Monday, January 30, 2012

Purging the Toxic

In my readings through these two books I have learned much.



Purging the toxic people is so imperative but it is difficult.  For years after giving my life to Christ I held onto horribly toxic relationships out of comfort.  Well I have slowly but surely purged many of the toxic friendships and relationships in my life.  Since then I have grown a great deal spiritually.  I am so peaceful now.  If you cringe at the sight of a certain friend or person calling you or texting you that is a sign.  You should be happy to see a call or text from someone who lifts you up, pours into your life, and encourages you.  If you frequently walk away from a person drained emotionally you need to evaluate.  Of course everyone goes through trials and hard times but a consistent energy vampire will drain the life right out of you.

What I found is that I couldn't just eliminate people from my life by telling them they sucked.  I had to wait for an opportunity and a real reason to leave the relationship.  After years and years of digs, condescending abuse, manipulation, drug abuse, adultery, and the list goes on and on and on.  I had to look for a way out and then take it.

I think because I am a single woman I look to my friendships to fill the gap where I lack in a marital relationship.  Which isn't necessarily right but it is what happens.  In years past I have looked at collecting people.  Getting lots of friendships and relationships to feel valued and important.  As God has allowed me to wean the negative relationships out of my life I have visual clarity into what healthy relationships look like.  Including the #1, my relationship with God.

Purging the toxic people can be painful, lonely, difficult, and down-right hard but I believe it is imperative for my life personally.

Cheers!  to writing people off.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Sinful Saturday

~~Speaking about Other People's Evil~~




Ephesians 5:11-12


Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.  It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Cleaning...

I absolutely lovvvve a clean house.  I don't like cleaning it but I love when it is clean.

Here's an example of one of my documents on my fridge:  (yes it's that serious.  what can I say, I love documents, order, planning, and lists.)


House Cleaning Schedule---Deep Cleaning

Every 3 weeks a day will be set aside for deep cleaning the house.
Here’s a list of the chores that need to be done on that day:

Schedule for 3-week cleaning days go as follows:  (cross off as completed)

Monday, December 19, 2011

Deep clean both bathrooms (dust, wash, sweep, mop)                   Dust all surfaces
Deep clean kitchen (sink, counters, table, fridge, cabinets)                Windex all glass surfaces
Murphy’s Oil Soap Baseboards & Windowsills                        Wash rugs (that can be washed)
Vacuum all floors and rugs                                             Mop floors and Bona floors

I know, I'm a document making, list following, over-planning freak!  Ha!  I do love to delegate however.  I love to have hired help around the house.  I can't afford it but I love being the boss.  ;)

What I have found is that with a scheduled cleaning day every 3 weeks I don't fret over any of my housework.  It is just Sassy and I (along with the pets) and the occasional stay from my mom when I am working and we really don't get the house too dirty.  Some families need a deep cleaning day every 2 weeks, some once a month.  I've found 3 weeks to be perfect for me.

I have noticed through the years I feel very peaceful when my house is clean.  I do have some OCD so for me to be in a house that is really dirty really bothers me.  Without a scheduled deep cleaning day I am all over the house cleaning and organizing almost everyday.  This scheduled day helps to keep me in balance.  I don't clean much of anything until that 3 week day.  It is literally scheduled in on my calendar.  I don't schedule plans, I tell people I have an appointment.  Which I do.  An appointment with keeping my OCD sanity under control.

Of course I'm not a crazy freak of nature if something bad or emergent comes up I drop the rags and I tend to.  But for the most part, every 3rd Monday I am M.I.A.  I've got a system and it usually only takes me about 3 hours to do the whole house.  3-4 hours to keep the house clean every 3 weeks is better than me putting around everyday trying to keep the house up.  I'm not a crazy freak in that I'd leave a spill if something happened for 3 weeks either, of course I clean.  I do dishes, laundry, kitchen cleaning, and spills.  Everything else waits.

It is freedom!!!  :D  It gives me more time.  Anyone else have a weird cleaning system like me?

