tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43891158055529837492024-03-05T15:41:51.111-08:00Improving MeKeia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-77137920374029679512015-05-21T16:00:00.001-07:002015-05-21T16:00:10.477-07:00Courage, dear heart - My NICU Experience<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">March 5th my beautiful baby girl was born and we thought everything was fantastic until the following morning the NICU head nurse and my Dr came in to tell us that they thought my sweet babe had a blocked bowel. After several tests they concluded that she needed emergency surgery and within an hour she was on her way to the airport to be Life Flighted 4 hours north of where we live for surgery.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">I was a mess, a complete mess! I was in shock and could not wrap my head around it. It actually took me 3 days after the surgery when she was recovering in the NICU to accept the fact that this was reality. I would seriously burst into tears at any moment. Anything could set me off. I could not hold it together which was not okay because I needed to be strong not only for my new baby but for my 3 yr old little girl. She was such a trooper and honestly amazing through it all but she was scared to and when I broke down it did not help! She was honestly the source of why I broke down a lot because I felt like I was neglecting her by being at the hospital everyday and then sending her home with Grandma 4 hours away from me for an entire week! I was heart broken by it!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Once I accepted it all I was able to be a much better mom and wife! Did I still have my moments of breaking down yes. But I was able to control them enough to wait until I was away from everyone.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">My sister gave me a print of her favorite quote "courage dear heart" she wanted me to put it in baby Os hospital room. Here is a photo of that day.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Several days after I did I realized that quote was as much for me as it was for her. I needed courage and faith. Courage to be strong and there for both my girls as best I could. Faith in my Heavenly Father that everything would work out the way it was supposed too. Faith that Brandon and I were in that situation for a reason. There had to be something for us to learn from it all!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Turns out I was right. Not only did the terrifying experience bring me and Brandon closer together but it brought me closer to God. After pouring my heart out to him day after day I trust him on a completely different level now and I will forever be grateful for that!!!</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">I hope that by hearing about my experience that it might give you the courage to trust in God as well and to accept whatever is going on in your life so that you too can start growing and gain the courage you need to get through it!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'll be honest it still scares me to see her in that picture! I'm so happy she is a chubby little one now! Prayers are answered!!!!! </span><br />
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<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-28554174105123856022015-02-27T20:33:00.000-08:002015-02-27T20:33:27.925-08:00Improving Me Book Review - Living Well Spending Less<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kgevT-mng-boPb5bCx1PyEYlzZVLOuB1Pg2aqWrE-sm8jPrfNGzPM9Ex073dgWWS6eLByO_w1t7fPtB2ZSNpn4cz4bI5jKlUrNdxMdu8OPJ-a3D70JfWDYGPuuEewa4VEgmcjck9RBmg/s1600/Improving+Me+Book+Review+%231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kgevT-mng-boPb5bCx1PyEYlzZVLOuB1Pg2aqWrE-sm8jPrfNGzPM9Ex073dgWWS6eLByO_w1t7fPtB2ZSNpn4cz4bI5jKlUrNdxMdu8OPJ-a3D70JfWDYGPuuEewa4VEgmcjck9RBmg/s1600/Improving+Me+Book+Review+%231.jpg" height="235" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I started reading this book in January because of a book club challenge with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/595654977232467/?ref=eyJzaWQiOiIwLjE1Njc3MjMzMzg5NTc4NzYiLCJxcyI6IkpUVkNKVEl5UW14dlp5VXlNRUpzYVhOekpUSXlKVFZFIiwiZ3YiOiI5NGFkMGE1NTE2ZDdhOGQ3YThhZWZiMmY4M2FhZjJlOGU0MjRiMjU2In0" target="_blank">Blog Bliss</a> an amazing community for bloggers that want a little support with improving their lives.... if your a blogger you should check it out! Anyways I fell in love with the book the second it showed up on my door step. Not only is the cover really pretty but it is soft... I know that sounds weird! Anyways! The material inside is life changing so I couldn't help but share!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is so much I have taken away from this book that I know I will be referring to its pages often for reminders and inspiration. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The challenges Ruth has at the end of each chapter are ones that make you stop & really evaluate your life and your goals. Here are the 12 challenges:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. Define your good life</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. Choose Contentment </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. Identify your sweet spot</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4. Plan your long term vision</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5. Take back your time</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6. Purge your excess stuff</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8. Establish a family budget</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">9. Save on food</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">10. Clean your house</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">11. Embrace the things that matter most </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">12. Share the Good Life</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The chapter I loved the most was "We all get the same 24 hours" or the #5 challenge above. She asks:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"What if self-discipline & time management skills are something that can be strengthened over time? What if self-control is not an innate character trait bestowed on a select few but something we all need to develop? What if willpower is actually a finite quality, one that runs out over the course of the day? Wouldn't that change the game? Wouldn't we want to be sure we used our energies well?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She then goes on to discuss self-discipline & goals & setting good habits, while breaking bad ones. She asks this:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Do our choices match our calling - our vision, goals, passion & dreams?"<br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can honestly answer yes to this question about 60% of the time my choices do match my goals but I struggle in rising early & I'm a pretty excellent procrastinator. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the "Spending Less" section she gives you budgeting & shopping tips. Access to free printables for couponing & how to save as well as homemade recipes for cleaners, etc. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are many things I will be incorporating into my daily life. All brought on by reading Ruth's book. Here are a couple I'll be focusing on right now.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. "have daily conversations about the blessings in our lives & the things we are grateful for. We call it our Attitude for Gratitude." This is something I want to do with my girls.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. Make daily tasks/habits that will get you to your goals. I have already started breaking my big goals down into daily & weekly tasks and am working on my habits such as reading scriptures daily and taking the time to ponder/meditate. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. Visualize & write down my future success. I have done this already but I am realizing that I need to be more specific. Especially when it comes to how I feel in the future. One of the printables she offers for free is the <a href="http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/goalworkbook" target="_blank">Goal Workbook</a> I already have my copy and am excited to use it!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4. I'm also going to accept the challenge to make a commitment for 1 week to get up 30 minutes earlier every day & spend that time working on one of my major goals! I love my sleep right now being 36 weeks pregnant but I can see the HUGE benefit of doing this! Hopefully it will set the tone for after baby girl arrives as well! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The last 2 chapters "Best things in life are free" & "We get more when we give" just top off an amazing read & unbelievable inspiration to continue improving & live the good life! She says:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Inspiration is everywhere, although sometimes it is just a matter of opening our eyes to see the beauty right in front of us... the Good Life is one of service. It is based on who we are rather than what we have."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I highly recommend you get your own copy of this book to read & grow from! And no I do NOT have any affiliation with the sells of this book I just sincerely enjoyed it & learned a lot. </span></div>
