Keep on Believing

it always amazes me how when I'm feeling very low I can log onto blogger and there's always someone who posts the exact thing I need to read.  Yesterday, that blogger was Kandee.  

I was having a rough day.  I attended the funeral of my Godfather's mother.  My dad's best friend's mom.  The entire time I kept thinking about how much I wish my father could have been there with me.  and then I though about my "uncle" Ray and how he lost his best friend {my dad} and then 6 months later his mother.  I tried so hard, and did a decent job at keeping it together, though on the inside I was a mess.  Which is why when I came home I felt hopeless, like this sadness inside of me is never going to go away.  Then I read these words by Kandee:

My heart feels sad...and no one will ever know my hurts...or your hurts...except for God...but he's there to lift those burdens from your heart and fill the holes of hurt...with his perfect love. He know the plans he has for you...plans to give you hope and a prosperous future...
hold on...you have no idea what's around the corner in your future....
KEEP HOPE ALIVE....HOPE is what pulls us through....you need the seed of hope to grow that dream to become real!

BELIEVE it...that's the first step.

HOPE for it...and don't stop...second step.

KEEP ON BELIEVING....and never stop...the moment you stop believing...you end the oxygen to your dreams!

Thank you for your words of wisdom Kandee!   I will not stop believing. 

 

Sarah Turner Music

My best friend's younger sister is well on her way to pursuing a career in country music.  
She's been traveling back and forth to Nashville over the past several months, where she co-wrote and recorded the above song, Youngstown, named after our hometown.

In a recent interview with our local news station, she talked about how she grew up wanting to sing on stage with artists like Kenny Chesney. Well I happened to have attended those concerts with her when we were younger.

{at the Kenny Chesney concert in 2007}

I am beyond excited for her, and I really hope she makes it in that crazy business.
The next time she and her sister go to Nashville I demanded I come along! :)

Happy List

what's been making me happy...

 

* the above picture that one of my students drew of herself and me. 

* my warm cozy bed, that's near impossible to get out of on cold, early mornings.

* when the sun peaks through the clouds on a gloomy winter day, making it look almost warm outside.

* Just Dance 2. My way to let off steam at the end of the work week.  {who needs a gym membership when you can dance with the wii? hehe}

* the *NSync station on PANDORA

* finding the perfect gift for a friend's birthday.

what's been making you happy?

share your happy list

email me {enjoyyourselfblog@gmail.com}

Wordless Wednesday {...a girl's best friend}

 

 

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Words to Live by...

 

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Essentials for Happiness

Happy Monday! :)  I started my week off with a 2 hour delay.  Yes, it's that cold here they had to delay the start of school so it could warm up a little before the kids waited for the bus to take them to school.  I love getting the wake up call in the morning letting me know I can sleep in a little longer, especially on a Monday!  

Hope your week is starting out great!

and the winner is...

using random.org, the winner of my birthday giveaway is...

Hadar from OUTfitted and INspired!

Congrats girl!  Happy 'Un'birthday to you :)

send me your info {enjoyyourselfblog@gmail.com}

and thanks to all who entered! 

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gift of giving ♥

love getting presents in the mail??

I pick a winner for my giveaway tomorrow...don't forget to enter!  

...you may be the one receiving a present in the mail :)

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You Make Winter Look Good

I'm loving both of these winter looks.  They make bundling up to go outside look chic.   Winters not anywhere near the end, and though I spend my days dreaming of warmth and spring, fashion inspiration like these make winter look good.

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend, and don't forget to enter my birthday giveaway!!

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A Happy List of Sorts: Things that are helping me get out of a winter rut...

It's cold, gloomy and gray outside, and a big storm is on it's way bringing with it more cold and gloom.

I'm trying my hardest to not to sink into a winter rut and give in to seasonal depression.

These are some of the things keeping me sane during the long stretch until Spring...

- dreaming of the sunshine and warmth.  

I find having something to look forward to makes time go by a little faster. :)

 - hugs from my students.  they always know how to brighten my day without even knowing it.
  

- this site. every single post makes me smile and is oh so true!

- being asked out on a date. my friends and I were discussing how guys never ask girls out on dates anymore, when an old classmate contacted me and asked me to go out... maybe dates haven't completely gone out of style in this digital/social network age we live in.

- thoughts of a possible snow day...the only thing good about snow and terrible weather. :)

- browsing VS swimsuit collection, and dreaming of all the places I could wear those swimsuits.

- mid-afternoon power naps. 

- Just dance 2 and Wii Fit.  If I'm going to be stuck inside I might as well have something fun to keep me moving and exercising.

- and while I'm stuck inside, hilarious shows like Modern Family help fight the winter blues.

- and last, but certainly not least, listening to summer music and mentally planning summer trips.

what's keeping you happy and fighting off the winter blues?

and remember, send me your Happy Lists
{enjoyyourselfblog@gmail.com}

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Words to Live by...

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Award and a Giveaway

First, I'd like to thank these fabulous bloggers for awarding me the Stylish Blogger Award!

MJ from Teaching in Heels

Blair from Southern Girl in a Western World

CFD from The Bellini Bunny

Thank you ladies!  I love each of your blogs!  

I know there's questions I'm supposed to answer, but I wanted to make sure I thanked you all and gave you each a little shout out here on my blog. :)

and now for the **Giveaway**

in honor of my birthday I wanted to host a little giveaway for my blog friends.  

included in the giveaway:

~ FingerPaints 'Hue Left Me A Message?' nail polish {the color I wore on my birthday}

~ a houndstooth clutch/wallet

~ Bath and Body Works Secret Wonderland body splash and body lotion

How to enter:

~ be a follower of Enjoy Yourself

~ leave a comment {with your email address}

just a little way to share some birthday cheer! I'll pick a winner on Jan 23 - one week from today- 

Good Luck!

How I Celebrated My Birthday

wore sparkly pink nail polish and got a free drink for my birthday.

had homemade blueberry pie for lunch. 

{our school custodian's wife makes the best homemade pies!}

did not win the $300 million...would've been nice tho. maybe next year ;)

enjoyed a fabulous dinner and wine with family and friends.

had the most scrumptious triple chocolate cake! :)

it was a fantastic birthday!  my students started the day singing me Happy Birthday *cha cha cha*
I was spoiled with cards and gifts from family and friends, and enjoyed a day all about me! hehe
I had about as much fun as you can with a mid-week birthday in the middle of winter. :)

and thanks for all the birthday wishes yesterday!

26.

at 2:17 AM I officially turned 26.

I never got used to saying I was 25, and now I'm 26...

where did time go?!

25 was a year of great lessons, a year of change, 

and will always be the age I was when my father passed away.

what 25 taught me:

* it taught me what's truly important in life...

family, friends, and faith.

* that every moment spent with those you love should be cherished as you live them.

* it taught me to never ever take life for granted.

*it taught me who my *true* friends are...

the ones who are there for you, any time of the day/night, whenever you need them.

the one who brought me coffee, and sat with me at the hospice house while I waited for the inevitable,

and the one who drove over 9 hours, from two states away to be there for my father's funeral, when they easily could have used the distance as an excuse and just sent a nice card and some flowers.

my friends are family.

* and it taught me I'm stronger than I ever thought I was.  

and with the help of God and some prayer, you really can make it through anything.  

25 may not have been the year I expected it to be, but it was a year to remember {for the good and the bad}.

cheers to another birthday!  and (hopefully) a fabulous year 26!

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Wordless Wednesday {winter blues}