Hey It's Ok... New Year's Edition

Hey there! Happy New Year's Eve! I hope that 2011 brings you all your hopes and dreams! I know I'm going to work hard to make some of mine come true! Here's a special New Years edition of "Hey It's Ok" for ya!

Hey It's Ok...

• To get excited about the "bubbly stuff", whether that's champagne or sparkling cider.
• To stay home and watch the ball drop instead of going out and partying.
• To love the TEN, NINE, EIGHT... THREE, TWO, ONE!!!
• To not actually make a New Year's resolution.

Hey It's Ok... Christmas Edition

Merry Christmas Eve! Here's a special "Christmas Edition" of "Hey It's Ok!"

Hey It's Ok...

• To shake all the presents under the tree and try to guess what they are (you may want to check if they're breakable or not first though).
• To still leave milk and cookies out for Santa.
• To wake up early Christmas early and feel the urge to run down the stairs and start ripping open presents.
  
• To actually love giving more than receiving.

An Unusual Christmas Poem

Christmas is just around the corner!

Whenever Christmas comes around, it always reminds me of those less fortunate than me. Although I have been through many hard times in the past, I am still very, very blessed. One of the groups of people that always comes to mind this time of year is our people in the armed services; especially those currently overseas, who won't get to spend Christmas with their families this year.

I have sent letters and packages to soldiers overseas before through the website Any Soldier, but unfortunately this year did not think far enough in advance. However, I do plan on sending at least one troop a package after the new year!

Anyway - the point is, I went on their site the other day to look at some of the postings, and on their front page I found a poem that made me tear up. (Especially since my fiance has previously considered joining the military). So I wanted to come on here and share it with you.

'Twas the night before Christmas,
He lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house,
Made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney,
With present to give,
And just who in this home did live.

I looked all about,
A strange sight I did see,
No tinsel, no presents,
Not even a tree.

No stockings by mantle,
Just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures,
Of far distant lands.

With medals and badges,
Awards of all kinds,
A sober thought came through my mind.

For this house was different,
It was dark and dreary,
I found the home of a marine,
Once I could see clearly.

The marine lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor,
In this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle,
The room in such disorder,
Not how I pictured a United States soldier.

Was this the hero
Of whom I'd just read?
Curled up on a poncho,
The floor for a bed?

I realized the families
That Is saw that night,
Owed their lives to these Marines,
Who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world,
The children would play,
And grownups would celebrate
A bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom
Each month of the year,
Because of the Marines,
Like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder
How many lay alone,
On a cold Christmas Eve,
In a land far from home.

The very thought,
Brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees,
And started to cry.

The Marine awakened,
And I heard a rough voice,
"Santa don't cry,
This life is my choice;

I fight for freedom,
I don't ask for more,
My life is my God,
My country, my Corps."

The marine rolled over,
And drifted to sleep,
I couldn't control it,
I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours,
So silent and still,
And we both shivered,
From the nights cold chill.

I didn't want to leave,
On that cold, dark night,
This guardian of honor,
So willing to fight.

The the Marine rolled over,
With a voice soft and pure,
Whispered, "Carry on Santa,
It's Christmas day, all is secure."

One look at my watch,
And I knew he was right.
"Merry Christmas my friend,
And to all a good night."

- Unknown Author

Merry Christmas to all of you! May you have a great day celebrating with your friends and family; and please keep those who can't in your prayers.

Hey It's Ok... 2

So it's Friday - time for another round of "Hey It's Ok" (yeah, I know I didn't do anything for the last few Fridays, bear with me).

Hey It's Ok...

• To have one specific way you eat your Oreos and never waver.
• To get excited when a package comes in the mail; even though you know exactly what's inside, and that it's not for you.
• To help plan your own "surprise ____" (birthday party, baby shower, etc). Or - at least drop major hints about what you want.
• To count snow shoveling as your exercise for the day. (I just did).

Have a great weekend everybody!!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

Well, it's Christmas time, and I love all the things that come with that. The music, the spirit of the season, the shopping (and gifts), and especially the decorations!

Unfortunately this year, due to other life circumstances (cars breaking down, house repairs), none of the people in my house had too much extra money to get a Christmas tree. So after debating for several weeks on whether or not to get one, what kind, what we would decorate it with (we also have a HUGE lack of ornaments) - we came to a decision. We walked right into our back yard and cut down our own.



It's definitely not the most traditional of Christmas trees, but we think it's pretty nice. Now if we could just get the tiny trunk to stay in the stand and have it not fall over all the time...

A Smile or Two

Hey guys! Hope everybody had a great weekend!

I just wanted to share this picture with you, that I just loved from the moment I saw it. It just makes me smile. It's by and artist named Miss Capricho who has done some other cool stuff too.

This picture also reminds me of one of my favorite quotes, made by one of my favorite actresses - Audrey Hepburn, so I thought I'd share that with you too.

"I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing; kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles." - Audrey Hepburn

I hope one or both of these made you smile today too. :)

Hey It's Ok... 1

I subscribe to one of my favorite magazines, Glamour, and every month they have a one-page article titled "Hey, It's Ok!". Even though the article is only one page long and about five sentences, I look forward to reading it every month. So I thought I'd start making my own version and posting one here (most) Fridays.

Hey, It's Ok....

• To buy the cute new boots you just found, even though you have three other pairs of boots in the same color at home.
• To not want to go to that thing you go to every week without fail. (People do get "sick" every once in a while you know...)
• To be too tired to cook yourself your own dinner, but still have enough energy to throw a batch of cookies in the oven (and maybe make a margarita or two).
  
• To let the cute bag boy "help you out to the car with your groceries", even if you could totally handle it yourself.
  

First Snow!

I was born and raised in the SF bay area of California, so up until I was 18 (when I moved to Indiana) I hadn't seen much snow in my life. Because of this, first snow falls, and the first time snow sticks, are very exciting to me.

Well - I've moved back to California now, but to an area where there is LOTS of snowfall, so I see a very white winter in my future. I'm sure I'll be whining about it in just a few short weeks... but I woke up this morning to a beautiful layer of snow on my yard, and I just had to share it with you!

This is just the view of my backyard from the porch. Doesn't this just make you want to cozy up to a nice warm fire and read a great book?

The Beginning

You might be curious as to the the somewhat depressing title for what I plan to be a mostly up-beat blog. For those of you that know me personally, you probably know exactly what I mean by my title, and for others of you - the story will unfold over time. Needless to say, things in my life never seem to go according to plan. It's been that way for as long as I can remember.

Many good things have happened to me though, over the course of my "unplanned" life. I was raised by loving (but sometimes dysfunctional) parents. I became best friends with my only sibling, my sister. I lived through heartbreak, but met the love of my life in my fiance, Anthony. I was welcomed into a brand new, loving family (his) with open arms. I've always had a roof over my head, and (most of the time) everything I needed. I thank God for all of these things.

I look forward to sharing my unplanned, sometimes crazy, often frustrating, silly little life with you all!