She Exclaimed

If you have been following along you know that I haven't had the best of weeks. I reached a breaking point a few nights ago and spilled my guts for the world to see just how sad I had been. I am so thankful that I shared that post because I have had so many women message me privately, and publicly, to tell me how they feel the exact same way. Isn't it comforting to know we aren't alone? No one wants to feel alone.  Then yesterday I was browsing through Facebook and I came across a memory from two years ago. I had had a good day and this is what I said. " After spending the entire day out with my family shopping I was feeling very thankful. I then started thinking how much I hope our girls remember all the fun things we do with them. I hope they will one day look back on their childhoods and it mostly be good and happy memories. I then reminisced on my own childhood and there are a few memories that really stick out in my mind. Spending the day at R

Dear Diary, Today has been rough. Actually, I'm not sure if it was rough or if my mind just can't make up its mind. Either way, I'm sad. I feel like I'm drowning. I think its the move. Sitting in a house all day, everyday, with nothing to do. I've been crocheting and that has helped, but there is only so much tying string in knots that can entertain a person. How did the women back in the day do it? How do moms now do it? I guess if I were in my own home, with my own stuff, I would be busy doing housework or some other mundane task and that would keep me from feeling like I'm suffocating. I need to survive until we get our things and until we get out of this apartment. So, I went to Hobby Lobby. I spent money, I probably shouldn't be spending, to make a new wreath. Wow, that's really inspired.... How can having children be the single most important thing and a curse, all at the same time? I love them, but I feel incomplete. I want to stay home and ra

I've had a lot of time to think recently since I'm living the forced minimalist life. (read about that here ) Change. I cannot believe the changes I have personally made. I used to hate Texas and said that I would never move to such a place. I hated the cockiness. You know what I'm talking about. Texas sized this and Texas that. Country radio can't get over the state and the whole pride that its residence have was just about enough to make me want to barf. It doesn't help that I am from Oklahoma and the football rivalry runs deep. I'm also from a small area in Southeastern Oklahoma that has a beautiful lake, that is inhabited by Texas licenses plates every holiday weekend. All of that combined, had left a taste in my mouth that resembled copper.  Now I am a Texas resident and I have that 5 letter word on the back of my own truck. I even tried on a shirt a few days ago that proudly displayed the Texas flag and that lone star. Why do I have this change of

I know I've been neglecting my blog lately. Moving just has me all out of sorts. I love a good Friday Favorites though, so I am making sure to take the time to give you that today. So, without further ado... Minimalism I mentioned a few posts ago that I've been terrible at reading lately. Putting that out there had me a bit sad, so my next Target trip I picked up a copy of  The Joy of Less   by Francine Jay. We have really been working on downsizing lately and I figured I could use a dose of minimalism literature. I also recommend watching the documentary that is on Netflix right now called   Minimalism: A   Documentary About the Important Things . It really is eye opening and very entertaining.  Minimalism Part Two I am living out minimalism right now. We are currently living in temporary housing and I cannot begin to tell you the increase in the amount of down time I've had. I spend about 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening cleaning a

Today is a link up and the subject is Best Day Ever. I have so many wonderful days in my memory bank. One in particular sticks out. No, not the cliche days. Of course I cherish the day I married my husband and I adore the days I gave birth to my beautiful girls. The day that I remember as being uniquely wonderful was the day we explored the island of Capri. We had been married only a few months. Life was exceptionally grand! We were crazy in love, living in England, making enough money to fund our travel obsessions. We went on adventures every single weekend that we weren't working and had big vacations planned every couple of months. This particular vacation was to Rome. We spend several days exploring the ancient city. I remember the exact moment we walked up and saw the Colosseum. I literally cried. It was as if the joy was water and it was overflowing from my body. I remember having goose bumps all over my skin and hot tears streamed from my eyes. How lucky was I! We spend

My life revolves around moving at the moment. We are into our third week, so I thought it was time to give a week 2 recap... We went to the lake last weekend. Broken Bow lake to be exact. It is one of my favorite places and definitely my favorite place in Oklahoma. Such a beauty and filled with wonderful memories. We went out on my dad's boat and went exploring. We went pretty far up north and found a gorgeous spot. We all decided to jump in for a little dip and E had a blast jumping in over and over again. My dad was ecstatic to see his little daredevil grandchild in action. We made a cardboard box fort. I mentioned before that my dad got new appliances. We put the leftover range box to good use. I cut out a little door and window and the girls were so happy to have a special little place in their grandparents' living room.  We watched the eclipse with my mom. I loved how eerie the sky was. We played at parks. We visited s

I have moved more times in my life than most people I know. By a lot. I understand the struggles. I understand the stress, the anxiety, and frustration. I've even moved with children before and understand that the extra, pint-sized, person adds even more of a struggle to the mix. I have not, however, ever moved with a 5 year old and a 2 year old. Patience. Patience is the name of the game. Why does it always have to be about that word? Why can't it be about laughter or gluttony.  I mean, I'd rather go on a vegan diet with kale chips to replace sweets than have to deal with that dadgum P word. Popsicles, polar bears, heck, even PEAS. I love all those words more than I love patience right now. My 2 year old has had a fever for the last week. Actually, she has had a fever for 8 days straight. Besides the fact that I am worried about her, because I'm pretty sure having a high fever for 8 days isn't normal, or good, I have to deal with the effects of that high fever,

I have a computer!! I left with such haste that I went off and left my computer and blogging on my phone has proven to be most difficult. I've managed to write several posts and I haven't been able to post any of them. Since it wouldn't make much sense with the days being all off, I'll just do a big recap. Our last night in Hawaii was spent in Waikiki. That is where we spent our first night, once moving there, so I found it only fitting to spend the last night there as well. We had some Kalua pork pizza followed by Honolulu Cookie Company. I love the Cookie Company's cute little pineapple shaped cookies and it has kind of become a "thing" we do whenever we come down in the evenings to see the beach.  I don't ever want to forget this My feelings that evening were conflicted. I was thankful for the time I had spent on that beautiful island and at the same time sad to leave, happy to move forwards, wondering if I would ever get to come bac

We always knew our time would be limited here. When we took the job we said it was a 2 to 3 year plan. We have been here just under 2 years and already our time is up. We have been to beautiful beaches, hiked gorgeous trails and discovered waterfalls. We've visited other islands, made incredible friends. We really have taken full advantage of our time here and done everything we could have in our short time. Moving to Hawaii has done something to me. I feel like I've accomplished something. Coming from small town, Oklahoma I never thought I'd have the opportunity to leave and explore. When I moved to England I was ecstatic and felt some sense of accomplishment, but it was safe. I moved with the military and they took care of me. This move to Hawaii we did on our own. The accomplishment I feel isn't the kind that you think of when you've earned something monetary. Its more the type you feel when graduating college. When you've had a weight loss goa