In readying myself for this week’s post, I had this well-known quote on my mind. I wanted to find something else to post about, but I kept coming back to good ‘ole Forrest Gump. So, I ran with it…
“My momma always said, life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.” –Forrest Gump
Gotta love some Forrest Gump!
If you dig deeper into this quote it speaks volumes! Life is sooooo unpredictable!
If we just look at our current projects, each of them had a moment or two (or three!) where things changed, and we needed to pivot…either to accept additional scope or mitigate an issue that was impeding progress. It caused us to have to see the project differently, because yesterday it looked one way, and today it’s not the same. That is a lesson in itself because it speaks to how even we as humans are forever changed by the smallest of things, and as we keep lifin,’ we grow and evolve because of life’s lessons. That, though, is a post for another day!
What does Forrest’s quote mean to me?
It means we have to do our best to stay ready, so we don’t have to get ready. We aren’t going to be ready for them all, but we can do our best to prepare ourselves today for what is yet to come. We can train our minds to be receptive to change, be open to what that change might look like, and be ready to pivot when necessary. And we do that because…you never know what you’re gonna get.
Today’s Motivational Monday for my team has me AMPED…
Good Morning, Cookies!
Happy Monday!
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, and got a chance to refill and overflow your cups!
Today’s motivation is all about trustandperseverance!
Trust yourself, even in the toughest of moments. Know that you are built for whatever the obstacle, challenge, or mountain you are facing! I believe that everything happens for a season and / or reason, and you were given this moment to show just what you are made of!
So, while you may fall into a bit of self-doubt (we’re human), I charge you with digging just a little deeper to find that strength that will bring you through your obstacle! #NeverGiveUp #YouGotThis #WhenInDoubtLeanOnYourCookies
I was out of the office last Monday for some much needed R&R. So, no motivational post was sent to my team. BUT, I am back at it today! Here is another dose of motivation for you…
Good Morning, Cookies!
Happiest of Mondays!
I know it would have been a wee bit better had the sunshine lasted, but guess what…we’re going to make it through!
Today’s motivational is all about how we transition into the next season of our lives. Like Spring in Chicago, life may give us a taste of the good life, but then things quickly change. Sometimes, we are not ready for that change. BUT, let’s keep in mind just how awesome and resilient we are. Let’s give grace to ourselves and others when needed. And let’s be positive because, no matter what, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT!
My first day back from vacation during Spring Break, and I wanted to reflect on what drives me. After all of the fun had in Minnie-sota, I was inspired. Here is today’s Motivational Monday post…
Good Morning, Cookies!
Happiest of Mondays!
Today’s Motivational Monday: Find yourthing!
If you want to know what drives me to be my best self each day, it’s my family! They give me the extra push I need to persevere through some of the toughest situations. They literally and figuratively wake me up each day!
I charge you with finding your thing. Is it your family? Is it succeeding in the way you define success? Is it achieving those personal, or professional, goals? Or maybe it is planning that special trip that you have wanted to take since childhood. FIND IT!
Life can get routine sometimes. So, when it does, remember your thing, and allow it to help refuel you!
I am sharing the most recent pictures of my motivations… MYthing! You are welcome to share yours!
Now that I am settled into the manager life, I decided to make Motivational Monday posts in my team chat. It is my way of setting up the team for success for the week, and hopefully, putting a smile on their faces. I thought I’d also post them here since I have been super neglectful of my blogging therapy. So, here goes…Oh, and our team name is The Cookies!
Good Morning, Cookies!
Happiest of Mondays!
As promised, here is the second week of Motivational Mondays! This one hits home for me, just because I believe in the importance of loyalty…sometimes to a fault.
This is a reminder for us all that a good retro never hurt anybody, even if it is a retro on life! Always do the things that spark joy for you, and always fill your cup first! It is only then that you can pour into others.
Sooooooo…when you are a new parent of a toddler, you are often warned about never leaving the child unattended (for safety, of course), but also because toddlers are curious and mobile. Bad combination.
