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3.30.2011

:) I think you won't!! :)

I cannot help but smile when I see the new Butterfinger commercial. I will be one of the first to tell you that I just adore being from the South and this commercial reminds me of a few of the reasons-especially the smile on the girls face at the end as she "sets her friend straight"-so typical of a Southern Belle!
Notice the pearls,antique furniture, the doily under the candy dish, the randomly placed floral arrangements and the painted floral portraits, the old clocks, the parasol, the dinner ring, the surplus of wing back chairs (you must have plenty of seating in case guest are over!), the chandelier, the huge windows, the brass candleabras the tea set, the piano...ahhhh this room just encompasses the old southern style that I just love! This room is way more beautiful to me than any modern room that I see on many of today's trendy remodeling shows! Anyway, watch this cute commercial clip - I hope it makes you laugh as it does me every time I watch it....It is the epitome of why I love being included on the slow-speakin', sweet tea drinkin', heart blessin' part of the map!



xoxo,
Faith

3.21.2011

Pass Me The Fat-Free Cake Please!

Why is it so hard to get out of situations but so easy to get into them? We just jump into stuff so fast often forgetting about the future but only thinking of what feels right at that moment.
I told my friend Amber this weekend that I relate it to weight...it is SO easy to gain a few pounds and happens so fast but it is SO difficult to lose that extra baggage. You think things like….oh one piece of chocolate will be fine, one slice of cake won't hurt me thaaaaaat bad, sure add cheese to those fries...summer is 4 months away….but then before you know it, summer is here and so is the need to switch from the bikini to a one piece! Of course this was never your intention, you planned on losing this stuff before summer but life happens and before you know it, here you are standing in a dressing room wondering how this happened so fast but knowing something has to be done about it and understanding that you will just have to live this summer dealing with the tan lines of a one piece because the weight comes off a lot harder than it come on!

So here it goes the hard part...the having to say no to the chocolate and waiving off the dessert tray only to see the scales moving down slower than molasses! Then it finally happens, your reach your goal, you feel great and are ready to move on to the bikini but even when you have lost it, you are constantly reminded of the time when that "baggage" was there through pictures, old clothes in your closet or people telling you how great you look which means they use to think quite the opposite but just never said it!

Through my daily living and decision making, no matter how frustrated, hurt, or defeated I feel I try to always make sure that regardless of the way a situation turns out, I never regret it and make sure I learn and grow from it. Like everyone, I am dealing with the consequences of choices that I have made that did not turn out so well because I was so fast to decide on changing things when I knew in the heat of the moment I could be messing up and did it anyway.

Yes, it sucks and is not fun at all but I also know that I cannot change anything and quite honestly even if I could I wouldn’t...Sometimes it is worth gaining those extra pounds just to be certain rather than to always wonder. That is my point though – If I would have looked at the big picture and listened to those hesitations that I had, then I would probably be smiling a little more today. (we know ourselves well enough to know if those hesitations are feelings of just being scared or feelings that we know something is wrong - we just have to be sure we don’t deny this knowledge we have with ourselves and confuse the two because it feels best for the moment.)

So next time I will try to, Stop and look at the cake and decide is this short moment of satisfaction going to be worth the end result and if I think so then I’m going to go for it but if I look at that piece of cake and I hear those gut feelings telling me that I probably shouldn’t do it because I will end up wishing I would have never picked up the fork then I will skip it and wait on the next tray carrying the low calorie cake that comes with less hesitations and consequences while realizing that I am not missing out but just holding out!

Of course skipping the cake is the hard part and does not grant us instant satisfaction BUT be sure that however long it is down the road once that satisfaction does come (and it will) you look back and remember all the forks you put down, it was not easy but you are now happy and even better it is a happy that lasts!

Not knowing the future and wanting to always wanting instant gratification makes this so hard to do but I am learning!

Choosing, Learning, and Growing!!!

xoxo,
Faith

3.08.2011

Get your ash in gear!!

It has been almost a year already since I posted a site that I found interesting regarding Lent....time sure does go fast!
I looked up that site today Busted Halo and it is back for its third year with the not so traditional Lent calendar that gives daily interesting thoughts and ideas that we should learn to practice in our daily lives to experience the growth of becoming a better person. The site promotes Lent as more than just a day to decide to give up your favorite food for 40 days but takes the approach of showing that it can be much more meaningful!

If you are like I am, raised from a Baptist background or just find that you feel kind of clueless when it comes to Ash Wednesday, Lent and everything that it symbolizes watch this informative two minute video that makes it all a little more clear!



The calendar starts tomorrow on Ash Wednesday (3/9/11) and will continue for a little over 40 days during the time called Lent, leading us to Easter. Everyday there is an inspiring quote from science, philosophers, Hollywood, the Bible, and so on. I did notice that there is even one from Snooki but you have to wait until March 12 to see what she possibly could have to say that is considered inspiring (haha)....the site will not allow you to "peak ahead"!! :)

As stated on the site:
Busted Halo’s® Fast Pray Give Calendar is completely unflunkable, entirely relevant and totally inspiring. The idea isn’t to be perfect but to continue on our path, so if you slip up one day, don’t give up; simply begin again the next day. And share any struggles — slips or just difficulty you’re having — at our "Slip Support Station" on  Busted Halo's Facebook Page.


I hope to find this calendar as insightful and inspiring as I did last year and I also hope you check it out and enjoy a dose of renewal!

xoxo,
Faith

3.01.2011

Tomorrow is the beginning of the END!!!

Spread the Word to End the Word!!



Fact Sheet

WHAT:
Spread the Word to End the Word™ is an ongoing effort by Special Olympics, Best Buddies International and our supporters to raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed)” and encourage people to pledge to stop using the R-word.
The campaign, created by youth, is intended to engage schools organizations and communities to rally and pledge their support at www.r-word.org and to promote the inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities.

WHEN:Most activities are centered annually in March, but people everywhere can help spread the word throughout their communities and schools year-round thru pledge drives, youth rallies and online activation.

WHO:
The effort is spearheaded by college students Soeren Palumbo (Notre Dame 2011) and Tim Shriver (Yale 2011), and led by young people, Special Olympics athletes and Best Buddies participants across the country.Celebrity activist John C. McGinley is a spokesperson for the campaign.

WHY:
Respectful and inclusive language is essential to the movement for the dignity and humanity of people with intellectual disabilities. However, much of society does not recognize the hurtful, dehumanizing and exclusive effects of the word “retard(ed).” It is time to address the minority slur “retard(ed)” and raise the consciousness of society to its hurtful effects.

HOW:
Visit www.r-word.org to learn how you can Spread the Word to End the Word.



xoxo,
Faith