at what point in time

at what point in time do you truly understand just how blessed you really are...

that life or god or karma or whatever you call it - has blessed you with good people, good family, good love and an all around good life...

i woke up this morning in a pretty good mood...yes its friday, yes there is pretty much no one at work today, yes i get to kick off my long weekend of laying by the pool, spending time with good people and my puppies in a few hours...but i think its more than that.

i wake up every morning next to an amazing man...one who loves me deeply, cherishes our relationship, is my best friend and proves to me every day that i am his missing piece...

but today it hit me that outside of him, and my family...i am pretty blessed to have a few beautiful and amazing women that i get to call my best friends...

it seems that every single day something changes, all around me - but the one thing i have been able to count on over the years is that no matter where life takes me or throws at me or puts in my path...i have love, support and inspiration from these women.

it saddens me that i live so far away from these amazing women...but i know that the distance has made us all stronger - and that in the end it is one of the things that has shaped our friendship. i find that i do not take their love and support for granted - and cherish the little amounts of time that i get to spend with them as some of the best times of my life.

i know the word love is often thrown around - which is sad...because that word should mean something more...i am guilty of this...

however - when i say "I love You" to each one of these amazing women...i mean it more than i ever thought possible...and i feel like i should tell each of them more!

as we all enter into new challenges, for some its motherhood, for others, its being a wife...and for others still it is finding a balance and learning that what is right is not always easy and what is easy is not always right...i know that we will remain friends - call me optimistic - but if we have made it through everything life has thrown at us so far...i believe we can do it again.

cheers to the last 1o years ladies...and may we drink to 100 more!

amazed and impressed

i have to share with you my complete amazement and just how impressed i am with the people i surround myself with - both near and far.

i have a friend - my former radio rep when i worked in iowa - who is going through a hard time right now. she found out this past weekend that her 2 year old mastiff has to have two knee surgeries to repair (in people terms) his ACL's. Without the surgeries - he will have to have his back legs amputated or even worse - be put to sleep!

i am not sure if you are aware - but there is sort of an unspoken bond between animal lovers...if you have a cat or a dog - you know what i mean...it is hard to explain...but you know it is there.

it is why mike and i always offer to watch our friends dogs, or a group of media/advertising dog lovers will send around emails to each other to help any dogs that need foster care find a home - if only for a short time...

when i read shannon's post on monday - i knew that i wanted to help - i put myself in her shoes and knew that if one of my furry babies needed it - my friends would step up and help in any way they could...

i sent out an email, posted several things on facebook and prayed that people would be willing to give - even a little to help King.

the response was amazing...people offered money and their time...people that had never even met this girl...or this dog...but that wanted to help...

it makes my heart smile...

there really is good in the world...there really are good people in the world and i am proud to call some of them my friends...

keep king in your thoughts and prayers...help if you can...

and know that the kindness and generosity you have shown has not gone unnoticed!

be a part of something real first

sorry it has been a while - but as of late i have really not had a lot to say...at least not a lot to say that i want to say in a (semi) public forum like my blog...

in various conversations that i have been involved in over the past few days - my co-workers and i have been discussing the use of social media, mostly facebook, by companies as a way to further their brand success -

the major we see with this current trend is that most companies simply know they need to adopt a social media structure or plan - but they could not tell you how any of these currently popular platforms will help their brand...they just know they have to do it...sort of a "we don't want to be left behind - even though we don't know where we are going" mentality.

in conversations with our always amazing and witty creative department - i believe that jeremy said it best...

i have not made any friends on facebook...everyone i am friends with i became friends with or at least met in the real world...

it should be the same with brands! there is no brand in the world that should expect to friend people on facebook if there has been no real life interaction. only after you interface a brand or company into your real life, would you even remotely consider being associated with them in the virtual one.

brands that understand this and implement a pro-active customer service approach, focus on their consumer experience, continue to provide quality products and in general expend their effort in being a brand that people use, believe in and even genuinely like in the real world, are then able to translate that into a facebook and social media strategy that allows them to continue to extend their brand in the virtual realm...that my friends should be the focus of a social media strategy!