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<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-14138065733798749182015-01-08T13:20:00.002-08:002015-01-08T13:20:47.277-08:00Starting the New Year off wrong... I mean right! <span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">New Years Day we decided to drive about 30 minutes east of our home towards our families cabin in the mountains so that our little girl could play in the snow. On the way up the truck slid around a little on the snow covered roads but nothing major. I of course was a nervous wreck though because, well lets be honest I'm paranoid. My anxiety is even worse when I'm pregnant so there you go! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We found a spot to pull over for her to play just outside of Zions National Park. She was <span style="font-size: large;">ecstatic!</span> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the way down the mountain I was thinking what a great way to start the New Year... off on an adventure with my little family. I also thought to myself that I really need to relax & not be so uptight & expect the worst when we go out like that. Well not 1 minute later (no exaggeration) we turned a corner & </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">there was a truck with a trailer sideways across the road. Brandon had to slam on his brakes & narrowly missed a mother & her 2 kids that were standing in the MIDDLE of the road. This forced us to slid off the side of the road into a big ditch with a bunch of large rocks and trees. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brandon of course was instantly angry & rightfully so in my opinion! I, on the other hand, went immediately to tears. I kept them under control though & turned around to see my little girl wide eyed in her car seat which had been knocked crooked when we hit the rocks. She wasn't upset so I calmed myself so I wouldn't make it worse. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It took about 40 minutes for them to get the truck out of the rocks & surprisingly the truck was in better shape then I expected. It obviously could have been much worse had Brandon not been able to keep control of the truck enough on those slick roads to miss that mother & her kids. It could have really been tragic!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Later that day, after we were home I kept playing the events of the day in my head & feeling the same terror. Then it dawned on me right before bed.... What can I learn from today's events? </span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Surprises can literally happen around any corner!</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are not invincible</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We need to live each day telling the people we love our feelings so we have no regrets</span></li>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I could go on & on but I think what I learned more than anything is that even though my paranoia & anxiety in this situation turned out to be right.... <span style="font-size: large;">that is no way to live!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You cannot live your life afraid of what may lie ahead, around that next corner. Having constant anxiety & viewing the world, your life this way will only slow you down & keep you from achieving your dreams. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYB5PNHfPWxFBrz2oj64ORN6lh2wKuqAl1y1pZFW-QvbhwUZK4GNChyzKN7UYbr9H_tRRpwqeTf52DPCBFs1QoydGiiXrtzlk8DQszAcGqXBkob0z2dRPFlBu3I3OBSgZpvOIhf1QLITy/s1600/snow+photo+for+post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYB5PNHfPWxFBrz2oj64ORN6lh2wKuqAl1y1pZFW-QvbhwUZK4GNChyzKN7UYbr9H_tRRpwqeTf52DPCBFs1QoydGiiXrtzlk8DQszAcGqXBkob0z2dRPFlBu3I3OBSgZpvOIhf1QLITy/s1600/snow+photo+for+post.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also find it very ironic that this happened New Years Day. The day everyone sees as the day that will set the tone for the rest of the year. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do I think this accident is telling me my 2015 is doomed?<span style="font-size: large;"> Absolutely not!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think its telling me that 2015 is going to be a year to overcome many obstacles but if I push through & keep my focus on who I want to be then I will overcome. Just like we got ourselves out of those large rocks with minimal damage & came home to go about accomplishing our other tasks for the day. Which by the way we got a lot done after the accident around the house! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All in all it was a really good & satisfying day! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did anything eventful happen for you the first day of the year? How would you react to this situation?!</span><br />
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<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-27084024595854185182014-12-31T15:20:00.000-08:002015-01-01T20:13:12.152-08:00Why I will NOT be making New Year's Resolutions for 2015<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have to come to realize for myself that the lofty goals I set at the beginning of each year are lost almost within the first month. The reason.... I get too overwhelmed by it all & I don't want to look like a fool so I just let them dissolve & pretend I never meant to keep them in the first place. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sound familiar?!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Just 8% of people achieve their New Year's Resolutions according to this article at <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/dandiamond/2013/01/01/just-8-of-people-achieve-their-new-years-resolutions-heres-how-they-did-it/" target="_blank">Forbes.com</a> and research done at the University of Scranton. It goes on to explain that</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"m</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">any people use the New Year as an opportunity to make large bucket lists or attempt extreme makeovers, whether personal or professional. </span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px;">That’s a nice aspiration, experts say—but</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the average person has so many competing priorities that this type of approach is doomed to failure. Essentially, shooting for the moon can be so psychologically daunting, you end up failing to launch in the first place."</span></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This year I am not going to set resolutions like lose 10 lbs by March (for starters I'm pregnant and due in March so I will likely gain 10 lbs in the those 3 months!). What I mean is, I am avoiding those types of resolutions & am instead taking the time to get a clear picture of the type of person I want to be.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For example:</span><br />
<span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am a patient, loving wife & Mother whom is organized & keeps my cool under pressure. I am a writer who strives to be an inspiration to those around me everyday.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now I'll be honest it took me some time to dial down on those items even though it seems simple because there are so many goals I have but they all fit into that definition of myself.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Your picture might look entirely different then mine. Perhaps your picture looks something like this...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am a hard worker that rises early every morning to workout & prepare for the day ahead. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The idea behind this is once you figure out who you are & who you want to be & hold onto that image then when you are faced with an alarm clock yelling at you at 6 AM to get up & workout you will easily remember why it was set in the first place. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Or when your 3 year old is up at 3 AM screaming for 30 minutes you are not as slow to remember that you are a PATIENT mother (this happened to me several times recently!)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If resolutions have failed for you in past years I urge you to take the time to set a clear picture of the person you want to be instead of setting resolutions. Write that picture down in detail & review it often. Rehearse it in your head & soon you will find its just who you are to workout in the wee hours of the morning!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVBto2eWcJtojCxwkWC7UpP65I3Kk8ytNyLxQ6me3nPZ0_eUEiB5rvVaWksj6HYaj-4pYXDfRuj7HE9RPNbj5EVdLU2WlH1jQkhzjOMB50-uByOVNhARUTrAOwPuxy8Hhda4u5rdaAWMI/s1600/D+E+S+I+G+N.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVBto2eWcJtojCxwkWC7UpP65I3Kk8ytNyLxQ6me3nPZ0_eUEiB5rvVaWksj6HYaj-4pYXDfRuj7HE9RPNbj5EVdLU2WlH1jQkhzjOMB50-uByOVNhARUTrAOwPuxy8Hhda4u5rdaAWMI/s1600/D+E+S+I+G+N.png" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I would LOVE to help you stay on track and achieve your dreams so I have a lot in store for you over the next few weeks to help motivate and push you to keep plugging along day by day! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFGKEDbsCQshfU483OrNqAHUrkbAZrNCPjs14z24YQ17ZheOMGO9VYrm5dP65DbTwhcwJBlXq-XyzWwri3cx_cFxRk57VVnY1brR7quc1iHVYIxJJSzM1xK9f90IrrjRXKOnq1O5YEEQt/s1600/Marina+Keegan+quote.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFGKEDbsCQshfU483OrNqAHUrkbAZrNCPjs14z24YQ17ZheOMGO9VYrm5dP65DbTwhcwJBlXq-XyzWwri3cx_cFxRk57VVnY1brR7quc1iHVYIxJJSzM1xK9f90IrrjRXKOnq1O5YEEQt/s1600/Marina+Keegan+quote.png" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-89782222658093715792014-09-24T06:00:00.000-07:002014-09-24T06:00:03.762-07:00LOVE OF WRITING<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have always had a love for writing. English class in high school and college were always so easy for me. I always said I could bull crap my way through any paper & honestly usually got an A. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But I was also very intimidated by being an actual writer. To write novels, to write for a magazine. It sounded magical but when I would go to put pen to paper I froze. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Awhile back I decided to start this blog & I will tell you I wrote & re-wrote posts several times before I ever got the courage to hit publish. When I finally did hit that little button it was an amazingly powerful & satisfying feeling!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But I still didn't feel enough confidence to keep up with the writing. I know my main fear was that I didn't believe that what I was writing was good enough. The same is true for novels. I literally have 3 novels planned out in mind but I don't have the courage to actually write them down! I'm quite embarrased to admit that! It is almost as if those characters & their stories are haunting me now. They pop into my mind regularly. I know that I need to write them but I use the excuse of not having time as my crutch.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We all know what time is right?! It's an excuse if not used correctly. You can always make time. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So when I read this part of Julia Cameron's book "The Right To Write" it was like a slap in the face!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQro9JKXAxUBM99w7AtDXNqBNX757Red9GskvuL8UtKJtIBB7cNw3eB0VFYjLnVZ1AAVh-Lkzr51jkDfm-OP2cFvvuLhv4iTHovrmP6vZitbY4qTXwBsRbHSvOWaJKvJto-0iM8jb7DTS1/s1600/love+of+writing+post.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQro9JKXAxUBM99w7AtDXNqBNX757Red9GskvuL8UtKJtIBB7cNw3eB0VFYjLnVZ1AAVh-Lkzr51jkDfm-OP2cFvvuLhv4iTHovrmP6vZitbY4qTXwBsRbHSvOWaJKvJto-0iM8jb7DTS1/s1600/love+of+writing+post.png" height="640" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How beautiful is that?!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Everyone has insecurities & writing is a way to work them out... free those insecurities.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know if I sit down to write these stories & my lack of confidence rears its ugly face I need to push through it and just keep writing! Even better stop the story for 5 minutes and write out my fears... work them out on paper! Then crumble it up and throw it away. It will free your to write what you want! I need to give these characters I have grown to love, life!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The same goes for this blog. I cannot worry about what readers want to hear. I will write it & if it helps 1 person, even if that 1 person is me, to grow, then I have succeeded!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I want to inspire with my writing!</span></div>