The thing is, this advice is not only for toddlers. This goes for Thing 2s too.
Thing 1 alerted me that I had a situation in their bathroom. Super confused, I went to go and see what was so alarming. Needless to say, we cannot leave our 9 year old alone…
Someone got into the Halloween makeup…Brows for days!Nails to match!
If you cannot tell, she was not born with those brows entirely. It’s the day before Halloween, so excitement is an understatement in this house. Thing 2 decided it would be a good idea to paint her brows with the black face paint. She had enough brow to begin with, she reallllly didn’t need to add to it. Welp, lesson learned for me. I really should have hidden the makeup until tomorrow. #MyPoorChild
It’s a blessing and a burden sometimes when I get things in my head that I want to do. The blessing is always the finished product, and the joy that will come from it. The burden…the work that leads up to it.
I got it in my head, and this wasn’t the first time, that I wanted to give our pantry a makeover. The white wire racks were not doing the space any justice, and we could use some more shelving and space for larger items. I searched the Googles for all sorts of ideas. I ended up settling on a few…that was…until the hubby found an instructional video on YouTube. #SOLD
This was over a month ago. We started down the process of taking inventory on all the things we would need. We had enough to get started, and so I got to work clearing out the pantry…
#GoodbyeWireRacks#SoManyHoles
It doesn’t look like it, but this was A LOT of work! I took this opportunity, though, to share the workload. See, it is super important to me that my future Things know their way around a tool box. They will grow up to be independent humans, and I’d prefer they be fully equipped to be able to handle things themselves, and not have to depend on anyone else. Sooooooo…
#SheCanDoAllThings#SheCanDoAllThings
Patching holes for the win! Let me tell you, Thing 1 AND Thing 2 were excited to help. Thing 1, being the perfectionist that she is, did a much better job than I patching holes. Thing 2 was just as thorough. It was a beautiful thing to see them take to learning something new, and doing it well.
During this process, I also used this opportunity for Thing 1 to earn some extra money. She is a helper. So, I tasked her with painting. She and I shared the job…it was just too much for one, but she used her meticulousness to get her portion done…and got paid for her services…
#TheColorIsDove #HardToTell#PaintingAintNoJoke
Just think…that was the easy part. After Thing 1 and I finished painting, it was time for the Father of the Things and I to start finding studs, and marking where the shelves would go. Then, DRILLING! Now, I don’t care for drywall or wood dust, but I find so much satisfaction in finding the stud and drilling the pilot holes. #LoveMeSomePowerTools #ButYouCanMissMeWithASaw #IAmScaredOfThose
Once the holes were complete, the shelf bases were installed. Then, Thing 1 and I (mostly me this time) painted them. Now, this was A JOB too! But, it all started to come together after this was done…
#TakingShape#TheFoundationHasBeenLaid
Now, I’ll admit, we hit a wall after this step. It was supposed to be easy enough, and we just had to add the shelving. But, we did not take into account the size of the shelves on the opposite wall, and so trying to get them in the space was a no go. Luckily, the hubby did a trial run with some extra material and not the actual shelves. That would have made for some wasted material. And a note…during all of this work inside, the hubby was sanding, and I was staining and sealing the shelving. Again…that was A JOB!!!
It took some careful thought, but with a few changes, we were able to get shelves installed. And boy do they look AMAZING! #AnIdeaComingToFruition#SheDidThat #HeDidThat #WEDidThat
#YASSSSS#CreatingSpace#NeverMindTheFinger
Next, the fun part…getting my dining room back as it served as a temporary pantry for far too long. I was in awe at how well it turned out. I tell you what, it is such a feeling to see all of your hard work pay off…to take the vision, break it up into pieces, and watch it some together in real time. Even though there were bumps and hiccups along the journey, they made this end result that much more special. Here goes…
Again, it’s been a while! The blog struggle is real, but I have vowed to do better. If Things 1 and 2 keep giving me material, I guess that will be my reminder to write.
