Top 10 Tuesday - 10 Things You’re Really Good At

I'm doing this meme because I often find it hard to accept compliments or pat myself on the back but I know that isn't a healthy humility, there should be things I can admit I am good at. Hopefully I can come up with ten!

1. I'm really good at photoshop, manipulating photos with digital effects or cropping, or coloring, etc. This is one of my favorites, the mermaid effect.

2. I'm really good at taking pictures of myself. I'd like to think I'm good at photography in general, but I at least know I am really good at capturing how I think I really look.


3. I'm really good at being an aunty. I love spending time with my neices, not just so I can get hugs and kisses and 'I love you's', but I love entering their world and seeing things through their eyes. I love being witness and contributor to their development. I love making sure they know they are loved, and I think the smiles that light up their adorable faces when they see me is all the confirmation I need that I am succeeding.

4. I'm really good at my job. Being an office adminstrator utilizes a lot of my talents, such as; being organized and systematic, detail-oriented, adept at finances and accounting, adept at written communication, proficient with computers, Excel, Word, Power Point, etc., and my driving need to be efficient and helpful.
5. I am really good at researching things. Any time a decision needs to be made I research options with one of my best friends, Google. Whether it be vehicles, vacuums, herbal supplements, checking if the email warning/petition is true, looking into whether Oprah's latest book is new age, etc. If you need to know something, I can find the info!
6. I am really good at making greeting cards. Cards are probably my most successful creative endeavor, and there have been a lot. I've even been offered money to make cards for people which is a really big compliment to me. I recently donated a set of 30 cards to a charity auction, and since she asked for an artist's bio and business cards I decided to set up this website in case there are any interested potential customers, laboroflovely.blogspot.com.

7. I am really good at making lists. Ha, maybe that's why I like this Top 10 meme, lol. I make lists for everything! I have to have a 'To Do' list at work and at home, otherwise I forget what needs to be done. Those are my big lists but I also have; a list of things to do before we sell our house, a list of books I want to read, a list of things I'm saving up to buy, my 101 list, my bucket list and paper in my car in case I have something to add to any list or to create a new list when I'm on the go.
8. I am really good at multi-tasking (as long as I have a list). I usually have about 2-5 things on the go at work so that when one is on hold for some reason or another (which is usually the case) I can then work on something else, making the most of my time. I tend to prefer doing things while watching t.v. as well, so that my time isn't completely wasted.
9. I budget our money very well. I have a rigid budget that I must have balanced to the dollar, where all non-negotiable expenses come out first and then with what's left Sean and I have an 'allowance' and the rest is put towards family events/gifts and debt. We managed to pay off our garage completely in less than a year!
10. I am really good at giving compliments. I try to be really encouraging and supportive to the people in my life and I find that easiest by recognizing their strengths. I am a pretty positive person and I tend to see the positive in people first and foremost so I can't help but admire the strengths that I see in them, which, also being a verbal person, means it usually comes out in a compliment sooner than later.

"Things I want my children to know" Thursday

Life is hard. It's hard, but not nearly as hard as our minds build it up to be. We are stronger than we realize, which we'll only discover if we don't give up. And going through the hard stuff will make us even stronger, and the hard stuff then gets easier. And once we've overcome the hard times, any future obstacles don't seem nearly so daunting. Persevere.

Decisions, decisions...

Well, Sean and I did some soul searching recently about the baby issue, and have come to a decision not to continue the two drugs I was taking to 'regulate' my body. Basically they were tricking my body into thinking it was a healthy weight, enough to ovulate normally and since I am working towards losing weight anyway, we felt it unnecessary to be buying drugs for the next few months (until I'm a healthy weight), especially since my stomach is already sensitive and we couldn't tell if my recent feeling ill was aggrevated by the pills. Also, we would never know when my body was healthy enough to ovulate normally if I was on those regulators. I was in a rush to think the pills would be a quick fix and we didn't immediately take the time to hash out all the angles, so now that we have that is our decision.

