Bring Back the Good Old Days!

I don't consider myself old, by any means.  In fact, I've actually started to embrace my thirty-sixness! When I was a teenager, I vividly remember giving my parents the side eye when they would talk about missing the "good ol' days", but as I get older, I think I know exactly what they were talking about.  Over the three decades that my life has spanned, so many things have changed.  Here are 10 things that I miss the most:

10. Handwritten letters.  I have an old jewelry box that I had when I was a senior in high school.  Inside that box are several handwritten notes from my boyfriend.  Just this week my boyfriend (who is now my husband of 15 years) and I sat and read most of those letters.  It was nice to see someone spend more than 11.5 seconds to send a message to someone.  Bring back those days!



9.  Long telephone conversations. I can remember spending hours on the phone talking to my friends.  No one talks on the phone anymore.  I'm guilty, too!  If I'm not commuting to/from work, I usually can't find the time to engage in telephone conversations that exceed the time needed for a simple question or request.



8. Watching TV with my family.  I used to love sitting with my family watching television.  There was a time, believe it or not, when a child could sit with his parents and watch TV without feeling awkward or tensing up in anticipation of inappropriate content appearing on the screen of what is supposed to be "family" TV.  Bring back those days, please!!



7. Sunday dinners with my family. There was a time when I knew, without question, where I'd be eating after church on Sundays.  My family would get together each Sunday for a delicious meal and some good ole' quality time.  Nowadays, life just has us all pulled in different directions, so it's hard to make a standing appointment to enjoy those days of old.

6.  All-day shopping trips with my mom. I can remember when shopping with mom meant being ready to leave home at 9:00 am and not returning home until about 7:00 pm.  Those were the best times.

5.  Long walks in the summertime.  I grew up in Winterboro, Alabama, a small community in Talladega County.  (Don't bother trying to find it on the map.)  In the summertime, you could easily find my childhood friend and I taking long walks on the country roads, always outside of boundaries  set for us by our parents.

4. Living life without an hour-by-hour schedule. I had a great childhood.  I can remember very vividly having lots of fun with my friends playing games, talking on the phone, traveling, shopping, etc.  But I don't remember having to "schedule" appointments to play. Now, everyone's life is so schedule-driven that having fun must appear on the schedule in order for it to take place.  Bring back the good old days!!

3.  Coffee pot coffee. I begged and pleaded for a Keurig coffee machine, even though my Mr. Coffee coffee maker was working just fine.  I can't lie, most mornings, I have to squeeze in the 90-second wait for the cup of Joe that my Keurig produces.  However, I must also admit that I miss the smell of freshly-brewed coffee creeping through the house from the old-school coffee maker.



2.  Hanging out with my friends. This kind of goes along with #5 and #4.  I miss the days when the biggest decision I had to make was which friend's house I was going to hang out at or which friend I was going to invite over!

1.  Christmas Cards! The number 1 thing that I miss from the good old days is......CHRISTMAS CARDS!  As hard as it is, I make it my business to squeeze in the time to send Christmas cards.  And, I force myself to personally address each envelope.  One of the highlights of the holidays for me is going to my mailbox and receiving holiday greetings from my friends and family. Sadly, each year brings fewer and fewer Christmas cards.  People are simply too busy or have opted for online versions of this holiday tradition.

Take a minute to reflect on some things that you miss post.  Comment below to share the thing that you miss most about the good old days!

Stepping Out of the Boat

The comfort zone is a great place to hang out, isn't it?  Doing what you've always done, going where you've always gone, eating what you've always eaten, and wearing what you've always worn is wonderful, right?  It's easy.  Hey, you can't mess up if you stick to what you know!

I'm a stickler for schedules and routines.  As I've told you before, the beloved Cozi app on my phone (and my old fashioned paper calendar) are how I maintain my "I've got it all together" persona.  I'm not much for changing things up.  However, I've recently decided that I'm about to loosen the grip on my calendar and make room from some spontaneity and newness in my life.

Stepping out of the boat is such a bold statement of faith.  When you confine yourself to the norm, you may very well be blocking yourself from the blessings that God has for you.  My challenge to you today is to try something new.  Something different.  Something outside of your normal routine, if you are a routine follower, like me.

