"My soul is full of longing for the secret of the sea, and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me." – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
In a fast paced, almost always connected world, the most important lesson is to stop and watch the animals. Today, we seized the day, and we went to the zoo instead of doing our typical homeschool day. One of the best parts of the day was when we sat and ate snacks while watching the lions and giraffes! Watching them filled me with such a sense of calm and peace. The feeling was enhanced by the warm sun on my face, gentle breeze blowing through the trees, and the refreshing sent of outside air. It was one of those feelings that served to remind me of the importance of slowing down and being present in the little moments. During this crazy time of year, I think we could all use a moment to stop and watch the animals!
If youāve been with me for a while, then you know two things. One, last year I sat out to complete 39 fun things while 39 years old. Two, tomorrow I turn 40. Iām excited to say that Iāve completed 39 things!!! Iāve actually completed a lot more than that, but I finished my list. You will note that my list changed throughout the year. This is a reflection of my own personal growth throughout the year. My most important takeaway has been that it is okay to change what you want in life because that is a sign that youāre growing! Iām so happy with how much Iāve grown over the last year and how much Iāve begun living by my priorities. I could get very philosophical about this, but instead Iāll share my accomplished list!
ā Ride a roller coaster – rode a couple of them at Dollywood. Wooden roller coasters are still my favorite!
ā Ride a train – also happened at Dollywood! It was beautiful looking down at all the Christmas lights!
ā Finish the green and gold dress – I started creating this dress in 2012 when we still played Amtgard. When we stopped, I stopped. Now it is finished, and it is beautiful!
ā Take a vacation – We took several! Made it to Pigeon Forge area twice, Americaās Historical Triangle, Nashville, and Rough River. Looking forward to more travel this year!
ā Sushimas – First once since 2019! I loved seeing all of our friends and bringing back traditions!
ā Bet on the Derby – Felt so grown up to bet on the race from my phone. Looking forward to getting my $9 check!
ā Go kayaking – Nothing like being out on the water to make you feel one with the universe!
ā Finish Baby Books – LilKsby is turning 4 soon, so Iām elated to say I finally had time to finish his books!
ā Play pool – I love playing pool! Did this on my birthday last year and in Gatlinburg!
ā Go to a cave – We had the wonderful opportunity to take our nephew to Mammoth Cave last summer.
ā Enter a competition for creativity – Iāve always wanted to enter a Christmas tree competition! I came in like 12th out of 31!
ā Calendar Album – Made an album out of all the calendars LilKsby has made for presents.
ā Complete 1 Year Frame – I had bought one of these my first year frames before LilKsby was born. Finally completed it!
ā See Dr Strange 2 – Fun movie!
ā See Thor Love and Thunder – Great movie!
ā Read 12 Books – Finished 13 and have started 14!
ā Watch Young Sheldon 3 and 4 – Glad I did because Seasons 5 and 6 have been amazing!
ā Watch Step By Step – Great throwback to my childhood!
ā Go to GenCon Online – Gaming is fun in person and online!
ā Wedding Scrapbook – After almost 11 years, mine and Mr Kisbyās wedding scrapbook is complete!
ā Order a t-shirt quilt – Wanted to do this for years! Canāt wait to get it back!
ā Go to an art museum – Virtually visited the Van Gogh Museum!
ā Make a state fair entry – have a few ready to go!
ā Go to Gatlinburg – Great trip! Highly recommend Cadeās Cove!
ā Go to the Tulip Farm – Beautiful local farm! Love supporting friends!
ā Complete 10 Coursera Classes – took classes for fun and business!
ā Complete 5 paintings – painted for myself and Christmas gifts!
ā Go to JR Neighbors – Iām proud of us for trying something new.
ā See the BSB DNA Tour – Amazing show with amazing people!
ā Complete NANOWRIMO – Loved starting this book! Canāt wait to edit and publish!
ā Go to a winery – Not only did I go to one, I also became a member!
ā Write Letters for Book – Completed a book with letters from me to Lil Kisby!
ā Watch The Game Season 2 – This show is epic! There needs to be a Season 3!
ā Finish a Bible Study – Learned about love being the greatest gift of all!
ā Go to a pumpkin activity – We went to the Pumpkin Wagon!
ā Try a salt cave or salt room – So relaxing! Iāve been twice now!
ā Write 10 fan letters – This was so fun! I never got any responses, but it was fun to do!
ā Get a Caseyās Taco Pizza – My favorite pizza! I only get them when going west. Hope yo have another soon!
ā Go to the State Fair – worked it and went as a guest! Love it!
Not on the list? Transitioning from full time working mom to stay at home/work from home mom. Hands down the thing I did while 39 that has helped me be a better wife, mother, and person while also improving my mental and physical health. I challenge all of you to take risks, do things you enjoy, and make your next year the best year!