<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-64532370039815294792014-09-21T19:28:00.000-07:002015-01-25T15:42:02.284-08:00Do you know your passion?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"You spend a lot of your life having people tell you to follow your passion. It's nice advice, it's heart-warming advice, its great advice -- if you happen to have one that is very clear & obvious. Sometimes it feels cruel & all it does is make you feel even worse & more left out, because you're like, 'I would if I knew what it was!' If you're in that position right now.... forget about passion."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Elizabeth Gilbert</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I recently watched Elizabeth's interview on the Oprah Winfrey show <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/10/elizabeth-gilbert-advice-passion-oprah-tour_n_5793468.html" target="_blank">here</a> and could not stop thinking about it after. I have since watched it several times because I have struggled myself with narrowing down what my passion, #1 dream is over the course of my life. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In high school I was dead set that I was going to go to nursing school & work in the Emergency Room helping people. Then I got a job at a nursing home as a CNA & lost ALL interest in the medical world. So I spent some time trying to figure out what my new life calling would be.... I switched my major to Psychology for about 2 semesters and then realized that my love for writing was going to win out! So I moved back to to my hometown to attend our local college as an English major... and to be closer to my boyfriend (soon to be husband) & got a job as a Secretary for a mortgage company. About a year after being there they started training me in to be a loan processor and I was gun-ho ready to go! I stopped school and have now been a loan processor for about 7 years. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Do I love it? No. So once again I am searching for that one PASSION! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So when I watched this interview it was a HUGE AHA moment for me. Elizabeth goes on to say:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4rvvM84zkuhT9U5vnEf_tf049pTGs_NsImi1Mrgyg6HAQthmPXRlCoLFzCkcjPK3eidWyW-jTFmGm5SeRY9ryInxQCja_U197BJ5jWXVzXihU6OpqX0U23-Np7-ChhQd9rF5hoZWTZMD/s1600/Follow+your+curiosity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4rvvM84zkuhT9U5vnEf_tf049pTGs_NsImi1Mrgyg6HAQthmPXRlCoLFzCkcjPK3eidWyW-jTFmGm5SeRY9ryInxQCja_U197BJ5jWXVzXihU6OpqX0U23-Np7-ChhQd9rF5hoZWTZMD/s1600/Follow+your+curiosity.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So the fact that right now at the age of 30 my curiosities consist of: </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">WRITING</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">ORGANIZING</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">& JUST BEING A MOM</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">is OKAY!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I need to follow those curiosities because I never know what path it might lead me to next & that path could be my passion that I hold tight to for the rest of my life. Or it could continue to lead me down another path & another. It doesn't matter! If those paths spark an interest for me then I will enjoy ever minute of it!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So what is my true goal & dream right now? It is to follow my curiosity & never stop searching for that one thing that is rare, that burns within.... my passion! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">If owning your own business is a dream of yours t</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">here are so many tools like <a href="http://kabbage.com/" target="_blank">Kabbage</a>, a small business loan company, that can help you not only narrow down your dreams/goals but help you achieve them. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-81799837219114689902014-06-20T22:03:00.002-07:002014-06-20T22:03:23.501-07:00Curve Ball!!!<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The past 6 months have been full of improvement but not in the areas I had planned on. It's funny how life throws you a curve ball and before you know it you are veering off track quickly and you can't get your feet solid underneath you. That about sums up the last 6 months for me. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have wanted my focus of improvement to mostly be in my personal life and found that I was neglecting my professional life. I think this is why my curve ball came into play. I was so focused on certain areas of my life that I didn't see the problems arising at work. I can happily say that those problems are now resolved but while I was fixing this curve ball that I took blindly to the face my personal life (this blog included) suffered.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finding balance in your life is unbelievably hard. I have at times thought it is impossible. How you can focus on certain areas to improve without losing focus of others? That is something we have to battle with everyday.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have been reading a book called "The Slight Edge" and it has been amazing in getting my mind and my anxiety in check. I have so many ambitions both personally & professionally that I feel overwhelmed almost daily. This book has opened my eyes to the fact that doing the little things everyday to move my business forward and to make sure my family is taken care of.... that is where I am going to find balance. </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If I commit to doing enough of those little things every day no matter what then my goals will be moving forward daily. It might not be at a rapid pace but I have decided that is okay. If you try to move to quickly you not only miss out on what is happening right now but you also leave open game for that crazy curve ball and you will likely strike out. If you slow down you might see it coming and be able to hit it out of the park before it ever rears its ugly face.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That is all for now :D </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-47540236388924503592014-01-31T17:44:00.000-08:002015-01-25T15:48:30.259-08:00What do you want out of life?<span style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Is there something that you have thought a lot about but never taken the actions to put it into place?!</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Is there something that you have always wanted to do but keep pushing it away because it doesn't seem realistic for your life but it always seems to creep its way into your thoughts?</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It wasn't until I spent some time to really think about what I wanted out of life and </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">why writing kept nagging me that</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I truly felt it. You feel it to your core because it is what you are here to do. Every time I think about writing I get excited. I know that I am meant to do this. To help as many people as I can reach.</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Until you know what it is you want out of life. Until you take the time to really figure it out you will be wandering aimlessly and putting your energy into the wrong job. Once you know what you want you have to take action. You cannot expect to wake up one day and be living your dream.</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For example one of dreams right now is to be working from home full-time. A year and a half ago I worked for a company that was not going to allow that so I found another option and moved to the company I am currently working for. I am now working 2 days a week from home and it is amazing. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These are baby steps but I am moving in the right direction and working my rear end off to show the people I work for that I can do this.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The same goes for my dream to be a published novelist. Is my book going to magically write itself and send itself off to a publisher? I wish! </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have to put in the many many hours to write this novel and I can proudly say I am almost done with the outline for this book and have many more ideas ready to be brought to life.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOZqHVd865txH6K5qTqvRtOWvcrFJ_SGig0MURL8T9sVmZKm9xp-dghPaFdVFhYXXq1YOoiGTTRbkLH8P2psaZRN_-7YYjSNpWXTal0G8WF1TzhWJiPI4tMUE7WJMaP5J_ns9hL8qDoRf/s1600/If+you+quit.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOZqHVd865txH6K5qTqvRtOWvcrFJ_SGig0MURL8T9sVmZKm9xp-dghPaFdVFhYXXq1YOoiGTTRbkLH8P2psaZRN_-7YYjSNpWXTal0G8WF1TzhWJiPI4tMUE7WJMaP5J_ns9hL8qDoRf/s1600/If+you+quit.png" height="335" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am obviously still in the middle of achieving my dreams so no I do not have all of the answers and honestly even if I had accomplished them my answers might not be what works for you.</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We all need to discover our path and yes we may stumble along the way but if we keep our head up and keep moving we will get there.</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I would love to be a part of your journey to hear about what works for you and what doesn't. Support if you will. So please comment or send me a message letting me know what is or isn't working for you :D</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ImprovingMeWithKeiaLee" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KeiaBlake" target="_blank">Twitter</a> </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-9590200642769563942014-01-27T00:30:00.000-08:002014-01-27T00:30:00.684-08:00Fitness Tips to Beat the Winter Blues {Guest Post by Julie Roberts}<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have a special treat for you all today! Julie Roberts is here to tell us how to get over the "Winter Blues" and get our rear-ends into gear so we are ready for the summer :D I've taken note to a lot of her ideas and working on them now! ENJOY!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Fitness Tips to Beat the Winter Blues –