Today, I am thankful for the decision to step of out the boat.  I am so excited about what God is going to do in my life because my decision to exercise my faith in Him.  

Goodbye 2014

This will be my last blog post of 2014.  I can't believe that it's already time to say goodbye to another year.  Time is definitely on the move!  It's been a year full of many life-changing and memorable events, both good and bad.  Here are some of the highlights of my year:

I completed 21 days of the Daniel Fast:  This was my first year to complete the entire 21 days without cheating.  I felt so accomplished because so much of my life centers around food and usually includes me making poor choices when it comes to food.  Fully participating in the fast taught me that I do have self-control and it caused me to try new, healthy food items that I've been able to incorporate into my daily life.  During this time, I also drank nothing but water, which is a HUGE deal for this self-professed water hater!



I turned 35:  This only seems like a big deal to me because I remember sitting with my friends in high school referring to our 30 something year old teachers as old!  Now, I'm that old teacher.  Only now, I don't think 30 something is old anymore.  Funny how time changes things, huh?
I got up enough courage to apply to graduate school:  Even though I am a three-time college graduate, I was very hesitant to apply to the educational leadership doctoral program at Samford University. Getting my master's and specialist's degrees were taxing and I just didn't think I had what it took to be accepted into a doctoral program.  Thanks to my supportive family and friends and my trust in the Almighty, I finally took the steps needed to apply to grad school and am now well on my way to becoming Dr. Fluker!



I completed my first 5K:  I'm not real proud of my time, but I am so proud of myself for completing the entire race.  This event was a fundraiser and I reluctantly participated simply to be supportive.  But, the feeling of accomplishment that I had once I completed the race is undeniable.  Hopefully, as I work to get back into shape, I won't be embarrassed to post my time for the next 5K that I run!

I could go on and on about all of the things that happened in my life this year.  Some things I want to erase from my memory forever, and some things I never want to forget.  I know for sure that everything that happened, whether good or bad, was purposely planned by the Master.

The ups and downs of life work together to craft me into the person that God wants me to be.  I am thankful for the year that I have had and look forward to what 2015 has in store for me and my family.

Happy New Year!

Choices

By day, I am a high school teacher.  One of the things that I constantly preach to my students is the importance of making good choices.  So many of the situations that we are faced with in our lives are caused by the choices that we make.  If you choose not to study for a test, be prepared to possibly deal with a disappointing grade. If you choose to constantly overeat and overindulge in junk foods, be prepared to have an unhealthy body.  If you choose to break the law, be prepared for legal action to be taken against you.

Choices. Choices. Choices.

It's inevitable.  We have to make choices every day--what to eat, what to wear, who to hang out with, how much money to spend, etc.  Some choices obviously have a greater impact than others. For those BIG decisions that you are faced with, make sure to take the time to carefully weigh your options so that you can make a choice that you can be proud of!

from www.thingswesay.com

My Top 10 Guilty Pleasures

 If Loving You is Wrong, I Don't Want to Be Right... (Good thing you can't hear me through the computer because I was using my loudest Luther Ingram voice!)  Do you remember that song?  Anyway, I can subtly hear it playing in the background when I think of my most favorite guilty pleasures.  Here is a list of things that make me super happy, even though I'm sometimes a bit embarrassed to admit it! (This list is in no particular order.  They all make me equally happy!)

1.  Cheesecake Factory Pineapple Upside Down Cheesecake

 

2.  Cheesecake Factory Dutch Apple Caramel Streusel Cheesecake

 

3.  Mexican Food

 

4.  My laptop

photo taken from www.amazon.com

5.  My iPhone 5s



6.  My Clarisonic

photo taken from www.myimagejourney.com

7.  Anything Boyz II Men sang in the 90s



8.  Diet Coke

 


9.  Sour Patch Kids


10. Philosophy products
 

What are your guilty pleasures?

New Month, New Goals

Who doesn't love a good challenge?  This month, I have accepted See Jane Write magazine's challenge to blog like crazy for the month of November.  Well, here goes nothing...

I can't believe it's already November.  This year has flown by so quickly.  When I think back to my list of goals for the year, I sadly have to admit that I didn't accomplish as much as I had hoped.  (I'm still trying to figure out why not, because I don't feel like I've "rested" very much. Hence the name, "Diva on the Run"!)  Nonetheless, I won't stop setting goals.  For that is one way that I'm sure to have something to work towards.  And, goal-setting is a great way to hold myself accountable and evaluate myself on a regular basis.

