Out of Focus

The busy-ness of the past two months has almost knocked me off my feet.  And while yes, I am busy by choice, busy is busy not matter which way you slice it.  All you middle twenties gals know the feeling when all your friends are doing things at the same time, and somehow you're privileged enough to be invited to what feels like every.single.one.of.'em.

Due to said busy-ness, I feel as though I've lost perspective, just like my iPhone did when I was trying to snap a picture of 'my two', relaxed and content on a Sunday afternoon, just the way I like to see them.  So I'm going to work to renew my focus, because to me it's important.

It's as if we get caught up in all the things 'happening' in our lives, and forget what is actually 'happening'.  Every day I take for granted the health and happiness I have in myself and my relationships...something that might seem like a small fortune to most others.  I have a job that satisfies me, and though I don't save the world, cure cancer, or seriously change peoples lives, I enjoy it, which is more than 34.7% of employed people can say.  If you are impressed by my 'research' on the topic, that number is completely arbitrary, but I gottcha didn't I?

So here's to a fresh cup of hot chocolate in my elephant mug, an awesome weekend with my bestie, and focusing, investing, and giving back to those things that keep me going and give back to me, especially those two in that picture. They are perfect.

Plus Ten Pounds

A year ago (give or take) today, I was officially ten pounds lighter, and I hate (sorry Mom, I'm using that word, and I know you don't like it) that feeling.

As much as I like to think I don't care about how I look. I do. I care.

 I care A LOT.

If you haven't read my story of weight loss via weight watchers, you can here.

I felt really good after I finished and had success keeping the weight off, which brought me continued happiness.  But at my annual appointment (that was lovely) I saw those three numbers on the scale, and I looked away. It made me sad.

I've been working out (strength training) WAY more than I was a year ago.

My strength has improved in measurable ways, and after reviewing my measurements, I'm 3" less (overall) the same as I was last year at this time, so it's apparently 'all muscle'.

My mind gets it, but my brain can't quite 'see' past the numbers.

I need to remind myself to keep it all in perspective, that a number is just a number, and that at the end of the day, we're all just a work in progress.

We might not all be working on the same things, but we're all working on ourselves. Some people are working on fitness, others are working on personal resolutions, relationship building, etc. 

And I am sure we're all doing a combination of all listed above, it's important to keep things in perspective. It's just one thing.
It's just a number.

I'm feeling confident in myself, my work, my relationships, and my life.

So what does that measley little number mean anyway?

Quite your mind Kaylin, it's all going to be okay.

Shirt//Target (similar)

Jeans//Express

Shoes//Target circa 2008

Glasses//Kate Spade (similar)
P.S. These wedges are my favorite and they are dying, 
so I have to wear them sparingly :(
 
Happy Wednesday!!!

A Big Kids Chore Perspective

When were are little you have 'chores'.

You know, those things that your parents asked you made you do to help around the house.

The work you did to earn your $4/week allowance.

A small token of appreciation for the work I did. Granted half the stuff I did probably had to be redone by my Mom, because let's be honest- How great of a mopper can a ten year old really be???

You get the picture.

I had chores through my graduation day. Yup, you know you're the cool kid on the block when you are mowing your lawn (and the neighbors) at seventeen.

#iwassocool

But chores were always a part of my life.

Anyways when you go to college you have more chores.

Laundry that you have to do, fold, and put away.

Room you have to clean and vacuum.

Dishwasher you have to load and put away.

I mean seriously, this is ridiculous.

Then you graduate college.

Life continues.

And hey, surprise, what do you know???

Boom more chores.

When you're a grown up (cough, I am trying, cough)

You do SOOOO many chores.

But adults like to be fancy and use words like 'housework' or 'pick up the house' or 'house work'.

This reads sweep, mop, do/fold/put away laundry, dust, vacuum, pick up the yard, mow the lawn, grocery shop, put groceries away, and the list goes on.

Adults just have glorified names for things.

Let's be honest folks, they're still not enjoyable, and you don't get paid for them.

So really chores just get worse as you grow up.

Whey don't they ever tell us these things when we're young?

Anyways after sweeping, mopping, steam mopping, cleaning toilets, doing laundry, and dishes this is what came to my mind for today's post.

But I'll leave you with this little gem.

Isn't she adorable??

She makes me fall in love with her all over again every single day.

Even if half my chores are related to her (read floors covered in hair).

Happy Monday!

Normal, Normal, Normal

What is normal these days anyways.

I've honestly lost track.

After High School some of my friends went to college, some didn't.

In college some of my friends had boyfriends, some did not.

After college some of my friends stayed in the area, some did not.

Who is one to say what normal is.

I feel like we should really be doing things that feel natural.

When I say natural, I am absolutely not sayin' don't challenge yourself.

Because you should always be setting and working towards goals.

Testing personal limits to achieve them, etc.

But that should feel natural.

But natural as in, what feels right for you.

What feels like it fits.

But back to NORMAL:

I often find myself thinking about things like.

Do I have a normal job??

Do other people my age do these things?

Do I make a normal amount of money?

Do other people do this??

But at the end of the day WHY does ANY of this matter?

Well ladies. 

It doesn't.

And that's what I have to keep in mind. Always.

I doesn't matter what other people are doing.

It only matters that you are happy with what you are doing.

So what I have come to learn is that normal is a whole spectrum of things.

Normal is doing what you need, want, and feel natural doing.

Rhetorical, probably.

But it doesn't hurt to have a healthy dose of reminding ourselves that what we're doing is totally fine.

And, I know what you are thinking.

Zoey is abnormally cute.

You're right. 

She is.

Thursday all day.

Enjoy it.