The Honesty Conundrum

We all would like to believe that honesty is easy and can only bring good things. But sometimes when were honest with others and ourselves the things we hear and say are not always easy. Sometimes we avoid honesty because we think that we are saving someone or something from the truth, but are we really?

I have recently learned that if I’m not honest and forced to hold things inside it is not only toxic for myself but for all others involved. I learned how hard and how freeing honesty can be. I feel like a ton of bricks have been lifted from my chest and I am now excited to move forward in certain relationships that I was once before dreading. It’s crazy to think that something I had been dreading for a few years now; in one combustible moment and a few hours of discussion can be repaired and back on track to where the relationship used to be.

As we get older and take on new roles in our lives we change, change is inevitable. It’s our choice how we handle the change and how we move forward from it. We cannot stop ourselves from changing, growing or even aging, but we can determine how we go through it.

There are always several ways of looking at something and how to deal with it. When you have dynamite, gasoline and a spark you can have a devastating explosion with wreckage further than the eyes can see or you can burst through a giant concrete wall and be left standing holding hands on the other side.

I am personally enjoying the other side!

Lotsa Love,

Natasha

Back from Boston

Chillin with John Harvard.

Yes that does say guiness latte.

Much needed Starbucks.

No explanation needed...lol

What a great trip! Back from a whirlwind adventure in Boston with my girls and now getting back to routine. Sorry I have not posted in a week, but Charly and I were both in Boston and away from routine, wiffi and free time to write.

I had some wonderfull experiences and got to help out an amazing friend this past weekend though so it was all worth it. I am sure just from this trip I will have so much more to pull from in writeing my blog.

We got to take part in the Boston running of the brides, sorry correction we rocked it. We got to be tourist and explore a small part of Boston.

Don't worry Boston, we'll be back...lol

I will be getting back to my regular posting today.


Lotsa Love,

Natasha

In the Nut

Anytime I do something odd, out there or simply crazy my husband will chuckle and say that goes in the nut! I cannot remember when it started but it has caught on and other people say it to me now. So in return I say back “Well you’re going to have to deal with a little crazy seeping out once in a while there is only so much room in the nut.” Now I hope your all picturing a walnut or pecan because that’s what I’m talking about.

Now it would be easy to take offense to this because I get told things need to go in the nut quite often, I tend to let my crazy out of the nut as much as I can. But, my husband makes it sound so cute and then tells me that he loves the nut and all the silly things that get put into it. He has learned not to fight the crazy but to embrace it, smart man.

It’s all well and good to keep the nut closed while at work or in public places (maybe let a little out ;).)  We all need places and people where we can be ourselves and let the nut crack open for all the fun and crazy to come out (fun crazy only is the only form of crazy accepted, just plain crazy should stay far far away, haha.)

Bring a smile to you and someone else’s face by being silly and free. Frolic and play as we did as children. Laugh out loud and not just through the computer. Remember that just because we are adults does not mean we have to be serious all the time, your face will not crack it you crack a smile.

Let a little crazy out of the nut every once in a while and it will save you from it all popping out at once.

Lotsa love,
Tasha

Spring Cleaning

It’s amazing the things we find in our very own homes when we finally take the time to do our big overhaul spring cleaning.  Clothes that you forgot you put in storage for the next warm season and items that just kept getting moved around until they found a home somewhere in hiding. You’ll hear through the house, “I was looking for these” or “Is this yours? I didn’t know we had this!” lol.

For a while when I would find something that had gone to storage or hidden somewhere only to be found when everything gets pulled out from under the bed or I actually look in my attic/basement, I would recirculate the item, depending on what it was. But we only have so much room in our homes and closets for items so why do we hold on to things we forgot we even had?

Once I came to the realization that if I didn’t miss it while it was missing then why do I need it? I decided that I didn’t and when it comes to cleaning days I have a box and a garbage bag at the ready for my newly found un-missed items to be donated to people who would actually use these items.

It is so easy to get attached to items, because we bought them for a reason or for the fact that they were a gift. But how long should we keep things, how long are we obligated to hold onto gifts?

I realized after helping my Nana move into a smaller apartment and watching her go through all of her items and struggle to get rid of even a piece of plastic fruit, that we are all way too attached to our things. Should we be so dependent on things to bring us happiness or should that be left to the loved ones in our lives?

My sister gave my nana a simple rule, if you want to buy something new then be prepared to get rid of something to make space for it. I really like that rule and have started adapting it for my life as well. I have a small house that is easily cluttered, so minimalizing all our things and leaving more room for people and memories is a much better deal for me.

If we all donated our un-missed items instead of storing them away because we like them or someone gave them to us forever ago, there would be a lot of happy people out there who really need the items more than we do. If you haven’t worn that sweater in over a year chances are you’re not going to anytime soon and those pants don’t fit anymore so stop torturing yourself and give them to someone who will appreciate them

Dee-clutter your life and at the same time give a gift of warmth to someone else in need. Pass on the memories and let that unmissed item get used somewhere else. Make more room in your life and home for the things that you really do need and you’ll be much happier in the end.

Lotsa Love,
Natasha

TGIF BABY!

