Book Study for Two

The BFSF and I are doing a book study. She lives all the way in New Jersey, so we're doing this by phone.  We haven't been talking a lot lately because life gets in the way, so when she discovered I was reading this book (she had read it before and wanted to revisit it), we decided to do it together...

Selfies with the Bestie

It was just a few days ago that I was with her. My BFSF. She's the one I can truly be myself around...without judgment.  She's the one who can give me constructive criticism, yet she does it in such a way that I don't become sensitive or hurt.

As always, when we get together there's no shortage of mischief...or laughter. It's just that way with us. Good times. Always.

Here are more photos of us if you'd like to see...

What Tops Your Frozen Yogurt?

I love this new trend of frozen yogurt shops all over. It's like having things your way...any flavor and any toppings you want.

On our recent trip to the D.C. area, the BFSF and I went in search of a little frozen yogurt shop in walking distance of our hotel...

It's a Chalkboard Anniversary

I had intended to blog on the actual day of Chalkboard's anniversary. Guess I missed that date LOL! But as they say, it's better late than never.

I started this blog about a year ago, on February 5th, 2014, to be exact. I had been struggling, sometimes I feel like I still do, to juggle it all...being a wife and mother with a full-time demanding job as a teacher. I felt like I was losing myself, racing against the clock each day to get things done, only to wear myself out, and go at it the next day, and the next, and the next. I think a lot of moms can relate to this.

So I started this blog to carve out some time for me. To do something I enjoy doing.  Writing. Reflecting. It was a great decision! This blog has allowed me to write about many of the issues that are close to my heart...faith, family, marriage, motherhood, teaching, relationships, you name it, just life really, in general.

This blog has allowed me to record my life, my triumphs, and my fears.  It's been my sounding board, and a good friend. It's challenged me to face my fears and accomplish some of my goals.

As I reflect on this past year, I'm happy to see my growth, and I look forward to facing more challenges and growing in love, patience, kindness, forming new friendships and living, really, the best life possible.

This blog has been great therapy for me. I write it for me, but I'm thankful for my two faithful readers (the ones I know about anyway)...The Hubs and my mom!

Since it's my first anniversary, I can't help but look back at some of my most memorable posts.

Let's start at the very beginning, with my first post ever.  Where I'm From...

If you're new to this blog, here's more on me.

Here're some posts about motherhood, first day of school blues, balancing it all, how changing the monotony of things can be sweet, why we guilt ourselves, what to really expect when you're expecting, and the notion of how to get your girl back.

Here're a few posts about The Hubs, and how I knew he was the one.

On being a teacher, making a difference, and why I love summers.

I've written a few posts about my fears and overcoming them, and just going after the things that I've been afraid to.

Here're some posts about my BFSF (best friend and sister forever), and our time on the boardwalk.

Here's a special post about my father-in-law who visits us at least once every year from Jamaica.

I've really enjoyed this ride, and I hope you have too!

Do something amazingly different, and live your best possible life!

Have a Terrific Tantalizing Tremendously Transformational Tuesday

We haven't talked since Saturday. For us, that is a long time. With our kids back at school and well, LIFE, things are busy. I was thinking of her this morning and the next second my phone was ringing. It was her! My BFSF!!! Go figure, we are several hundred miles apart and yet we are connected just like that! Gotta love our relationship.

We only had a few minutes as I had just made it to work. I was dragging this morning and she was there for me. She asked how I was, and I told her, "I'm fine, just trying to balance. Just trying to balance. That's all." I, just like many other moms out there, am just trying to balance work, being a mom, wife, finding time to exercise, yada, yada, yada. It's hard, and I would think by now it would be a little bit easier. And then I thought, we, moms, must be doing this to ourselves.  Certainly God didn't intend for us to be toiling around like this. I think I'm on to something...will have to look into this toiling thing some more and find the key to balancing it all.

Anyways with just a few words, my BFSF had me laughing out loud. It was just some simple words but told in a sisterly loving way that only she could say that would have the effect it had on me.

So in the words of my BFSF....have a terrific, tantalizing, tremendously, transformational Tuesday!!!!

And right now I'm thinking of this moment in time, two years ago when The Hubs and I drove 12 hours to Miami to see this special lady to celebrate her 40th birthday.  Love this girl!!!

