April 7th: 12:33 AM.

Well, here I am. I have missed blogging beyond explanation. I don't know what it is about it that releases some of my inner demons and inner beauty all at the same time. However, after the last few weeks of hecticness, I have changed my view of what I need to be writing about. I don't really like to write anymore with a pen and paper as much as I enjoy just sitting down and quickly typing up my thoughts on a given topic I feel like expressing. I still do keep a small journal but just I'm not as religious with it, kind of like that of many other aspects in my life. I wish I was able to complete the loose ends that I have in my life. I need to jot these ideas down so that I can pursue them as well as figure out what direction I want to go with them in my life. Which I feel is ultimately one of the most important things.

Anyways, moving on to what is currently going on in my life. I will be leaving for Norfolk in the morning with Maunie, my sister-in-law to be. Maunie has been in town for three weeks helping Mark's Nan with the move to the new house and helping since her heart attack a few Fridays ago. It was a huge scare and it also warranted Pap in the nursing home; however, we all visit him and bring him his favorite treats, so we are hoping this will be a positive change for all parties. We have been boxing, packing, unboxing, unpacking for weeks now. It's time for Maunie to go back home to Norfolk and take a breather but also have some time to just relax and she invited me to come along. I am really excited, because this will a great girls vacation for us. We probably in the future won't have the time or chance to do that because deployments, Navy, Nursing, Mark and I getting married, their marriage as well -- so now seems to be the perfect time. I will be gone for 12 days. I have a little bit of separation anxiety from my baby, but I think we have some really fun things planned and I can't wait to take photos all over the coast of Virginia! We have plans for the beach and some yummy restaurants, possibly a plantation house and seeing all the mermaids in town as well. I can't wait!

I packed. Cleaned up a bit. Cooked a few things for Mark. Still have to write him a list of things to get accomplished while I'm gone, but I hope he gets work, gym time, and game time while I'm gone as well. Like a staycation for him! He got done a little early from work tonight, so I hope we can spend some quality time before I leave at 8 am. We have plans to Skype at least three times, but alls everyday - so it should be alright, especially because I'm taking my Mac. I couldn't survive without it!

Today was my half birthday. 24 and a half. I made it through cancer. I'm living through trigeminal neuralgia. I can do this. 25 is six months away and I want to document every last bit of my 24th year. It is my mission and goal. Each day blog and post a photo from that day. Today I don't have a photo, but I will start tomorrow with my travels. 

Photography Tribute.

A moment can be captured in a memory.
But how quickly the shelf life of that thought fades.
It may last a week, a decade, or perhaps only an hour.
A fading begins to occur, whether it be a withering of age or interest,
The haze over facts or feelings take hold.

A memory in time is too precious to be forgotten.
The greatest method to hold steadfast to our fondest memories,
To keep all the days of our lives is photography.
Documenting for future generations, to pass down.

Nothing stirs more emotions intertwined with a memory than an old photograph.
Experiencing an emotion on a loved one's face,
Possibly a shot of someone who isn't with us anymore,
Can only be seen with the eye because of a photograph.
The brain is fantastic with documentation and filing events;
However, the details of a photo can never be replaced.

The color shirt she wore or the tie that he never took off;
These are precious facts that we lose about our loved ones over the years.
Not every memory is of a lost loved one,
but there are other sentiments can be exhibited through only photography.
The only way to remember each smile line on a young groom's face,
As his glowing bride walked down the aisle is by taking a photo of it.

A baby changes exceedingly fast.
Three months, six months, twelve months;
Oh the difference. Lay, sit, stand, then run.
So many new emotions for that child to explore,
all of which can be captured through a lens and a lens only.

The beauty taken in from a bride, a baby, an elderly couple,
A strong man returning from deployment, a senior in high school;
Each of these radiating exquisite beauty and excellence.

If family, love, memories, and happiness are prided in your household,
You will want to contact Photography by Alison
For breathtaking, unique images for your every meaningful occasion.

www.facebook.com/wheelingphotography

Thinspiration 2.0

A Monday in February. Nothing screams excitement like a title of that sort. Just another mundane day in an uneventful week, so it seemed. It did have a touch of flair added to it. Bobbi was off school today for Presidents' Day (like it's a holiday or something). She spent the night and so we had the day together, which was so nice because we hadn't had that in a long while. We did some fun things together and then I got my dancing in for a half hour. It was actually fun because I had someone to talk to while I danced and lately I've been dancing alone because Maunie has been busy with pre-deployment things. I understand though and there is plenty of time for weight loss!