There are few things greater than the anticipation and excitement of going into work on a Friday morning and knowing that in a mere 8 hours you’ll be free for two whole days! Over the week, those 8 hours can seem tumultuous, but on a Friday they feel like a hop, skip and a jump to happy land!

Everyone just seems to be in the best spirits on Friday! You get the opportunity to wish everyone you see a good weekend and watch their face light up with the excitement that you’ve been feeling. People seem more tolerant, less-stressed and overall in a happy disposition on Fridays.

By Friday, the plans I have been making all week are now concretely set in place and I can allow myself to get excited about the memories to be made.

Let’s face it; we work because we have to. That’s not to say that we don’t enjoy our jobs or appreciate the jobs we have, but free time and making plans is what makes life exciting! If I won the lottery, I would still want to contribute in some way to the community but I really feel like you should work to live, not live to work. I do well at my job, I put in 100%, but I think family and friends deserve that effort as well. If I worked all the time, I really feel like I would be doing my friends and family a huge inconsideration. They are the closest people in my life, so don’t they deserve the most attention? I think so too.

So to all of you- Have a great weekend!

“Virtual High Five”

Charly

Going to the chapel

In the world today where there is definitely a lot more choice when it comes to marriage then before our time, there is a varied amount of feelings on the subject. The simple word Marriage can spark and array of feelings from one person to the next. Some people will do anything for it and will go through great lengths to make it perfect.

I have been married coming up five years in august and I cannot believe how the time has flown by. But before meeting my husband I had no interest in marriage or babies. Suddenly I meet this man fall in love, almost instantly, and where engaged eight months later. So in eight months he managed to change my views on where I wanted my life to go, if you ask him it was all for me…lol But I know he is a big softy and was as much for him, my family and his family as it was for me.

 So seeing as before I said yes, I had no intention of marriage I never had a chance to create a list of rules that I needed to get married or that I needed to be engaged before a certain marker. I have friends that had these rules in place and put them to the side because they truly love the person there with and I have others who clung to those rules to no end. I can’t buy a house with you till were married, no babies till where married or even I need to be married by a certain point.

I was very lucky with all the help I received in planning my wedding and how everything just kind of fell in my lap. Take my dress for example, I went to the store with my now sister in law, Charly, to go to a fitting for her friend. The friend was late so Charly mentioned I should just look around. I went to the sale rack, dress no longer “In Season”, and found a dress that fit me perfectly for…wait for it…$50. I went home with a dress that day and a big part of my budget unscathed.

What made me think of all this is one of my friends is getting married this year and in search for her perfect (inexpensive) dress has enlisted the help of her friends to create “Team Pam” and storm the running of the brides next week in Boston. For anyone who does not know what this is, it is an event that only happens once a year in Boston where designers discount there dresses drastically and brides and their friends (that’s me lol) line up overnight to get ready to storm the gates…lol Picture a giant convention center filled with dresses formally in the thousands, now in the hundreds and the brides running through it trying to find “THE Dress”. I can’t wait! So next weekend Charly and I, with a bunch of our friends, will be taking over Boston in the name of “Pams perfect dress”. So watch out Boston we are coming for you and we are not leaving until our bride is happy…see you next Friday…lol

So in the end remember that everyone’s views on marriage and the actual wedding differ. Marriage is not the same as love you can have one without the other. And if its right it will all be perfect no matter what happens or gets thrown your way. Coming from someone who didn’t see it in my cards, to the person I am today who could not imagine her life any other way, believe me, going with the flow and letting things happen is the best way to do it. 

Lotsa Love,

Tasha

PLUNK

What plunks a person out of your acquaintance category and into your friend category?

To me, a friend is someone that trudges with you through all the parts of your life. They take part in the warm and fuzzy moments but also provide you with extra support when you feel like at any moment the world is going to crash down on you. A friend celebrates your achievements without negativity even when you may have succeeded at a goal they wish to attain themselves. This is by no means an easy task, but a true friend can set their own feelings aside and realize that this achievement or goal has nothing to do with their own personal success.

I have a tremendous friend like that. We had both been working out together religiously for months in order to reach our ideal weight. We promised we’d celebrate as soon as we reached our goal. I was far from the ‘athletic’ type and never once during our workout sessions did I hear negativity even if I held her back from more strenuous activities because I wasn’t up to the challenge.
I was way behind when we would run together and she would run back and cheer me to keep going, sacrificing her own more intense workout to suit what I was able to do.
After months of exercising, (Due only to metabolism,) I met my goal first. Rather than my friend becoming explosive and frustrated at seeing me reach my goal weight when she still had a few left to lose (she looked amazing anyway!) she cheered and as promised celebrated my success. A friend should be your biggest cheerleader! Sometimes your own negative voices need to be muted by a friend that motivates them right out of your head. The most important part about friendship is that it’s not a race, there’s no score and the whole purpose is to have fun!

As we get older and life gets harder we need to have these constant people in our lives to help us ride out the storm on the days when all we feel is thunder and torrential downpours. If the friend is adding lightning to the mix, it might be time to plunk that friend back into the acquaintance category.

“Friends are the pillars on your porch. Sometimes they hold you up, sometimes they lean on you, and sometimes it's just enough to know that they are standing by.” Unknown

"Virtual High Five"

Charly