A Post from Julie Roberts</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s the New Year,
and that means that it’s time to think of new things. I try to keep my workouts
fresh, but sometimes I get stuck in the same old boring routine. I know that I
will be so much happier when I have done my exercises for the day. But when I
start to notice that I just want to get it out of the way, it’s time for a
change. This year is going to be great. I’m going to keep my momentum in the
winter, so I’m not worried about the way I look when swimsuit season catches me
by surprise.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Get Motivated<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The winter can be
a killer when it comes to exercise motivation: shorter days, bone-chilling
temperatures, and post-holiday blues. Not to mention the after-effects of
holiday buffet and dessert table visits are beginning to show face. When I get
up in the morning, I remind myself that an hour of exercise is time I not only
should spare, but I must spare. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Winter can really
put you into a melancholy mood. Exercise is like <a href="http://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/12/exercise.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the antidote. </a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">. It doesn't matter what my circumstances are. If I wake up later than planned, I will do a
shorter, more intense workout. And if I wake up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, I
will do a longer, more complete workout. I also find it helps to have all my
workout clothes laid out the night before, right down to the socks. I get
dressed first thing – even before brushing my teeth. I find that this helps me
to get right into it, instead of lagging and finding excuses not to workout.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Change It Up<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I try to imagine
how awful it would be if I woke up every morning and ate exactly the same thing
for breakfast…day in, day out, week in, week out. Yet, sometimes we do this
with our workouts. We do the same exercise over and over again, regardless of
the fact that it’s not working as well for us as it did when we first started.
My body needs a challenge to stay focused and interested in improvement. So, I
like to change it up frequently. A couple days a week, I get heart-pounding
cardio doing <a href="http://www.fitsugar.com/Get-Up-Your-Heart-Rate-Short-Elliptical-Intervals-2718546" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">elliptical interval workouts.</a></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> A
couple days, I work on strengthening and toning my muscles through weight
training. And sometimes I switch it up and take a yoga class. And then on the
last day, I might just enjoy going for a walk in the winter weather to see the
lights and snow.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Stay In<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We’re at that time
of year where it is not just cold. It is horrible, ugly, “why are you doing
this to me?!” cold. Some days I just do not want to head out to the gym in this
weather. For the next month or two, I really get into my indoor workouts. The
nice thing is that you don’t need a ton of space or equipment to get a great
indoor workout. Many websites offer programs and even videos that you can watch
and exercise in relative ease. If I don’t feel like using weights, I will swap
in my resistance bands or balance ball - both of which I recently purchased
from <a href="http://www.beachbody.com/category/fitness_gear/bands_balls_weights.do" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Beachbody.com</a></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. The convenience
of this should not be overlooked. I can be ready to exercise in minutes, and
done in a short period of time. It’s a perfect use of my kids’ naptime.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don’t get me
wrong. I love winter. I just don’t always love exercising in it. Between the
gym and my home, I can create enough varied workout routines that I am not only
going to stay fit, I will keep up my motivation so that I’m ready to blast
right through my goals as the year progresses. This way, when bikini season
does sneaks up, I will be in great shape to really ramp up my workouts and get
fully into shape for the summer months. So remember, it’s up to you to beat
those winter blues. By doing indoor workouts and some shorter, more intense,
interval workouts, you can help maintain your routine throughout the rough,
colder months, and go right into your summer routines without skipping a beat!<span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-41593316248529093292014-01-17T16:03:00.000-08:002014-01-17T16:03:14.515-08:00'You've Got Mail' & Finding Who You Are<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today I was working from home and decided to put on the amazing movie You've Got Mail while my 2 year old was taking a nap. I mostly put it on for background noise but I'll admit I was sucked into it immediately. It is such a beautiful story about two people who thought they knew who they were but found themselves in situations that made them think otherwise. And yes of course there is the love story as well!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">When Kathleen Kelly said:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlzRxpiBoJ4z1E-pkLJlCGmHZ_a5fKszgX6AATu3MwaNnUqKa1vkH2_cQ3-pG8-pmVgR2Gb17R2QPyHTyLq4sTDDlAwbyVSF6i895l03LBGfd5xvNW7LjX3X34u6SfbAH11EdFm6B52sB/s1600/You've+Got+Mail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlzRxpiBoJ4z1E-pkLJlCGmHZ_a5fKszgX6AATu3MwaNnUqKa1vkH2_cQ3-pG8-pmVgR2Gb17R2QPyHTyLq4sTDDlAwbyVSF6i895l03LBGfd5xvNW7LjX3X34u6SfbAH11EdFm6B52sB/s1600/You've+Got+Mail.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fcfae7; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I cannot tell you how much that statement reflects my own life. Sometimes I wonder how I got where I am and quite honestly I kind of fell into my current career. It wasn't something I sought out but for the past 7 years I have been working hard at it and am honestly quite good at it. I do enjoy my job but its definitely not something I am passionate about. So when I heard her say this in the movie today it immediately made me think about my little blogging adventure and how I am building my passion for writing into something concrete.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: purple; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">This also made me think about how many people out there do not even take the time to figure out who they are and what they truly want out of life. I know this because I was that person a few years ago. It wasn't until I took the time to write out my thoughts that I figured it out for myself. Now, I know writing isn't the best way for everyone to do it but I must say it is a pretty fantastic place to start if you don't know where to go with your thoughts. It may just lead you to finding yourself or finding another outlet to find yourself.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">So my challenge to you.... try your hand at writing your feelings, your fears and see where you end up! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Love always,</span></span></div>
<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-20441276429932002012014-01-13T20:46:00.000-08:002014-01-13T20:46:16.233-08:00Just Write<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Over the past year I have tried to focus on writing and improving myself. I truly believe those 2 things go hand in hand because without writing I would have never been able to make sense of my jumbled thoughts. I learn as I write. I learn about myself, I learn about life, I learn about people.... I just learn. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Writing allows me to release all of the craziness in my head and makes it real... concrete. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have always loved writing but it wasn't until this fabulous book was recommended to me that I realized how much I needed writing in my life. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That book is "The Right to Write" by Julia Cameron. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you are remotely interested in writing you need to read this book. It is so inspirational! EVERYONE can and should write. Even if its just to work out your own thoughts.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Julia says:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"We should write because writing brings clarity and passion to the act of living. Writing is sensual, experiential, grounding. We should write because writing is good for the soul. We should write because writing yields us a body of work, a felt path through the world we live in. We should write above all, because we are writers whether we call ourselves writers or not."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hope that you find the love for writing that I have. There is no need to worry about grammar or what anyone will think of it. Just write. Write for yourself. Write for your sanity. Write to get to know yourself better. Just write!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Love Always</span></div>
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<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a></div>
Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-57742432927195017972013-12-23T14:08:00.000-08:002013-12-23T14:08:06.874-08:00THANKFUL<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was recently contacted by Cameron Von St. James sharing this amazing video about his wife, Heather's, struggle with Mesothelioma. This video brought instant tears to my eyes as I cannot imagine what she was going through, especially such a short time after having her baby girl. </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have a 2 year old daughter who is my world! Just thinking about not being here with her to help her learn and watch her grow makes me want to break down and cry. It is quite honestly one of my biggest fears. Watching how Heather & Cameron were strong enough to fight for their life together. For Heather's life with her little girl was so inspiring. Her optimism & hope is contagious. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am extremely grateful to have my daughter, my husband and all my family & friends that stand behind me no matter what during this holiday season. It is a great time to reflect and see how much everyone around you does for you! How much they mean to you! </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love that Cameron contacted me to share their story to help spread awareness for Mesothelioma and I'm even more grateful that he shared their story with me as it has inspired me to see life a little differently this holiday season.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thank you Cameron & Heather for your amazing example and for the strength & love that you share.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Please watch & share this link with everyone you know not only to spread the awareness about Mesothelioma but to be inspired.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.mesothelioma.com/heather/#.UriwbPRDtUM" target="_blank">http://www.mesothelioma.com/heather/#.UriwbPRDtUM</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Merry Christmas!</span><br />
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<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-59486193669731880392013-11-07T20:59:00.000-08:002013-11-07T20:59:29.857-08:00Where have I been lately?<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Where have I been lately?</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To be perfectly honest with you I have been everywhere but my blog. How's that for an answer. But really I became pretty burned out of this blogging world and I couldn't figure out why. I was so burned out that I stopped writing completely for the past 4 weeks. 4 weeks! That is a long time for me to go without writing. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So what caused this burn out if I love writing so much? </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well blogging was not just about writing any more. It was about link parties, twitter chats, how many Facebook & twitter followers I could get. Yes these things are important to blogging because lets me honest if you aren't finding followers then nobody is going to read what you have to say. But these followers that I was gaining because they were involved with the link party for the most part were not genuine followers. Now don't get me wrong I am not knocking these parties at all but I think they need to be done in moderation. At least this is the case for me. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I started blogging not only because I love to write & read but I wanted to inspire people to continuously work on their lives to make them better. But I lost the drive for this when I put more attention on getting my name out there then studying & writing. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What inspired me to come back? To start writing again?</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was sent a message via twitter from the gals at <a href="http://strivingonward.com/" target="_blank">Striving Onward</a> asking if I would like to write a post for them. Now if you do not know who these lovely ladies are you need to go there now because their site is AMAZING!</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have followed them for quite some time now so I was very honored and quite surprised that they asked me since I have not written for my own blog for weeks. </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But I emailed Audrey at SO and we talked back and forth for awhile about what they were looking for and my creative juices started flowing again. Suddenly all I could think about after weeks of not.... was writing. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So what can you expect from me here on out?</span><br />
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<li><b style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Inspiration & Motivation</b></li>
<li><span style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>I am not going to promise you 3 or 4 posts a week. But w</b></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>hat I will promise & commit to is genuine heartfelt writing. </b></span></li>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will be doing a lot of research on ways we can improve our lives together and sharing all of this with you. (PS if you have a book suggestion or article that you think I should read please let me know :D)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now you may see me from time to time at a link party or twitter chat but mostly I will be writing for you and for me. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I do have to tell you that these past few weeks I have missed reading your comments so please don't stop that! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lots of love,</span><br />
<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-10881813731053584132013-10-10T15:45:00.000-07:002013-10-10T15:45:11.450-07:00#AskAwayFriday<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have been invited by the lovely <a href="http://mrs-aok-a-work-in-progress.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mrs AOK</a> to take part in the #AskAwayFriday challenge where we get to ask each other 10 questions to get to know each other better! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here are the questions she asked me:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. What was the motivation behind your blog? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">I am always looking for ways to improve my life and I had the idea one day to write about it and just maybe it would help someone else improve their life too.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I whole heartily </span><i style="background-color: white;">try</i><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">to stay positive on my blog....I love that you are</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><i style="background-color: white;">always</i><span style="background-color: white;"> trying to see the positive and you're always so positive, is it hard sometimes to not post a rant every now and then? </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is definitely hard to not rant sometimes. I honestly have to consciously make an effort to look at the positive of a situation. It is something I struggle with everyday. If I am being even more honest.... there has been more than one occasion that I have typed up a post that was very much a rant and then deleted it. Sometimes it helps to just let it out for yourself and then move on.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">3. What's your favorite post thus far?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I would have to say my favorite post so far is on <a href="http://improvingmewithkeialee.blogspot.com/2013/09/positive-thinking.html" target="_blank">Positive Thinking</a> I have been working on this so much lately that it is becoming a permanent thought for me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4. What are 3 things blogging provides for you?</span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blogging has been a creative outlet for sure. It has also helped me to express myself better and to grow.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5. </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You're a mommy, and we all know that Motherhood is rewarding but also brings on tons of fear. How do you let go of fear being a Mother, if you do at all?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I write. Writing is and always has been my outlet. I struggle with fear daily and I'm sure I always will but I am getting better at not letting it control my life and my decisions. This is going to make me sound weird but I have on more than one occasion said out loud to myself "Keia, what are you doing!" Vocalizing how absurd my thoughts and fears are sometimes helps me get past them.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6. What is the funniest thing your daughter has said or did?</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last Friday she managed to get my mascara open and put it all over dollies face. She then brought it to me and said "put on eyes". She was so excited that she had done her dolls makeup that I had to laugh out loud and couldn't get mad at her.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">7. What's in your bag?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh this is going to reveal my nerdy side! I currently have 4 notebooks, 2 books, my wallet, chap-stick my camera and hand sanitizer in my purse. Yes I carry that many books and notebooks at one time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8. Dream family vacation?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Since my little girl is not quite 2 I would have to say Disney World. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">9. Dream couples' vacation?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is a 2 week cruise that starts in Barcelona, Spain and goes up through Venice, Paris & Turkey that would be AMAZING!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">10. Your Dream?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To write full-time and to do it from home with my kid(s). </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Be sure to head over to<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://mrs-aok-a-work-in-progress.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mrs AOK</a> </span>blog and see her answers to my questions! I tried challenge her a little ;)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have a fabulous Friday and remember you are in charge of your future and your dreams. Go after them this weekend!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Love,</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-24692441672283093922013-09-21T06:30:00.000-07:002013-09-21T06:30:02.450-07:00Positive Thinking<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know I have been pretty scarce around these parts lately and I honestly have to apologize. I have been doing a lot of thinking and life planning and some of it I am just having a hard time wrapping my head around. