High Five for Friday!

We made it!! High five for Friday!!

*I found the idea for "High Five For Friday" through The Small Things Blog.  I am taking part in this "High Five for Friday" reflection each week. Hopefully you will too!* 

My top 5 moments of the week:

1. Working on "business stuff" with Amanda on both Sunday and Wednesday night. Each night we had a planned agenda and accomplished a lot! I honestly didn't think this would be possible; I thought we would have gotten side tracked with talk about other issues and gossip in our lives. But, no! We remained focused and we were determined! It felt so good! 

2. I accomplished a new recipe for dinner on Sunday night. I made a meatloaf for the first time! It's not my favorite meal, but it was brought up in a conversation the night before. After a quick recipe phone call to my mom on Sunday morning, I was ready to go! It was very tasty and my husband requested that I make it again this week! Success!! :-)

3. Canceling my after school club on Tuesday. For a very long time, I felt bad about taking sick days or personal days. I never missed a thing and I never said "no" if asked to be on a school committee. I am finally learning to say "no", to take sick days and personal days, and I even cancel things when I know there's too much going on to balance my life appropriately. Experiencing and living through wedding planning helped me with this important life lesson and I'm finally finding the balance with professional vs. personal life. It's so important!

4. Crossing off everything on my Friday to-do list. I was nervous all day about making sure that I had enough time to travel from one county to another. I was so afraid of getting stuck in traffic with the long weekend approaching. The nail salon was screaming my name and I made it my mission to get there tonight! My eyebrows were disgustingly overgrown and my nails needed a serious makeover from New Years Eve festivities. I love treating myself to these treatments and I go very often, but life took over and I haven't been there in over 2 weeks. I felt SO relieved when I made it there in time. I walked in with my Pumpkin spice coffee and was relaxed within minutes. The knot in my stomach had finally disappeared!

5. Watching an old couple hold hands and help each other up the stairs. I've seen this a lot lately and I just melt inside. I saw it the other day at the grocery store and again tonight at the movie theater. Due to the snow and icy roads, I've noticed how these couples hold onto each other and take care of one another. At the grocery store, the old man was holding his wife's arm tightly as he guided her carefully to the car door. Tonight at the movies, the couple interlocked their arms and walked slowly up the stairs together. It was just precious! I've noticed my parents doing this more and more with each other too. It's just so sweet and speaks to the power of love, the power of forever. 

5 Things I wish I knew 5 Years Ago

As I write this post, I am thirty minutes away from turning 30 years old. I'm entering a new phase of life, and looking back and doing some final reflecting before I jump with both feet into my thirties! I wanted to make a list for my 25 year old self. Things that I wish I would have known five years ago if I would have had the wisdom I have now. If you're in the middle of your twenties right now, you may find my list helpful!

1. You think you know it all. You don't. I have gone through more in the past 5 years than I could have ever imagined. You need to go through the disappointments, the heartache, the job loss, etc. to learn more about the world. Luckily, we grew up during an amazing time. There was no internet, simple television after school, and creative play. As we grow up, we learn that life isn't perfect, but the difficult times in your twenties will set you up to be wiser in your thirties.

2. Trust your gut. It's right. So many times I ignored this. If you're in a relationship that just doesn't feel right, GET OUT NOW. I don't care how much time you've invested, how many of your friends are getting married, how behind in life you'll feel. Don't spend your time with the wrong man. If you aren't happy with someone, be happy without someone. Make yourself happy first. I promise you WILL meet someone new...and someone better for you. So unload the guy who doesn't make you the happiest woman in the world and free yourself up so you can find the guy who can!

3. Stop thinking you're getting old, running out of time, and need to get married because everyone else on Facebook is. Facebook is every girls enemy. If you get a pit in your stomach every time you see another gushing girl's new engagement ring, you have two choices. A.) unfollow their news feed. B.) take a break from Facebook entirely. You have to understand that you are not behind. In fact, you are a smart girl for being careful about who you're getting involved with. Marriage is a serious thing. Of course, every girl has a vision of the white dress and the beautiful flowers, but along with the fairy tale comes a life long commitment. Before you rush to the altar, make sure that the man you want to marry is the right man. Neither one of you should have doubts. If there are doubts, refer to #2.

4. Enjoy this time of your life. I know everyone including Aunt Sue and your long lost cousin Joe tells you that these are "the best years of your life." (Not for anything, people are telling me that now, too.) Aunt Sue and Uncle Joe are actually right. Your twenties are the times where you can have fun without complete adult responsibilities. You're settled in a job, most likely college educated and figuring out what you want out of life. Enjoy late nights out with friends, quiet time with your significant other, shopping by yourself, and seeing the world. Take it all in. The only person you have to worry about is you. You have plenty of time for everything else. Right now is your chance to do you.