On The Boardwalk

Our Northeast summer escapade continues to the Jersey Shore at Point Pleasant Beach and Boardwalk in New Jersey.

It was a perfect day to take in the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of this popular tourist destination.

Got Pictures?

I LOVE taking pictures, but a certain someone I know takes that to a whole notha level.

Her iPhone is always in reach.

In fact now that I think about it, her phone is always in her hands!

She is always poised and ready to take a selfie...or 20.

And pictures....the camera doesn't stop clicking.

Really.

Seriously.

I'm not kidding.

Laughing Out Loud with my BFSF

It's the third day of being "snowed or iced in" in the A-T-L.  The Hubs was upstairs and Buddy Roller was still sleeping which equals an unusually calm house.  Just to get my mind off being stuck in the house, I decided to call my best friend and sister forever (BFSF), Nikki, to gab as us girls usually do. We had been texting each other, but hadn't really talked in a few days.  You see, I was giving her some time to get over something she is currently facing...one of life's hiccups. That was the reason for my call, to get her out of her mood.  Anyways, after chatting and catching up, we started to talk about some random things.

HOLD UP! YOU NEED SOME BACKGROUND INFO.

We go way back...

College days...early 90's

Before I go any further, there are some things you need to know about Nikki. We have known each other since high school, but didn't really get to BFSF status until we were roommates in college and then grad school.  Our relationship spans over two decades, that's over 20 years, and even though we are separated by several hundred miles...she lives in New Jersey and I live in Georgia, we have remained extremely close over the years.  We plan and take family vacations together and we fly to see each other, even drive, if we have to in order to celebrate births, baptisms, birthdays and other milestones .  Even our husbands have bonded because of our relationship and our children play really well together. We have been in each other's wedding, I am godmother to her daughter, we have sent countless text messages to each other, and have spent like a trillion hours on the phone...at least.

Throughout life's ups and downs, laughter and tears, achievements and setbacks, sunny days and gloomy ones...she's always been there. I cannot think of one important moment in my life that I didn't share with her.  She's that girl.  Aside from my husband, she is my best friend.  She's the one who makes me laugh so hard...that kind of sloppy, uncontrollable laugh when you are laughing so hard, you're in fact crying.  Other women tend to naturally gravitate towards her because she is so transparent and unassuming, she makes everyone comfortable. You get the picture.

Anyways...sorry I digressed.  Now back to the matter at hand.

Don't you just love it when you can crack up laughing with a girlfriend and sister who knows you better than anyone? Nikki was telling me of a recent shopping trip to T.J. Maxx and how she felt really good because she took five items into the fitting room and they all surprisingly...fit! Nikki has had shopping trips, as women do, me too, when we get all excited after finding many cute outfits. We inevitably go to try on said outfits only to be extremely disappointed when nothing fits.  Nikki reminded me of this and went even further to suggest I had never had that problem. I very quickly reminded her that I, indeed, have had that happen to me. So I went into this non-stop babble....

...Yes I have been there. I have gone into a store promising to "look" for only 15 minutes. One hour later after browsing and having every blouse, sweater, and dress draped over one arm with hangers digging into my flesh and cutting off my circulation, I finally make it to the dressing room. Then I get all excited and lay out all the clothes and start trying on each piece. One by one, after trying on every thing, all the clothes eventually make it into that one dreaded pile...the "don't fit" pile.  No.  This can't be right. I then proceed to try on some of the pieces I have already tried on, hoping I will change my mind...perhaps I need to try it on just one more time, look at it from a different angle. Nope! After completely wearing myself out and struggling in and out of all the clothes, I get dressed, gather all the clothes and reluctantly take them to the attendant who asks smiling, "Did we have anything for you today?" Ah no, don't you see me handing you this pile of clothes! "Can we get you other sizes?" Ah no, I'm trying to go down a size, not up one! Really!?

Mission accomplished...she started laughing about halfway through my rambling and kept laughing for a good 60 seconds after I was done.  And that's what friends are for. She's certainly been there for me when I needed a laugh.

I hope you have a Nikki in your life to make you laugh when you feel like crying. I do, and I'm grateful.