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I want to write about all of it and tell you my goals but until I have nailed them down and committed them to paper for myself with details I am feeling at a loss for words. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While I am figuring this out I have been reading a fantastic book called The Jackrabbit Factor by Leslie Householder.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I STRONGLY recommend everyone reads this book. It is so eye opening to the power of positive thinking and what a horrible impact negativity has on your life. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I won't go into details about what the book is about because, well, I want you to read it and it is a simple read for sure! I read it in a couple days on my lunch breaks.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What I will tell you is the impact it has already had on my life and I only finished it last week. I will be extremely honest and tell you that I am a chronic worrier and so my thoughts tend to go to the negative. I would not say that I lack confidence or anything like that but I let fear get in the way of my life decisions way to often!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I do feel that I am at a turning point in my life right now. I am in the last year of my twenties and my dreams have never felt so real as they do right now. I believe that by letting doubts and fear into my thoughts adversely affects my progress to my dreams and to making the full turn in my life.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsymM7PdAi-XE0XW2W6SzOe57F9dXYjpgqPOqxZ2LGBXMSRpzPzUPXQGcUTO0-Zr8ztpj4ktFMCANuNsoxZPCrVZFiVGbhgIgml2RDfRfDL_cDTcHNdGqDJpArFkhhwwQfZFC7AEiyudFD/s1600/doubt+&+fear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsymM7PdAi-XE0XW2W6SzOe57F9dXYjpgqPOqxZ2LGBXMSRpzPzUPXQGcUTO0-Zr8ztpj4ktFMCANuNsoxZPCrVZFiVGbhgIgml2RDfRfDL_cDTcHNdGqDJpArFkhhwwQfZFC7AEiyudFD/s320/doubt+&+fear.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The past week I have been working on pushing doubts and negativity out of my thoughts and flipping them around to be positive and looking at the good. What a difference it has made so far! I literally feel lighter! Seriously it is crazy how weighed down you feel when you are doubting yourself or being negative about a situation.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Even with little things in your daily life. For example there was a phone call that I was dreading making at work today. I finally pushed the negative thought (energy if you will) out of my head and thought positive things about having the phone call over and do you know what, I immediately felt better and the phone call was actually pleasant. It did not turn out the way I thought it would.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is a lot more to the book than just this but I will go into more of it later :D</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For now I challenge you to push doubts and negative thoughts out of your mind. I promise you you will feel so much lighter and happier!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have a great weekend :D</span><br />
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<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-48217106551969464542013-09-14T16:00:00.000-07:002013-09-14T16:00:02.434-07:00FABULOUS Organizing & Planning Printables<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have you ever been lying a wake at night in bed and have a panic wondering whether or not you paid that bill?! I have!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And I finally decided to do something about it! To my great pleasure a dear friend of mine has a Blog & Etsy shop called <a href="http://www.mamasgotittogether.com/" target="_blank">Mama's Got It Together</a> just for this purpose! To keep me and you from lying awake at night wondering if we paid that bill!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have been using Sarah's Financial Planner for the past month and a half and I have to say I do not worry about bills at all anymore. I know exactly where my money has gone and what has been paid.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On top of that they are adorable and fun to use!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here is a snapshot of one of 12, yes 12 editable printables included in the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/105750265/budget-planner-finance-organizer-budget?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank">Budget & Finances Planner </a> for you to use every month!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9Chputjei_S73B9NBWNDVZTEXJfNRl7VQoHol5w53m1DJ8BbRFEVdiGC3EM3WE8UpiAkZdq3fqocRD1k3J18ol9htaktWsPkpbiXFRxhyphenhyphenBlK4CoDL0WAGiG2Yc6A_qu5hA2o99c9XlFN/s1600/Monthly+Budget+Planner_001.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9Chputjei_S73B9NBWNDVZTEXJfNRl7VQoHol5w53m1DJ8BbRFEVdiGC3EM3WE8UpiAkZdq3fqocRD1k3J18ol9htaktWsPkpbiXFRxhyphenhyphenBlK4CoDL0WAGiG2Yc6A_qu5hA2o99c9XlFN/s320/Monthly+Budget+Planner_001.png" width="247" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cxBkgg7cD6qWEoIhCQmbaMMyoMsk0NG8f7dnxvJRoJwpDtbuHalzO2dywkR7Uxfey6aN8oHyWvWnjVy3Yk5EyqBde_s5j-rtgdRTu4VuSn0gKCSlC9ZjRu4vWLMWm0yKoYkWtdKsbP6W/s1600/il_570xN.449612863_h9pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cxBkgg7cD6qWEoIhCQmbaMMyoMsk0NG8f7dnxvJRoJwpDtbuHalzO2dywkR7Uxfey6aN8oHyWvWnjVy3Yk5EyqBde_s5j-rtgdRTu4VuSn0gKCSlC9ZjRu4vWLMWm0yKoYkWtdKsbP6W/s320/il_570xN.449612863_h9pe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you are already have a system you love in place for planning your monthly budgets no worries she literally has a printable for every thing you can imagine! I am not exaggerating! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Planning a wedding? </span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Sarah </b></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>has you covered</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Need to organize your blog? </span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Sarah has you covered</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Need to track your health & fitness? </span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Sarah has you covered</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #999999;">Need to organize your recipes? </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>Sarah has you covered</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The list goes on & on folks! Not to mention you get it all for a great price!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So what are you waiting for head on over now and see what she can help you with! </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/mamasgotittogether?page=2" target="_blank">Mama's Got It Together</a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Please tell her hello for me :D</span><br />
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<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-29501227364032969402013-09-05T21:30:00.000-07:002013-09-05T21:30:01.281-07:00A Well Needed Slap<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today I was graced with a slap in the face. Not the kind of slap that stings but the kind of slap that makes you say "Hello! What have I been doing?!" </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was honestly embarrassed that the subject had been brought up or rather that it needed to be brought up as I was quite sincerely oblivious.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Reflecting back over the past few weeks trying to find the source of this attitude that brought on my wake up call I am not surprised that it happened but surprised that I missed it. I did not see it coming nor suspect any issues.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I do not want to dwell on the actual slap or make excuses for myself. I want to use it to grow & move forward. To be more aware of myself & my surroundings.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I also want to say that I am grateful for the slap because now I can work or move in a better, happier direction. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I read this today and thought it was perfect!</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Your life can be the way you want it to be</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Simply take control of it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Who's to say you can't change?</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prove everyone wrong</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Direct your life. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have any of you had nice slap recently?</span></div>
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<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-42250616357771466512013-08-19T22:14:00.001-07:002013-08-19T22:14:38.625-07:00Defining Direction<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have been looking back on my previous posts lately trying to figure out what direction I am trying to take this humble little blog of mine. I have dabbled in posting a few DIY projects and even flirted with the idea of writing about menu planning (what!). </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have always known that my main goal was writing to help improve myself and help inspire others to do the same but I do not believe I have even scratched the surface of this yet. I need to go deeper.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You might be asking yourself why I want to help people do this. I know that by helping other people grow that I will grow as well. If I strive to learn something new for you, I am learning it for me too. More importantly it feels amazing to help someone achieve their goals, their dreams.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am just like you in that I haven't figured it out yet. Everyday is a struggle for me. I am learning something new about myself constantly. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It wasn't until recently that I made myself sit down and write it out that I really saw what it is I want out of this life. I am still working out the kinks & the process to obtain my goals & dreams but I can see them now & more than that I believe I can reach them! </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">CONFIDENCE IS HUGE! Do I doubt myself some days? OF COURSE I DO!