Day One of a New 2 Week Challenge!

Hi friends! So today begins a lifestyle change I have set up for myself. I am always super lazy in the morning and when I have an early work day it is always super hard for me to get out of bed and I usually end up leaving myself about ten minutes to get ready so I'm not late. Today is actually a day off and I finally got out of bed about 20 minutes ago. Last night I felt great and went to sleep around 11, knowing I had set my alarm for 6:30AM. When said alarm went off this morning I hit snooze until 7AM when I finally got up and fed my sweet skunk who was circling the bed waiting for her breakfast. I then thought, oh I'll just lie down and go through my social media....because I mean I AM awake at least. But last night my plan after waking up was to be going for a nice morning walk to the park and getting exercise.....oops. After she finished breakfast my sweet skunk did what she does best and came to bed to snuggle up next to me, I can not resist! So I fell back asleep for an hour and finally here I am blogging and drinking my pumpkin spiced coffee (it's close to fall, y'all) so I guess I'll take that part as a win.

Changing your routine is tough, I have tried a few times to get back into my morning person groove and it only lasts a few days, if I can even get it started properly. Tomorrow I work a full day beginning at 10AM so if  when I get up at 645ish I will for sure have the time to walk and blog......Here's my kick now to myself to go for it and also not beat myself up if I maybe snuggle in til 730....

Keep on, Keepin' on!

M.

Summer Blues

July 4th came and went. It was a great time with lots of friendships and smiles. Now we are back to regular neighbor hangs and nothing big really happening until the fall. I will definitely be updating more during September/October as we will be throwing 2 parties. The first is a baby fiesta for my dear sweet neighbors and their upcoming baby girl, and the second is a combined effort block party for Halloween! I am so excited for both and looking forward to making all kinds of decorations and foods :)

Now we come to the hottest time during the summer in Florida. My car always registers in the 100's when I get into it after work from sitting on the black tar parking lot all day. If you're wearing shorts, you've got the thigh/butt burns from a leather seat permanently until about late October.

This is also the time for a bit of a summer blues since there isn't anything going on, it's pretty similar to the winter blues in January after all the holiday season is over. It's the best time I think for a bit of an exercise kick. Get those endorphin's flowing! I believe we are getting a work group together to have a check in so that we'll actually work out, but I do know that I'll pick up on my running this week, I need to get active for my own self health.

Wish me luck, y'all!

Keep on, keepin' on!

M.

Stream Of Consciousness

I'm sitting here typing and listening to podcasts and thinking about my future life. Age is utterly just a number and in the generation that I am in, we have always been told to be anything. Do anything. Barbie held every job from a baker to a scientist to a teacher to an Olympic gymnast AND ice skater and up to president and then she was even an astronaut. When I look at all the paths friends of mine have taken I wonder is that what you wanted to do? Did you take the job to be successful and secure your adulthood? Did you take the job that was your passion whether or not it would offer a good path? Why did you change your path? I wonder if because we were given SO many options if that's not exactly the reasons that so many 20-30 somethings are not as driven. We have a laissez-faire attitude about life OR we are over confidently passionate about politics or money or issues. We post inspirational quotes and still drink ourselves stupid because our lives aren't the glossy 8X10 we post on Facebook. We think that because some of our heroes from our childhoods didn't start their careers til late 30s or 40s or even 50s that we still have time. I am guilty of this. I am in the same boat thinking that I'll do it tomorrow. And then next week seems better. And then I end up staying on the same path, same dreams put on the back burner when honestly if I just went and did what I want to do, plus still keep my responsibilities and work hard that I'd be living my dream. I feel that maybe in the back of my head that I will go for something and that it will fail and that's why I stay safe in my bubble. Then I put out a little feeler and I get glowing positive response and I feel so happy and so proud and I think to myself, Meghan honestly just get yourself on this path and DO IT. Take your cue from Nike and JUST DO IT. Do the small things, wake up and write in this blog. Wake up and go for a run. Come home from work and actually cook dinner and then take 15 minutes for yourself and learn a language. Write in a notebook and start your novel, start your book series. Decorate your office so you WANT to be in there. Listen to your man, listen to your friends, listen to strangers that have stumbled upon this very blog and liked it. Stop worrying so much about the negative and letting it hold you back.

