Everything Else Archives - Page 2 of 88

My Word for 2018: FORWARD

December 29, 2017 By: Nanette

Life, love, photography, growth, enjoy. So many words come to mind when I think about the year ahead but this one word keeps coming back to me so I’m going to make my word for 2018 FORWARD.

That might seem like a bit of an odd word but it’s what I need to do, it’s what I need to stay focused on: moving FORWARD. In everything I do, in everything I hope to accomplish, I need to keep moving forward. Even if I fail and I will fail and I will make mistakes but I need to just pick myself up and move forward.

I can’t let myself sit and wallow in my failure or mistake for long because then I’m not moving at all. Life has a way of throwing things at you when you just can’t seem to pick yourself up ok maybe just my life but in any case . . . forward motion is what will get me to where I want to be.

There’s More to Life Than Just Living

Enjoying this life I’ve been given and the family I’m blessed with is what my heart and soul need and crave. I want to do more than just exist; I want to live. So many times we just trudge through the days and sure we’re alive but we aren’t living. You know what I mean? We’re just existing. We’re struggling to get through the day or week in the daily grind or rat race or whatever you choose to call it.

Moving Forward

I’ve written out my goals for 2018. I’ve placed them in a prominent place in my office so I can see it daily. Yes, I need the daily reminder to stay focused on moving forward. There are so many areas of my life that I need to stay focused on moving forward: my health, personal/family, business and financial goals.

When I fail, I’ll have my reminder to get up, dust myself off and get moving forward again. It’s not going to be easy. Getting up after a failure is never easy but it is doable and I’m going to do it.

Have you done this? What’s your word for 2018? What are your goals, not dreams, not hopes but goals, real, reachable goals?

What is in store for your 2018? I can’t wait to see.

It’s Ok to Take Time Off

December 21, 2017 By: Nanette

I know I haven’t written in awhile. I kind of took the summer off and haven’t really hopped back on to things for lots of reasons. Disney’s words, “you only have 18 summers” with your kids really hit me this summer and it hit hard. As I look back at the time that has gone by it makes me sad ’cause I feel like I missed so much of it though I know in reality I didn’t.

Then came health issues for my family and I had to put that first. Because you know, family always comes first with me as I’m sure it does with you. Time kept creeping by and I just didn’t have it in me to write. Maybe because I was enjoying just living life and not feeling like I had to capture every moment of it and write it down or type it out, or photograph it and post it on social media.

I took a break from social media too and honestly, it felt so good I didn’t know if I ever wanted to go back. Yes, I’m back on social media because I’m a blogger and that’s where work is. That’s part of the job. I know that. And that’s ok but maybe now I have a better understanding of boundaries, of time restrictions. If I post now, I post with intention not just to get something up on my social media sites whatever it may be. If I write it’s because I have something to say not just because I need to get something up. Maybe I’ve been doing it wrong all along. I’ve been listening to the people who say you need to have this number of followers, this number of readers, this many likes per post, you have to post this often and use this many hashtags.

I’ve been listening to the wrong things, the wrong voices. I need to be listening to me, to my heart, to my head, and to my body.

Life kind of threw a curve ball at me I wasn’t ready for. Actually, it threw a couple at me. One has to do with a family member I love with all my heart who is facing a very difficult health path. Prayers always welcome and needed. And then it was me who got some rather eye-opening health news. Here I thought I was doing pretty well at taking care of myself. Well, apparently not.

But the one thing I did find out is that I need to take care of me. I need to control the things I can control and let go of the things that I can not. I need to take the time I need for me even if that means I have to tell everyone else they have to wait. I know I’ve said it before but now if I want to be around for my kids and my family, I HAVE to put me first. I have to stop trying to take on everything. I have to teach myself it’s ok to say no and that not everything has to be done right now. I need to get myself out from in front of the computer and move. I need to feel the sun on my skin, the breeze on my face.

I don’t know if I’m writing this for you or for me? Maybe I just need to hear myself say it all. Maybe I just need to be able to come back to this post and remind myself it’s ok to say no, to take time for myself. Or maybe I’m writing this for you. Maybe it’s words you need to hear too.

I’ve taken some time to re-focus on my family and on me and the things that I love, the things that make me happy.

Are you doing the same? If not, I encourage you to. I’m not saying you need to lose weight to get healthy or stop posting your life on social media. I’m not saying that at all. I just want you to take some time, however, you choose to do it, to let your mind be clear, to think with your heart and mind and give yourself some time to breathe. We all get so caught up in life we forget to live it, to enjoy it.

I want you to enjoy life. I want to enjoy life. Let’s do it together.

Breathe.

The Ultimate Willy Wonka Party

September 25, 2017 By: Nanette

When is a movie not just a movie? I’ll tell you when, when it’s a party! I will start off by telling you I had never been to an Alamo Drafthouse Movie theater before this week.

We went this weekend and saw Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Yes, we’ve seen it a million times in our lifetime and our kids have seen it lots of times. It’s a classic! Who hasn’t seen it right? (Actually, 6 people in the theater hadn’t.)

The Ultimate Willy Wonka Party!

But as I found out seeing a special event movie like this one at Alamo Drafthouse, it is more than just a movie. It’s fun! It’s a party! And this special party, The Ultimate Willy Wonka Movie Party, even had two very special guests. I’ll get to that part in just a bit but let’s start at the beginning.

As we walked into to the lobby of the theater we saw Willy Wonka. Yes, I know it wasn’t the real Willy Wonka but still it was a super fun way to be greeted and handed our “goodie bag” for the movie.

Goodie Bag Fun

What’s a party without a goodie bag right? Most parties you get the goodie bag at the end as you leave to take home. Not so with this goodie bag. You see, at these special Alamo Drafthouse events, you get to have fun WHILE the movie is going on. You get to be a part of all the fun.

In our Willy Wonka Party goodie bags, we found all sorts of fun props.

Milk Chocolate Balls because of course, you have to have chocolate!
Candy Buttons to eat during “The Candy Man” song. I hadn’t had those in ages.
Bubble Gum because you know Violet, she was always chewing gum.
Bubbles to blow during the Fizzy Lifting Drink scene with Charlie and Grandpa Joe. So fun to see bubbles floating around the theater.
A Yellow Streamer to wave around during the Golden Goose scene.
Gobstoppers but remember not to share it with anyone.
Party Popper to pop as the glass elevator crashes through the glass ceiling.

As you can imagine the kids had a blast and in all honestly so did we. When was the last time you blew bubbles at the movies?

The Alamo Drafthouse also created this special drink just for the event called the Golden Ticket Shake. Of course, my husband had to get it. Not complaining though, it was delicious. It had vanilla ice cream, chocolate, caramel, and so much more! By the way, popcorn makes a great topping for the whipped topping instead of sprinkles. You’re welcome for that.

The Special Guests!

Oh dear, I got lost in the thoughts of that Golden Ticket Shake description I almost forgot to mention the two very special guests we got to meet and take pics with.

The film’s Veruca Salt – Julie Dawn Cole and Mike TeaVee – Paris Themmen came out after the show and sat and answered questions and told some stories of their time on the set of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. It was so much fun listening to their stories. My Princess wanted to ask a question so badly but there were so many who had questions she didn’t get to. After the question and answer portion, they graciously snapped photographs with every single guest for that showing. They were both so kind and caring.

We are a family that does everything together. When we get the opportunity to do events like this as a family it always means so much more than had we done it without the kids. We left with our hearts full, lots of laughs, fun, and memories we’ll cherish for a very long time. And a nice little-added bonus!