by Joey | Sep 7, 2015 | Throwback
We collect years. We survive days. Information filtered in, regurgitated, forgotten. Influenced, then set free.
And along the way, we think we’re one step closer to finding ourselves. Knowing ourselves. Understanding ourselves. We grasp at any definition, hoping to wear it like a shield against the world.
But maybe it’s not like that at all. Maybe, instead, we enter into our adulthoods battered, broken, confused. Pellets of assumption, expectation, doubt thrown at us, bruising us. Years of war paint settled in layers, thick, suffocating.
But underneath it all, we had it right all along.
We let the voices in, shaping us. We diffuse ourselves, trying to fit. We check what we want in exchange for the cookie cutter expectation of reality. It’s easier.
Expectation without guidance is like poison. Try and fail, time and time again, never finding the hand to help you up.
So stand up on your own two feet. Brush the dust off. And walk your own way.
by Joey | Sep 4, 2015 | Throwback
Wednesday evening I got to participate in something really cool! The Marketing Manager for PDQ invited me to be one of the panelists for their Shake Contest!
Let me back up.
PDQ, which stands for People Dedicated to Quality, is quick and casual. Every meal is made to order. There are no microwaves or freezers. Everything is made in house: hand breaded, fresh chicken, freshly chopped veggies (never from a bag) and hand cut fries (that you can actually see them cutting!!) Even with their dedication to fresh, made to order meals, their service is super fast. No hormones. No preservatives. Eat clean, quick.
On Wednesday evening, during their dinner rush no less, we were served platter after platter of food freshly made in minutes! The food was unlike anything I’ve ever received from a “fast food” establishment. Most impressively, in my opinion, were all the of the hand crafted sauces. They make each of their dipping sauces and salad dressing on site, never bottled or mass produced. My favorite was the sweet heat!
Anyway, down to the real reason for the visit. Each year, the team members are given the opportunity to create a unique milkshake recipe. That recipe competes in multiple rounds, then one will be chosen to be featured on the menu! I was one of the judges for the final round.
We were given ten different shakes (samples, please, we were stuffed silly!) to try and then we ranked them 1-5, providing notes. Holy goodness, you guys. I couldn’t believe these recipes were created by amateurs. I’m a girl who loves my sweets (and I’m pretty picky at that..if it doesn’t have chocolate, you’ve lost me). But out of the 10 shakes, only one had chocolate featured and I had such a hard time deciding. Best milkshakes I’ve ever tried. And that’s coming from someone highly dedicated to my late night cookout milkshake runs.
It was such a fun evening! I was among local public figures and even made some new friends! Rumor has it they’re expanding in Charlotte and that there may be a new store in the area very soon! In the meantime, visit Terrance (owner/operator) at the Concord location! You won’t be disappointed!
by Joey | Sep 3, 2015 | beauty, Loves
++ Last week, I contacted a blogger that I’d seen popping up in my instagram explore page. Through our exchange of emails, we also exchanged social media. We soon discovered we lived in the same apartment complex. Upon realizing that, we shared our apartment numbers. We live in the same freaking building! Small world, friends. And another new friend! Man, I love living here and I love blogging!
++ I’d say I can’t believe it’s September already, but I kind of sort of can. This year has been the longest ever despite the fact that time passes so quickly. Odd numbered years are always hard years for me, though. It’s something I started to notice in college. 2013? Sick most of the year. 2014? Published a book and started running. 2015? Life gets turned on its ear. You see what I’m saying, here? So to say I’m anxiously awaiting 2016 would be an epic understatement.
++ I haven’t painted my nails in over a week. Almost 2 weeks, actually. It’s the first thing to go in this whole balancing act, I’m finding. I miss it. And I miss taking that few minutes to myself (remember my set up? Nails. Netflix. Wine. Man, I miss it). Everything these days has to be scheduled or it doesn’t happen. Maybe I should just start scheduling in some “me time.” The problem with that is, though, that it would get bumped in a heartbeat. I know myself well enough to know that. First world problem at its finest, I know.