If you take anything from this, know that this space is something that I put into the world and I definitely pour my heart into and show glimpses of my flaws along with fun things like smoothies and antler head-dresses.

Today I wrote and listened to the rain. Tomorrow is a new day, and I'll have a new journal and I'll put some new stories into the universe.

Keep on, keepin' on,

M.

PS Thanks friends <3 :)

It's 2016!

So without meaning to I took the entire month of December off from this blog. Sometimes life gets in the way of things whether good or bad and you put things on the back burner without a thought. I work in retail as well so it gets pretty hectic with hours and late nights and then there's all the get togethers after and all the christmas shopping you do for your families. Basically it's alot, but now its January and it is time to begin anew and get going on making 2016 a great one.

First: So much more home organization and making our spare room into an actual office for actual work. Both with my man's business and my own writing dreams.

Second: Writing dreams are going into FULL swing this year. My dear friend Candace has been a journalist for all our years of schooling and has multiple side projects. One of them, Life Between Weekends, proposed a challenge for this year, well for the next 2 months: Write the novel you've always wanted to-and do it in 2 months! Not like write it, edit it and publish it, but get those words and thoughts down on paper, so to speak. I love the idea and to have a small team to hold each other accountable seems like a really good fit for me. So here's to me writing the next great American novel!

Third: Have more adventures. Go more places. Really travel and have a reason to pin places on the map. Live my best life.

I'm turning 30 in 6 days. Why not go for it all this year?? Make 30 the best year and banish the old stereotypes!

Keep on, keepin' on,

M.

Ah Well.....

It's 9am and I have only just gotten up. Last night to be fair I worked until 11pm and came home still pretty awake. Or maybe all my early mornings caught up, is that a real thing? I've heard yes and no, catching up on sleep doesn't actually do anything....But it feels so nice to stay in bed!!!

Today I work til 5 and I am pretty sure the rest of this week is off in the early evening as well, so more chance to work back up the routine. It's alot harder than I thought, I've been a late bird for so long!

I will get there. I can do it!

Keep on, keepin' on,

M.

Can You Call It Sleeping In?

Last night I went to bed at the same time to keep on this early bird schedule. This morning I stayed in bed til 645. Still early for me! But not consistant, dang. I suppose getting up the same time all the time comes with repetition and I definitely am not used to it.

On top of that my brain knows I won't go in to work until 2PM so it's for sure in for a longer sleep.

At least my man and I are in this together and hopefully I can reset my rhythm with this routine.

Good morning early birds!!

Keep on, keepin' on,

M.

Good Morning World!!

Aww yes! Day one of get up early and I was out of bed at 545AM making my coffee. I set my alarm for 5 on the dot and while my mind felt awake enough, my body said noooo, just 15 more minutesssss....3 times hahaha

But here I sit coffee in hand, typing the earliest blog, so far. Here's to an even earlier one tomorrow!

We'll see how I feel around noon though. I'll be having a coffee date with myself for sure!

Keep on, keepin' on,

M.

Life Changes!

Better late than never for an overhaul of sorts. October was a VERY trying month which trickled into November. Now that the bad times are over and the upswing has begun, we have decided to clense out the clutter/fog/mess of our lives and get ourselves healthy and happy and ready to take on the next years with a new found vigor. To start on our journey we have set our alarms to become early birds. What a crazy idea we have. We are super night owls and I know that being a morning person will take some getting used to but I really look forward to not rushing in the morning and getting the most from my day.

This little blog will be getting some action with my early rising! I'll have coffee and writing time which will definitely get my mind going for the day ahead.

Maybe now I'll be able to go get groceries leisurely  if I need before work. Maybe I can start my exercise routine. Maybe I can pack my lunches!

I CAN.

I am really quite excited to start getting up with the sun, giving it a little hello to the day and become more productive and living to the fullest.

See you at sunrise!

Keep on, keepin' on,

M.

Great and Wonderful Days!

So I submitted a piece to the website, HelloGiggles. THEY ACCEPTED IT!!! YAYAYAYAY!!! I was pushed towards what I want to do, did it and things are happening!!! Really going full force now and signing up for writing courses locally to expand my mind and tweak my skills. I am becoming happier every day and I think that it's really paying off karmacally(SP??).

