It's gonna feel real good...

Oddly enough, the words to Michael Jackson's, "Man in the Mirror," keep playing over and over in my mind.  

Oddly because I was confronted with these lyrics at the beginning of this month and they're smacking me yet again this second to last day of the month.  I started January and 2012 looking for ways that I could set goals for myself this year, rather than resolutions that I always wind up moving past and forgetting.  I wanted to create options that can build on one another.  Ways for me to improve my well-being and lead to bettering the world around me, wherever that may be.

As I reflect on the words of this song, I can't help but envision just how they're already providing motivation for this path that I'm on.  A path with many twists and turns.  A path I'm eager to keep rolling down and discover the plans He has for me.

My mind is sifting through,

"I'm starting with the man in the mirror,

I'm asking him to change his ways,

And no message could've been any clearer,

If you wanna make the world a better place,

Take a look at yourself

and then make a change."

I believe that as I travel this path I'm going to get to know me a little better.  That's already happening. 

I'm going to get to figure out what really matters in this world,

not just "my world."

I want to make a change.  I want to BE THE CHANGE!

Here's what's helping my cause...

Will you join THE PROJECT?  Let's SHINE together!

January 31, 2012 and forevermore...

*Look for pictures to come Friday!!*

Super simply sweet fix...

To occupy a sweet tooth that seems to be incurable at times, I came across said recipe.  Upon the event of my mouth turning into a water fountain, I knew it was part this evening's life plan.  I followed the signs and am currently in the process of bringing said recipe to life in my kitchen.

TURTLE CAKE

1 pkg. Super Moist German chocolate cake mix (follow directions on box) 1 pkg. Kraft caramels 1/2 c. evaporated milk Place caramels and evaporated milk in top of double boiler and melt over hot water, stirring constantly. Pour half of cake mix into a 9x13 inch greased and floured pan. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Then pour on caramel mixture plus, 1 cup of chocolate chips and 1 cup chopped nuts. Top with rest of cake mix and bake for 25 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes then take out of pan. Frost when cool. CREAM CHEESE FROSTING: 1/2 c. butter, softened 1 tsp. vanilla 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese 1 box confectioners' sugar

Mix butter, vanilla and cream cheese and then add sugar.

cooks.com - recipes - cakes - turtle cake

Turnout to come...

Maybe it'll look something like this...

(with a homemade touch, of course)

Source: pillsburybaking.com via Caitlin on Pinterest

Small stuff...

On a high school youth group visit to a large, primarily African American, congregation in Indiana, I took a small (yet unknowingly large) message from the sermon that Sunday.  

"Don't sweat the small stuff,

cuz it's all small stuff."

My thinking was to not worry about the little things in life.  I thought of it along the lines of picking my battles and not worrying about the little things that happen.  Boy, was I wrong?!

First off, life is all little things!  And thinking this way made me a spoiled-rotten brat!  I hoped only for BIG things.  I figured, "if it's small, it's not worth the trouble..."don't sweat it."

The problem with this thinking... my expectations grew to unreasonable measures.  I wasn't taking time for and appreciating the small things in life.  I had mixed feelings on the differences between small and BIG.  I can now admit...my thinking has expanded.

It's funny how, in my reflections, my wonderfully amazing "other half" pops into mind oh so often.  He has such a way with expressing his beliefs without expressing his beliefs.  He is truly a man of God.  By truly, I mean his actions.  He doesn't throw religion around as a way to prove anything.  He just treats others in a Godly way.  He's laid back and such a "go with the flow" type person.  Nothing really gets under his skin and he works to keep from being under anyone's skin.  He always wants to be the good guy that everyone likes.  I have to admit, he's pretty good at what he does.  And I don't think it's because I'm partial. :)

I, on the other hand, am a worrier that doesn't slow down for fear of popping.  I rush through the small things in life so I can avoid a lapse.  When my daddy passed away 2 years ago, I focused on staying busy and keeping my life in the fast lane, as not to let things get the best of me.

Thank goodness I am also the type to express my feelings.  So, I haven't exactly held those in as I've continued to go, go, go.  I won't say that I haven't paused to think about things, but it's seems easier to me to have a simple pause, let things out, and keep going as not to completely stop.  However, it is so easy, at times, to slip.

