So much for 30 days

So I suck for not blogging as much as I used to. This 30 blogs in 30 days thing is turning into 7 blogs in 65 days. My bad!

I'm gonna take some down time this evening, not work, and blog as much of these as I can because I am determined to finish something non-required in my life!!! Okay, so here it goes...and just for the record, some days are going to be skipped for now, but I WILL do all 30 days. Eventually. I'm kind of picking and choosing what I want to write about tonight. :) Okay...

Day 8: 5 Passions of Mine

1. Assisting others in getting the help they need. 
2. Helping my clients better their lives in any way possible
3. Growing closer and closer every day to God
4. Becoming debt-free, believe it or not...
5. & Working towards one day having healthy hair again! 

Day 10: My Most Embarrassing Moment

I hate to say this but I have no idea. I've probably said or did something in the past that should have embarrassed me but didn't. So to think of a MOST embarrassing is a toughie. Sorry! I really would tell you if I knew.

Day 11: 10 Pet Peeves I Have

1. When people misuse they're, their, and there. And you're and your. 
2. When people don't smile with their teeth. [Shout out to Joy Smith! ;)]
3. Seeing grown-out roots, and not the cute ombre type
4. People getting help to fix a problem, then continuing to have that same problem
5. Grown adults who can't get their life straight
6. People who think they have an excuse to treat people poorly
7. The HORRIBLE reception I get on my phone
8. People who talk through their children or animals
9. The word "supposebly"
10. When I say "literally" and Alex says "LITERALLY?" [drives me bananas]

Day 12: Describe a typical day in your current life.

Well, get your bed ready because you're gonna wanna snooze after you read this. I wake up, shower, do my hair, scour my house for something to wear to work, grab a protein bar & a can of Mello Yello out of the fridge, eat, drink, and put my makeup on in the car on my drive to work, get to work, do a million things, try to go to lunch with a friend, head back to work, stay past 5:00 about every day, am typically the last one out the door, drive home, too tired to talk on the phone, get home, eat something, walk 2+ miles around the block, watch a little TV with Mom & Alex, send him on his way, shower, and pass out in the bed with my hair wet. OH! & I've been reading Redeeming Love every night before bed because it is my FAVORITE book! Seriously. My life needs a makeover. 

Day 13: 5 Weaknesses of Mine

1. I sometimes think before I speak. I also make faces that tell you what I'm thinking when I should be thinking something totally different.
2. I am messy. THERE! I SAID IT! 
3. I am super impulsive. 
4. I feel obligated to buy anything that's on sale 30% or more.
5. I don't stick to anything that isn't required for any decent amount of time. I fully invest myself for a day to a week, then I'm on to the next! 

Day 14: 5 Strengths of Mine

1. I am loyal to a fault.
2. I will do about anything to help someone.
3. I am a hard worker.
4. I try really hard to be a good friend.
5. If I find something that's great, I want to share it. 

Day 15: If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

I would be a bird, so I could fly far far away from here. Just kidding. I have no idea what kind of animal I would be. Maybe my dog? Because she does what she wants when she wants and everyone still loves her no matter how crazy she is. 

Day 16: My 5 Greatest Accomplishments

1. Graduating from college in three years
2. Getting my Masters degree
3. "Getting a job" before I graduated- that's a big deal in the counseling field! 
4. Studying abroad- And I say that because so many people want to, very little actually do.
5. and Alex said "landing a big fish."  I'm not dating a conceited person or anything. 

Day 17: What is the thing you wish were great at?

Staying fit and eating healthy for sure.

Day 18: What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?

Hmm. Probably dealing with/loving my father through/despite his alcoholism. 

Day 19: If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?

NYC baby! Duh! EVEN though it gets so so cold there. It would be worth it. Why? Because it's amazing, I'd feel like I was living in a movie or a TV show, everything's so close to you, you'd see celebrities all the time, it's gorgeous... need I continue? 

There. That's all I've got for tonight. I'm gonna go cry because I don't have five great accomplishments, much less "greatest." 

30 Blogs in 30 Days: Day 7: My Dream Job

Day 7 of 30 Blogs in 30 Days {Which should be called 30 blogs in 100+ days as slow as I'm going...} has me tell all about my dream job! This is ironic because I've been talking about my dream job here & there for a couple weeks now to various individuals.

I will say that. I am on my way to working at my dream job. {So far} As of right now, I think my dream job would be to do counseling of some type.  I would love to work in a hospital one day, counseling individuals dealing with adjustments of various kinds, or family members of patients.

