Sunday, November 29, 2009
First Sunday of Advent
Christmas time is really here and I can't believe it! This morning at church we lit the first candle of the Advent wreath. I love seeing the adorable young families read the scripture and light the candle together. It makes me warm inside.
I also spent all day decorating the house! I am super tired and need to get a good night's sleep for my big day tomorrow! Oh how I love Christmas!
XOXO,
JM
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Back on the Blog Bandwagon...
Well a few things have come up since I have been away! First and most importantly, I am starting a new job on Monday! Since I am going to be taking a lot more hours starting Spring term, I can't have a full-time job so I really have not been looking for one. Well, I got a call to come and interview at this adorable little school for a Title 1 tutor position. Well she must have liked my spunk because I got the job! Starting Monday, I will go everyday from 7:39-11 or so and help with struggling 5th graders. Now yes some of these kiddos are bigger than me and I might have to refresh on my math skills, but I am really excited about being in the schools everyday! As we all know, I do not do well with downtime, so this added structure is going to be so welcomed. Hopefully I will have some good stories to share about my new 5th grade friends.
Today, we got home from a relaxing trip to OIB for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday, and it was a great one this year, just a bit stressful for me. With Christmas right around the corner, Mimi is in full gear in the kitchen. Of course, this creates anxiety for me, but I am going to just take one day at a time...
Plans for tomorrow....DECORATE DECORATE DECORATE!
I can't wait to share pics of the tree we purchase this year...hopefully it will be taller than me this year!
Merry Christmas!
JM
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Practice Peace with Our Bodies
Mindfulness is rooted in Eastern meditation traditions. The Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh stated this:
"Peace is present right here and now, in ourselves and in everything we do and see. The question is whether or not we are in touch with it. We don't have to travel far away to enjoy the blue sky. We don't have to leave our city or even our neighborhood to enjoy the eyes of a beautiful child. Even the air we breathe can be a source of joy. We can smile, breathe, walk, and eat our meals in a way that allows us to be in touch with the abundance of happiness that is available."
I find that I constantly dwell on the negative aspects of my life and am never fully present. My motto..."tomorrow is a new day." But...why don't I tell myself that each minute is a new minute provided by God and should be glorified! Why do I not take the time to enjoy the blue sky? Just some food for thought...yes that was an intended pun (teehee).
Tonight I am going to practice mindfulness by concentrating on this very moment without concern for the past for the future.
XOXO,
JM
Monday, November 16, 2009
Temptation
-Ephesians 6:11
We must defend ourselves against the evil wrongdoings of the Devil by...
1. Focus on Jesus
2. Keep your relationships right-breastplate of righteousness
3. Get involved in service- boots of the gospel of peace
4. Keep trusting God in difficult times- shield of faith
5. Win the battle of the mind- helmet of salvation
6. Know your Bible- sword of the Spirit
Starting tomorrow, before I get out of bed in the mornings I will put on my armor to defend myself and fight the evil temptations that are placed in front of me to harm not just me anymore, but the ones who I am closest too.
Ponder that verse for a while...
XOXO,
JM
*Special thanks to Nicky Gumble from Alpha!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Go Green in a Lilly kind-of Way
Time for some reflection
"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." -Matthew 6:34 MSG
Live one day at a time--While you can plan for tomorrow, you can't live it until it arrives. Most people spend so much time regretting the past and worrying about the future, they have not time to enjoy today!
So for now...I will not try to dwell on the mistakes I have made but enjoy this fall day curled up on the couch with Lola and a good movie (is it too early to watch Christmas movies??!!??)
XOXO,
JM
*devotion written by Rick Warren
Saturday, November 7, 2009
What a Win!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
What I am Reading...
I may not be planning a wedding or even have a special someone, but oh how I do love anything to do with flowers, frills, white dresses, and a reason to put bows on everything! I am reading Nora Robert's second book in her bride quartet series. Now if you are all for sappy romance novels and some lighthearted fun, I highly recommend this great read! Its so entertaining...