This month, I'm going to compose a list of things I plan to accomplish.  I'm going to keep my list short and sweet so that I feel more accomplished at the end of month and so that I don't get too overwhelmed.  So, here it goes.  Here's a list of things I plan to accomplish in the month of November:

• I will clean out my closet.  For real.  I'll get rid of the things that I haven't worn in over two years.  (Don't roll your eyes at me.  I'm sure you have some old stuff in your closet, too.)
• I'm going to update my den.  (I've been complaining about how uncomfortable my 10-year old couches are for about six months.  I guess I'm going to let these couches retire and replace them with something more modern.  It' really, really time for us to say goodbye to these.  Really.)
• I'm going to finish reading The Happiness Project. Then, I'm going to start a happiness project of my own.  
• I will contact 5 friends that I haven't spoken to in a while.  And, it won't be via text message.  Voice calls only.  

So, that's it.  Nothing too difficult, right?  One thing for each week of the month!  I can do this.  I will do this. Join me in making a realistic list of reachable goals for the month of November!  

I Need Some "Me" Time

Back in August, I vowed to take some time from each day to focus on me.  Well, for about two weeks, I woke up early, made myself a cup of Joe, and sat quietly in my den thinking about the goings-on of life. Then, I quickly realized that if I really wanted to take care of me, I needed SLEEP!  So, needless to say, my 30-minute “me” time has slowly dwindled away.  It’s really, really close to nonexistent since, as of late, I've opted to hit the snooze button a couple of times before slowly dragging myself out of bed.  I guess it’s good that I love my family more than anything else.  Otherwise, I might be a little upset!

You know, the more I think about it.  I don't really need "me" time.  It's obvious that my "me" time is me doing what I love to do each day.  Me living my day to day life is all the "me" time that I need. And that's the truth.

"Me" with my daughter at the Auburn vs. Florida Atlantic Game

"Me" helping Emmitt, our school mascot, get ready for the pep rally

"Me" with my cousins after church

"Me" with my sweet little nieces

"Me" when I first realized that my son was taller than me

See what I mean?  It's quite evident that I get way more "me" time than I realized!  I'm enjoying this life of mine and all the amazing people in it!

Friday Five!

It's the final Friday of August.  I cannot believe that yet another month has passed us by!  School has been in session for two weeks.  One more week and I should be settled back into my routine for the next eight months. 

I'm looking forward to this long weekend and I am taking the initiative to make sure that it is a restful one for me!  I hope that you all enjoy your weekends. 

Here's my Friday Five...

1.  Still more fresh veggies...

My garden didn't get the memo that I'm back at work.  Tomatoes, green beans, and peppers are still going strong in the garden!  Here's this week's harvest. 

2.  Classroom decor...

Last year, my sweet niece painted this picture for my classroom.  I loved it so much, that I decided to use it again this year.  I found the word art at The Dollar Tree in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Doesn't it look cute with the painting? 

3.  Pranksters...

When I introduce myself to my students each year, I always include a spill about my love affair with all things Auburn.  Needless to say, the 'Bama fans in the room make sure to inform me that I've made a horrible choice and usually find pretty creative ways to leave notes that include their well-known battle cry.  I've given them explicit instructions to refrain from writing on my board.  So, when I returned to my classroom after lunch today, this was on my board.  When I finally noticed it, their response was, "Hey, we didn't write on your board!"  I love my students!

4.  New Bzz Agent Campaigns...

I was super excited to receive free products from Bzz Agent this week!  I absolutely love this Word of Mouth Marketing company that allows me to try free products in exchange for an honest review of the products.  We've gotten some really cool products.  It's always fun to see what we're getting next!  Stay tuned for my upcoming reviews of these products.  (Disclaimer:  The only compensation that I receive from Bzz Agent are the products.  I do not receive financial compensation for my opinions.  All opinions are my own personal, unbiased opinions.)

Football!!!!!!!!

I LOVE football.  Honestly, I think that I love all that comes along with football.  Cheerleaders cheering, bands playing, fans screaming, popcorn popping, friends celebrating. It's just a good time had by all (football fans)!  I'm excited that it's football season again.  It's the only time of year that I can GUARANTEE that I'll see my friends from Auburn University.  I'm anxiously awaiting tomorrow's season opener!!! 