5. Learn about the world and make your own opinions. The best part about not having tons of adult responsibilities is that you can explore the world. Travel and experience new places. Take a road trip at the drop of a hat. Hop on a flight to Europe and explore countries that inspire you. Don't let anyone keep you from enjoying your life. Know that some people who claim to be your friends are more like your enemies. Learn about yourself, what you like and what you don't. Make life choices based on what your heart wants, not what anyone else tells you to do.

I truly wish I knew these five points five years ago. Time goes by in a flash. Live every day, love every moment. Take pictures and make memories, but please know you are right where you are supposed to be on this journey called life. Throw your plans away and live life. I promise you, it's all going to work out just the way it should, and you can smile on the eve of your thirtieth birthday, because you know more about yourself on that night than you did just ten years ago...and you won't be able to sleep because you can't wait to see what life has in store for you next.

Goodnight, world. :) xo

Mail

I always have and always will love getting mail. When I was a little girl, I would hear the mail truck go by, and I would run outside to see what the mail man left for us. Usually there wasn't anything left for me. It was always the same old...bills, catalogs and other "junk" for my parents.

As I got older, more and more items would arrive just for me. Magazine subscriptions, small bills, and the occasional card. Now that I'm an adult, I still love to get the mail. Most of my mail is usually bills or junk mail, but I LOVE the week before my birthday. My mailbox fills up with birthday cards, and it's so exciting to get well-wishes from those near and far. 

Today I received three birthday cards. One was from my aunt (and godmother), another was from my best friend Allyson who lives in Florida, and the last was from a very dear friend and her mother. I love displaying my birthday cards on my table in my living room just as a reminder of the people who are close to me.  

Tomorrow is the end of my twenties. My students are somehow well aware of this fact. They commented on it all day, and told me I wasn't too old. I'm sure I'll have a great story to tell tomorrow! 

Apartment style: seasonal decorations

On my way home from work tonight, I stopped into a few stores and quickly noticed that I was bombarded with Valentine's Day decorations. Although I knew that these decorations were on the shelves right after New Year's Day, it seemed like there was SO MUCH. It was almost overkill, but... instead of turning away, I became hooked. 

I scanned every shelf filled with candies, containers, stickers, and cards. I looked and looked and looked. I love Valentine's Day and I love the fun, vibrant colors... reds, pinks, whites. I was determined to find something. Why? I have no clue!

I decorated our apartment with little things that we bought last year and with new items that we received too. My bridesmaids created "seasons" baskets for my bridal shower (filled with decorations and other fun stuff for each holiday in the different seasons). Amanda created me the winter basket filled with Christmas and Valentine's Day goodies! 

So that's my dilemma! I feel the urge to keep buying cute decorations for every holiday. The shelves inside the stores continue to debut the cutest things for each holiday. When do you finally put your foot down with holiday decorations? Do you even decorate for each holiday? I'm interested to hear what happens in other households. Fill me in!! 

Best friends

Dawn and I met tonight at my apartment to discuss our most exciting adventure to date: this blog! 

We spent the night giggling and laughing at one another as we scoured the internet to make this blog just what we wanted.  If you were sitting with us you'd be cracking up with us, or thinking we were nuts!

Regardless, we can't wait to share our plans for the future of 730 Moments with you. In the meantime, go make some crazy plans with your best friend. Aren't those kinds of plans the best?!

Design Night!

At the start of the night, we had a laundry list of items to attack for our new business. We decided that these few hours would be best spent on design factors. A night devoted to redesigning our blog! 

For almost 3 hours, we sat side-by-side in  Amanda's kitchen, hands on keyboards, laughing and mumbling under our breath. 

I was in heaven! We were on a mission! One thing led very quickly to the next and we accomplished signing up for our own domain, choosing a new template design, and we even began creating accounts for social media. Oh, the beauty of the internet! I am SO excited to share this with you all very soon!!

Tonight I was reminded of how lucky I am to have such an amazing best friend and now I can call her my business partner, too! It will be hard for me to sleep tonight because my mind is running with ideas!

Running errands

Today I left work early (meaning I didn't stay long after the kids left; I left on time!) to run errands and to cross a few items off of my to-do list. 

I find it difficult to rush around after work. Do you? Am I the only one that feels this way? Firstly, everyone is on the road with you, attempting to get home as soon as possible. The highway can be a scary place to travel during rush hour! Second, it gets dark so early around this time and it feels much later than it really is. I become much sleepier, especially with the heat pumping in the car! And finally, as soon as I leave school, I dream of going home and changing into comfy clothes. I always tell my colleagues that they wouldn't recognize me outside of school due to my love for sweats! :-)

Running errands after school=coming home during dinner time. I walked into the smell of pasta sauce simmering and my husband in the kitchen. Although I was incredibly grateful that he was cooking, my hunger pangs got the best of me and I immediately muttered "I'm in a bad mood." Poor guy. I HATE when that happens! "I'm sorry for what I said when I was hungry." He understood! Just another reason why running errands after school isn't the best idea for me. Stop procrastinating, Dawn!