I am being far too lazy today and enjoying my good book!
XOXO,
JM
Monday, November 2, 2009
Its been a while...
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Be Right Back
XOXO,
JM
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tomorrow's the Day
athletic apparel...check
a smile...check
running buddy...check
ability to run 5k....ahhhhhhh still not ready!
Tomorrow I meet my running buddy for Girls on the Run! I am super excited, but super nervous about my running ability (aka lack thereof). I was told that I would be partnered with walker/slow jogger so I am hoping they are going to stick to their word. I am thrilled to begin this new journey because if I can help encourage a young girl to have strong self-esteem and know the importance of a healthy lifestyle, it might eventually rub off on me. Why do I get so eager to help others escape from the disease, yet I can't seem to save myself????
Wish me luck tomorrow, many prayers needed!
XOXO,
JM
Check out this Awesome Video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zr7owI8PDw
Monday, October 19, 2009
Please Take Seriously
- 81% of 10-year-olds are afraid of being fat?
- 70 million people worldwide are suffering with eating disorders?
- As many as 10 million females are suffering from anorexia or bulimia. That's more than are suffering from breast cancer.
- More than 2/3 of women ages 18-25 would rather be mean or stupid than be fat and over 50% would rather be hit by a truck.
Fat Talk describes all of the statements made in everyday conversation that reinforce the thin ideal and contribute to women's dissatisfaction with their bodies. Examples of Fat Talk include: "I'm so fat," "Do I look fat in this?", "I need to lose 10 pounds" and "She's too fat to be wearing that swimsuit." Statements that are considered Fat Talk don't necessarily have to be negative; they can seem positive yet reinforce the need to be thin — "You look great! Have you lost weight?"
Join me in the cause this week. Email to your friends and family.
XOXO,
JM
** stats and information found on www.aed.org
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Tears from Heaven
Friday, October 16, 2009
Christmas wish list...
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
"Fat Talk Free" Week
Get ready gals..."Fat Talk Free" Week 2009 is coming up! During the week of October 19th-23rd, Tri-Delta and AED unite for my most passionate cause! The week is a body activism campaign that draws attention to body image issues and the damaging impact of the thin ideal on women in society.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Headlights...
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Blog BFF
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Double Doozie
A little about me...
Monday, October 5, 2009
Birthday Girl
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Wedding Bells
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Beach Bound
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Hoping all will be well...
And I am practicing my purpose once again
It is fresh and it is fruitful if I win
But if I lose
Ooh, I don't know.
I'll be tired but I will turn and I will go
Only guessing till I get there then I'll know
Oh, I will know
All the children walking home past the factories
Can see the light that's shining in my window as I write this song to you
And all the cars running fast along the interstate
Can feel the love that radiates, illuminating what I know is true
All will be well
Even after all the promises you've broken to yourself
All will be well
You can ask me how but only time will tell
The winter's cold
But the snow still lightly settles on the trees
And a mess is still a moment I can seize until I know
That all will be well
Even though sometimes this is hard to tell
And the fight is just as frustrating as hell
All will be well
All the children walking home past the factories
Can see the light that's shining in my window as I write this song to you
And all the cars running fast along the interstate
Can feel the love that radiates, illuminating what I know is true
All will be well
Even after all the promises you've broken to yourself
All will be well
You can ask me how but only time will tell
Keep it up and don't give up and chase your dreams
And you will find
All in time
All the children walking home past the factories
Can see the light that's shining in my window as I write this song to you
And all the cars running fast along the interstate
Can feel the love that radiates, illuminating what I know is true
All will be well
Even after all the promises you've broken to yourself
All will be well
You can ask me how but only time will tell
All will be well
Even after all the promises you've broken to yourself
All will be well
You can ask me how but only time will tell.
You can ask me how but only time will tell.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
I want to be 5 Again...