You know those moments where you can always remember where you were and how you felt? Last week, we experienced one of those moments! I would tell you where I was, but some info has to stay classified; however, I will tell you that I was so excited, I couldnāt stop laughing and shrieking with glee! What was so exciting? Princess Zippy crossed 100,000 miles! Princess Zippy is the third car Iāve ever owned, and sheās the second one that I remember excitedly waiting for 100,000 miles! Iām not sure why I feel like this is such a major event. Perhaps because of all of the joy that sheās brought into our lives!
Princess Zippy came into our lives at a time when we were desperate for a new (to us) car. Old Blue had become to expensive to repair, and we needed a car that could take us on a business trip in five days. Luckily, I had started looking and test driving the last time Old Blue gave us fits. Plus, I had a dream of owning a Kia since they first became popular (you know, back when if you looked at them wrong they would dent). We were very lucky to find a Kia with extremely low mileage (sheād been a dealer car) under our budget! So the memories began quickly!
Since we got Princess Zippy, sheās traveled the country! Sheās taken us to Dallas, Myrtle Beach, the Poconos, St Louis, Nashville, Gatlinburg, and more! During these road-trips, some of the best conversations have been had! For as long as I can remember, one of mine and Mr Kisbyās favorite things has been the philosophical and passionate discussions on car trips! These trips have also involved more laughter than the law should allow! Some of the best laughs have been had during those slap happy late night hours! These conversations have also seen goals set, affirmations made, and business tips exchanged! Oh, and the music! The music of road-trips has been so much fun! Thereās nothing like flying down the interstate jamming out at the top of your lungs! Bonus, Princess Zippy even survived two break in attempts while in overnight parking (in a place not mentioned above). The score? Princess Zippy not getting opened up two and potential robbers zero! I cannot wait to see where else she travels!
Beyond trips, Princess Zippy is part of the greatest event of our lives: she brought LilKsby home from the hospital! Boy, talk about a terrifying drive! Never ever has 35 MPH felt so fast and dangerous. Princess Zippy has safely gotten us from the infant seat stage to the rear facing convertible seat phase to the current forward facing convertible seat saga, or as unlike to call it, āThe now I can throw things at you while you driveā saga. Side note: never let anyone tell you a car seat canāt be put in the middle of the backseat of a Kia. It can too! Princess Zippyās been a school on the road, helped LilKsby learn locations (by the way it would be GREAT if every McDonalds couldnāt be seen from like two miles away), and been a major part of his ever developing since of direction. Heās only three, but he can tell you if youāre taking the wrong (not normal) way somewhere, and heās also mastered traffic lights, stop signs, and which roads we use the most! I love our family time in Princess Zippy!
In addition to family fun, Princess Zippy has been my main business transportation. She taught us the value of hatchbacks when I was at an outdoor vendor event, and it started raining. We literally threw everything in the hatchback and sat watching the street turn into a creek! Sheās my advertisement on wheels, and sheās become a conversation piece when I meet momās at toddler/preschool events. How cool is that?
I realize it may be weird to be so excited about a car, but Princess Zippy has been with us through a lot. I canāt wait to see where the next 100,000 miles takes us!
Since just before the new year began, Iāve been doing a lot of reflecting. Iāve been attempting in my spare moments to work on my vision journal, and Iāve realized that itās meant to be a work in progress not a project completed in one sitting. That said, Iāve also come up with some other tips for 2022 that you might find helpful:
1. Minimize – clean out the clutter you donāt need or that no longer brings you joy. Trash it, put it in a yard sale, or donate it to a worthy charity thrift store. What you think of as junk might be a blessing to someone else.
2. Unplug – Find things to do that donāt require technology. Craft, create, read a book, exercise, get outsideā¦do something besides stare at a screen. Iām preaching to myself on this one!
3. Take Baths – Iām not saying take a bath or shower for hygiene. Well, yes do that, but occasionally fill the bath, light a candle, add Epsom salts or bubble bath, and enjoy the water. Itās relaxing!
4. Renew Your Faith – if youāre a person of faith be it Pagan, Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Hindu, or another faith take time to submerse yourself in your teachings. Take time to remind yourself of your basic philosophies and renew your soul. The soul yearns for growth and renewal to stay strong!
5. Physical Wellness – get a physical, visit the eye doctor, go to the dentist, see a chiropractor, etc. You have one body that could last you for over 100 years so take care of it!
6. Quality Time – Spend quality time with those you love the most. Do so in a pandemic safe manner of course! When youāre spending quality time, make sure youāre present in the moment. This is a big one that Iām working on this year! I miss so much by being absorbed in something irrelevant!
7. Stop Believing the Internet – Say this with me āJust because itās on the Internet doesnāt make it true.ā Make this your mantra. Repeat it frequently, and when you do conduct Internet research check your sources! For example, my background is in the beauty industry, so I hope you would never believe me if suddenly I was trying to dispense brain surgery or aeronautical device!
