Could it be....Awkward and Awesome Thursday?

A tripod, a timer and a squishy couch to jump on. There was no little Yorkie harmed in the process of taking this photo.

Awkward:

- We had a burst of warm weather over the past few weeks and now it's back to feeling like Antarctica in these parts. I was driving down the street and saw a car parked close to the road in a driveway with the front driver's door swung open. To my surprise and yes I was very surprised... there was an older man with only a speedo on. To make matters worse and quite disturbing his left leg was up on the dashboard so needless to say I saw a little more than I could ever imagine... 

- Leaning in to kiss Peanut's forehead, I laugh and we end of french kissing... Perhaps this should be under awesome? Haha...

- Charlie and I hit up the golfing range, it was great. I love just hitting balls and having no pressure on a specific spot they need to end up. The best was swinging and missing a single ball 5x in a row.. I looked like a pro...

- Not so much awkward but I visited my lovely cousin and her almost 2 year old daughter last week. She's calls me "Uncle Katie"... I love it, but then I question myself.. do I lookalikeaman? :)

- Seeing someone out that I'm sure I know or met before.. I went through my entire life or so it seemed and there is still no connection. I feel like a lunatic bothering the girl trying to figure out how I know her. I used to never forget a face but perhaps.. I'm losing my mind?

Awesome:

- Getting to see three of my best friends all at once tomorrow. Stacey, Lauren and Michelle. They are all such wonderful, genuine women. We spent every Friday night throughout our 4 years in High School together along with so many other occasions. I've known them all since I was just a little girl. The 4 of us have not been together in 10 years, so it's a bit of a reunion. You better believe there are going to be pictures!

- I booked a last minute trip out to Illinois to see some of my favorite and fabulous relatives who I haven't seen in so long. I'm so excited. It's going to be a great week away from CT and to be surrounded by all of them. 

- I spent this past week with bits and pieces of spring cleaning. Moved the entire living and bedroom around. Everything has more sunlight and I picked a few odds and ends to give things the finishing touch. I can't believe we've been in the house for 2 1/2 years and there's still things I never did to decorate. Time sure flies..

- Did I mention we're going on our first cruise ever? Well, yes we are! In May. I'm so stoked and my bff is getting married in Barbados. It's going to be one sweet trip. 

- I began exercising a week ago, daily, religiously. It's going great, I feel great. The problem is I have so much energy now that I can't sit still. Any tips?

It's called growing up. ♥

"The day the child realizes that all adults are imperfect, he becomes and adolescent; the day he forgives them, he becomes an adult; the day he forgives himself, he becomes wise."

I absolutely love this quote. I've been spending the last few weeks trying to collect myself, mainly my thoughts. There have been so many changes in my life going back to last year and I feel like I finally have time. I finally have time to sit with just myself, to listen to music, to write, to take pictures, to feel free and actually think about how I got here. I have time to think about my decisions that I make each day. I'm taking more time before I say things, before I do things so that I don't step into moments of regret.

There have been people that have hurt me and I have hurt. I use to dwell on those things everyday, feeling this guilt inside that never goes away. I finally have come to peace with all of that. I finally found time to allow myself to move on from those that have hurt me. In the process I can say that I have grown up. I'm living each day and trying to consume myself with actions that are only positive as I've tried to advise others to do. I'm taking better care of myself by exercising and staying active constantly. I'm being more open minded and trying new things. I'm welcoming new people into my life and I'm embracing change.

We have this one life, at least so I believe. This one life to be me, Katie. Last year, there was a day I spent in the dark. I laid up at night crying into my pillow until I finally fell asleep. I woke up and looked in the mirror at my swollen eyes. I was pitiful. I thought to myself, "If this was my last day on earth, and someone was to ask me if I was happy with all that I accomplished in life, where I am.. would I be able to answer honestly that I'm happy and I've done almost all that I wished to do?".... My answer that day was no. From that point on I began to make decisions for me to be happy, only me. Not worrying about the judgement of other people. That's when I left my job of 5 years and pursued my Photography. Along the way I've made additional changes, all to better myself. 

I sit here typing and finding myself asking the same question. "Would I be happy if today was my last day?"... I would be, my answer is yes. Sure, there is still a lot I'd like to do in life, but I have accomplished so much this past year, reconnected with people in my life I never thought I would. Seen my closest friends have children. I'm extremely lucky. So very lucky. ♥

There's a point in our life where we have to find the time to figure things out. To not let time take control of us and we go with it, yet we take control of time. We stop feeling sorry for ourselves and start enjoying everything that life has to offer. If you can't see it then you must find it. Find out what makes you happy and keep at it. Be with those that make you smile, share the same morals as you, that you can laugh with and depend on. Get a pet, perhaps a cute little yorkie (like Peanut!), start at that bucket list. If you don't have one, now is the time to create one, because each day is so delicate. 

