Get in the Best Shape I've ever been in and lose the weight I've gained: I was almost to my goal of 135 in May when I went on a cruise, but after a rather bad and depressing break-up in July I got lazy and stopped working out. I am determined to lose the weight before May and I'm working my butt off to do so.
Enjoy life more and stop stressing the little things- I am a BIG TIME stress"er" and I wan to stop stressing so much and enjoy life more. I spent the last 4 1/2 years living doing whatever someone else wanted to do and looking back now, I was miserable the whole time!!! But I would have never admitted that at the time. I NEVER want to do that again!! and third...
Become better about blogging, I started blogging for my photography, then I really enjoyed it so I started for enjoyment and I enjoyed reading others blogs, so I would like to get better about doing it everyday. I've let it really backslide lately.
So what are your New Year's Resolutions? Visit Taylor here and tell us.
We love to play lots of games in our family, but growing up two of my favorites, and they still are today too were Nertz and Scrabble..my mother is the scrabble queen and she rarely loses, but it's still fun to play as a family.
1.Nerts- we use to play this on our church youth trips all the time!!
Confession time, I am buying everyone gift certificates except my best friend this year. Tacky, maybe, but they'll have to understand. 1. I am really short on money b/c I only have a part-time job, the economy isn't the best and after I was laid off in March, I took the first position I was offered. PLEASE pray for me a full-time job. I have been blessed to still be able to take a few trips lately on the weekend and I was able to go to NYC with my best friend, with the help of garage sale and extra money I earned through photography side jobs. I feel like a failure still not having a full-time job yet, but I know God will provide and has and I am so thankful to him. 2. I have no clue what to get half the people in my life/family right now.
No matter whether or not you or I agree with her political views or not, it saddens me to hear that Elizabeth Edwards has lost her battle with cancer. I feel so sorry for her children, as they have already had to ender the pain of their parents divorce, father's mistress and their child; and then, being so close to Christmas, they fore sure are in my thoughts and prayers right now during this holiday season.
Confession: with all my traveling lately, I have really slacked on my blogging... I still need to post pictures of more vacation times. i.e. New Orleans and hopefully tomorrow, I will post pictures of my Christmas Tree and it's pretty pink tree skirt and ornaments. :)
so, as most of you know, I love photography, went back to school for it and do jobs on the side for extra money. While I was in NYC I got the urge to just go ahead and buy the body to the digital camera I wanted. i didn't have to buy the lenses, since Sony and Monolita are one in the same now.
Here is a picture of my new baby:
I absolutely love it and I'm so ready to use it next weekend, as I do a shoot for a family of 3.
Well...I'm ready for this week to be over, I am only working half a day Friday and then we are NOLA (New Orleans) bound. Can't wait to have a semi-repeat of NYC with my girl and two of our guy friends.. (one of which went to NYC with us and the other did not, but has family in and is from NOLA, so we're staying at his mothers for FREE!!) Yes, that is good b/c that leaves more money to Par-tay with!! ;)
So the my friend, Al, who I just went to NYC with has two german Shepperds, I love these dogs and would love to have one of my own. Her dogs have been fighting and trying to kill each other, literally, several times over the past two weeks, so when we came home Monday from NYC, I took her girl dog, Dutches, home with me.
Dutchess
I think German Shepperd are the BEST dogs!!! And I always wanted one, but while I was leaving in my parents house, that wasn't going to work. This is still Ali's dog and she can take her back anytime she wants....I don't want her too and I will miss her as I've become fond of her fast, but I do think, when that day happens... I will be buying a German Shepperd puppy; just not sure yet if I'll end up with a boy or girl.
NYC was a blast this weekend and I am so happy for the time away from this city, but I love coming home too. Good and bad, Memphis is my home and I love it here!!!
Here are a few more pics from our trip to The Big Apple:
View from a top the Empire State Building
Let's just say he wasn't as excited
about the picture as us girls lol
We had a blast and I couldn't have wanted to go with anyone else more than her. She's my girl and been there through thick and then. Love you Al!!!
