I’m an addict

I love to solve problems.  

I don’t like Crossword puzzles or Sudoku very much, but I do enjoy the challenge of figuring things out. I will take anything apart and attempt to put it back together again. I thoroughly enjoy fixing things.

I get so excited to improve anything and everything.

From finances to customer service; writing to parenting; relationships to faith, I think I can always make it better.

That’s right, I’m an addict.

I’m addicted to self-help material; like how-to books, videos and articles. I spend hours in the non-fiction-self-help section of libraries and bookstores. I write about it, dream about and l annoy my friends and family with it.

But with that being said…

Even I am starting to get sick of the influx of media trying to sell me answers to my problems.

I have a Twitter account, Facebook page and a couple of different email addresses and there is not a day (ssshhheeeshh…a minute) that goes by where my phone and/or computer are not blowing up with quick-fixes for my life.

“I’m fine.  Thank you very much.” is all I want to say sometimes.

On magazine covers, on sidebars advertisements of websites, and in the pages of the newspaper…

If it’s not a better food, it’s a better drink. If it’s not a better body, it’s better clothes. It it’s not better thinking, it’s better medicine. The list goes on and on.

Since when did being ourselves become such a problem? Don’t we like ourselves at ALL?

What is the world coming to? I mean if this is what the media is selling; doesn’t that mean this is what we’re buying?

What happened with being content? What happened to acceptance?

 And what the heck happened to ‘This is Me’.  Like ‘Me or not’.

I admit it (and like I’ve said previously), you don’t have to twist my arm to work hard at fixing something in my life; I am all for advancement, but man, is it just me or is the world on ‘fix-it-overload’?

Everybody knows something that they want to teach you. And as wonderful as it is to want to help others and share our experiences, (I feel like I am one of those people) I wonder if others are sick of hearing it.

Are we asking for the advice or is it unsolicited? And can we even tell the difference?

I’m usually the one who says, ‘Yes, bring it on; let’s do this!’ and lately I feel more like, ‘Shut up already.’

I have to wonder…. when even I am sick of this stuff, what are other people are thinking?

Not one of us on this planet is perfect. Not one of us is pristinely healthy, or perfectly well versed or wonderfully well-behaved  24/flipping/7.  And if someone pretends to be perfect, they are full of it.

How many celebrities have we seen, including presidents of the United States, go down??? Hmmm?

If we were perfect, there would not be these things called faux pas, accidents, my bads, oopsies or #@$! And no one would ever regret a thing and we would never have to say ‘I’m sorry’.

To err is human.

And, it doesn’t matter what type of degree you hold, what your background is, or even how much money you have, you will not be perfect.

So, that leads me to this question; Self-help, I think, is a necessity. Isn’t it? I mean, what would we do without the option of getting better at something, or having the ability and freedom to improve a weakness or downfall? After all, that is our second chance.

This leads me to another question: where is the balance between self-improvement and self-acceptance?

I do not know the answer, but I am determined to find out.

                  (To be Continued…)

A couple of quotes that seemed fitting:

Self-acceptance comes from meeting life's challenges vigorously. Don't numb yourself to your trials and difficulties, nor build mental walls to exclude pain from your life. You will find peace not by trying to escape your problems, but by confronting them courageously. You will find peace not in denial, but in victory.-J. Donald Walters Author, Lecturer

Loving Yourself is Healing the World!-Jaymie Gerard

Truly,

Amber

Life Swap (Cont'd)

LIFE SWAP-Mad-Lib Time!

I hope you’ve got your word list handy that you created from the last post! –Ready? Fill-in-the-blanks!

Today I got up at __ _________ and put on a____ ______________ for a change. I went out into the _________________ and grabbed a ___________ _______________________.

Then I went into the   ________________ .

 ______________ came in while I was _____________ and offered me ______ ______________.

It had been ______ years since I’d had that for breakfast.  After I had the maid do _________ AND ____________________   I decided to go to __________________.

On the way there I saw _________________________ and asked him/her to go with me.  On the way we decided to grab some lunch at ____________________________.

We hopped into my ________________ and headed there. On the ride we talked about ______________and ______________________________.  We stopped at _____________________and bought ____________________________ ___‘s..

At the restaurant _________________________ joined us for lunch, and afterwards invited us to the set of  _________________________________.

______!That was fun!

It was about time for us to be going because I had to pack for _______________________.

I dropped _______________ off at his/her house and went home to get my ________________ massaged.

I couldn’t wait to leave; it was going to take _____ hours to get there by _____________________ .Since I would be away for_____ weeks I left a list of things to be done while I was gone;

1.  ________________________

2.  ________________________

3.  ________________________

4.  ________________________

5.  ________________________

6.  ________________________

7.  ________________________

When I arrived at my destination the temperature was ­­­­_____degrees and I was thrilled to finally be there.