In other news I am piecing together items to form my voodoo witch queen head-dress extravaganza. I am not sure why I have such a dramatic flare when inevitablly I know that I will hate and eventually remove this piece by my drunkeness at around 2am. But if I come out this year with some cool photos in our backyard swamp, I suppose it will be worth it. Beauty (swamp fashion!) is pain.

Using this little guy as the centerpiece starting on my forehead:

These friends as some sort of decoration on the costume. Currently they are playing Sia and swinging from our chandelier.

This is my wig. Not using those flowers, but wanted to give her a ~look~ (Feeling those Lana Del Rey VIBES)

All in all I am excited with life. I shall more than likely update on the head-dress construction. Look out for it soon!

Keep on, keepin on,

M.

Sunday Morning

Hello and welcome to February everyone :)

Update from the last blog: My NOLA report will be live on www.lifebetweenweekends.com Feb 9th! YAY! I am very excited and very grateful and very happy.

In other news, I've kicked around the idea for a few years to start a little business and see if anything happens. So thus I give you Renate Rose Jewelry! I have a shop coming soon to Etsy and of course will keep this blog up to date on all details and pages to see and whatnot.

Ok, shameless self promos over.

This has been a strange and frustrating 2015 so far. Yes New Orleans was amazing. Yes I am excited for new ventures and randomly wonderful opportunities. But despite all that it has already been a hell of a struggle in the back burner personal side of things. Outside everything seems pretty smooth and together but inside certain things are just ripping apart my good nature. I've always been good at squashing things and no letting the bad show, which at some points have made me feel like I have robot parts. Can't let those rust so you can't cry over every little thing.

When you're little you are told that you have the whole world in front of you and you can do anything. When you grow up that stops and suddenly you're painted into a corner and given all these roadblocks that prevent you from just going for it. I think it's time that those walls get steamrolled right down. Live your life at any age still believing that you can do anything. Don't them anyone make it hard. Don't let yourself make it hard. I've spent too long getting painted and now I've come to the conclusion that maybe it was always me holding the brush.

Keep on, keepin' on,

M.

Writing This Blog With A Skunk In My Lap

Hello!

I have been back home from NOLA, but not yet back to work. Tomorrow I shall finally return to the retail world. I actually can't wait. Yes I love vacations and yes I love to have lazy days, but after so long you just itch to get back out there and work! In my dreams and goals, I very much envision myself working from home and all that freedom. Work for myself, make my own hours, not worry about other possibly rude people. It's definitely something that I would like to make a reality in the next few years.

In accordance with my being back from vacation, I am posting about my trip. However it will be a guest blog on another website, run by a dear friend and her husband. It is called Life Between Weekends ( www.lifebetweenweekends.com ) and I highly recommend you check it out. It's all about living everyday like Sunday, which for most is their best day. Why not make everyday your best day? I will be sure to update when the NOLA post goes up.

Keep on, keepin' on,

M.

DAY NINE

First proper day of vacation and what's planned for today? Cleaning.

We are going on vacation and I have learned that coming home to a clean house is easily one of the best things you can do for yourself. No one wants to come back from relaxing to do work. You want to come home and still relax.

So today I clean. And probably write an article about St. Pete for my friend's website.

It's called Life Between Weekends and it helps you stay energized and positive from M-Th :)

Keep on keepin' on,

M.

GOALS

Good bye to 2014 HELLO 2015!!

New Year's resolutions are always in full swing for everyone round this time of year, and I am no different. I think this year, this is the year I accomplish things! But seriously though, 2015 I want to accomplish ALL the things.

Presented to you, the internet and so that I have a record of my musings, GOALS:

1. Freaking blog here EVERYDAY. Really make the commitment.

2. Get healthy. I know, I know so cliche, but what's so bad about putting the idea in to get healthy?! NOTHING.

3. Save my money. I'm the worst at saving and penny pinching and I need to grown up manage my finances.

4. Go on more trips! Get that work/life balance, well, balanced! And plus saving money will help fund the fantastic adventures my man and I could take.

5. Read more. Unplug(hahaha as I write this on a laptop) from the internet. Take more time doing real life things with real live people.