Well we had a blast in NYC, we got into a few fights on the streets...The people seemed to be so rude there. One lady cut me and my bestie, Ali off and then we said excuse me to her and she just started cussing at us. We had one lady on the sub way get angry with us because we sat down too quick and she was trying to put her bag in the seat, she even asked us to get up...
Here are a few picture.....more to come tomorrow.....
All of us at the Empire State Building
Me and my girl, Al, having a pillow fight and jumping on the beds
(things we're not allowed to do by our own rules at our own houses lol)
Also, I did buy a new digital camera for my photography stuff, I'm sure my glad will be happy to have me not borrowing his all the time. I'll post a picture of it later..
I am SO ready to leave for NYC tomorrow morning!!! I made my last Target and Old Navy run last night, I ended up spending $93 at Old Navy, but saved $40, that's good right? Let's not even discuss the money I've spent at Target in the past week getting ready for NYC.
I have my film, cameras, and everything packed and ready to go, now if we could just be there already. I am very excited about getting to spend time with my girl, Alison (as I like to call her, Al); she is the best and since she's been back in town we have spent too much lots of time shopping and hanging out. I couldn't be any happier about going to NYC with anyone more than I am about going to NYC with her. We've both been through the ringer with bad break-ups this year, her marriage, and Craig and I's split; so, it is a much deserved trip away from reality!!! Although, two of her guy friends will be with us, we are planning on running like hell away from them escaping and losing them one day or night for some "Girls Only Time".
I can't wait to see some of this beautiful city again, as I was there for only a day and a half the last time I went.
I hope everyone had a great Halloween weekend.... I did. Friday, I went to dinner with my girl, Alison and some of her friends, then we were suppose to go to the Haunted House at trinity Commons, but the wait was going to be 2 1/2 hours, so we decided that since we probably wouldn't get through till well after midnight, we would bring our tickets back and go Sunday night...I'm glad we did, we had a blast running through there. Good times!! (are we too old for that?) Here are a few shots from Friday.
We had such a blast...then it was on to Trunk or Treating at the church last night with my nephews..
and one of the littlest, love bug and the dog, Cricket (hot dog)...Cricket was a hit and Trunk or Treat and even ate a few pieces of candy too.
So, as I mentioned before, I was suppose to be losing my job come Friday, because my bosses former assistant wanted her job back. Well, as of yesterday, she no longer wants her job back and I get to keep my job..however, I just booked a trip to NYC with my best friend, because I thought I was going to be out of a job.... Now, I am waiting on my boss to tell me I can have next Friday and Monday off..(crossing every finger and toe possible).
I have had ONE CRAZY YEAR!!! And I deserve a girlfriend trip, if I do say so myself..and what better place to go than NYC? I'll keep ya posted..(the waiting is driving Allison crazy, as is it me too)
So this past Friday night, I went out for my friend Shelly's 29th birthday party, while we had a great time and I can't speak for anyone else but we all I had too much to drink that's for sure. Since I haven't been able to really drink to much and cut loose over the last 4 1/2 years b/c I was ALWAYS the DD and ALWAYS the responsible one in my previous relationship, I let loose and had a ball.
Caitlin, me, and the b-day girl, Shelly
I also have been realizing how much FUN single life can be sometimes. I never would have gotten to go to this b-day party b/c my ex would have told me I couldn't have gone b/c he was a control freak abusive ass. Excuse the anger in my tone, but after WASTING 4 1/2 years, I am REALLY MAD AT MYSELF!!! I am having SO MUCH FUN, but I could have been having this much fun YEARS AGO if I had just LEFT when I knew I should have. Err....kicking self hard is not going to change anything, so I need to stop doing that. Anyways, here a few shots of our great FABULOUS time!!! I even made it home with $125 that I have NO CLUE where it CAME FROM!!!! Happy Birthday to me I mean Shelly!! ; )
like Shelly said on fb, "ha" all I can say is not a good picture
and way too many red bulls and vodka at this point
Natalie doesn't look like she's happy, but I look waisted : (
Oh well, it was all I great time regardless of the mess I got into or what I lost or even what I found for that matter. I had a great time!!
