee!

Seriously. this was by far the best concert I’ve ever been to.

Chris Stapleton opened up for him, I saw Chris two weekends ago in Chicago & loved
his raw pure talent voice then, & then last night I feel in love with it all over again when
he sang “drink a beer” with Luke … here’s a clip, I cannot stop watching it again & again.

& here’s another clip because everyone deserves to see Luke shake it.

But what isn’t so marvelous, is waking up to this.

& did I mention today is spring break
… more like winter break, ha!

Pleasing People.

I did something today that I haven’t done in a long time. Too long.
I went to church.I don’t know why, but I woke up yesterday and said to myself,

“Tomorrow I am
going to go to church.”

So, this morning, I woke up, and went to church by myself.
& it was JUST what I needed.

In fact, I am currently sitting at Panera because I wanted to do my homework, but I just keep thinking about the message I heard this morning and I wanted to share it with you all.
So here I am, writing a post instead of my paper. A post that is probably the most honest, most real & deepest that I have wrote yet.

Isn’t it funny how at the most random times you get the reality check and advice you have been so desperately needing?

Lately, I’ve found myself consumed with being a people pleaser – in gaining their approval, their validation. Looking back I’ve been this way my entire life. Always wanting to be seen as “perfect” by my parents and my teachers. Always having to get a A in a class or on a big project so that my teacher will see my worth, will give me their praise. I have spent my days living for the validation of others. But what about the validation I give myself – isn’t knowing I’m doing my best enough?
Why do I need others to validate my success, my efforts? 

This morning, the message was on the difference of pleasing people and being a people pleaser. For you see, there is a difference. 

Being a people pleaser is selfish. It is about YOU. It is about YOU receiving the validation, the approval, the appreciation from others. It is about YOU proving YOUR self-worth.

Pleasing people, on the other hand, is about the other person. It is about THEM.
Giving THEM what they seek, what the yearn for, what they need.
It is not about YOU and how YOU feel as the result of giving, but THEM.

This entire time I have been selfish and it has caused me to miss out on my life and the opportunities to give back to others. Sure, I do nice things for others – but too often than not, my actions have been selfish and have been focused around proving my self-worth.

I have nothing to prove. I know my self-worth. 
Today begins the end of being a people pleaser and the journey to embrace
pleasing others instead and seeking the validation of my success and decisions
from my own self only.

Since the last time …

Well, the last post I really wrote was on February 4th. It is now March 22.
There have been many times that I’ve thought over the course of that hiatus, I should really sit down and write a blog post, but truth be told, I just haven’t felt like it.

What is even more surprising, I haven’t even felt like keeping up with my google reader.
I just haven’t been feeling it.

Till today, for whatever reason, I feel like sharing what has been happening over the course of this last month & a half, and believe me – a lot has happened!

Since the last time we talked,
I took an entire weekend off and had visitors and a weekend dedicated to spending time with friends. No work, no school, just me & friends.

Since the last time we talked,
I crammed all of my schoolwork into a few short weeks, and finished
my Graduate School Teaching Portfolio

Since the last time we talked,
a roommate of three years of mine that I threw the baby shower for in December, had her beautiful, healthy, perfect baby girl.

Since the last time we talked,
I bought Luke Bryan concert tickets & will be seeing that gorgeous man on SUNDAY.

Since the last time we talked,
I became certified to substitute teach, ordered and received business cards,
and have finally experienced what it feels like to get paid to do what i love.

Since the last time we talked,
I turned 23.
I received the sweetest package, prettiest flowers, and the most delicious edible arrangement all from said “visitor” that came a couple weeks prior.

Since the last time we talked,
I had a mock interview with career services, the other interns and I held a Family Math night at our elementary school, I presented two presentations to the staff of the elementary school, and have had the most sporadic workouts known to man.

Since the last time we talked,
I drove 1200 miles in one weekend, including a short trip home, and then a longer trip to Indiana and Chicago to visit said “visitor and birthday present giver”.

Since the last time we talked,
I saw Thomas Rhett in Chicago and I saw all of Notre Dame, including the
grand tour of the football stadium thanks to said “visitor”.

Since the last time we talked,
said “visitor” and I are no longer on speaking terms, in fact it ended that very day I drove the 490 miles back to school from South Bend.

Since the last time we talked,
I spent a weekend in DC/Fairfax, VA attending a job fair and having my first real teacher job interview. It went better than I ever could have imagined. I also got to spend part of the weekend with my cousin & her husband & finally got to meet their new bundle of joy.

Since the last time we talked,
I had my graduate program portfolio review and passed, which my fellow teacher friends and I appropriately celebrated with margaritas after

Since the last time we talked,
I have ordered my cap, gown, and master’s hood and have only 57 days till graduation.

… & there you have it. To some it may not seem like alot, but to me, I cannot believe what has happened in such a short amount of time.

These past two weeks, with visiting Chicago/South Bend, having a relationship end,
and a job interview for my dream school district,
I feel so emotionally drained.

Thank goodness today begins Spring Break -
if only I was going to the beach.

Influenster

About a week ago, a marvelous package from Influenster arrived at my doorstep.

It was non-other than the Sweetheart VoxBox.

As soon as I brought it inside, I tore it open – so excited to see what was inside!

I was not disappointed.