Don't forget...enjoy your weekend.  Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!!

Whew!

I survived the first week of school!  Summer break is wonderful, but the struggle to reconvene after a 12-week break is REAL!  I've been struggling to wake up early each morning, struggling to maintain my composure due to snack deprivation (my all-day snacking routine has been severely impacted, although that's probably a really good thing), struggling to stay alert and high-functioning without my afternoon nap, and the list goes on.  I suspect it will take about two more weeks to get it together. 

Somehow, I made it through the week.  And when I look back, I think I did a pretty good job!  My classes were pretty productive, my own children successfully navigated their new schools.  Nobody missed practices, games, meetings, or performances.  Everyone ate three (somewhat) balanced meals each day.  Homework was completed.  Lesson plans were posted. Clothes were laundered. Beds were made. Dishes were washed.

And just think...we get to do it all over again next week! 

Whew!!

Getting to Know You: A Linkup with AWB!

When the thought of blogging first began to tickle my fancy, I was really nervous.  I also lacked confidence that my blog would attract readers.  Now, over 1,500 views later, I'm building my blog confidence.  (My blog is just over one month old.)

With the help of my friends and the support of Alabama Women Bloggers, my blog is slowly gaining the momentum it needs to help me secure a spot in the blog world.  Thanks AWB!!

Today, I'm doing a "self-interview" link-up post in connection with AWB.  So read ahead to find out more about me.  Also, you can click on the button below to find out more about some of your other favorite women bloggers who call Alabama home!

1. What part of the state do you call home?


I'm a native of Talladega.  But, Pell City has been my home for the last 10 years.

2. How long have you been blogging?


I have been blogging for almost two months.

3. Why did you start blogging?


I fell in love with my friend's blog, Hems for Her.  She encouraged me to give blogging a try.  Since I love writing, I figured I'd give it a shot!

4. What is your favorite part of being a member of the Alabama Women Bloggers community?


I love the support that the AWB community provides.  It's so encouraging.  I also like reading all of the different blogs.  There are so many talented women bloggers in Alabama!

5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?


In five years I'll have much more time on my hands, but less money in my pocket.  My kids will be driving, which means they'll probably want to spend less time with me and want more of my money for gas and fun!  LOL

6. If you could choose an actress to play you in your life, who would you choose and why?


Angela Bassett, duh.  She's almost as hot as I am!!  (In my dreams, anyway.)

7. Name 5 things on your Bucket List that you hope you’ll check off before you die?


-Learn to play the piano WELL (I dabble, but nothing major.  I need more lessons.)

-Meet and hang out with Oprah Winfrey!  (I've been a fan since I was about 11!)

-Vacation in Bora Bora (And stay EXACTLY where they stayed in the movie "Couples Retreat")

-Go skiing (I'd have to learn first)

-Go sky diving (Not really, but everyone puts that on their Bucket List, so what the heck?)

8. If you could be known for one thing, what would it be and why?


Being a great teacher.

9. Describe the best moment in your life.

I have two best moments in life:  the day that I became Jordan's mother and the day that I became Kaylen's mother.  Best moments in life.  No doubt.

10. If you could “be” anything (no consequences, no fear), what would you “be”?


That's a tough one.  I think I'd be a travel agent so that I could travel the world and then help people plan exciting vacations!

11. What or who inspires you to blog?


My life inspires my blog.  I blog about things that I experience.

12. We’re headed to your neck of the woods… what restaurant would you recommend?


The Tavern of St. Clair.  It's a quaint little family owned casual-dining restaurant and pub.  The Hubs and I are regulars there.  We went there the other night for a birthday dinner and one of the waitresses hugged me.  If you're there, I highly recommend the Ribeye Ravioli.

13. What’s a southern tradition you and your family have?


Big Thanksgiving meals.

14. If you could pick your favorite blog post from your blog this year, what would it be?


My very first blog post.  I will never forget the fear that I felt when I clicked the "publish" button.  I am proud of myself for having the courage to do something different.  Here's the link:

Introducing...ME!!!

15. We all love social media, tell us your links so we can follow you!

Click on these buttons to find me:



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