Could I please have just 1 WEEK without any migraines, fever, sneezing, coughing, throwing-up, etc..please, just one week!!!
I'd be ever so grateful!!! Meredith
Yep, I was sick again yesterday and this morning and just now made it to work, which I must mention makes me sick, just for the simply fact that my boss tells me Friday afternoon, that he's previous employee, who left because of a psycho co-worker not so nice co-worker, who I watched get into a verbal fight with the boss, which of course, she was then fired after, wants her job back and he feels "obligated" to give it back to her because she had worked for him for 25+years, so after 2 weeks, I shall be out of a job. THIS SUCKS!!! But God is good and always provides, so I am just going to pray for another job SOON, especially if my nephews want Christmas presents.
Friday night, I went to my friend, Shelly's 29th birthday party, I'll try to post pictures at a later time, because I stayed out way too late and then was sick, so NOTHING got done this weekend!!! NOTHING!!! But I had a great time getting out with old friends, some I hadn't seen since high school. We had a blast!!
Saturday, I did nothing but sleep, yep, really productive wouldn't you say? Sunday, guess what I did? You guessed it MORE SLEEP!!! And today, I waited for a doctor to give me a prescription for drugs I already had at home!!! Oh well, what can I say, thanks dr for making me wait 2 hours and giving me a prescription for something I already have at home and taking my $35 co-pay while your at it. Seriously!!!
All-in-all, I had a blast catching up with old friends Friday night and even maybe having one to many!!! Happy Monday Everyone!!!
P.S..... please pray for me a new job, it will suck being broke!!! : (
Okay first things first, I am SO saddened, like many other bloggers of the recent splits in Hollywood!!! So i must start here:
1. Courtney Cox & David Arquette- this is one hollywood marriage that I thought would last, they always seemed so giddy and happy and in love. Did anyone hear his interview with Howard Stern? He makes me sick now, that he was having sex with other women and that they had an open marriage toward the end. Wow! that's all I can say......
THERE IS LANGUAGE IN THIS CLIP, but it's David talking about Courtney not wanting to be a mother to him anymore!
Just sad, makes me want to cry, I thought they were going to be an exception.
2. Then....any Glee fans? There is Jessalyn Gilsig...what is up with Hollywood?
Oh well, I guess I'll keep hoping for some!!!
Last but not least, so I came home last night and noticed that my stupid dvr didn't record Survivor, what? how is this possible? It's set to record the entire series!!! Boo, oh well, I missed last nights episode and had to recap online, thank goodness I have a computer!! hahah
To participate in Thoughtless Thursday, visit Katie at Life in the Fulmer Lane. Happy Thursday!!!
Okay, I must share, a lot of you know that I have been through a rather tough year. While some people would say, "I brought it on myself", I disagree, you can't help but love who you love and when someone is promising to change and stop drink so much, you want nothing else but to believe that they can do it and will change their life around and turn to God. However, as I have learned, you can NOT make anyone want to change or admit that they have a problem. Through thick and thin, my father has been there to listen, let me cry on his shoulder, and hear more than ANY father would truly want to hear or see about their little girl being mistreated by someone who is suppose to love her. (and yes, as I've said before, since I was never close to my mother, I would tell my dad after my ex would hit me sometimes or he would just happen to see the mark on my body). Needless to say, no father wants to see that for his little girl.
My Dad, my youngest nephew, Daniel and me at my sisters wedding 7-2-10
I am SO beyond bless to have a father that is a man of God and so blessed that my father and mother taught me to lean on God in bad times, okay, maybe I've not always done the best, but last night, my father said the sweetest thing to me, "Meredith, I just have to say, you seem happier now than I've seen you in years and I'm so glad you finally left Craig in the past to have to clean up his own mess'. While that brought tears to my eyes, on many different levels (b/c I can't say I don't miss having a companion or the companionship, but I DON'T miss the abuse both verbal and physically that I suffered at his hand. (BUT, since I wasn't strong enough to leave on my own, God intervened and I truly believe saved my life in many ways!)