Hello readers! I haven’t blogged here in a while because I have been participating in NANOWRIMO 2020. This year instead of a fictional novel, I have been writing daily reflections. I thought that I would share some snippets from my reflections. Enjoy!
from 30 Days of Reflection “Day 1 – November 1”
Why am I so excited about a little joy and relaxation? If 2020 has taught us anything, it has taught us that we have to find joy in things. If that means putting up a Christmas tree on November 1, then by all means do it! I think that one of the biggest things that is currently neglected in our society is the willingness to find joy in little things. Society as a whole seems to project that joy has to come from grandiose gestures or activities, but I find that the little things in life can be some of the most joy bringing (like my Christmas tree). This year I have reached this conclusion about life. If it doesnāt bring you joy, then donāt do it. If it does bring you joy, then do it.
As far as relaxation, that has undoubtedly been hard during this pandemic. It is easy to go down a rabbit hole of āAm I doing my part to stop the spread?ā or āAm I going to catch the virus and die?āĀ Relaxing during a pandemic can be downright difficult.Ā There are so many expectations by society, family members, jobs, friends, etc that the idea of relaxing can seem about as easy as learning how to juggle flaming swords.Ā However, relaxation is extremely important. If we can never relax, then we will literally drive ourselves mad and into health issues from stress and anxiety. (I should know, Iām the Queen of Anxiety Land!)
Therefore, I go back to my Christmas tree. The day may have been exhausting leading up to the putting up of said Christmas tree. However, the next time I go downstairs, I know that Iām going to feel joy and relaxation as soon as I see that glow.
Thanks for checking out my first excerpt! Also, in case you wondered, that glow has made me feel relaxed and joyful for 20 days running!
According to the calendar today is Thursday, but in my head it felt more like Monday #3 of the week. I’m sure that I’m not the only one feeling the mental exhaustion associated with “Back to School Covid Edition”. The mental exhaustion seemed to have reached it’s peak this evening when I legit just wanted to sit in my chair and not make any decisions. This level of exhaustion makes things like the pork we were supposed to have for dinner expiring three days ago seem like catastrophes instead of inconveniences. When this level is reached, the best thing I can do is step back and enjoy the simple things in life.
The tone of the day changed completely when I let go of the day’s stress and decided to only do fun, simple things the rest of the evening. The first simple thing was to pour a cold drink (Diet Coke for the win) and sit on the front porch. Until this summer, I never understood why my grandma always found sitting on the front porch to be so relaxing. However, after having sat out there quite a few times over the summer, I’ve realized that it is peaceful to just sit and watch the world around you. I also enjoy waving at people as they go by because it always seems as though they don’t know how to respond. The next simple thing that led to a better today was playing in the rain when the storm broke lose. I held LilKsby tight, and we ran around the house in the rain. My socks were so soaked that they felt as heavy as actual shoes, but it was the most exhilarating, freeing feeling of the day! Nothing can wash your cares away like a warm, summer rain! Then, since it wasn’t quite time for a bath, I held LilKsby while he played with his markers (washable ones thankfully) and colored a kitty. Snuggles and art are a great combination for relaxing! The final simple thing? Breaking out my calendar, making a to do list, and completing it! Now, I’m relaxing in bed to type this blog, and I’m going to be snuggled under the covers before 9:30! Boom!
On paper, none of the simple things that I did this evening seem like much. None of them are based on necessity, and none of them lead to profound revelations about the existence of humankind. However, these simple things did put me in a much better mood which will help me rest easier. On a day that feels like Monday #3, I call that a win!
Check out these links to see items that were part of my simple things!
Remember the Matchbox 20 song ā3 amā? A couple of the most memorable lines were: āShe only sleeps when itās raining, and she screams and her voice is straining and she says baby, itās 3 am I must be lonely.ā
Well, I do love to sleep when itās raining, but just because Iām awake at 3 am doesnāt mean that Iām lonely. Tonight, it means that (a) I fell asleep really early for me, and (b) the bottle of water that I drank right before bed kicked in effect! After waking up, I realized that I wasnāt tired, so I laid back down and finished a book on my Kindle. Now that the book is done, I find myself just laying here enjoying the moment.
Itās funny because if I were lying in bed awake during ānormal hoursā, I would feel obliged to be doing something. I would feel like there was something that had to be done around the house, activities that had to be completed with Mr Kisby and LilKsby, or business that had to be attended to immediately. However, since it is the middle of the night, itās like I give myself permission to relax and enjoy it.
Iāve always been more of a night owl than a morning person as frankly that early bird catching the worm has just always seemed like an overachiever in my book. I really got used to getting up in the middle of the night when LilKsby was so small that we had to wake him up and feed him every couple of hours (you know a year ago…lol). Now itās almost hard not to wake up for just a little bit.
Often times when I do wake up, I do one of two things. One, I look at my loves and smile. Itās a smile of pure happiness and thankful awe; itās a smile of how did I get this lucky in life? Two, I stare at the ceiling and think about how perfect these quiet moments are. Theyāre moments where I can just reflect, count my blessings, and be thankful for the life Iāve been given. The calm that these two things brings is indescribable which is why 3 am turns to 4 am and 5 am and so forth. Itās kind of my personal version of staring at an aquarium to lower your blood pressure. š
The Great Kaysby 