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Tickets for Sale!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Fall is in the air!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Call me Wikipedia
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Guilty Pleasures
Monday, September 21, 2009
Meet Sulli
Sunday, September 20, 2009
M.I.A
Back to my weekend...I am currently in Darlington, SC (ever heard of it?) and I am meeting my 2 month old baby cousin for the first time. She is oh so precious and feel asleep in my arms tonight! Be on the lookout for a cute pic tomorrow!
XOXO,
JM
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Looking to the Future
Monday, September 14, 2009
Waiting....
Any minute now the UPS man is supposed to be bringing me my new inspirational read. Jenni Schaefer is an amazing role model and has recently come out with a second book. I have read her first, Life without Ed, probably 10 times. I'll let you know what I think about Goodbye Ed, Hello Me!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
New Blog!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Grounding Techniques
The Process:
First step: Awareness When you notice that your thoughts have drifted away from what’s going on in the moment, stop. When you find yourself analyzing whether you ate too much or whether you’re a worthwhile human being, recognize that you’ve lost touch with what’s happening around you. Remind yourself that you are in the present. Take an inventory of exactly what is going on around you. Take deep breaths and try to relax your muscles.
Second Step: Identify the Feeling This is a step that tends to frustrate any person with an eating disorder. After all, we’re either “fine” or “not fine”, right? For this reason, some people find it helpful to use a list of feeling words. (Go to http://www.joyproject.org/Documents/emotionslist.pdf for a list you can use). Identify any words that seem to “fit” with what you’re currently feeling.
Third Step: What does this remind me of? Ask yourself what comes to mind when you think of past situations where you might have felt similar feelings. Don’t think too deeply about those situations for now—just make a note of what pops into your head (either a mental note, or writing a note on paper). What sounds, sights, sensations, people, conversation topics, or thoughts are you experiencing now that were similar back then? You can reflect on those situations more at your next therapy session, or when you’re in a good place to really focus on dealing with those feelings. For now, the goal is to get your mind back in the present moment so you can continue what you were doing before you got triggered. If some aspect of your current situation is alerting you to a danger that you’ve faced in the past, then begin planning to take action to protect yourself. Don’t ignore your instincts. However, if the current situation is NOT dangerous, and you’re simply finding yourself ruminating about internal fears or past hurts, focus on reminding yourself that the current moment is safe, and that those fears don’t need to block out what’s happening now.
Fourth Step: Re-Ground your thoughts to the current moment
***Taken from the Joy Project
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
COLORS
Monday, September 7, 2009
Forgiveness
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Fearless!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
First Day Jitters!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Worry Warts
“So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time” (Matthew 6:34 LB).
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Sisters
Monday, August 31, 2009
C-L-E-M-S-O-N
Fight Tigers Fight Tigers...FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
My Bestest
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Cry for Help
Friday, August 28, 2009
OOHHH LALA
Can I just say how much I miss working at Kate Spade and my superb discount. Did I also mention that we received a shoe allowance!!?? Yes thats right every season we got two pairs of shoes for FREE! Working at Kate Spade and living in Atlanta was one minor blurb in my journey. It was only a few months and rather interesting. Lets just say we learn from our mistakes...
However, I do covet these super fabulous pumps!
XOXO,
JM
Thursday, August 27, 2009
How cute??!!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The "F" Word
- full in tone and quality
- richly rewarding and profitable
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
New Read
Oh how excited I am to receive a new book today to add to my summer reading! The author of In her Shoes and Certain Girls has come out with a new one. Considering I have lots of time on my hands at the moment (errrrrrr), I am ready to jump into this read!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Words to Live By
-Serenity Prayer
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
A new day= new goals
Just a few goals on my agenda to incorparate into my daily routine:
- Focus on the positives less on the negatives
- Get pumped about graduate school starting next week...did I mention that I am getting my Masters in Teaching elementary education. No worries friends...only Lilly jumpers are acceptable.
- Plan menu and actually write in food journal (its a really cute planner!)
- Reach out and scream when bad urges arise!!!!!
Thats about all for now...
Until later....
XOXO
JM