Another thank goodness, I have my God.  He is my Father who has such great plans for my life.  Although I don't know have insight into that path, I do know it's great!  Difficult too?  Yes!  Frustrating at times?  Uh huh!  But worth it?  Of course!

If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have come across one of my greatest challenges. 

I am taking a closer at the little things, the lipstick kisses, the being home, the non-materialistic things in life.  That's really what life is all about.

You have to ENJOY the small stuff, cuz it's all small stuff.

Just don't "sweat" it.

My small stuff includes and is, by no means, limited to...

~ forehead kisses ~

~ couch cuddles ~

~ surprises (giving and getting) ~

 ~ niece or nephew sleepovers ~

~ home-cooked meals ~

~ bringing pins to life ~

~ sleeping with my pooches ~

~ country road escapades ~

~ volunteering ~

~ and many more ~

I leave you with a few small things to "sweat"...

Source: threepinkdots.com via Lauralee on Pinterest

Source: runwithglitter.blogspot.com via Lauralee on Pinterest

Source: cleverlyinspired.blogspot.com via Lauralee on Pinterest

Source: chef-n-training.blogspot.com via Lauralee on Pinterest

Happy Firsts and Birthday to me...

It's always nice when your birthday falls on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.  It just so happened that mine fell on a Sunday this year.  I was actually born on a Sunday too!

I've had a lovely celebratory weekend!  It's been yet another reminder of the all the blessings in my life.  A bit of a share of my celebrations...

found my purple and gold...

I wanted to experience a restaurant for the first time (in connection with this week's challenge by Ashley)

This week, do something for the first time.

Something that you've never done, and experience the fresh outlook on it all.

It can be something big, or extremely small.

But just do something new.

That's exactly what I did and what better time than my birthday?!

I've been wanting to visit new places, including the experience of delicious delicacies close to home.  So, after our large group dinner plans went awry, we journeyed out to take in some new eats!  

Being from just outside the grand city of Louisville and having a part of my heart in the grand state of Louisiana, I decided to pay tribute to ME at Cafe Lou Lou's!  A little bit of Louisville, with a little Louisiana, and a dash of Mediteranian.  It was delectable!!  The atmosphere was super cute too!  I was even able to delight in shrimp pesto leftovers today...actually ON my day of birth!  They were just as tasty as last night too!

After dinner, we took on a couple games of bowling with my sister and her fiance.  It was a blast with a way more than slight couple domination on our part!  Woo hoo!

The night before last included a dinner date my parents, which was   yet another delectable taste...Soul Florentine (pan-seared white fish) at Mimi's Cafe.  Upon my arrival home, I was greeted with a sip of heaven from my MIL...a bottle of 6th sense.  FYI...you can never go wrong with a bottle of wine.

Of course, what completes a birthday is a slice of cake.  Now, yes...I enjoyed my sweet treats both Friday AND Saturday nights.  But, today...BIRTHDAY CAKE!!  M brought home a fave (besides red velvet)...white cake white icing (and buttercream at that!!).  With the homemade flowers he cut and pasted to the bathroom mirror this morning AND the sweet cuddly face that's melted and stole my heart, I'm only reminded again of the blessings I've been blessed.  

THANK YOU everyone for your sweetness and special tributes to my 28th year of God's creation.  We'll see what all it has in store :)

I'll leave you with the precious face that has been graced with the name of June,

as the sister to our Johnny boy...

We rescued her from a hoarding/abuse situation where she was
first taken in by Tyson's Chance Animal Foundation
(where I spend some of my volunteer time).

Find courage...

J worn out from being a new big bro!

"...find courage within yourself

to accomplish something that needs to be done,

but is terrifying to do."

In finding my courage, I've overcome a few obstacles this week. (This post is a week late ) Ironically, these acts of courageousness have connected with the challenge I presented last week (2 weeks ago).   To create change that will begin a more positive me is speaking volumes in my life.  When I devised my resolutions for 2012, never did I realize the power the first two weeks would have.  

I first read this week's challenge and began to contemplate ways that would require me to take a leap of faith.  Little did I know, my answers would fall right into my lap.  If that isn't in His plan, I don't know what is.  To top it off, they've even taken me full circle back to my list from last week's challenge and even came back around to greet this week's!