I could smell the________________________________________________ and the _________________________________________.

While I was there I enjoyed ______________, ________________, ____________________, ____________________, and I even learned   how to _______________________.

For dinner every night I ate _________________, and sipped ________________________ by the _________________________________________ and had _______________________ for dessert.

The time flew by so quickly. And as I crawled into my bed at the hotel on my last night, I dreamt that every day could be like this one.

The next morning when I woke up to the sound of ______________________ I thought, ‘I will definitely miss _____________ but I really miss _________,_________,_________ , _________, ______________________ and ____________________________________________ more.

Life Swap was nice, but I can’t wait to go back home!

   Because real life can sometimes be mundane, I thank you for daydreaming with me!                  

        I hope you had as much fun with this as I did!  (I will post mine later:)

But in the end, I trust you felt like Dorothy, Toto and the people who chose to Wife Swap…..

        ‘There’s no place like home.’

Truly, Amber

Life Swap

Remember the show Wife Swap?

It was a reality T.V. show which took a wife out of the country and put her in the city, a home school mom went to live with a family who had public schooled children, and a wife who had old fashioned values  was replaced with the bread winning suburban one. It might even still be on T.V. for all I know.

That show probably started with just a few men and women who truly wished they were living other lives, and who longed for the days where they could be someone else, somewhere else.

Where they pictured the grass to be greener and the flowers would smell much better than their own.

Today is Fun Friday and I would like to give you a task; a FUN one of course! You must like to play. If you think that you can hack a little bit of silliness and you feel you’re mature enough to participate, put your answers in the blanks below. Otherwise stop reading and go back to work.

Treat this like the Mad Libs we had as kid’s.

You know, the ones where you had to fill in nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc., and then when you read the story back it’d be the most hilarious thing you, and your friends, had ever heard!!

This time fill in the blanks today with dreams and things you love and then on Saturday morning (or any time after midnight) return to Yellow Inspiration and use your words to fill in the story!

Sit back, Relax, Have Fun and use your imagination!

A specific time on the clock–

An item of clothing you’d love to wear –

Room in your home you wish you had-

Another room (or area in or around your home) in which you wish you had-

 Something you like to have first thing in the a.m.-

Something you wish you could have for breakfast more often-

A person in your family-

A leisurely activity-

Something you love to eat-

#-

2 something’s you hate to do-

1.

2.

Somewhere you love to go-

Your best friend-

Favorite restaurant-

Dream car-

Something you love to talk about-

Something else you love to talk about-

A place you love to shop-

#-

Something you never have enough of -

 Celebrity you wish you knew-

A TV show you don’t want to live without-

Exclamation!-

A dream vacation destination- 

Your best friend-

A part of your body-

#-

Favorite way of traveling-

#-

List 7 things you hate to do-

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

A # above 70-

Something you love to smell-

Something else you love to smell-

#-

A sport-

A luxury activity-

A relaxing activity-

An expensive activity–

A sport you would like to learn-

Your favorite food (s)-

Your favorite drink-

Aspect of nature you love to see-.

 Your favorite dessert-

A  relaxing sound (s)-

The same dream vacation destination-

People you love-

1.       ________

2.       ________

3.       ________

4.       ________

2 things you can’t live without-

1.       _________

2.       _________

 Come back to Yellow Inspiration on Saturday (anytime after midnight tonight) and read your Life Swap Mad Lib with your answers!

Truly,
Amber

21 Encouraging Thoughts
 By Leah Davies, M.Ed.


This list is by Leah Davies and was meant for counselors, teachers and parents for use with children.

 Leah Davies states that adults 'often use this as a way to cope with their problems' and that 'helpful thoughts are called positive self-talk'.

•   I am a good person no matter what anyone does or says.
•   It is okay to make mistakes because everyone does.
•   I do not give up; I keep trying.
•   I think about what is good in my life.
•   Everyone feels good and bad, now and then.
•   I can do it!
•   Money cannot buy happiness.
•   How I act is more important than how I look.
•   I am lovable.
•   When I smile, I feel better.
•   I can do many things well.
•   I cannot control what grown-ups (substitute  with 'others') do.
•   I am unique, one of a kind.
•   When I feel sad, I think of things I like about myself.
•   Each new day brings a chance to do better.
•   I think about my choices and then choose what is best for me.
•   I will change what I can and accept what I cannot change. (Remember the Serenity   Prayer)
•   I treat others the way I want to be treated.
•   I cannot change my family; I can only change myself.
•  What I learn today will help me in the future.
•  Believe in yourself! ( I added that one myself. )

Used by permission of the author, Leah Davies, and selected from the Kelly Bear website [http://www.kellybear.com/]. 2/02

 

How many times do weactually say these to ourselves every day?