Call me lazy if you want, but I would love love love LOVE to not have to work an 8-5 five days a week. That's probably my dream. I would love to have some down time in a week to not have to rush, to be able to space my to-do list out, or you know, a day to sleep in. ;) But if I 110% loved what I was doing, it wouldn't feel like work, and I don't know if I'd mind working 40+ hours a week.

I think my dream job would be able to schedule clients according to MY schedule, have them come see me in MY office, and to make enough money to be able to pay my student loans off A-S-A-P!

Is that too much to ask??

For now, I'm a provisionally licensed therapist. I have another 2ish years left to be supervised once a week. I can't wait to be a fully licensed therapist. For one, I'll be able to bill more insurances, and so many more doors will open for me. My company is growing so darn fast, so I'm sure there will be something of interest for me to do down the road. Until then, I'm just so glad I have the opportunity to do therapy before I'm fully licensed. I love my clients and love having the chance to gain the experience I need and to learn more and more every day.

Hopefully this Fall I'll get to start something different. That's the plan, but we'll see. I think I'll like what I'll {hopefully} be doing then. I love the company I work for so I'm very lucky to be able to have done {now} four different positions in the company, even since I've started in September. I'm just happy not having to do something I don't like doing. :)

Click here to read my other blog posts from 30 blogs in 30 days. 

30 Blogs in 30 Days: Day 6: The hardest thing I've ever had to experience

Day 6 of 30 Blogs in 30 Days: Tell about the hardest thing you ever had to experience.

This is hard for me. I've been through a lot in my life but it's hard for me to say what was the hardest. I don't like to grade my trials and tribulations on a scale of one to ten, and I don't know that I've even ever experienced a "ten." The therapist in me is reminding me {to remind you} that not everyone's "ten" is a "ten."  Some people's "fives" may be others' "tens." Some people, myself included, have been blessed to be able to say that their life could be worse. We all could really say that, but some days, I know some things are harder for others.

Side note: Did any of that make sense?!?! I just took a Benadryl {or two} and am feeling it right about now. Maybe you can tell? Anywho...

The hardest thing I've ever had to experience?

Hmm... well, it was probably when my brother lost his eyesight beginning in August 2009. {How's that affect me, you ask?} Well it was a super hard time for my family. And my brother affects me, as does my family. My parents were still together, which often times made things more difficult if you wanna know the truth. And seeing my brother go through all he went through was tough on me as a sister, especially when he took things out on me.....

Time out: I know my brother doesn't read my blog. And this is personal. And I'm choosing to share this. If he finds out what I said, so be it. If he gets mad, that sucks. But I'm trying to honest, and I hope others respect that.

.... That was probably the toughest thing. I tried my little heart out to help him in any way I could, and he was so hurt and mad at the world that he took it out on me any chance he got. You couldn't talk to him. You couldn't question anything he was doing. You couldn't provide him suggestions. And you dang sure couldn't suggest he was doing anything wrong. My brother didn't talk to me for probably a year or more. I mean he did, but as needed, and it wasn't ever good conversations.

I like to think that phase is behind us. But my family going through all we went through, as a unit, and individually as well, was not a great time for the only two siblings to be upset with each other. I think know he was mad at me, and I was mad at him for being mad at me {!!}. And I would try, and he would get mad, and I would get upset, and I would swear off ever helping him again. Until he needed something. Or I saw a way to help. {Enter that unconditional love} I would always go back to my brother, helping him in any way possible because I know that's what God wants us to do for EVERYone and I am sure He knew my brother needed me. And I'm sure He knew I could help. And I'm sure that He saw things so far down the road {today & in the future} that what seemed to be a big deal, wasn't. But that cycle of being mad/sad, getting over it, just to set myself up to get mad again wasn't getting me anywhere. And it sure the heck wasn't helping anything.

I just prayed and prayed and prayed that God would heal my relationship with my brother. And I think step by step, day by day, God is doing that. I say God because after everything that's happened {to us and between us} that the only way my brother and I can have a healthy, loving, sibling relationship is by God. I knew God would do His thang to make it happen. And He is. Slowly but surely :)

Pat's senior prom ~ Spring 2009

Pat's High School Graduation ~ June 2009

June 2011 at my cousin's wedding :)

Click here to read more of my 30 blogs in 30 days. 