don't stop

so my best friend, renee, not only started blogging but brought a totally awesome post to my attention and made my morning just a little bit brighter...

flash mob...a new and awesome idea in the world of experiential marketing (t-mobile did it at {i think} grand central station and then somewhere in london...

the basic idea is that in a crowded place, music suddenly comes on and one person starts dancing, to which, as the song progresses - more people join him or her in a completely choreographed dance routine that seemingly appears to be totally impromptu...

while i have never had the chance to actually witness one of these - it makes me totally want to organize one at say...my wedding...hahahah!

check out the flash mob students at OSU organized to promote the new (and beautiful) student union...

oh and...

GO BUCKEYES!

whatever...

so driving to work today, a large green ford explorer (or expedition) raced past me in the left lane...

the license plate on the car was "whatevr"

it made me think - how do you come to the decision that a phrase like "whatever" should be the lasting thought as you fly by people

whatever - not very encouraging...

"support this"

i was talking to a few of my friends the other day and all of them expressed the same thing...my morning drive observations make them laugh...they actually look forward to them in the morning. this is good news - because odds are they are not going to go away...happy tuesday!

now i am not sure if its because i spend a good 45-50 minutes in the car on my morning commute or if its because we live in new mexico, and people are just a little different out here - or maybe its because i am just now starting to pay attention and actually remember what it is that i see that often leaves me baffled...but either way - i am actually really enjoying my findings as i trek east from rio rancho into the (great) city of albuquerque.

today was particularly interesting...i was sitting at the light and realized that the car in front of me, a white ford focus (who had not only cut me off but was glaring at me in his rear view mirror - might be because i was starring with a look of disgust on my face) was proudly displaying a black and yellow magnetic ribbon on the trunk...the ribbon had the words "support this" on the curl of the ribbon with a balled up fist with the middle finger sticking out as if to flip off whatever unfortunate soul happens to be stopped behind him....or happens to disagree with this statement. As if this was not quite bad enough - hanging from his rear view mirror was the matching (fist flipping the bird) air freshener.

honestly - my first thought was...where does one get these items and do they come in a set or do you have to buy them separately...

by all means - it is your car, express your opinions - that is truly the beauty of the country we live in...

however...

my major distaste for the entire situation came when i realized that in his back seat was a car seat complete with his 2 year old (daughter or son - i couldn't tell) on board - daddy dropping jr. off at daycare - wonder how many times a day this precious little angel tells people to "support this"

stay classy albuquerque!

indie makes me happy

this morning was not such a great drive to work...every route was plagued by a major accident forcing me to take back roads which in reality took just as long if not longer but at least i was moving...sort of!

while i was in a really crappy mood when i pulled up to work...i saw my friend vicki walking with her granddaughter into the building. little indie is maybe a year old and is one of the most adorable little girls ever! she had on a little long sleeve polo dress, leggings and silver sparkly shoes that she proceeded to show to everyone. her dark brown hair was pulled into high pigtails and was a total mess...but in a way that an adorable little kid can totally pull off.

she had the biggest smile on her face...and the best part was that vicki had an even bigger smile on her face.

it made me realize that regardless of how i am feeling, or what i am going through, or where i stand today...there are things that can make you happy and leave you fulfilled...

love finding stuff like this

just found a really fun site that pays "homage" to Cleveland...which also happens to be THE BEST CITY IN THE WORLD!

check it out...classics including .10 beer night, kardiac kids, and kosar for president!

and for those of your who happen to live outside of this great place...there are some other fun shirts that allow you to voice your appeal voice loud and clear!

click here!

BELIEVELAND!!!

unsettled

so i am feeling a little unsettled today...

i have a few ideas as to why i feel this way but i am not committed to sharing them just yet - to many things up in the air.

i struggled to get out of bed this morning - og was so snuggly...she is the true essence of a "snuggle puggle"

mike is going to Denver with Brint next weekend...its good for him and it makes me happy that we can both do things with friends that we want to do...

next weekend is mother's day...and i will spend it alone. i miss my family...i miss my friends...i miss home!

kickboxing tonight - that should help! i feel so good after i am done...exhausted but awesome!

thought for the day...
do you feel like you belong where you are?

random question for work...

thoughts on web streaming...if you have any.

i would love to hear where you stand!