No matter what the answer, we could stand say them some more...

Truly,

Amber

I Love Donald

Okay, so maybe I don’t love another man besides my fiancée.

But I do admire three other men very much.

The first is Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory…I just love ahem…like him. He is so funny.

 The second (my other Honey as my REAL Honey calls him) is Peyton Hillis.

Who doesn’t like Peyton? And by the way, it has nothing to do with his looks or his arms; I just get a kick out of how Peyton jumps over people on the field! He’s got stamina and gutts!

The third man I admire is Donald Trump.

As soon as I say the word, ‘Trump’, I know that many people are probably cringing…

The man went bankrupt in …..several different years.

Has been divorced  …several different times.

And has terrible hair.

So, why would I like him?

How could I like him?

Because I can respect him. And I find him to be very inspiring.

As Donald realized, he could have it all, and then lose it all, but then get it all back again…

….Again and Again.

                     Success isn’t permanent, and failure isn’t fatal.

                                        MIKE DITKA-Professional football coach

See Donald live

See Donald take risks

See Donald make mistakes

See Donald learn from his mistakes

See Donald get smart from his mistakes

See Donald learn lessons learned from his mistakes

See Donald teach others from lessons learned from his mistakesJ

I read my first Donald Trump book when I was 24. It blew me away. And, if you have ever picked up one of Donald’s books, you’d find that it is full of life education as well as business education.

Donald’s reality show, ‘The Apprentice’ was the first reality show I ever watched.

Like many, I don’t think Donald’s hair is the greatest, but I’ve always admired his choice to keep it the way it is. His hair is a part of him and I respect him for not changing it because others tell him he should.

I can also respect someone who can be honest with themselves when they screw up, then tell people about it; then persevere and succeed once again!

He’s got  @%#! .

A man should never be ashamed to own that he has been in the wrong, which is but saying... that he is wiser today than yesterday. -Jonathan Swift

Go Donald!......Peyton and Sheldon…

I love you too, Honey;)

Truly,

Amber

Time to Change the Screen Saver!

Happy End of February!
It's Fun Friday and we're edging  s l o w l y  out of winter.
Today is a great day to change your screen saver!!

This link offers amazing photography of oceans, insects, nature, etc.
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1O0kpe/www.patrickzephyrphoto.com/

Just pick one of these you like, right click, save picture as: whatever title you want and go to your control panel and choose it for your desktop background or screensaver!

I enjoy capturing nature in sunsets.
Each season, each day, and every time, it will reveal different sets of colors and patterns.
Here are two of my favorites I'd like to share with you:) They are views from my balcony.
Just think, this time next month!!       WARM!       I hope....

Truly,
Amber

Top 5 Types of Stores I Like to Shop In...

Okay…

So, I’m  thinking that I may have given shopping a bad rap.

I do complain about having to do it. And it is true I say that I dislike shopping in general, but it’s not that I don’t like shopping ever; it’s just certain types of shopping I don’t prefer.

I definitely like to spend my time doing other things, but there are times when I do like to go shopping. And when it comes to these places and products, I like shopping too much…so much, that I tend to stay away from these types of store so I don’t get myself into trouble.

Here are 5 instances where I enjoy being in a store to spend money: (I will list my 5 favorite types of stores to go shopping in, listing them backwards, with #1 last which is my favorite place to shop.)

Quick! See if you can guess what type of shopping I love most before you get to #1!

5. A card, craft, stationary, or paper store, i.e., Hallmark, Joann’s and/or Michaels. I have always loved crafts, using papers, scrapbooking, designing, and purchasing greeting cards etc.

4. An art store. I could spend hours appreciating every piece in the store. Often leaving empty handed. I never have the money for what I want there.

3. A home furnishings store (and if it has art, its double trouble). I love things for the home.

2. A flower store or nursery. Similar to the art store, many hours would be spent viewing, but this time I don’t ever leave empty handed.

And……………………………………………………………….……………………………………….......

..........................................................................................................................

My # 1 place to go shopping is hands down...

 A BOOK STORE.

I wish they were open 24/7 like Wal-Mart. I would not only be there at all times of the day and night, I would spend every last dime I have there… so it’s a good thing they are notJ.

There you have it! 5 kinds of stores I like shopping in…

So I guess I like shopping after all, only it’s certain kinds of shopping.