30 Blogs in 30 Days: Day 5: Five Things That Make Me Happy

Yep, I haven't forgotten about 30 Blogs in 30 Days! I just took a detour & blogged about inexpensive makeup, Mary Kay, and George Bush's interview about 9/11. That's what my blog's all about: Blogging about whatever the heck I want, when I want! ;)

So TODAY I shall blog about whatever the heck Day 5 is supposed to be.

And day 5 is....

Five things that make me HAPPY {in no particular order} ... That'll be easy enough :)

1. Pampering myself
Any time I can find the time [and money] to pamper myself, I will. That could mean getting a pedicure, getting my favorite shellac manicure or just painting my nails, coloring my hair, getting a fresh new haircut or style [body wave not included], taking a lavender-scented bubble bath, putting masks on my hair [Lord please heal my hair], playing with makeup, $HOPPING, or getting some color on my skin [I still am on the look-out for the perfect spray tan!] - I am always looking for new ways to feel better about myself, and if giving myself a spa day does it, well, I guess I'll just have to do it. ;)

2. My boy
Alex Mullen drives me crazy, more than probably anyone, but Lord do I love that boy! 9+ years together will do that to ya! He takes care of me and makes me laugh and that's all any girl wants! He truly makes me happy and I can't imagine my life without him.

3. Capital G - O - D
Hate me for being cliche, or cheesy, or whatever you want to call me today, but I'm not joking y'all.. a lot's going on in my life, and a lot has gone on in my life. I can't imagine where I would be without my God. I can't imagine where I would be without the hope I have in Him. I can't imagine how anyone gets through anything negative [and healthily] without Jesus. He is truly my strength, my hope, my joy, and my future! I know that no matter what happens, He is there with me, guiding me along, bringing happiness to me in the oddest of ways. And for that I am thankful! :)

4. Doing what I do
I love my job. I love that I have the opportunity to assist others in bettering their lives. Doing therapy has given me the opportunity to help people see the bigger picture, feel better about themselves, improve their family, improve their relationships, and deal better [in more healthy & appropriate ways] with the things going on in their lives. Making them happier and healthier makes ME happy as well!

5. Hang Time
Being with my friends, hanging out, doing nothing or doing something fun, or even doing something stupid makes me really happy. I love all of my friends, past and present! I don't know what I'd do without some of them. We're all super busy, and have our own things going on, so it makes me really happy to get to spend time with them. We always end up laughing and what's not happy about that?!

an oldie but a goodie :) 

30 Blogs in 30 Days: Day 4: 10 Things I Would Say to my 16-Year-Old Self

This is a pretty interesting one!

Hmm... let's see... what was I doing when I was 16???

In September of 2003, I was starting my junior year of high school, so "16" was basically my junior year & the summer after.

Alex and I were on and off {of course} and I had some pretty great times with some pretty great friends.

Here's some random pics from my 16-year-old days...

Golfing with Alex for his 18th birthday

"Fab 4" night of trouble... 

There's a funny story that goes with the picture above.

I will sum it up with a Facebook photo comment from Summer (2nd from the right):

"hahahahahahahaha...i still can see you flipping out of the back of the truck..hahaha...and the car coming and you almost getting ran over...i thought you were dead...but of course im glad you're ok and everything but you know that was the funniest thing ever when you look back on it...lol" 

Good times, y'all, good times...

My 16th Birthday... at Hooters after the football game, lol

Oh you know, riding around ;) Taking pictures...
With that old Nokia phone- everyone who was cool had one ;) 

Junior Girls Christmas Party at my house

Christmas dance
I was in a "bold" phase

Homecoming Pep Rally with Alex
Look how young & skinny we were!

Softball girlies :) 

When you want a specific tan line, you wear 2 bathing suits.
You can do that when you're skinny.

My future college roomie!! Who knew?! :)

My twinsie, Meredith ♥

I definitely just scrounged through my old Webshots account and whatever is left of my Facebook pictures from this "era" and reminisced for about an hour. {Way to be productive, Nicole!} 

Oh, yeah....10 things I would tell my 16-year-old self.... 