My more positive me is, first and foremost, about being positive.  That came during the loss of my purple and gold in the BCS championship game.  Simply put, I was heartbroken.  After a 13-0 season, why not win the crystal ball?!  Anger and pain started to steal my mind.  I stood up and turned the t.v. off, went upstairs and got ready for bed, tucked myself in and prayed.  I prayed hard.  I was angered at the sudden bandwagon Bama fans, the negative social networking comments that were posted before the game even ended, the discouraging network commentators, and those so quick to "dawg" my perfect season team!  In that moment of prayer, a glimpse of positivity trickled into my heart and mind.  Why not be happy for a team that's experienced true triumph and who needed that extra glimpse of hope?  They faced such loss and overcame those challenges to get themselves to the championship.  We had a perfect season.  After a few trials in the beginning, we still weren't set back from an amazing season of win after win.  We held 1st week after week!  Although the final W would have been nice, I know I can walk away with a happy heart of 13 (AND even though I dislike odd numbers so!).

From there, I ran into the more positive me that shares my story as a ray of sunSHINE for those in need of a connection.  I ran into a scare after not having my monthly visitor arrive in a timely manner.  Not only did my little friend decide to arrive late, but she brought on a scary grand entrance!  Right as stood in front of my classroom of 3rd graders!!  I swiftly announced an emergency to my assigned helper and quickly got to the ladies room.  Another large fright as I sat alone in the stall afraid of what was happening within me and the vision I was confronted with.  Just so you know, I got back to my kiddos and we wrapped our day and on to dismissal.  Upon delivering my friends to there location of departure, I returned my classroom and made a quick phone call to the doc.  As I notified her of my concerns, she prompted me to get in the next day so we could take a look at things and run some tests.

The next day came and I discovered everything was "normal."  That is, after an exam with blood work and an ultrasound.  Again, "normal."  However, we narrowed down specifically...no PCOS or miscarriage.  

The Negative Nelly in me said, "Again, normal...what?!...why?!...how?! The previous day drama was NOT normal."  Doc's response... "Stress leads to disruptions for Aunt Flow.  It is normal."

The Positive Polly I'm gaining the courage of becoming said, "God gave me a "scare" to get me back to the doc and on a greater path to my ultimate goal...becoming a mom."

I chose to rely on my Polly tendencies.  God gave me the courage and I found it within myself when I made the phone call.

Although it may be at a snail's pace, I'm creeping out of denial and evolving into the more positive me that can and will make a change in this world.

My something new (rescue) is pooped just the same.

New year brings change...

After months of following a genuinely "shining" project and it now being a new year with change, I've decided to make a change for myself and subscribe to the projects e-mail feeds.  Upon my first read and second day in The Shine Project know, I'm learning great things in regards to His plan for me for 2012.

I've thought long and hard about resolutions and goals for myself this 2012 year.  I don't want to follow paths I haven't concluded in years past.  I know and understand that change is needed in my life.  I believe (and agree with Ashley) that change is a process.  Goal setting is a process.  It's a KISS thing for me (keep.it.simple.stupid ).  


I'm ready for a process of positive change so I may follow a more optimistic journey.  I want that change to be in the form of shining my light so others may be able to witness the good in life.  I want to motivate others to experience this change as well.  

I want to share a challenge I've just begun.  A challenge to create change in my life.  First of which is copied & pasted below...

"We're all here to motivate each other along our growing pains of change.

So! Your challenge to kick off the new year is simple.

Answer this question,

"If I could change one thing in the world, what would it be?"

Write down the first thing that comes to mind.

Then make a list of ways that YOU can help make that change.

Make it as simple as possible."

As you complete this first challenge over the next couple of days, pay a visit to Ashley and share.  May you begin to create and explore your shining abilities in 2012.

As for me...

One thing in the world I would change is 

the ability to share my personal gifts with others.

ways that I can help make the change to a better me

~ continue to share my story with others ~

that it may comfort those 

who are struggling along with me

~ open my schedule to more volunteer opportunities ~

(one in particular, for me, Tyson's Chance www.tysonschance.com)

~ give back to my community ~

~ form a small group devotional ~

~ babysit for friends ~

~ educate myself ~


~ and MANY more ways as I discover them ~




... I first want to take a look at myself and then make these changes.  I'm more than willing to have some friends join with me in this world change, one shining moment at a time.