Golfing Around..

Saturday Charlie and I went to a driving range and hit some golf balls. He's good and I'm dreadful but I'm learning. I'd love to be a great golfer and be able to hang with the big boys on a golf course. Maybe someday. 

Everyone Enjoys 'A Hot Mess'

Especially when his name is Peanut. 

So he has his little yard we made for him if your remember. I felt something was missing. It was a bit boring, so I decided today on my journey to nowhere that I would find a bird feeder. He already is so interested in it that he spent almost a half hour digging up all the dirt around it. Leaving him looking like... A Hot Mess!

You'll notice our cat Nevan above on the deck. Our cats are indoor babies; however, our back screen door does not close all the way. When Nevan is feeling like the Hulk, he tends to push it open and run out on the deck. We got him though. Sneaky little devil...

A Simple Day With No Words.

 
 

A Lovely Spring Day.

What a beautiful day.

So peaceful.

Very pleasant.

The air was extremely warm.

With a very light breeze.

The sun snuck through the windows and trees.

Just saying hello.

I walked my backyard to be with my thoughts.

I stumbled upon some flowers.

I said goodbye to someone who passed on.

A lovely soul who touched everyone's life.

A role model.

A lovely woman.

Being with my thoughts.

I just hope that I could be as inspirational as she was. ♥

Happy St. Patty's Day to You!

Hello to everyone and I hope you're all enjoying this beautiful day! Sending you positive thoughts and much love. It's a fabulous day for anyone Irish and loves green because it's wherever you go. I am both! ♥

A Face In A Crowd..

Did you ever experience a moment.. where you see a familiar face in a crowd? Then you can't get to them? I had that today, except for the fact I was driving. 

It was a face of someone I knew long ago who in just a moment had  changed my life. It was a teacher, a plain ole' teacher that I had in Middle School. Same thing every day, I walked into class and grabbed my seat which was closest to the door. I was always the last one out though as I would gather my belongings. He was so sweet and reminded me of my dad. He always stood by the door and would greet everyone and then say goodbye as we each left. 

It wasn't until December 11th during that school year, in which he changed my life. It was the day after my grandmother had passed away after her battle with cancer. My parents wanted us to go back to school the following day with the hopes it would keep our minds busy while they made all of her arrangements. I just couldn't cope. I walked into this teacher's classroom and sat in my seat. I remember losing focus and I had to shake my head a few times. 

As all the other students one by one began walking into class he brushed through them and put his hand on my desk. He said, "Katie, may I speak with you?" He brought me outside in the hall to the team room which was directly next to his. From there he told me to sit down and so I did. He sat against the table and said, "Are you okay, Katie?".. From there he went on to tell me that he read in the newspaper that my grandmother had died. He told me a story about when he lost both his grandparents. I suddenly in that moment felt okay. I felt like I could get through this, that my entire family could. I felt and was confident that one day I could look back on that moment in time and find peace. Here I am today living proof of that. 

So today while driving I came to a complete stop. Diagonally to my left was another car stopped. The window was down and I could see so clearly. "I know that man." When it finally it hit me that it was my teacher it was too late and he had driven onward. I wanted to turn my car around, I wanted to honk my horn and make him stop. I began to cry in my car because I could do nothing. I wanted to get out and give him a hug and thank him for helping me during what was one of the toughest moments in my life. I wanted him to know that he played such a huge role in my life in which he probably never knew. 

That one face in a crowd changed my life. Perhaps someday I'll get the opportunity. But right now I'm just happy to say that one day we will be at peace with those moments in life that we felt were hopeless and we would never get through. We will, you will, I did. ♥

Just a little patio!

I'm loving this weather up in New England over the past handful of days. I cleaned off our deck and put all of the patio furniture together. Honestly, it was mostly all there so I just had to tidy it all up. Then we cooked out last night and had a good friend of ours join us. It was nice, Peanut rolling around on the swing and breathing in the fresh air. It was nice to turn the heat off for once and open the windows. I feel so rejuvenated from this weather. ♥

Singing with my Sister ♥

If you didn't get the chance my lovely sister, Kelly and I have decided that every Sunday at our family dinner and prior to watching 'The Walking Dead' we are going to record a new song. We used to do this as kids and always felt great after entertaining our parents. Here goes our newest one!