Monday, January 23, 2012

I wanna know why

so many people's blogs look the same.  I mean they don't all look exactly the same but they basically say the same things. They do the same things.  Their intro looks the same:  Wife to 1 awesome husband, mother to 2 radical kids, crafter, cook, gardener, just a woman saved by grace... blah blah blah.  I ain't knockin I'm just sayin' they all sound the same.  Their interior decor looks the same also.  Undoubtedly there is something in the house that has been re-purposed, something with a large number on it, same books they are reading, you get the picture.  I don't know about you but I don't know anyone in real life who lives like that.

It would seem that the only kind of acceptable blog posts for some would be that of crafting, cooking, or whatever else they think will get a lot of responses and comments.  It just seems that people's lives are highly affected by others' blogs.  When you see a sea of women who all kinda look the same, act the same, say the same things it's disheartening.  Blogging is great, don't get me wrong but I think a lot of women look inside other women's lives and emulate.  Where's their own passions, thoughts, and life experiences?  Do they create life experiences based on the blogs they read?

Am I wrong here?  Am I the only hater out there?  I'm not really a hater but if I drank some haterade it could help with this discussion.

I've always been rebellious in nature.  Sometimes good rebellion sometimes bad.  I was always very put off by people who just did what everyone else did.  In high school I had some of the most interesting but strange friends because I could care less about people who followed everyone else.  I see that rebellion in me has not changed.  I am still annoyed by it.  I remember when I was young people trying to peer pressure me into smoking pot and I would smirkly laugh at them, kindly saying no, internally saying you moron.  I was so annoyed with people who were peer pressured because they lacked a pair of you know what's.  I'm not angel.  I've drank a 40 or two.  What I'm saying is that not being a follower is who I am.  It's who God made me.  I don't really know how to turn it into a positive thing yet but I'm sure I will with God's help.

Mamma always said I was a trend setter and it's true.  My friends and acquaintances look to me for advice and ideas.  I am so put off by generic conversations and people.  I know not everyone is going to be all radical and stuff.  I get it.  But I can't seem to turn off my annoyance with followers.  I try to just accept it but it still bothers me apparently.  My dad was the same way I guess he passed that down honestly.

Every single fight I've ever been in was because I was protecting someone from a bully.  I remember when I was younger this horrible bully would pick on my friend (who was my neighbor).  I snapped and snapped on her, fighting her off.  After that I taught my friend how to fight in the back yard.  Full-on karate lessons.  It was so cute.  A month or so later that bully came again picking on my friend and my friend let her have it!!  This time the bully went away crying.  I was so proud of her!!!  She still talks about it to this day.  I fought boys in my neighborhood for picking on my little brothers.  When I was in high school another bully was picking on my friend and needless to say... I stepped in and pounced.  Then there was the funny unforgettable fight of '95.  I was a sophomore and this jack-wagon kept hitting on my best friend.  She was already dating someone and wasn't interested.  He was a big black guy and he was a senior.  She was a passive person and had a hard time shaking this sex predator.  I tried to let her handle it, I did.  He got annoyed with her and he lightly pushed her and her shoulder bumped into the locker while calling her a nasty name.  I snapped!  I attacked like a freaking wild lion on a hyena.    I jumped on his back and punched the living daylights out of him.  I kicked him in the nuts.  It was like I had super human strength against this huge senior.  People were just starring with their mouths wide open.  I remember in the middle of that fight looking up and seeing people's faces in shock.  I beat that guy up.  Big time.  After the fight was broken up he was yelling I'm gonna take you to court with my balls in a jar!  Lolzzz.  Funny.  I actually got suspended for that one.  He was then known as the guy who got beat up by a girl.  People still talk about that fight and nobody messed with my Kimmie again!

Me and Injustice don't mix.  Me and bullies don't mix.  If you only knew how many caregivers I've had fired because of abuse or neglect of my elderly patients.  I spent most of my childhood grown up in a trailer park.  Those places are the pits of the earth, let me tell you.  This is why I have such a plethora of fighting experiences to share on my resume.