I love you Daddy and thank you for always being a Godly example, a shoulder to cry on, and just listening above all else.
Okay, my name is Meredith, and yes, I love I'm addicted to reality t.v. My obsessions include, but are not limited to: DWTS, Survivor, The Amazing Race, The Hills (I know it went off the air, but I still love reruns, even though, I've see EVER episode).
So does anyone else love DWTS? I am such an Audrina Pathridge fan, she was my favorite on The Hills and I am such a fan of her style, I always think she looks too darn cute.
Then you have, Jennifer Grey, I mean, hello, Dirty Dancing, need I say more?
And last but not least, she is my favorite professional, in part because she is half filipino and in case you didn't know, with my mother being half filipino, I can't help root for the filipino blood on the floor and it doesn't hurt that I personally think she's just beautiful!!!
Please someone, tell me you watch this much reality t.v.? I hope it's not just me. Happy Tuesday everyone!!
Carolyn at Life, Love & Puppy Prints is hosting a giveaway to CSN Stores. Visit her blog and check her out and become a follower too. To check her blog out visit her here.
Most of you probably don't know, but I went to Brasilia, Brasil in 2004 and absolutely without a doubt fell in love with the culture and people. (okay, okay, I met a rather nice looking guy too ; ), which didn't hurt) but back to the point, i have longed and prayed and even cried about wanting to go back to Brasil, but I went on a mission trip and missions is just not where my heart is. I want to go visit the city and country I fell so deeply in love with that I literally cried and threw up when it was time to leave. Yes, it may sound crazy to some, but what I experienced while I was there literally changed my life!!!
I will never be the same after Brasil and I've been out of the country before, but it's different in Brasil, they're so open and welcoming and so excepting. I am not the only one from my hometown church who shares a passion and desire to pick-up and move to Brasil. I actually know a few others who long and would love to be able to do it too. My heart is so full this morning with just the possibility that my parents may help me financially with the money for my Christmas present to make it at some point next year to Brasil. My only other hope would be that I'd be kidnapped by a gorgeous Brasilian and stay there. hahah, hey, a girl can dream, right? Below are a few pictures that show my love for the gorgeous country.
One more thing, to clarify, Brasil is spelt Brasil we spell it wrong, we spell it Brazil.
Ordem e Progresso (Order and Progress) the Country modo.
Congress Building
Cathedral of Brasilia
(the capital of Brasil and the city i love so dearly)
I'm praying and waiting to see what happens. I can't express my love anymore for this wonderful country and how dearly I miss it. And yes, while it may be a poor country, the people make it worth every challenge I may face to get back there and visit my wonderful friends I made along the way.
Okay, so I decided to start trying to give my dog her annual shots myself this year to save money. I am all about trying to cut cost were I can and save money and last year a girl I worked with who has a farm; and breeds yorkies and told me that she gives them their shots herself. Of course that peeked my interest and I decided that I would try it myself this year to save roughly $40. Hey, that's at least half a pair of shoes or something, right.
this is not my dog
So, I went to Tractor Supply Company and bought the shots last night, which cost roughly $14 and then headed home to give them to here. She wasn't happy about it and didn't like me grabbing the skin behind her neck and sticking the needle in, she tried to bite me actually the first time, but I decided just jab it in there and so I did, it took just a second and my dog is still talking to me today, which makes me very happy. Below is a picture of the shots and the needles.
Okay, to start, today has not been a very good morning for me. First of all, I didn't make it to work until 1:00, I started my day by doing a favor for my cousin and taking her husband to have test so she could get her son to school. Well, I end up running into my ex's co-worker who informed me, that the guy I was trying to get in touch with (who happens to be his best friend an also whom I shot down in times past) is now (as of about 2 wks seeing a girl from AR). Everything happens for a reason, right? God has a plan for everything and I am just SO thankful to have moved on with my life and that I am no longer being verbal and physically abused by my ex anymore. Life's looking up!!! ; )
Back to the story, so I go out to my car to get ready to leave and it won't start because I was talking running my mouth too much to my ex's, co-worker's wife, so I had to call my parents neighbor to come and get me and take me to work. Now my car is sitting at Methodist Surgery Center waiting for someone to pick me up after work and take me to jump it off. WOW, it's only Tuesday, really? Hope everyone else's Tuesday is going better than mine.