That's what I've got for now, pretty alright list. Here's to sticking to it!!

Keep on, keepin' on,

M.

December Ramble

People always tell me to write what I know and how I feel...and I'm not sure that my jagged thoughts would make a fine blog. I want to write as my livelihood and that is my goal in 2015. I think this whole blog has been about goals and wishes and promises. UGH. I want to do like 8 million things and I get a strike of fear and then I'm like NOPE.

It sucks.

I could write about my days in retail. I could write about my skunk. I could write about me. What does anyone want to hear about???

Who knows. Maybe I'll figure it out in the next month

Keep on, keepin' on,

M.

When did November Get Here??

It's November and finally we get a break in the heat! Current temp outside is a breezy 54 degrees!

This has been one of the best Halloween months on record. Between Haunted Hike, our 2nd Annual Halloween party and all our gatherings with friends have been really fun and wonderful. We are already planning out our props and costumes for next year, I'm pretty excited.

On the front burner is Thanksgiving. Why yes folks, there is in fact a holiday between Halloween and Christmas :) We are having a "Friendsgiving" this year and with all the traditional food, I always like to slip in a new recipe. Haven't found the right one, but I'm pinteresting for sure.

On the other front burner is how I can organize my space! We moved here in May and I have A LOT of things still waiting to be unpacked. This could just be an eye opener on what I could purge right out of my life seeing as how I haven't used/looked at these items in 5 months...BUT I know myself and that self is saying oh you know one day I'll need this. Spoiler: I won't.

But that's what's on deck for my Sunday.

Glad I woke up early and gave myself the challenge of writing to you, the internet. Being slightly proud :)

Keep on, keepin' on,

M.

Putting In Work

Ok here I go.

Going to blog everyday. Starting today. Right now.

Technically you might get 2 blogs today since I will probably write after I get back from the work that's paying my bills.

Yep. Doing this. Here's my internet diary.


Keep on, keepin' on,

M.

Tuesday Thoughts

Today was a quite easy work day and I had about a million and one thoughts whilst there. Like my brain just kept spinning and thinking of things to do and say and mostly write.

So here I go, writing. I figured I would actually hold tight to one of my goals in this life and blog more. I even set an alarm! And it was an alarm that I couldn't snooze like the one for waking up!

I thought about the dreams I have about really writing a book. And really being published. That would be awesome. Who knows what can happen in a lifetime. I wasn't always bent on being a writer. I wanted to be a marine biologist for the longest, I even went to Eckerd College for a semester. And while there thought I would enjoy anthropology better. Then a threw a wrench in my own plans and ended up back home looking for a job. Found retail and have been in that game for 9 years now. I'm great at it, I can climb up all the ladders within my current company, and only a few years ago did I really consider writing as a career path.
I didn't do anything with my dream for a while and now that I am doing something, (this blog baby) I know that I could be doing more. Thing is I'm still not sure how to really get out and get going.

I know that not everyone knows what to do in the early adult years and so I feel ok in my confusion...but I think I'd be really happy if I stopped doubting myself and just wrote a book, a short story, something! Get that published and see where it takes me.

Until then, I'll write here in my internet diary.

Keep on, keepin' on,

M.

Oh Those Spirits Are Coming 'Round Again!

Hello, Christmas. Welcome back. You came a bit earlier than I had wanted....I saw too many evergreen branches before Halloween had left! But now here in December, now that I've played with ghosties and had my fill of turkey and pumpkin pie, now I find myself hugging trees and drinking eggnog and thinking about gifts! I work in retail so really I get a bit Scroogy during the first days of Christmas rearing its tinseled head. But then I think of the trees and the lights and the family time and the smells of the kitchen......and I, I just get all wrapped up in it. (Ha!)

Today I spent a lovely evening with lovely girls that because of schedules we don't get to hang out as much as we'd like to. We laughed and swapped stories and remembered to motivated ourselves towards our dream lives. I feel like we will grow old and have our families and still laugh and swap stories and it will still be lovely.

I like Christmas and I like that it brings people together. All the parties and gatherings and memories to smile and talk about in future Christmas parties. I suppose, even working in the craziness, you get older and you remember what's important. And you think about how happy it makes you, and well, you just end up loving it.

Keep on keepin' on,

M.