Four More Months...

so i did a little math today and it dawned on me that we are a short four months away from our wedding...

exactly...

i would sit here and list all the things that i still have to do but just the thought of it is making my head spin.

then i was sitting there thinking about the last five years of my life and how much has changed.

lets see -

i have lived in more cities than i want to mention (6)
i have seen friends get married
i have friends that are pregnant
i have seen friends have babies
i have seen friends fall apart
i have seen friends pick themselves up and move on with their life
i have seen friends lose family
i have loved and lost - for the best
i have loved regardless of what it took - and for that i am so grateful!
i have found the love of my life
i have had jobs that fulfill me
i have had a job that left me empty
i have been broke and actually qualified for poverty status on my taxes
i have made bad decisions
i have gone on my first "big girl" trip with my three best friends
i have cried because i felt more alone than i ever thought possible
i have cried because i was happy
i have cried because i was hurt
i have cried because i was mad
i have gotten mad and fought back
i have gotten mad and did nothing about it
i have learned what makes me happy
i have gained weight
i have lost weight
i have figured out how to balance
i have grown to appreciate my family completely
i have had situational friends that i wouldn't trade for anything even though i no longer talk to them
i have truly found my three best friends who i know without fail would drop everything and do anything for me
i have found the man who completes me
i have found that the love you get from your friends, family and future husband is very different than the love you get from your dogs
i have found that i can love something with all my heart and do anything for it (yes i am talking about my dogs)
i have found that religion is not important to me but my relationship with God is
i have come to realize that i can't live without my blackberry
i have to wonder what people did before email
i have staeted to find my place!

i am going to attempt to write more often - i have been slacking and for no other reason than i forget about it at time!

four months...

REALLY!

so Pepsi thought this was a good idea...

WOW!

http://jezebel.com/5379070/pepsi-releases-iphone-app-to-help-men-score-with-women-and-brag-about-it-on-twitter

read for yourself - words cant even describe it...

notes to self...

1) don't go to bars looking for guys - you find this

2) don't waste your time with guys drinking amp

3) if you in fact see a guy both drinking amp and playing with his iPhone...laugh...point and then walk the other way!

4) not all progress is truly progress! way to take a HUGE step back on this one!

its not a matter of believing...

its a matter of realizing!

operation beautiful

today i stumbled upon a site called operationbeautiful.com

if ever there was a day that i needed to find this inspiration - it was today!

this site is a constant reminder that we are all beautiful - just the way we are and that the sooner we realize this and remind others of it - the sooner the world becomes just a little bit better!

with all the things facing women today - i wont pretend like this is an easy task...but if just for a moment - this movement makes you feel, remember or believe that you are truly beautiful, then it is doing a wonderful thing.

i am not happy with the way i look - but then i remember that regardless - i am beautiful and that my spirit and hope and joy and love helps to make other lives brighter -

i put up a post-it note with "you are beautiful...if you think otherwise - stop today!" and the website (operationbeautiful.com) in the women's restroom at work...

i plan on putting 10 post-its with inspirational thoughts including (you have the power to change the world - start today! share your beautiful smile and make someone's day) on lockers at the gym...hopefully it will make someone stop seeing the flaws and start embracing them as true beauty!

whatever it does for you - is personal and none of my business - but i could not let a single minute pass without sharing this with the most beautiful people i know - my friends and the people i have yet to meet!

please - if you have a daughter, a best friend, a mother, a sister, or a co-worker - pass this message on and help to reshape the way women see themselves!

you are beautiful just the way you are - never let anyone tell you different!