Another decision we made recently was to paint the outside of our house, which is being done as I write this! I can't wait to go home and see it! It will be the same coloring as our garage. Everyone says it will add a lot of value to our home, so we figured it was worth the cost. If everything keeps falling into place so easily it's possible our house will be on the market by June.

Lastly, we have been wrestling with a decision to find another home for Cody. On top of my allergies to him, his destructiveness is increasing, his meowing at our bedroom door at all hours of the night is increasing, and he's getting increasingly skittish. This morning, for no reason, he just freaked out, flying out of Sean's arms, claws going everywhere. This isn't the first time he's shredded skin in such an episode, but each time it seems there was less and less reason for him to get scared. I'm terrified what might happen if Brooklynn and Avery are over and they accidently startle him and end up seriously hurt. Or eventually our own children. Cat's are supposed to mellow out with age, and he's already 2 1/2, but he just seems to be getting more high strung. Some things he does have been chalked up to him wanting attention, and so with a family who can give more attention he might not act the same, but I don't know about the skittishness. De-clawing him was considered, but only front claws are supposed to be removed, and he does just as much damage with his back claws. I'm wondering if he's just meant to be an outdoor cat, where he can be as noisy and destructive as he wants. It's a tough decision, and we've been wrestling with it for at least 6 months. This morning's episode sent Sean over the roof, we may be making a definitive decision tonight.

Top 10 Tuesday - Places You’d Love to Travel To (That You Haven’t Gone to Yet)

This is easy, because I have a LONG list. Hardest part will be picking TOP ten.

1. Australia - tropical beaches, the great barrier reef and the wildlife....what's not to love
2. Greece - ancient architecture and beautiful beaches
3. Africa - the serengetti and the wildlife
4. Germany - family friends there and I'm a bit of a WWII buff, want to see Anne Frank's Annex
5. Ireland - family friends there as well, and it's beautiful, and I love their accents
6. Paris - the romantic ambience, and it's just 'cool' like New York
7. New York - said reason above, and to see the Twin Towers site
8. Florida - more beaches, Disney World, Sea World, etc. and our friend Ben!
9. Maine/Maritimes - seafood, lighthouses, Anne of Green Gables, Stephen King (I know, weird mix, but I will be going with hubby, he has reasons for going too)
10. Colorado Springs - mountains AND nice weather

This And That

Just a few updates on recent things in my life.

First, renovations are almost all done inside the house. John and Jodi came over for the last two Saturdays to finish those off for us and we are so happy with the results, and so grateful to them for helping us out! I can check off a bunch of things off my to do list now! All that's left is a bit of touch up items inside and hopefully a paint job outside, which we're getting a quote on soon. Then, time to put her up for sale! Oh, and I'm part of a block garage sale next weekend, swing by on Saturday the 10th if you have a chance.

I've finally been able to spend more time with my nieces again lately and even got to go swimming with Brooklynn and Jodi last Saturday while the guys were finishing up the house. Here is my favorite picture of her swimming.

Yes, I was IN the pool taking pictures. I got a new waterproof camera! We needed something smaller to take to events I didn't want to lug my huge camera to, so when I was looking for something small I came across the Pentax Optio W30, which we use at work. When I found out it was waterproof I immediately wanted it for swimming with my nieces. They love the water and have such cute expressions while splashing around. It was well worth paying a little more!

My working out and eating healthy are still going well, I have lost 5 lbs since April 1st and 9 lbs in total, as well as 2.5 inches on my torso. YAY! I'm still loving they gym, as well as finding other activities, like swimming, or going for walks. Pam and I are going to start walking Monday, which I'm really excited for! Too bad the sun sets at like 8:45 pm, can't wait until we have more day light in the evenings.

The job is still going very well. Last Wednesday, the 30th, was Administrative Professionals Day and I was pleasantly surprised to be treated with flowers, hot chocolate, a gift card, many 'appreciation' emails and lunch! I feel very appreciated, and I count my blessing I found Golder as an employer.

Well, that's about it for now. I'll keep you to date on the status of our house!