Congested...

Have you ever been congested? Congestion is just an excessive accumulation that causes a clog.  I've been dealing with this and it's HORRIBLE.

I have allergies and they're so bad right now that I'm unable to sleep through the night. My nose is all stuffed up and I can't breathe, or "Breavfff " the way it sounds right now when I say it.  I'm so not a mouth breather, so if I can't breathe through my nose I feel like I'm suffocating! Some people...aka-snorers...don't have this problem LOL!!

Last night I was thinking about congestion, because of course I wasn't able to sleep yet again, because I was congested.  Your life can be congested.
You can have so much stuff, people, things, tasks, etc. That your life can become so congested that you will feel like you're suffocating.

Your life begins to look like this. When your suffocating you get confused, can't think straight and if you stay in this position you will die. I don't mean you will literally die, but you can become so overwhelmed with life's issues, that you just mentally shut down because you can no longer handle it. You give up on your dreams. Why, because you have too much on your plate.


Take the time today and re-prioritize the things, people, etc that are in your life. In writing you will hear the acronym KISS--Keep it simple, stupid!  Get rid of the excess stuff in your life. Stuff that's weighing you down, causing you to lose your focus on what's really important! Don't allow yourself to get 'caught up' in stupid stuff. Things that have absolutely nothing to do with you. Don't worry about what so-and-so's doing, saying, being, watching, buying. What's that got to do with you?  NOTHING!

Make it your goal today to get rid of at least 1 unnecessary item in your life.

Blessings!

The Dreadful Speakerphone...

Today, let's talk about speakerphones. I hate speakerphones and wish they were never invented!!

I think there should be some sort of  mandatory class on speakerphone etiquette. Over the years I've heard some things that I really should not have heard.

People, let's discuss rules.
1) ALWAYS let the person on speakerphone, know that you have them on loudspeaker. It's best to do this right at the beginning of the conversation and ask them if this is okay.

2) Only use the speakerphone if a) you are in an office with the door closed or b) more than 1 person sitting with you needs to hear the conversation, and that is only after you have disclosed #1.

3) Even if you have your office door closed. Turn down the speakerphone volume. Your office is not sound proof.  People sitting outside your office may not hear your voice, but can very clearly hear the person on the loudspeaker.

Now, let's discuss a few scenarios that I've experienced.

**DISCLAIMER--names have been changed or not mentioned to protect the guilty**

The phone rings Person A answers said call by pressing the speakerphone button. "Hey, wassup."

Person B,  didn't know she is on speakerphone, begins to give a candid review of Person A's bedroom performance. It was not a very good grade.


The phone rings Person A answers said call by pressing the speakerphone button. "Hey, wassup."

Person B, does not know he is on speakerphone, begins to tell Person A that they have not had bowel movement in a week.


 Or, even outside the office. Why would you use the speakerphone feature on your cell while standing in line at the grocery store, on an elevator, or on a bus.  No, I don't want to hear you fighting with your boyfriend about stuff that is NONE of my business. Why he never buys you anything, you hate your in-laws, you have gas, the stains you found on your hotel sheets, you hate his friends, your wife is a terrible cook. Well, now everyone knows because they probably had you on speakerphone.



Oh, and while we're talking about phone-challenged people. Here's something else to put in your ditty bag. If you have to cough, never do it directly into the phone, turn your head.

If you're eating something, please realize that on my end you sound like a 500lb gorilla. If you must snort your nose, please cover the handset.

Okay, well, I think that just about sums it all up. LOL!  Any speakerphone issues you'd like to discuss?

 Enjoy your day!

Blessings!

Negativity...

Remember the skit from Saturday Night Live...

You're enjoying your day
Everything's going your way
Then along comes Debbie Downer.
Always there to tell you 'bout a new disease
A car accident or killer bees
You'll beg her to spare you, "Debbie, Please!"
But you can't stop Debbie Downer!

Yep, you've met this person Debbie Downer. You either work,  are related, or married this person. If it wasn't Deb, it was one of her cousins Gloomy Gus,  Negative Nelly, Whiney Will, Negative Nancy or Sarcastic Sara.

They're EVERYWHERE!! Of course they're very opinionated. No matter what you say, she always has something to say to bring you down

.

I've often wondered why people are like this. What a sad life, never being able enjoy anything. There is always something wrong, broken, sick, sad, busted, disgusted. 

• The sun never shines. 
• It will never happen. 
• Don't try that.
• That won't work.
• Oh, my back, my neck, my foot...
• I heard..
• Why try?

You just wanna punch them in the throat! Okay, that's a little extreme, but if you're honest at times you'd definitely stick an old sock in their mouth to muzzle them if you could!

There will always be someone around to try and discourage you. Bring you bad news, and tell you why it will never happen. Your job is to recognize the negativity and flip the script on them. Always combat the negative with the positive, doubt with faith.

If you believe you can do something, go for it. Try it...  If you are surrounded by a debbie downer...Keep it to yourself. You can't share your goals and aspirations with everyone. I truly believe some people are here on this earth just to discourage you. They take pleasure in it.  

I love to hear about people achieving, accomplishing and going for the gusto. If you're in need of some encouragement. Send me a note. I'll send you a little sunshine. 

Blessings!

Guest Blogger - Joy West

Our guest blogger today is none other than the Fabtabulous Joy West. My bff since we were knee high to a grasshopper.  Not only is she a professional baker, but also a globetrotting fashionista! Can't you just hear Chaka Khan singing "I'm Every Woman" it's her theme song!!


She's also a new blogger.

You can follow her @ http://jwestpastries.wordpress.com/  or   @JWestPastries on Twitter  If you're in the Columbus Ohio area, ask her to whip up some of her sweets.

I guarantee you'll be hooked!! These are a few of her creations.   Enjoy her blog!!