RR's

postponed until monday...i can't miss out on el pinto and zinc this weekend while mike's parents are in town.

so much to do...have to go home and clean the entire house as its a mess and i don't want his parents to see it looking like that.

oh well...as is life.

a big congrats to the flacks as they welcome tyler lee flack into the world on 9.1 - that is so wonderful and i can't wait to see more pictures!

moira and gunnar are up next...only a few more weeks! all these babies...sort of makes me want one of our own...but that can wait for a little while.

p.s. the RR's stand for random ramblings...

i have been pretty belly sick as of late...smells make me want to puke and i am getting really bad headaches...i actually thought i might be prego...but two tests conclusively prove that i am in fact not...when i told mike this - he was a little disappointed which was soooo cute. i honestly cant wait to start our family. not that my little four legged furry babies aren't keeping me busy enough but you know what i mean.

back to work!

after lunch

well that was not as hard as i thought it would be...

but i am sitting here thinking that maybe i should have started this on monday of next week as mike's parents are going to be in town and it will be a challenge to pass on good wine and food when we take them to dinner.

oh well...it seems like it is never the right time to start this thing.

either way - i still feel good...and not hungry.

a small bump in the road

the first challange...

lunch with a vendor...just told my boss that i am doing a master cleanse so i wont be eating...have not heard back regarding her thoughts.

oh well...i will sit there and watch them eat.

lemonade in hand!

is it 5:00 yet?

10:39 and i am bored!!

the worst part is that in my attempts to be a wonderful friend and bridesmaid...i am helping my ney find cupcakes and a mini cake for the reception...which means that i have spent my morning looking at (you guessed it) cupcakes and mini cakes with all kinds of fondant and frosting and things like that...

the best part is that i don't even like cake!!!!

oh well...its almost 11:00...which means the day is almost sort of half over...

trying to focus on work but we have so much to do around the house that its almost impossible to think about placing media.

on the plus side...i am not hungry and the lemonade is not bad at all...

back at it

after a very long hiatus in the process and the realization that this is going to be a very hard task...i have once again embraced the master cleanse and starting this morning will embark on this journey over the next month.

i have been getting really bad headaches, more than i should be getting them, and they are becoming debilitating. i am attempting to cleanse my system in an effort to get rid of these headaches and move forward in the direction of better health.

update one for the day...i am sure there will be many many more.

in the event that anyone cares...or even reads this...but either way - it will help me to stay focused.

8:27 a.m. - going strong!

just made my first lemonade mix for the day...

Finally...

for the past few months i have not felt particularly well about myself...the way i look or the way i feel
i stopped eating meat in an effort to combat the gross feeling in my stomach after a huge meal heavy with animal protein and while that has helped a little i still feel gross!
call it stress, call it a lack of working out, call it being tired...but honestly i call it "eating all the wrong things and exposing my body to things it should never have to deal with"
if you know me - and i am hoping that if you are reading this you at least have an idea of who i am...you know that i could survive on a diet consisting of noodles with spray butter and Parmesan cheese, veggie burgers and the occasional roll from the local sushi joint...but really - is that good for me?
i have heard a lot about this Master Cleanse book/diet that is becoming overwhelmingly popular and decided to learn more about it. Honestly two pages into the book i knew that i wanted to do this...

it wont be easy...actually it will be down right hard because i like so many other people eat when i am bored not just when i am hungry, and have a fiance that can eat anything and everything and still stay thin...

but i say "bring it on"

i am ready...starting tomorrow (well tonight actually) i will be embarking on a 10 day (at least) master cleanse...

i plan on using this blog as an outlet for anything and everything i am feeling both good and bad to remind myself why i am doing this and how much better i will feel once its over.

its not just about weight...its about letting my body recover from all of the stress and harm i have put it through because of the food i choose to eat, the soda and alcohol i choose to drink and mostly the lack of positive health choices that i tend to make...

lets flush it all away!!

more to come...

does this make it official...

for some reason i have been on a big kick to finish our wedding website these past few days...

i guess i just have a ton of information to share and this seems like the best place to put it all down...

it has all the necessary information (well most of it) for the wedding next August. I will keep updating and adding to it - comments and suggestions are always welcome!

check it out...
http://www.mywedding.com/mikeanderinkillion/

i guess its pretty official now...