Now on to Top 2 Tuesday!!
Okay, so I love todays Top 2: Dream Kitchens and must say first of all, that I have a total fascination obsession with loving kitchens in general and looking at HGTV.com's website and fantasizing about the kitchen I wish to have one day. Hey, a girl can dream, right?
1.This first kitchen, I just love the white cabinet look and would love to have them in my home one day. I LOVE the fridge and island/bar on this kitchen to.
(please note the fridge: LOVE it!!)
2.Concrete Counter tops-yes, to some this may be weird, but I also have an obsession with concrete. I would put it in the entire downstairs of my house if I could. I just love the idea of having concrete counter tops too. Just something about it makes me smile when I look at this kitchen. That along with the glass front cabinets would sell me alone on this house below if I was looking at it.
Caroline, I love your idea for this one!!! To participate visit Taylor at The Undomestic Momma and link up. Happy Tuesday!!!
WOW, okay, so I have been MIA for a few days now, but what a difference a few days in your life can make. i have been struggling with myself and who I am since I went through a very, very, VERY bitter and angry break-up in July.
First of all, let me start by saying that Saturday night I went to church and the message was so intense and I truly feel like it was another message screaming out "Meredith, Meredith" he was preaching on forgiveness; how we must forgive others for God to heal us and forgive us. STAB #1
He went on to say, how we let our past hurts control our present life and how we hold things against others who have done no wrong to us, simply because someone once did wrong to us. STAB #2
Okay, so many of you know that my break-up in July was very painful and hurtful. But I don't think many understand why it was so painful and hurtful. I went back to my ex, who is an alcoholic multiple times after multiple indecent incidences. He put me in situations I should never allowed myself to get involved in whether it be alcohol, drugs, etc. You name it, we were probably in the middle of it at some point. Another reason why this is so hard and painful, but also eye opening and awakening is because as many of you know, I work for attorneys, if anything were to have ever happened, I number one would have been out of a job and possible even more. Yes, I take responsibility, I could have walked away and should have, but I didn't. Now that I have, God has truly blessed my life in SO many ways and is even working on helping me to forgive myself first and foremost.
I have a very difficult time forgiving myself in any situation, whatever it may be, but to have to go back and admit your sins to God, who already knows, is still humbling I truly believe. God has worked in my life SO much the last 2 and a half months that I did not allow him to work in over the last 4 1/2 years because I truly allowed some man to be my "god". God says, "you are to have no others before me" and I truly believe God had to dump me on my butt to get me to clean-up my life and keep my eyes on him. I continue to struggle especially in the last few weeks with wanting to do some things that are horrible for me and my body, but by the grace of God and through prayer and friends, I have managed to avoid that which almost cost me it all!!!! I do ask for your continued prayers in support, as I am still weak when it comes to some items in my life or allowing them back in my life.
My family has been praying so hard for me b/c I took my ex back multiple times and I assured them that there is NO GOING BACK this time, but they still have there doubts. I am truly FREE for the first time in 4 1/2 years from his abuse and control and I have to say, it feels SO GOOD to be able to do WHATEVER I WANT TO DO!!!!
TOP 2 TUESDAY:
Top 2 Favorite Songs:
Well this first one is my top Christian favorite song at the moment, because of all I have been going through the last 2 + months, I have been trying to fix my eyes on Jesus and listen to more christian instead of my normal Metallica (yes, Metallica is my favorite, need I say more), etc.
1.Casting Crowns- I will Praise You in this Storm- it fits where I have been and what I have gone through the last 2+ months. It makes me cry just thinking of this song and what Jesus did for me and how I am covered by the blood.
2.Goo Goo Dolls "Better Days"
To participate in Top 2 Tuesday, go over to Taylor's blog here and tell us your picks.