++ I’m thinking it’s time to invest in an actually
serious business skin care regime. I’m slowly inching my way to thirty and I’m
still dealing with acne. This has to be some kind of sick cosmic joke, right? Thankfully,
Kristin is a
Rodan & Fields consultant and has the perfect regimen in mind for me. If you’re sick of dealing with your skin (she can solve any range of issues for you, she’s like a magician!), contact her. I mean it. This isn’t sponsored, I just love her.
++Today (writing this Wednesday night) started at 4:45am for me. And it’s been
go go go every minute of the day since. I’m a new level of tired. I have to be careful saying that in this house since the hubs left for work at
3:30am but, you know, it’s all relative. So that’s about it for me today.
Now, it’s your turn!
document.write(”);
by Joey | Sep 2, 2015 | Throwback
With the shift back into my normal hours at work, I’ve reintroduced audiobooks. First up, Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen. Here’s what Goodreads has to say:
Personal Rating & Review
Before I get into the actual book, let me first say that a narrator can really make or break an audiobook. Taylor Meskimen was an excellent choice and told the story perfectly. I’m always a little amazed at a narrator’s ability to shift their voices for different characters and to nail it every time!
I’ve been a long time adult fan of this YA author. She has an ability to tell a story where nearly next to nothing actually happens but keeps you riveted the whole time. Dessen’s true talent is getting inside her narrator’s head and telling their story. She does so by taking the reader through an emotional tour of the narrator’s world.
I found myself really relating to Sydney, the main character in this book. She takes an unpopular stance on a situation her family finds themselves in, feeling as if maybe she doesn’t quite fit. We, as readers, get to experience her journey to finding her place, her people, and her voice.
The people Sydney eventually finds herself attaching to are the kind of family I think everyone hopes for. They have their own messiness but a closeness despite it all. A sense of teamwork and true unconditional love.
A collection of relationships are explored, cultivated, and mended throughout the novel that gives even the most hopeless of person hope.
A messy and complicated story told beautifully once again by the ever talented Sarah Dessen.
by Joey | Sep 1, 2015 | Throwback
In a conversation with a friend yesterday, I mentioned that 2015 seems to be all about learning the truth about people and respecting myself enough to walk away.
That seems to be a common theme for me the last few years, self respect. It should be a given, really. But it’s something I’ve always struggled with. I’m a yes girl. A people pleaser. I let myself get sucked dry until I have nothing left for myself.
I’ve let people talk down to me. I’ve let people disrespect me. I’ve rolled over to let whatever may be, be. People have underestimated my intelligence, leaving me stung standing in the wake. All of this happens enough times that you just start to believe it. you aren’t worth anything. Those thoughts are hard to push away.
But lately, I’ve realized I harbor a resentment. And while that may not be the best thing, I’m actually a little happy to find that it’s there. It’s the first step in acknowledging that it’s not right. It’s the emotion behind making a change. Taking a stand. Doing what’s right for me.
I’ve learned a lot about myself in the years since graduating college, the most startling among them is that I’d been living as a muted version of myself in the light of other people.
I let harsh judgements and opinions alter who I am. I let myself be controlled, stifled. I’ve been reminded time and time again that who I am and what I do isn’t enough. I’m not successful enough. I’m not realistic enough. The dreams I have are foolish, silly, selfish. Everything is driven by money and wealth. And if you don’t have that, then you are nothing.
But I’ve broken free of those chains. I’m proud of the life we have. I’m proud of the person I am. I’m driven, motivated, creative, passionate, and most importantly kind and understanding. While those qualities might not add up to your definition of success, I’d rather have this life.
It doesn’t have to be enough for you. The wonderful thing about life is that we all get to do it our own way. How I define success (a happy marriage, friends who are more like family, and my days spent doing what makes me happy) doesn’t have to be how you define success.
In the year of learning the truth about people, I’ve learned the truth about myself. The truth about happiness. The truth about respect. The freedom of saying no. The importance of boundaries.
We’re allowed to want what we want. We’re free to make the choices that are right for us. We can take risks, knowing the chance of failure. We don’t have to fit our light into anyone else’s box.
Be yourself loudly.
Break out of whatever box is walling you in.
It’s easier to breathe out here.