1. You've got it, so flaunt it! You will start taking Depo-Provera next year, and your body will never like you again. 
2. I know you think you're overweight, but YOU. ARE. NOT. You can't compare your body to your peers' bodies. You wanna compare it to something? Compare it to your OWN body, 8 years later. You'll think twice and want to wear bikinis everywhere you go! 
3. Your hair was cute short. But at some point, please let it grow long.
4. You look beautiful without a ton of makeup! 
5. You're going to have fun. Things are going to get crazy. Live it up. You'll grow more cautious later. 
6. When Alex gets super controlling and psycho on you, don't call him. "It's meant to be," so don't call him. He'll act like he won't miss you, because he's young and big and bad, but do your own things. He'll miss you a lot. And he'll be a much better man eight years later, so, do what you've gotta do. 
7. Realize how lucky you are. You're surrounded by so many awesome things, memories, and people! Not everyone's so lucky.
8. Hoes before bros. 
9. Learn how to study, PLEASE. And get better grades. You're too smart to get lower grades just because you're lazy. 
10. Family is important too. 

*****

Stay tuned for Day 5: Five Things That Make You Most Happiest Right Now

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30 Blogs in 30 Days: Day 3: My Relationship with my Parents

On Day 3 of 30 Blogs in 30 Days, I'm supposed to describe my relationship with my parents. This is a little awkward, because it's not something I talk to about to everyone.  Sometimes I'm personal on my blog, but I'm never super personal. My relationship with my parent(s) is a very personal issue to me. It's a unique relationship & not one that everyone can relate to. 

my mom:

I often tell my Mawmaw, who is like my mother, that my Mom annoys me.  Today she said something to me that I will never forget.  She said, "What if you had to go see your mom where I had to go see mine?" My grandmother frequently reminds me that there's nobody like your mother and you are only given one mother in your life. I need that reminder sometimes.

The truth is that I have learned a lot from my Mom. I've learned how to be a good friend, to put others first, to love unconditionally, and a number of things to apply to my life once I become a mother.  My mom's great. She puts up with more than she should and would give someone her last dime if it would benefit someone else. She's hilarious and fun to be around. A lot of things she does to make others laugh, she does unintentionally, which makes her even funnier. I love my mom and can't imagine my life without her. I'm grateful for all her sacrifices and attempts to help make me who I am today. 

"I know you were on my side, even when I was wrong

And I love you for giving me your eyes,

for staying back and watching me shine

And I didn't know if you knew,

so I'm taking this chance to say

that I had the best day, with you, today..."

-Taylor Swift

my dad:

Ahhh, "PD"... can't live with him, can't live without him. He's a character, that's for sure. He's the kind that doesn't try to be funny, but is, in a not-laughing-with-him kind of way. We have had our ups and downs, that's for sure. But what Mawmaw says about mothers also applies to fathers, and I think some time in the past three years or so, I have found forgiveness and unconditional love for my father. He raised me. When I realized how big of a Momma's boy my brother was going to be, I quickly learned me and Dad needed to be a team. He's done some pretty crappy things in the past, but I try to remind myself of all the good he's done. He's a super hard worker. He's a product of my grandfather's generation and [I know deep down] that he lives his life knowing right from wrong.  He has morals in surprising times and he has a huge heart. People often don't know that about him. He gets his feelings hurt and he would do anything for anyone. He's a country boy redneck, Rock-n-Roll loving man but the Lord loves him, as do I! 

"You don't choose your family.

They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."

-Desmond Tutu

*****

Stay tuned for Day 4: 10 Things I Would Tell My 16-year-old Self

Click to see my other blogs from 30 Blogs in 30 Days.

30 Blogs in 30 Days: Day 2: Three Legitimate Fears

Three legitimate fears?

I could say things like spiders, bugs in general, rats, and other yucky things and be totally serious. But I don't think that's what the purpose of this blog is.

So, I'll be honest.

For YEARS I had reoccurring nightmares. I had nightmares regarding end times, terrorist attacks, machine guns, devastating tidal waves, etc.  Someone I knew and loved always died in these dreams and I would wake up terrified every now.  I remember as a super young child, I had nighmares.  I slept with my brother's hard as a rock Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle because my dad told me that it would fight off my bad dreams.  Crazy thing is is that he was right.  When I slept with the TMNT I would never have a bad dream, so of course I slept with it every. single. night.  I think my parents thought "that CAN'T be comfortable" so they got me this cat. It was a gray stuffed cat that "purred" when you shook it. Why you would shake the cat, I don't know, but nevertheless.  The movie "Andre" had just come out, or I had just watched it, and was in LOVE with the cat. So, obviously I named the cat Andre and slept with it until I was in 8th grade.  I don't know but I THINK my parents did something with the cat when I forgot to take it to a friend's house. I think they thought I was a little too old for that kind of thing. For that, today, I thank them. But anyways {I think I'm on a tangent now}...I am a firm believer that nightmares are "all in your head" because I could literally control my nightmares by whether or not I slept with this cat. I figured this out sometime in middle school because I did experiments to see whether or not I would have nightmares depending on whether or not I slept with this cat.  Fast forward six to eight years and I had a bout of nightmares again.  Alex and I weren't together at the time and I would call him just to make sure he was okay because I would have horrible nightmares about him dying. {Crazy, right?} I seriously started praying about relieving my nightmares and repeated Scripture to myself and would hang Bible verses around my apartment.  That totally worked. God is so good!!