In closing I'd like to say that I am looking for ways that God can use this rebellious, leader type person so that I don't get bothered by people with duplicate blogs.  Simple as that.  I'm not sure how crafting, being saved by grace, and cooking turned into 40's, fights, and balls in a jar.  Oh well, take it or leave it!

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Sinful Saturday

Heheheh.  I thought this one was funny.

--Striking a Man in the Groin--

Deuteronomy 25:11-12

If two men are fighting and the wife of one of them comes to rescue her husband from his assailant, and she reaches out and seizes him by his private parts, you shall cut off her hand. Show her no pity.




***Disclaimer:  I should have no hands!  :O

Friday, January 20, 2012

Camera fail.

Remember when I said I was going FILM again???  Well I did and we had an epic fail Houston.  I guess my camera just sat too long because it took horrible photos.  This camera used to take the best photos.  Idk but I was highly annoyed.  Here's some horrible lookin' photos I took in my camera.  o_O

Girl Dog with her Christmas gifts.

Sassy's Squinkies

Sassy at her Nana's

Sassy wrapping gifts

Girl Dog sitting for a treat

Old pic of Sassy and Tt that was left in the camera.

Uh yeah.  Pathetic!

Midnight walk around town on Christmas night.

Just Dance 3

I always win games cause I'm slick.

Sassy's barbies in the Caboodle car taking the Squinkie orphans to the mall.

Me waking up in the AM.
So I am annoyed.
I am so annoyed I may have to buy a new digital camera.
Or just really try to figure out how to take good pics with the one I have.  :/

This is my digital camera I've had for like 5 years.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Current's

Aight, so everyone is doing it.  I will too....


current guilty pleasure: Real Housewives.   Uggggg.

current nail color: Baby pink.
current playlist:  Joanna Newsom, Bon Iver, Mumford & Sons, Avett Bros, DMB, Norah Jones
current read:  Boundaries (with the workbook!) Dr Cloud and Dr Towsend
current drink:  Christmas winter hot tea!

current food GF spaghetti with roasted grape tomatoes, spinach, garlic, ricotta, parmesean.  yummie
current favorite show:  One and only, baby.  PARENTHOOD.
current wish list: Merry Maids
current needs:  A freaking Spa Day.
current triumphs:  Deleting my Facebook phone app.  No longer being addicted to the notifications.  I check it when I get online.  ;)
current bane of my existence: Wondering if Tt will ever except the Girl Dog.  The expense of feeding a boxer with food allergies!
current celebrity crush: Danny Dyer <3
current indulgence:  I eat 10 fruits or veggies a day no matter what.  I slip in the dairy and meat and desserts but my list of 10 has to be eaten everyday no matter what. I even made a spreadsheet for it!  :D
current blessing: Uh have ya read my blog?  I have more blessings than a person should!
current outfit: Well today is my day off and I'm goin' to lunch with my girlie.  Purple Delia's shirt with Magenta ruffled cardigan, dark jeans, ruffilie flats, silpada jewelry, nine west purse.
current excitement: Looking forward to next weekend, 4 days off with date night with bff, and a weekend of organizing my basement!  I know, how is that exciting??
current mood: Awesome!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Lovely Sundays

I love Sundays!  For the last year or so I have been very protective of my Sundays.  I don't let people swindle me into tasks, plans, get together's, babysitting, or football parties.  All of those things are grand, and maybe once in a couple months I will do them but Sundays are solely dedicated to my three R's: routine, relaxation, and restoration.  My life is so chaotic that I demand Sundays be as routine for Sassy as possible.  Bottom line, church comes before all.  Church is all.  Without that fundamental foundation of fellowship, learning, accountability, and worship my life is angry and chaotic.  I want Sassy to know that church and God come first, all other plans are optional.  The only thing I schedule on Sundays is church so it is naturally a very relaxing day.  I do not do housework or unwanted tasks.  It is a day of restoration for a busy and stressful week.  We look forward to our Sunday worship together.  Sassy takes it seriously.  She loves going to church and gets upset if we have to miss it for some reason.  She loves taking communion and prays during the service.  I am so proud of her!  I know I said if I could do it all over again I would but realistically Sassy and I are in a great place spiritually and obediently.  Words can't express how grateful I am for that.