After teaching all day, I was feeling very famished and quickly dug into the
Skinnygirl Daily On-The-Go Bar: CocoNut.
You guys, it was amazing. It tasted delicious and didn’t have any of that artificial taste that some bars have. At only 180 calories, it was very filling and definitely hit the spot.
You can get a box of 5 for $9.99 & if you are looking for a delicious, convenient and filling snack – I highly recommend you give this a try!

That night, I decided to test out the
Olay Fresh Effects {Va-Va-Vivid!} Powered Contour Cleansing System
First off, the cleansing brush feels amazing on your skin and the face wash smells great. I had just noticed earlier in the week that my face was rather shiny. Well, after just ONE use, the shine in my face was diminished and my face felt refreshed and most importantly clean. You can get the system for $12.99 and a full size of the cleanser for $6.99. I highly recommend this product as it was so effective in getting my face clean, I mean after so long the make-up wipes and soap and water don’t cut it.

The next day, I put on the
Secret Clinical Strength Stress Response
As soon as I opened it, I was very impressed with the clean scent that it gave off. I have struggled over the years to find a deodorant that lasts all day and gives me the coverage I need. I was a little hesitant to use this as I was afraid that in a few hours I would find pit sweat on my shirt. Well, that was not the case! I found this lasted and smelled great all day! I never once felt sweat under my arms, I’m impressed & would def buy this again, especially for $7.99 – 9.99. What a great price for such an effective product!

Lastly, I decided to try out
Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray
As with the other products, I was impressed with the smell. Made me feel like I was at the beach! I found the product gave my hair great texture, but as for producing beach like waves, I was not impressed. I have always found my hair is very difficult and almost impossible to achieve the beachy look, so I was not surprised when the product didn’t work that well. However, I do appreciate the texture it gave my rather fine hair & if you have hair that cooperates better than mine, I say give it a try, it is only $6.00 for a full size bottle – what a steal!

* I got all products complimentary from Influenster – sign up to begin building your own profile today! All thoughts & opinions shared on the
products are my own.

- & I promise I will be back with a “regular” update soon, I miss you all  

 

wa, what?

Don’t worry, I’m still here.
I just haven’t had much to say lately
and I haven’t had the time to say what little I do have.

So, in the meantime, please watch this & i hope
you all appreciate it and love it as much as i do.

Seriously, when I was teaching pre-k this was basically my life
everyday. Love those little kids & their imaginations.

Marvelous ABCs

It’s another Marvelous Monday thanks to Healthy Diva Life
& it’s a marvelous day to share some of my latest doings though the ABCs.

A – Apps.
I love this 8-track app. It’s like Pandora but, I think better!

B – Body-Pump.
I’ve been going twice a week and I love it

C – Countdowns.
I’m loving the countdown app too, it’s keeping me motivated!

D – Destiny’s Child
Okay, so the halftime show of the Superbowl, period. I was memorized.

E – Eddie.
Love this dog more and more every day

F – Football.
I wasn’t watching the Superbowl for the Football, all about Beyonce & those commercials.

G- Graduation.
Only 102 days!

H – Happy Hour.
Made it to a nearby happy hour with two gfs on Friday evening, perfect way to begin a weekend!

I – Interview.
I’ve been working hard to get my portfolio complete & prepare for my first interview in March.

J – Journal.
With the help of this little gem, I’ve been keeping up with my goal for 2013 of reflecting.

K – Kitchen
Lately my kitchen has been my “catch all”. The chairs have become my coat rack, the table my office, and my counters my bookshelf. But at least I’m being productive!

L – Laughing
This e-card had me laughing. I find myself thinking this all the time.

M – Mexico!
Only 116 days till my best friend & I are celebrating her 23rd birthday & my graduation in Los Cabos!

N – Next Weekend
I am SO SO SO looking forward to you!

O – Old.
I turn 23 in 25 days. Here’s to getting older, and wiser!

P – Portfolio
I’ve been working so hard on getting my final portfolio together. It is a requirement to graduate in my Education Program. But more so, I need it for my job interview!

Q –Quote.
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” – Gandhi

R – Randy Houser.
I can’t stop listening to his entire CD. This song in particular, has been on repeat.

S – Substitute Teaching
Turning in my paperwork next week to finally get to substitute with pay!

T – Treadmill Roulette.
This girl’s brilliant idea for a work-out gave me an amazing run today

U –ukulele
well, why not?

V – Visitors
I have some visitors coming this weekend & I’m so excited for a break from work & some good times!

W – Winter
You have been nice to us. A few cold days & snow, but nothing I don’t like it!

X – eXercise.
I’ve been doing so great getting into a routine of a solid 5 days a week, has me feeling great too!

Y – Yogurt
Lately I can’t get enough of vanilla greek yogurt mixed with a little peanut butter, YUM.

Z – Zoo.
When it gets nice again, a trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo is a must for this girl!

 

Happy Monday!
Pick a letter to start your comment!

MIMM

Marvelous Monday thanks to Katie @ Healthy Diva Life.

My weekend was marvelous, it snowed.
Even if I was snowed in, I loved marveling at the blanket of snow yesterday.
(I’ve decided my next car will be 4wd)

A lazy Saturday is marvelous, a productive sunday is even more marvelous.

My dog is marvelous & silly, of course.

& this 2-hour delay this morning, is marvelous
but doing a release day in kindergarten will be even more marvelous.

& Lastly, knowing I have the bachelor & body pump this evening
to look forward to is marvelous.

What was marvelous from your weekend?
Happy Monday!