So...I guess you could say that these crazy nightmares are a fear of mine, or whatever was in my dream is the fear. I don't know. All I know is I don't want to go through that season ever again.

That was a long #1... {sorry!}

The second thing that I am legitimately afraid of is my home being broken into or catching on fire. I've had neighbors houses catch on fire and I've had people I know have their homes broken into while they were home. Movies don't help this fear either. Knowing these things happen, every day, to people who aren't expecting it at all makes it that much more scary.  I also have reoccurring dreams that my house is catching on fire and I know it's happening, and I devise a plan to get what I can or what I feel like I can't live without before the fire gets to the part of the house that I'm in. {Crazy, right? I'm sure that means something.}

And, shoot me now for being so cliche, but losing someone I love is probably a biggest fear of mine. I lost my first grandparent when I was young, and haven't had to deal with someone I love dearly passing away since then.  My grandmother's currently in an escalated state of dementia, and I haven't seen her since she lost a lot of her memory. That is going to be SO hard and I pray that I don't just cry my eyes out the next time I'm with her. My Mawmaw and Pawpaw are my grandparents that have always lived in my hometown, so I grew up seeing them more. They are literally my favorite people in the world and I have no earthly idea how I will get through it if anything ever happens to them. The thing is- I know it will, one day, and like I said, I have no earthly idea how I will get through it. The same goes for Alex. If something happened to him, I'd be so lost and I'd probably never get over it.

Great, now I'm in a super gloomy mood before bed. :/

Next up!: Day 3: Describing my relationship with my parents... Stay tuned!!

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30 Blogs in 30 days: Day 1: 20 Random Facts

I am stealing this idea from my good friend Becky Chambers. It's a great way to get your blog readers to know you, and, what I'm thinking, is for me to reflect on things about myself as well! So, here it goes! :)

And, if y'all know me, y'all know I have every intention of seeing this to the end. However, I'm gonna be honest & say that it won't be an every day thing... but I will definitely attempt to do each day! Deal? Deal!

Day 1 is pretty fun! It's 20 random facts about me!

1. I am a therapist. 
2. I lived in Boone, NC for three years, but I HATE cold winter weather. 
3. I stay far far away from scary movies or I'll have nightmares.
4. And by scary I mean movies with massive tidal waves or end-times scenarios.
5. There is no sport I care to watch on television.
6. I am extremely impulsive. Especially when it comes to cutting and coloring my hair.
7. I judge people if they misuse they're, their, and there. I also hate to see misspelled words. But I am completely ignorant when it comes to grammar.
8. I feel the absolute NEED to go to New York City. 
9. I want a yellow room in every future home of mine. But a very particular shade of yellow.
10. I don't have any close girl friends that I've had even almost my whole life. And this makes me sad.
11. I have some seriously crazy family members. 
12. My Pawpaw is the best man I know, and I want to be just like my Mawmaw when I grow up. 
13. I don't think I will ever be able to quit drinking yellow soft drinks. 
14. There's a good percent that I will lose my eyesight someday. And that's okay with me.
15. I get emotional when retelling stories... of special moments on television. Especially when discussing series finales. Dumb, I know. 
16. I am one of the few people who don't feel the need to bash my hometown.  It's done nothing to me and I actually love my little hometown.  I don't necessarily wish to always live here, but there's absolutely nothing I have against it.  Lincolnton has a special place in my heart. :)  
17. I've been dating my boyfriend {on and off} for 9+ years. And I want to drop kick anyone who asks me why we're not engaged.  If you're wondering, let me know, & I will give you his phone number & you can ask Alex yourself. ;)
18. My dog is completely psychotic. 
19. I can not stand the new Lily character on Modern Family. Am I the only one?!
20. I basically don't know how to do much of anything domestic. I'm going to make a horrible wife. Which probably has something to do with the answer relating to #17. But I want to learn!! I get points for that, right?? 

Stay tuned for Day 2: Three Legitimate Fears...

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