Has anyone ever heard of Monvee?  We got the pack for like $10 at my church this past Sunday and I am so excited to get started.  :o)  I really need to value my church more and see it for the spiritual discipleship it has.

After church we sometimes go to lunch.  I'd say about half the time.  We either go to Boston Market, Bertucci's, Chipotle, or Panera.  This time it was Bertucci's.  I am on a thing where I eat 10 fruits or veggies a day.  No matter what.  Meats, cheeses, sweets all have to be fit in but 10 is a mandatory daily.  I love it!!  The check is always so small at Bertucci's because you get free bread with oil and free salad.  Sassy got Ravioli and I got a veggie platter.  This accounted for a few of my veggie servings.  :)

Romas, Artichokes, Roasted peppers, Roasted garlic, Zucchini, Eggplant, Broccoli.
This time we shopped at Target.  I've been carrying around my old raged Nine West snakeskin bag for years.  I got a new one.  :) I know it won't hold up as long but oh well.  It's greyish.


I also bought this:

Now I can watch anytime!  :)
This Sunday I had to make more of my breakfast cereal.  I eat it every single morning with vanilla Soy Milk.  It's all gluten free.  :)


I mix all these ingredients and scoop it out for breakfast.  

This Sunday we relaxed watching movies, playing with Cora, and eating left overs.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Sinful Saturday

--Carrying a Grudge--


James 2:10:

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

1 Peter 4:9

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.


James 5:9


Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

Thursday, January 12, 2012

When you realize you are free.

I live in Maryland.  In my opinion MD is one of the most liberal, angry, contentious states on the planet but hey maybe I'm biased.  When I visit other states (like down south) people are actually nice.  When my aunt, uncle, and cousins moved down south and I would visit I thought the people who would very bubbly wave were being sarcastic.  I thought the waitresses in the restaurants were being overly kind as a joke to run back and laugh at us later.  The people are actually polite.  It took me years of visiting down south to get used to it and I am still not used to it.  I have grown up in Maryland in the Baltimore region and I am used to honking horns, middle fingers, loud sighs, people sucking their teeth in disgust, eye rolls, people constantly raising their voices, loud cursing, lots of gossiping, angry mothers yelling at their kids, no sense of community, annoyance, irritability, fighting, despair, the list goes on.

When I visit other states I feel like I am in heaven.  I know it's fading and that eventually I'd find some jerks down south but in the grand scheme of things MD is full of jerks!  What I realize is that it is easy to follow Christ around other believers (in the bible belt) and around happy kind people.  It is so hard to act as Christ would around the jerks.  One day you realize you used to be a jerk like that and that naturally, Christ has changed you into a much better person.  You realize you are free from being that jerk.  You make good choices.  You don't blow your horn, flick people off, argue with the checkout girl, roll your eyes, and treat people badly because Christ is your role model and you love Him.

I'm glad I am free and I feel bad when I see people in bondage and in great angst.  I wish someone would tell them about Christ.  Oh wait.  I guess I could do that.  ;)

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Sinful Saturday

--Not forgiving others--

Matthew 6:14-15


For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.


Mark 11:25-26


And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.


Luke 17:4


Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Things...


Girl Cat loves her basket!


 Girl Dog loves her bed-time!


!!!!!!


 Sassy wakes up and snuggles with Girl Dog.   There's that shirt again!


There's a huntress on the prowl!


She's contemplating her kill!


 Welp, turns out she just wanted a sniff fest with the tree.


Man, look at her she is really into that sniff fest!


Tt being an agile cat!


Some updated photos of me.  :)