Today I had a roast beef sandwich, less than 250 calories and lots of carrots. For some reason lately I enjoy baby carrots with no dressing; they taste sweet to me of late. Also for dinner my mom and I made a recipe off the top of our heads with the few ingredients that my mother's cupboard had. We put boneless skinless chicken in a skillet with some EVOO. When it was steamed to done we added sliced onion, diced tomatoes, cornstarch, nature's seasoning, italian essence, basil, salt, and pepper. As a side, we cooked Kulski noodles and added shaker Parm and basil. SO AMAZING. I don't think I have ever had a chicken and noodle (non-pasta-like) combination like that in my life. ITALIAN! YUM! Try it sometime, all of you!

Lately, Mark and I have been weighing the pros and cons of moving to Norfolk. We are thinking about relocating to Norfolk for the summer, just three or four months to get used to the area and see where we want to be. I would hate to think what if when we are old and think about not taking a chance. Derrick and Maunie have been amazingly accommodating to let us, if we decide, to stay with them and save up money so we can have a stepping stone before we move in the next status in our relationship (heart!) So we are going back and forth about things. Leaving my mom and sister would be the hardest thing. It was so hard being away from them once, and I'm not sure that I want to do it again. Also finding doctors now that I am cancer-free. That is another worry of mine and always will be. However, I know that I can't live my life with a what if, because it will eat me up inside. As a great movie once quoted, " "What" and "If" are two words as non-threatening as words can be. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life: What if? What if? What if?" 

Tomorrow is Monday.

Well, seeing that I fell away from my lifestyle change for awhile, here I am. Ready to start and embrace a healthy living once more. You really can only start things of importance on Mondays. With that being said, I plan to start myfitnesspal again. It really was a great help with my calorie count. I did dance yesterday, but it definitely wasn't the same with having a partner, Maunie cough-cough, to keep the motivation. We talked about getting our schedule synced here soon so that we can both be on the road to wellness once more! Maunie's husband, Derrick, is leaving on Thursday for deployment again. I am sad that he must go away again, especially for her sake and because he is Mark's best friend as well. Hopefully it will fly by until he gets back and we all will be able to take a vacation together like we talked about. Anyways, tomorrow starts everything again. Dancing - Just Dance, at least a half an hour, yoga, as many times this week as I can, then some other body workouts. I found a little workout session online where you increase your reps with jumping jacks, lunges, squats, none of which require the gym, over a period of a half a month and by the end you are just piling on the reps and I'm sure much stronger! So with that being said, I am going to be incorporating that, most definitely. I need to drink more water. Lately I have been drinking less and less pop, which is good. However I have been drinking things that I wouldn't normally. My cycle for female things is all messed up from the medicines and such and so I'm craving weird things. I drank hot chocolate the last few days and some pink lemonaide, crystal light packets in my water as well. Neither of those things are my typical drink of choice. I do love crystal light and skim milk. Although, Mark forgot when he went to the store and bought a ton of milk (because of his amazing protein intake daily) he bought 2% milk. I drink it, sure. But it definitely is not as healthy as skim milk and I most definitely like the taste of skim better. Oh well, next time he shall know the right one! So I guess that means more water...much more. I need to fall in love with it again. It definitely made me feel so much better in the summer when I was drinking it and only it. I felt amazing! Well, one thing that blogging about my dinner has aided me in is my love for food. I had people actually messaging me and asking "what did you make for dinner tonight?!" or something like "you didn't post last night, is everything okay?!". Those kinds of amazing feedback from people, my readers I guess you could say, surely lift my spirits, making me want to cook and blog and do everything I love and my readers or followers think I am good at. I appreciate it all! Well, be looking out for some more from Thinspiration 2.0. This time there will be no lapse in time! Things got crazy with my cancer-free diagnosis. All I wanted to do was celebrate! And eat white cheddar popcorn of course. But I am ready to trade that in for carrots or apples because I know that I feel best when I am eating my best. I feel best as well when I am moving around more! The more I do in a day the better I sleep at night, the better my body feels, etc. You wouldn't think that would be the case if you wear yourself down like that. But for me, it seems like I feel so much more alive when I am more involved and such. Looking forward to tomorrow. Redeveloping better new habits for a lifetime! Well, until breakfast.....Night!