I've never really been a long distance driver. Two hours of driving, ok, I can do it but I'm going to get a little antsy. Three hours? Ooooh that's pushing it, I'm not feeling too comfortable now. Go around me! Drive faster (uhm that's the speed limit, some folks won’t drive the speed limit, yeah, that's what I mean)! Get outta the WAY! WHY are you DRIVING in the PASSING lane!?!? Hell-LOOOO it's called the "passing lane" for a reason! Please get out of the way!! Oh, people can be so mean when they drive. Oh wait...those are things that I say...oops. I'm getting better though, don't judge me.

I have good reason to not enjoy driving. I drive an hour to work and an hour home. Oh, but please, don't let there be an accident. That hour can turn into infinity. Why is it that so many semi trucks are overturning? Every week you can count on hearing 71S is closed - overturned semi. 270W has a detour to 315S overturned semi. Bethel Road exit is closed at 315S due to overturned semi. What the heck!?!? People, people! Slow it down, pay attention, stop texting while driving, putting on that makeup! I see ya! But most of all, don't drive in that passing lane! Move it over buddy!

I'm really starting to not like driving. It's a great, awesome thing to be able to drive and have your own car so don't get me wrong. It's just that I don't enjoy it as much as I did when I was a teenager LOL! Now I want to be driven, like Miss Daisy...Driving Miss Joy. Ooooh I like the sound of that! Let me add that to my bucket list *I will have a personal chauffeur*, check! Ok back to the matter at hand, me and driving. Now some people like to listen to audio books while driving. I did that once and you know it was actually very nice. I have a few french lessons on cd that I may listen to from time to time. I haven’t memorized a lick. Everyone puts on their own concert while driving...alone. Honey, I can hang and sing with the best of them! "Love on Top" phew!! I am singing that with all I've got to MY man...in my car...alone...and it sure sounds GOOD!

Speaking of music, one night driving home I decided to do a little channel surfing. Talk radio, I do enjoy NPR, wonderful station but I don’t want to listen to that. It’s late and that will make me drowsy.

Next stop, Rihanna's We Found Love in a Hopeless Place, I've ruined that song because I changed the words to a song from Tommy Boy, "fat guy in a little coat" don't you think her song sounds like Chris Farley singing that in Tommy Boy? LOL! Oh, well, I think they sound the same.

Next "I'm as free as a bird now..." hmmm let's keep it right here...Lynyrd Skynyrd...okay, I can get with this. Next thing I know "I thought I was in a movie driving down the highway all alone windows down, not a cop in sight, not a care in the world. Deer grazing through the meadow, grass hawks flying up above, kitties romping along the rolling brook. LIFE IS GREAT!!!" I was transformed to another place! What just happened?!? Who did I become!?!? Who was just driving Miss Joy!?!? Was it all that twinging and twanging of the speedy guitar?? Was it the beat?? WHAT IS IT!?!?! By the time the song was over (and it's NOT a short song) I was tired! I wanted to ask "was that as good for you as it was for me?" What a thrill! Ooooooh Free Bird is my official "help me make it down this long distance" driving song!!


So I say all of that to say life is a ride, stay in your lane, listen to what pumps your heart and you'll arrive at your destination happy as a free bird.

Happy New Year!

Oh, Yeah Baby, we made it!!! Hello 2012!!! Can you feel it? Can you sense the excitement of the new year!!  A new beginning, like a pair of new fuzzy socks, it just feels good! LOL!

I'm not making any New Years Resolutions, but doing as my husband calls it, doing things a little differently than last year. I'm excited about my writing and after the clock struck 12 midnight. I stayed up a few more hours, just working on my manuscript.

This a time to not only renew your goals, set priorities, but also re-evaluate your spiritual life, your relationship with God. If you have that relationship in order, everything else will fall into place. So, first things, first.

I'm excited about your future and I pray that your every goal is met and you receive your hearts desires. Not only the ones you've told people about, but also those secret desires, you've not mentioned to anyone.

Expect Great Things to happen for you this year! Dare to believe & dream BIG!!

Psalms 37:3-6 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Grateful...

I watched a documentary on Wayman Tisdale the other night. He was a former great basketball player for the University of Oklahoma, then for the Pacers, 84' Olympics, Sacramento Kings & Phoenix Suns. He died after a battle with cancer in 2009. He was also a bassist and produced some great music. I have a couple of his CD's. 

I watched him tell his story, his struggle with cancer treatments and later having his leg amputated all while flashing that million dollar megawatt smile. It was a beautiful documentary. Sad, but inspiring.

The one thing I walked away with afterward was to be more thankful! His wife said at one point, after his leg was amputated he looked out the window and said how he would not be able to just go out and jog in the park. It's so many things we take for granted on a daily basis.

The truth is...if you woke up this morning and able to get out of bed by yourself, breathe without the aid of an oxygen tank, bathe and dress yourself, you are way ahead and so many people. We tend to focus on things that we want, or what hasn't happened for us yet. But, if you look around, you are already blessed!

As we finish out this year and move into 2012 resolve to be more grateful for what you have. Your family, friends, health, etc. No, you may not have everything you want, but you have the most critical thing...

LIFE.

So, start enjoying it, stop complaining about every little thing. Stop putting things off to do. Go out and live your life to the fullest. Start that thing that you've always wanted to do. Take that trip, you've been putting off. Write the book, song, or stage play. Don't wait another day to start enjoying life. Do it today. Cuz you know what?  You may not have tomorrow, next week, or a next year.

Be grateful today!

James 4:14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone.

New Puppy...

Welcome our newest family member "Rocky" the Maltese.
 He's a heavyweight at  2lbs !  11 weeks old.


I love him! He's such a sweetie!!