Shopping trips that have been retired :

·         Baby clothes and toys; (sssh, I live vicariously through my neighbor’s babies when birthdays and holidays come.)

·         Shoe and purse shopping; unless I can do it on the fly… I have categorized those with clothes shopping…blach.

 ‘The quickest way to know a woman is to go shopping with her.’ – Marcelene Cox

Truly,

Amber



How Do You Know If It's Right?

What woman does not want to plan a wedding?

Ummm,  well....Me, I think...

I should be really excited to pick out flowers, food, cake, and such, not to mention the dress! I mean, come on, what girl does not desire the dress! But I'm exhausted already! And I haven’t done much! LOL!

Don’t get me wrong. I am thrilled to be getting married to the love of my life (gpf) and I am very happy that we will be making a commitment to each other in front of God, our family and our friends, but I’m just not so keen on the overwhelming amount of choices and their matching prices.

Guess I’m just not that fond of the whole process.

Many times since our very first discussions of marriage, I/we have thought, ‘Let’s go away and get married! Let’s just go to our pastor and do it with just us and the kids. Let’s not get married…’

But, somewhere in between, ‘he moved to Ohio, the kids singing wedding songs daily and many gpf’s’ later we decided to have a wedding. Small and sweet. Traditional but not, a weekend and not just a day; we are doing it. And there's lots of things that need to be done between now and then.

I thought about getting a wedding consultant. I talked to a few and for the money, it didn’t seem like a bad deal.

Though, I feel I have great taste, good planning skills and smarts, so why would I pay someone to do the very things that I know how to?

I had already known where we were getting married and many other details, so when the engagement became official, it made no sense to hire someone other than myself.

Since my beau is your traditional male, stating, ‘It’s all you Honey; It’s your day’; only picking out one thing; the only thing I don’t want in the wedding: a bride-dragging-her-groom-cake topper...(ha ha, very funny Ry), I'm on my own with this planning stuff.

It’s not the marriage, the weekend or even the money that really concerns me, as much as it is the amount of resources, number of choices and issues like the order of planning.

For instance, my mistake so far was trying to plan things before having the dress.

After I realized that there’s not much that can be done without it, I’ve finally gotten out there and looked at dresses. No problem right? I’m a female; this should be a piece of cake.

Well, a little history on me (there’s a reason I didn’t go for the dress first):

·         I hate clothes shopping.

·         I like to find what I want quickly; get in and out, so I can spend my time and money on  
other things.

·         If I am in a store for more than 20 minutes, trying on more than 4 items I’m ready to break out like a prison inmate. (I hate shopping for clothes with the passion; and my dear friends can attest to this.)

I decided to do this the easy way. I picked out a picture of a dress online and decided to get that one!

Yeah, No.

It doesn’t work that way; because, I couldn’t find it…and when I tried on something like it…blach…

So I decided to visit another little shop nearby my house, figuring a local shop would be better logistically for future fittings, etc.

Yeah… No, again.

They were so kind and helpful, but I still wasn't sure about the dress.

Wedding planning has not been a pretty sight to say the least. And this is only task #1…ha ha...

I’ve already had two photos of dresses I thought would be the ones, and saved them to my cell phone… I kept looking at them and thinking about them during the week, one of them even had a deposit on it. I kept wondering which one was the one. I hemmed and hawed. I asked for opinions. And still wasn't sure which one to choose.

Then, just to make things worse, I have added another dress to the collection this past weekend.

BUT!

Great News!

This IS the ONE!

‘How do I know it’s the one’, you say? ‘You’ve already chosen twice, silly girl!?’

Relax; I know it’s right. Because with the others I didn’t know if it was right.

As I keep saying about my future-husband, ‘When you know, you know’.

And like I refer to my ex-husband; If you have to ask yourself, ‘how do you know?’, than he’s not the one.

Whether it’s a husband, a dress, a car or a job; when you know without a doubt and never have to ask if it's right…

You’ve got the one.

ü  Groom

ü  Dress

                Cake Topper....to be determined...

....'Butt'..I think I like this one much better;)

This one's for you, Honey.......I found one with a Pats Theme...

Truly,

Amber

Fun Friday: A tip from Iron Man

Iron Monger: You had a great idea, Tony, but my suit is more advanced in every way!
Iron Man: How'd you solve the icing problem?
Iron Monger: Icing problem?

[His suit begins to fail]
Iron Man: Might want to look into it.

[He raps his fist on Iron Monger's frozen helmet as his suit fails and plummets to the ground] "
                                                                                                  -Source Unknown Iron Man

 A reminder to find out what the real trouble is before we try fixing it.  

Truly,

Amber

Knock Out Doubt!

Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right.

Henry Ford

Truly,

Amber