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCa8UxKgiOCqGyW0ay5pK6ef4xWs5XYh-vKp9DLtywgDF8eytrs62WsKHPtCEg8mubFvJxaYZVmr2fAc1WUeYcRXUqkpODwP7xuHF998TI7tN5Q48YLi3JHsNz3690Fv3UyHZc07wOD-iO/s1600/self-confidence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCa8UxKgiOCqGyW0ay5pK6ef4xWs5XYh-vKp9DLtywgDF8eytrs62WsKHPtCEg8mubFvJxaYZVmr2fAc1WUeYcRXUqkpODwP7xuHF998TI7tN5Q48YLi3JHsNz3690Fv3UyHZc07wOD-iO/s320/self-confidence.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But I will never give up because I have a beautiful baby girl that I have to provide for and I want her to see that her mommy made something of herself. I didn't just react to life. I acted on life. I took every opportunity I was given and turned it into something great for our family.</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I want to define for you (and me) what Improving Me is here to accomplish:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- I am here to help inspire, motivate & push you to be the best self you can be!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- I am here to help you take chances & do things that would normally scare you.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- I am here to not only help you reach your goals but to define them & to overcome the fears associated with them!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- I am here to push you to make that leap towards your dreams.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- I am here to help you set a plan of action & to give you the support you need to attack that plan.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- I will read & learn & share everything I can to help you (and me) grow.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If there is ever a topic or question you feel I am not addressing or I need to dig deeper into. PLEASE let me know!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If what I have said helps inspire you in anyway. PLEASE let me know.</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If I know it's helping just 1 of you than I know I'm doing something right.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you haven't already please follow via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ImprovingMeWithKeiaLee" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/KeiaBlake" target="_blank">Twitter</a> as I will be posting daily inspiration there as well. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thank you for reading! I am really excited for this next chapter!</span><br />
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<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-79320909431703036662013-08-12T20:35:00.003-07:002013-08-12T20:35:56.134-07:00Life Planning<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well I haven't been doing very well with the #31WriteNow Challenge. This is the first post I have written since last Sunday.... whoops!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I am hear now :D</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I do have a somewhat good reason for missing out on writing though. I have been doing a lot of life planning. I am still ironing out the details and trying to break down the best ways to attack and accomplish these plans but I will be sharing them shortly!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I did read this amazing post by <a href="http://preparednessmama.com/15-common-goal-setting-mistakes/" target="_blank">Prepardness Mama</a> called the "15 Common Goal Setting Mistakes" It is a MUST READ if you are making life goals and trying to work towards them! It definitely opened my eyes to a few things I need to try.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For example #10 says </span><br />
<ol style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 8px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Failure to come to terms with the fears associated with the goal</b> – Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. Did you define the challenges? What is getting in your way? Make sure you understand your environment and the challenges you are facing.</span></li>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Segoe UI, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">This is definitely something I need to work on! As I have discussed before my fears have become a major hurdle to accomplish my dreams. Most of the time I am not aware of these fears.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Segoe UI, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">I also read this amazing quote today from <a href="http://strivingonward.com/" target="_blank">Stiving Onward</a> that I think fits perfectly with my new life plan I'm working on and not letting fear mess things up for me!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Segoe UI, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">"There are generations yet unborn whose very lives will be shifted </span></span><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">and shaped by the moves you make...."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Segoe UI, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">- The Butterfly Effect, Andy Andrews</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Segoe UI, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">To think about the people that I can help every day is unbelievable. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Segoe UI, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Have you been making any new goals lately? </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Segoe UI, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">I would LOVE to hear about them!</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Related Posts:</span><br />
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://improvingmewithkeialee.blogspot.com/2013/08/subconscious-fear.html" target="_blank">Subconscious Fear</a></span><br />
<a href="http://improvingmewithkeialee.blogspot.com/2013/07/taking-chances.html" target="_blank">Taking Chances</a><br />
<a href="http://improvingmewithkeialee.blogspot.com/2013/03/fear-life.html" target="_blank">Fear & Life</a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-52024008526444773562013-08-04T08:21:00.000-07:002013-08-04T08:21:09.736-07:00I've Been Featured!<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Happy Sunday Everyone! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today is a really happy Sunday for me! I have been featured over at More Than Mommies for their <a href="http://www.morethanmommies.net/" target="_blank">Sunday Sip Feature</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you have not been over to More Than Mommies wonderful blog yet than you need to check it out! It is a wonderful community to be a part of as they offer so much advice on enhancing your own blog! Not to mention all of the support they provide :D</span><br />
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<a href="http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r578/MoreThanMommies/TheSundaySipFeatureButton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="“feature" border="0" height="320" on="" sip="" src="http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r578/MoreThanMommies/TheSundaySipFeatureButton.jpg" sunday="" the="" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hope all of you have an amazing, relaxing Sunday!</span><br />
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<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>
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Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-72990887646885668672013-08-03T10:17:00.000-07:002013-08-03T10:17:39.968-07:00Subconscious Fear<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My motto lately has been Not Letting Fear Lead My Life. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I believe this will be my motto for the rest of my life as I am constantly battling fear everyday. I don't expect that to go away any time soon. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fear of what you might ask? Let me share a few of the things that run through my mind:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fear of failure I think is one every one has</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have a fear of staying at home by myself. It's pretty ridiculous actually! I know this but still I struggle every time my husband leaves town.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fear of losing some one I love. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have a terrible fear of fire. </span></li>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another fear I have come to realize I have lately is a fear of success. Yes I know this sounds crazy but I honestly believe a lot of us have this fear. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is not something we are usually conscious of because who really thinks to themselves "I am afraid to be successful and have all that money and satisfaction!" NOBODY!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I believe this fear is subconscious. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have been reading a wonderful book called "The Fearless Mind: 5 Essential Steps to Higher Performance" by Craig Manning PhD</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This book is actually based on sports... tennis to be exact. But the 5 principles it teaches apply to every situation in life. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A statement that stood out to me last night was this:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"It has been my observation that people don't really give their dreams a chance. People talk about doing this or that, but few ever give it a go."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is where I believe the subconscious fear comes in. Let me tell you my example:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I started this blog about 3 months ago. It was honestly something I had to talk myself into doing because it is really out of my comfort zone to share my writing and my personal thoughts with people. But I do not want fear to lead my life anymore so here I am. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If I had not made this conscious decision to push my fear aside then my subconscious fear of failing at blogging and writing would have won!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Manning goes on to say:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Research tells us that the few who do give it a go become high performers through perseverance over long periods of time. They maintain their focus on their objectives, set performance objectives they have direct control over, and evaluate their performance regularly --- and ultimately make their dreams reality."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know that it will be A LOT of work to accomplish my dreams but I do not want to be one of the many that do not pursue them! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'd love to hear your thoughts on this!</span><br />