Today was a busy day! It ended with me needing to take Thing 2 with me to get Thing 1’s hair done. This has NEVER happened before, but tonight was Curriculum Night, and I get a little hesitant for my mom to babysit once the kids have sat in a petri dish all day.
Welp, I learned a lot more than I bargained for!
I look forward to hair appointments, mainly, because it is a time to purge. There is something therapeutic about sitting in someone’s chair while they do your hair. You get to talk about any and everything. Thing 1 decided that while she got her hair did, she would talk Stranger Things. We went from what happened in each season, to who is your favorite character, to remember when. Clearly, I am getting too old for all of this memory recall. Thing 1 doesn’t realize that some of these seasons I watched a couple years ago. No way my seasoned brain remembers all of that. But she got a kick out of helping me relive the moments.
Now, for most of the appointment, Thing 2 was minding her own business. She was given the gift of Roblox while she waited on big sis, but she needed a break, and she needs to get used to how these appointments work. This will be here in a few years. #ICannotWAIT#OutSourcingHair #YesPlease So, Thing 2 joins us. This is where the night took a drastic turn…
Thing 1 found a trivia from the latest season of Stranger Things and started firing away asking our beautician, Thing 2, and I questions. We get to a question about the song that plays during some scene, to which Thing 2 replies, “Is it WAP?”
We were all masked, but I think all of our mouths dropped! Thing 2 looked at us like, What did I say? I immediately went into drilling mode. I asked a ton of questions to get to the bottom of how, when, and why she knew that song title. Turns out, she hadn’t heard it, but saw the title appear in a game / video she was being entertained by. #NotOnMyWatch
We had a long conversation about what’s appropriate and what is not. We also discussed her watching videos without us present. #MommyDontPlayThat There is too much out there, like this song, that is not safe for her tiny ears and I will not allow her innocence to be stolen. I, as her tour guide through this thing called life, will not be taken aback again. This was my wake up call to keep closer tabs on the content her innocent eyes see. Just when I thought our firewalls were working for us, alas, a loophole!
Welp, this will be a laugh one day, but man…not today!
Ok, I realize it has been a while since I last blogged. Frankly, I have not made the time. It isn’t that I didn’t want to, but I was busy working, living life, and enjoying the kids.
Well…I was enjoying the kids…
Sometimes the Lord just orders your steps. Tonight was one of those times. See, I was getting Thing 2 set for bed. She needs guidance because there are a million squirrels she will see on the way to said bed. As part of the routine, she has to go potty before bed. I get it…she’s probably old enough to make it to the bathroom in the middle of the night, but I have cleaned too many a sheet in my day to find out!
Anywho, I went to check on her while in the bathroom. Again, I don’t know why, other than the Lord told me to open the door. Lo and behold, I was in for the shock of my life!!!
Thing 2 was peeing in a cup! YES…PEEING IN A CUP! I know…you got questions! But guess what…SO DID I!!!!!! I had just given her yellow Bath & Body Works soap too. I had to sniff it to make sure hadn’t done the unthinkable. #BuyWHYYYYYYY???
I thought the shenanigans had taken a sabbatical for the summer, but CLEARLY they had not! Y’all know what she said when I asked her why, so I won’t even go there. I was so distraught. I don’t DO bodily functions…not even a little bit!
Thing 2 and I had a nice conversation about why this will NEVER happen again. Then, the Father of Thing 2 had another one. She lost her privileges to the good life, and I’m pretty sure she will never look at her bodily functions the same again. #SheBetterLearnToday
I didn’t have many opportunities to see plays as a kid. I really can’t say that I would have enjoyed (or had an appreciate for) them then. It took me about 30 years, but I got my first one with Wicked. I only made it to intermission (LONG STORY), but I knew this was an art that I had to expose my kids to. Tonight, through a post-school field trip, I got the chance. Thing 1 got her very first Playbill!
While some of the content was above her head (#AsItShouldBe) she had a great first experience, and so did I. Because while I had been to a play before, this was our first time. There is so much joy in being able to enjoy the firsts. As the kiddos get older, those firsts are not as frequent. BUT, I will make it my business to be present for as many as I can.
