Things I Think You Should Know About Me

I recently had a reader email me to say that she loves reading the blog, but at times I am intimidating because it seems like I have it all together.  That made me sad to think I may be giving off the vibe of everything is perfect around here--it so IS NOT.  Just remember, certain pics,

like this one of my Easy Salted Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes, don't show the sink right next to it that is full of dirty dishes.  Also remember that inspiration posts I share, like this one on Organization, or this one, on New Year's Eve, are inspiring ME too.  Just because I share inspirational pictures on my blog does not mean I am doing it all myself.

Oh my dear readers, I'm just an everyday Plain Jane (actually Amy Sue) from the Midwest trying to make the best with what life brings my way.  To drive this point home, I thought I would have a little fun letting you know a few things about me.

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~we only have 3 forks in the entire house right now.  Yep, 3.  For a family of 5.  That is a problem.  I ate pasta last night with a spoon.  Where are our forks?  I don't know.  I have a feeling little ones may have thrown them away along with their paper plates...which brings me to the next tidbit...

~ ...we use paper plates sometimes because I just get so sick of doing the dishes.  So not very green, but I justify it by being green in other ways.

~I really, really like fuzzy socks.  In bright colors.  With patterns.  My husband does not, but he puts up with it.

~I REALLY like wearing fuzzy socks with my super soft and fluffy white bath robe.  To top the sexy look off, when I am cold, I put the hood up and look like a boxer dressed in white, with rainbows and polka dots on my fuzzy feet.  Yeah, hot.

~Said robe and socks = what I usually am wearing while blogging if I happen to write a post before 10 am, which is often. So, if you ever feel intimidated by what you read, just picture that.  Problem solved.

~I use Photobooth on our Mac to check out the back of my hair before going out.  If someone comes in while I am doing this, I feel like a dweeb...like... I am checking myself out or really in love with myself or overly concerned with how I look.  I'm not.

~I love to polish my nails, but walk around with chipped nail polish 90% of the time. Oh, and my nails are usually stained with hair color because I am a hairstylist for those of you who don't know. Ugh. I feel it advertises to all that I so don't have it together, and lately I feel completely at peace with that.  Cheers to chipped polish!!

~I always, ALWAYS have at least 4 loads of dirty laundry haunting me.

~I don't make my own soap, like in this post.  Not anymore.  After my diagnosis, I bought soap and decided I really like buying my soap.  I may delete that post altogether.

~I have a touch of OCD.  The pillows on my couch need to be straight.  Chairs at the table pushed in and straight.  Cupboards need to be closed--nothing worse than walking into the kitchen with cupboards hanging open! Shower curtain, closed! Oh, and the toilet seat. Must. Be. Down.  This is not a good thing.  I get a little nuts about it, and my friends make fun of me and mess my pillows up on purpose, just to see me go straighten them.

~Sometimes I make coffee (really good, expensive organic coffee) and forget to drink it.  I think down deep I use it as one would a glade plug-in, just to get a whiff when I walk in the room.  That is expensive aromatherapy.  I need to rethink this one.

~I have 1,349 emails in my inbox.  Yeah.

~I have perfectly good pj pants of my own, but still prefer to steal husbands and walk around with the waist rolled up.  His just feel right.

{my beautiful momma with me while in the hospital, Dec. 2010}

~I wear hats almost as often as I did while sporting a chemo bald head, but now the reason is laziness.  Love my new hair, just don't love doing it everyday.

~If I am pms-ing, watch out world.  I get snippy and a bit gripe-y.  I used to be a yeller, not anymore.  God in His mercy helped me overcome that, but I do realize that quiet, snarky words can be just as harmful.  {sigh}

~Yes, we eat very healthy around here.  But, even in that, I give myself an out.  Instead of calling myself "Vegan" (which I am 90% of the time) I say I am a "plant-based, whole foods eater, sometimes cheater."  Ain't that a fun title.  I wear it proudly.

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So you see, I do not have it all together.  This is just a tidbit of my quirks and imperfections.  There are so many more.  It is great to be at a point in my life where I am getting over trying to be perfect, but instead, seeing myself how God sees me.  I strive to make Him smile, and I know the way to do this is to lean into Him and rest in who He has made me, and is yet making me. I've got my eye on the prize, I am moving forward in this life race. It is such a beautiful one!

Philippians 12:12-14 Message version, says it perfectly, spoken by the Apostle Paul:

 ^12-14I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.