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<br />
<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-84080057190950876912013-08-02T13:12:00.002-07:002013-08-02T13:12:40.989-07:00#31WriteNow Blog Challenge<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Okay I may regret this in a few days but I have decided to join the lovely Luvvie in her blog challenge to write/post every day on your blog for the month of August! </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you would like to join please check this out! <a href="http://www.awesomelyluvvie.com/2013/07/31writenow-blog-challenge.html#comment-146975" target="_blank">31writenow-blog-challenge</a> </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am honestly really nervous about this and shaking my head right now as I write this because I might be crazy! I have a hard time just getting 2 posts up a week! So posting everyday is going to be difficult.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So why did I sign up for this? Well there are 2 reasons....</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. I love to write. It is something I am growing more & more passionate about every day.</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. I really needed a good challenge!</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So what can you expect to hear from me over the next 30days... lots of motivation, inspiration and you will probably get a good look into this crazy brain of mine. It NEVER stops thinking so I guess this is a perfect opportunity to get all of these thoughts out for you to see :D</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy this as much as I will!</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-64078112244805709552013-07-31T19:56:00.000-07:002013-07-31T20:31:02.381-07:00Taking Chances<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I recently read an article called "Free Spirit" by Susan Campbell Cross in Shape Magazine. She talks about feeling stuck & not accomplishing some of her dreams. I was immediately drawn in as I have been dealing with this myself lately.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Susan quoted Dr Julie Gurner a clinical psychologist & life coach, who said </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-GJHTFK1ivEIabf0zS2lUfgIgisJTG26LkDPOBIufYU_aSlOu0dDdubRWqaLYQZiwYhMeMgSlep_jWnB-E-G_iKVFhzfxIZjGaP6AkbQLyvB1Mr17Yb_f_DUWPwCDalbmvHYLzvxuUtA/s1600/taking+chances+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-GJHTFK1ivEIabf0zS2lUfgIgisJTG26LkDPOBIufYU_aSlOu0dDdubRWqaLYQZiwYhMeMgSlep_jWnB-E-G_iKVFhzfxIZjGaP6AkbQLyvB1Mr17Yb_f_DUWPwCDalbmvHYLzvxuUtA/s320/taking+chances+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Cred: Erik Watsoe</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is something that I struggle with. I am a planner, meaning I think everything out in my mind before acting. Sometimes this "planning" makes me over think things and then I chicken out and don't move forward. </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This quote embodies what I am trying to overcome in my life. FEAR. </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We need to take chances & make life what we want it to be!</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Believe in ourselves!</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have you taken any chances lately? Are you a planner like myself?</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-43867225257719667822013-07-20T12:15:00.002-07:002013-07-20T12:18:02.574-07:00Forever Learning<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"The more that you read, the more things you'll know.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dr Seuss</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I believe learning is something we should all strive to do on a daily basis. I love learning. I love reading. It hasn't been something I have always loved though. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In High School I did it because we had too. I didn't develop a real love for reading until College and even then it was only for books that I chose to read, not the required reading.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It wasn't until I was done with school that I really saw the need and gained a passion for learning. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is so much knowledge at our finger tips and we seldom take advantage of it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have been thinking about this a lot lately. How learning is such a huge part of our lives & I have come to the conclusion that it is something I need to focus on more in my life if I want to truly achieve my goals.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Think about it.... if I want to become fit & healthy. I need to learn everything I can about it. If I want to be better at managing my time, then I need to study time management to find the best solution for me. After all what works for someone else may not be the best answer for me. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SHzAmspL1daHH-I_qVptF2Lyh7kA_V3IvQS-HyliizPufcLcohjrT1ZDNNGPQ5dQYsZrsxlUlEzwPJfzBeKAcQpvCo3WmaBZoprE8A9OLS7baveMt2T22Zy8zSbPccnJzE-TAXvGOboA/s1600/study.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SHzAmspL1daHH-I_qVptF2Lyh7kA_V3IvQS-HyliizPufcLcohjrT1ZDNNGPQ5dQYsZrsxlUlEzwPJfzBeKAcQpvCo3WmaBZoprE8A9OLS7baveMt2T22Zy8zSbPccnJzE-TAXvGOboA/s1600/study.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love this quote. There is no sure method of learning. If you want to learn something you can do it if you apply yourself and make the time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I look forward to learning everything I can to better my life & hopefully help you along the way as well.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some of the areas I'm looking forward to learning more about are:</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">* Time Management</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">* Fitness & Health</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">* Writing</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">* Blogging</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">* Cooking (I'm literally going to have learn from scratch! No pun intended... I cannot cook!)</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">* and lots lots more!</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What do you think about learning? Is it something you strive to do regularly?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'd love to hear from you :D</span></div>
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<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4389115805552983749.post-43941095139502585072013-07-12T22:43:00.002-07:002013-07-12T22:43:23.608-07:00DIY Canvas Art Project<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Over the weekend I finally got my canvas art project done that I had been planning out in my head for far too long!</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I found this great photo on Pinterest from <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/237564949066784566/" target="_blank">The Better Half</a>. As you can see she used a wood back drop... mine is canvas. I was looking at the photo on my phone and it wasn't pulling up any directions on how to recreate it so I winged it. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FsqMAp-wQolcAvb32RLw7MLhaSR7AadGXnWvXTF7zp6O8YH6TFap2glwd1DTrfLDnK83AVHRAEdGsFp8tS7gsoWXZfirwffxt06G1EQUurT_PpYEgleHRT70rfqtTpSHi4F0IyvE_LTl/s1600/canvas+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FsqMAp-wQolcAvb32RLw7MLhaSR7AadGXnWvXTF7zp6O8YH6TFap2glwd1DTrfLDnK83AVHRAEdGsFp8tS7gsoWXZfirwffxt06G1EQUurT_PpYEgleHRT70rfqtTpSHi4F0IyvE_LTl/s400/canvas+4.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here are the steps I took to create this!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. Taped off the white lines you see. I didn't have a template so I just kept taping at angles that I liked</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. Then I covered the areas I wanted to be blue and green with paper and taped them down</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. I then took it out back and spray painted the whole canvas grey</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4. Once the grey was dry I peeled off the paper and tape for the blue & green colors</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5. Next I watered the blue & green paint down quite a bit (craft paint) </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6. Then I took a paint brush and painted the blank boxes. As you can see the watered down paint did bleed through the tape, which is honestly a very pleasant surprise for me! It made it not so uniform.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">7. Finally when the paint was dry I peeled off all of the tape to reveal my white lines :D</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLKYWXghN-1-XquALXmzWwbD1xYYf7wq6yvkWhJZK_mg8r90q00Xfm60bzWOjq_3M9YfzyJzrnmSgOZTt58jDo3o-P0cOnWrLwgVeb_fawpnSILa6lT2F-w73M-XHOMzxdQe24k4TAVDA/s1600/DIY+CANVAS+ART.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLKYWXghN-1-XquALXmzWwbD1xYYf7wq6yvkWhJZK_mg8r90q00Xfm60bzWOjq_3M9YfzyJzrnmSgOZTt58jDo3o-P0cOnWrLwgVeb_fawpnSILa6lT2F-w73M-XHOMzxdQe24k4TAVDA/s640/DIY+CANVAS+ART.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I believe the photos above help to illustrate the process.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Super easy right!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am pretty happy with the end result :D</span><br />
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<a href="http://s1054.beta.photobucket.com/user/brerutledge/media/keiasig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo keiasig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s490/brerutledge/keiasig.jpg" /></a>Keia Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991392679214570928noreply@blogger.com16