If you missed the one I posted last week you can watch it here :)

Two of my favorite things.

Sunshine & Pictures

Today was lovely. I took photos for a client at a beautiful park in Hartford. Charlie and Peanut came along, so once I finished we enjoyed the afternoon together. Peanut had a blast running around, smelling, and giving kisses to other dogs. He's completely tired now. ♥

Just a little melody.

As children my sister and I would always sing and put on shows for my parents. Kelly (my sister) is quite the talent. She can play almost every instrument there is. Along with that she can hear a melody just once or twice and be able to play it. She's truly amazing. Last night at my parents we decided to make a little video. It's nothing special, but we enjoyed ourselves and entertaining the rest of our family. ♥

Like An Open Book!

This was one of my happy moments from this weekend. It was a fabulous weekend all around though. I went to go see Wanderlust on Friday night with Charlie and two of our close buddies. Which I highly recommend if you're a huge fan of Paul Rudd like myself and want to laugh until your ribs hurt. It helps to be in company with others who feel the same way as you ♥ 

Saturday I spent the day cleaning, then resting and enjoying an evening out with my Cousins. I had plans to stay in Saturday, but I'm so glad I decided to hop in my car and meet my cousins. We had just a blast singing, dancing and enjoying one another's company. 

Sunday, I took family photos, 2 year old photos and headshots. It was a great feeling to be all better and behind the camera. Where I belong :) I enjoyed the family, which I met for the first time and I will be sharing their photos by the end of this week. You can take a peak here.

So the weekend came and went and now it's the start of a new week. I always feel so refreshed on Monday, making lists of things I want to accomplish, at times setting myself up for failure since I don't always cross everything off on that list (woops). However, the one thing I'm feeling good about and look forward to accomplishing is taking better care of myself. I say it over and over; however, being sick for 2 weeks straight and off and on since Christmas has been brutal. Definitely a rough obstacle to start off the year but I'm ready to kick my own butt. 

As I work on myself I'm also going to be more careful with trusting those around me. I find myself very easy at showing love, sharing love and immediately trusting everyone I meet. We think we know people because we spend time with them and then new choices change it all. There's people family and friends that I've felt I knew like an open book but come to find it's not like that at all. I hope to live a long life, but it must be a healthy one which requires me taking care of myself, my heart and mind.

Always Laugh When You're Sick.

This past week I've been working on feeling better. After going back to the Doctor and change of medications it was Strep that I had which spread to my ear and everywhere on the right side of my head. It's been so painful and I haven't had much energy to do anything. Especially write, sadly.  Today, Thursday is a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm finally beginning to feel better! 

With all of that the best part is that my babies can entertain me and make me laugh. Charlie gave Peanut a bath and even though he doesn't wear clothes all the time, he looks like a naked little dog when he first gets out of the bath.  One of the first things he does is look for Nevan (the cute orange kitty) and chase him. You can tell who dominates who?

What Is a Life If We Can't Appreciate It?

Happy Thursday to all! I've been resting all week trying to rid myself of my first (and hopefully only) ear infection I'll ever get. I'm on antibiotics and all that jazz but the pain won't go away. It's a bit unbareable. If you've ever had one, how long does it last? It's Thursday and I've been in pain since Sunday. Oy vey! 

This week has been incredibly up and down all over. I've seen so many posts on the news and Facebook about Whitney Houston. Negative posts, it's just awful. That's why long ago I created this blog, because I couldn't bare to watch the news anymore. It was all negative. 

I wonder if there was ever a time the News let someone truly rest in peace. You know, without pulling up the demons from their past. I also wonder if there was ever a time where people thought before they posted such horrible things about people. Whether they're celebrities, victims of the news or people you know. In a way it's all bullying in my eyes. To speak such cruelty about someone they may or may not know. It kills me a little inside to see this part of the world that is true and exists. 

All's that I really want to say about it is that her music inspired me as a child to sing. Everything else that came after, her ups and downs in life we all go through. Perhaps, not exactly the same but we go through and of course our life isn't publicized like that. I hope that if those people saying such horrible things have someone in their life like that are going through hardships, don't treat them that way. I have lost people to drugs and alcohol. What I try to do is remember all the beauty they brought to my life and those around me. To let that shine and keep their memory alive. I give kudos to everyone out there that does the same. Otherwise, what is a life if we can't appreciate all that life did for us?