Dennis Parrett....he really is the person for this job.

Last night, I had my first experience with really campaigning for my dad. Sure, I'd been in parades and rode on the "Dennis Parrett for State Senator" float and passed out flyers, but I hadn't had a conversation face-to-face with someone about why they should elect my dad to be their next Senator. That all changed last night. My mother calls me up and informs me that my name is on the list of volunteers to go walking door-to-door in a local community. It was the moment I dreaded. I don't mind doing the fundraisers, asking people if they want a yard sign, posting on facebook about all of my dad's activities and exclaiming "Elect Dennis Parrett!" but this was real-life, I'm going to be knocking on people's doors and they might not be happy about it. Not my idea of a fun night. Nevertheless, I tell my mom that I would be happy to walk (I'm secretly trying to win the "Most Helpful Daughter During the Campaign" award). As time gets closer for us to depart on our excursion, my nervousness and fear begins mounting. Every worst case scenerio plays through my head. What if someone slams the door in my face? What if I get blessed out by some politic-hating person that doesn't want to be bothered during their dinnertime? What if I am greeted by a large dog that attacks me? Or worse, what if I'm greeted by someone with a weapon that's totally annoyed that I'm on their property??? Not only that, but what if someone puts me on the spot? What if they ask me a question I can't answer, or they want to know why they should elect my dad (and I don't think "Because he's a good daddy" counts as a valid answer). I could feel a stomach ulcer growing as big as my list of worries. But dad assured me that I would be fine. So dad and I, along with my littlest sister and my aunt, make our way to the city of Radcliff. Arriving at our first street, I'm so nervous, I feel the need to be sick. We get out our map and begin to ring doorbells. I begin by sticking close to dad's side, lingering on the sidewalk while he talks to the homeowners. That is, until dad notices. He encourages me to go up to the next house while he's talking. Reluctantly, I go. I ring a few doorbells, I pass out a few flyers, I give the "I'm campaigning for Dennis Parrett and here's why he should be your Senator" spiel, all the while dreading the moment that I deal with one of my above mentioned fears. Although not out-loud, I'm grumbling in my head about signing up to do this. Only crazy people volunteer to walk up to a complete stranger's house and knock on their door! I begin to look for my quickest escape route. Until I look at my dad. He's LOVING this. He's trotting from one house to another, talking with everyone that will come to the door, flashing us the thumbs-up sign and moving on down the street. He's really excited about this. Here I am, worrying about a dog or a rude reaction, when dad's just thankful to be there. With every person he gets to talk to and every semi-interested person that will listen to him, he gets even more excited. His excitement is contagious. So what if someone has a few choice words for me? It's not like it would be the first time. So what if someone ignores me? I slip a information card onto their doorknob and move on to the next house. Dad loves this. This is why he's running in the first place. To meet the people of this area and have the opportunity to represent and help them. He loves getting to talk with these people and find out what's really bothering them. With every thumbs up and smile he gives me during our walking, I realize, THIS is why my dad should be the next State Senator.

Save Money, Live Better, I'm Trying!!

Maybe I'm being over-ambitious. Maybe I'm taking on too many resolutions at once. I've vowed to myself to slim down and get back to my pre-wedding weight. And, starting today, I'm adding another item to my to-do list. Save money. Marty and I have been taking a 13 week Dave Ramsey finance class to learn how to live on a budget, pay bills and build wealth. We're 6 weeks in and I've already learned valuable tips about how to live within our means and not overspend. If anyone is having trouble making ends meet or living paycheck to paycheck or just want to learn how to live more comfortably, I HIGHLY recommend the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University workshop. Absolutely worth the money. So here's my promise: I'm going to stick to the budget we are going to make for ourselves. I am going to cut out all fast food meals, drinks at the gas station and completely unnecessary purchases that I make everyday. Instead of going out to eat a couple of lunches a week, I'm hitting the grocery and stocking up on my favorite things to take for lunch. Instead of getting a Dr. Pepper from McDonald's on occassion, I'm going to buy cans and have them by my side. Yes, it's only a dollar here or a couple of bucks there, but those add up. I wish I had back all the money I've spent on meals out or impulse purchases. Things that I didn't need, but bought anyway. There's so many things that I want to do, but don't have the funds available to do them. So here's to building our wealth. Here's to raising enough money to someday be able to finish landscaping around our house. Here's to saving enough money to live comfortably and taking the chance of finding a job that I enjoy, no matter what the paycheck is, instead of working everyday to be able to pay bills. I encourage everyone to join in this pledge with me. Until you sit down and figure out exactly where your money goes, you're clueless as to how much you're really spending. Starting today, I'm saving money. Frugal doesn't sound like such a bad word after all....

Scaredy cat in love with hats.

I. Love. Hats. I do the same thing every year. I walk into stores when the fall clothes make their debut on the racks and I immediately check out the selection of winter hats. During a recent trip to Target, I drooled over at least 6 hats that I would love to have. But I have a problem: I'm scared. I want to be fashion forward and wear some trend setting things, but I don't want to go so far out there that people think I'm weird. And trouble is, I don't see a whole lot of people wearing hats around Etown. I don't want to be the only nerd sporting a fedora or a winter cloche. The fashion adventurous side of me says "Who cares?! If you think it's cute, then go for it!" But the more dominant, people pleasing side of me just wants to fit in. How nice it must be to just not care at all what people think. To be able to do whatever you want without fear of people thinking you're different or a nerd. Sigh. So I guess pictures of my lovely hats will have to do instead. Maybe I'll gain some courage one day and go buy myself one.......

Four letter dirty word: d-i-e-t.

This morning, I was going through my daily routine. Shower, primp, dress...when I noticed my reflection in the mirror. Where did that extra little bit of fat come from? I've heard that after the first year of marriage, the average bride gains approximately 20 pounds. I vowed that I would not be one of those brides. I would be the same size that I was on our wedding day (at least until babies came along). And for awhile, I was. Slowly, I noticed a change. My college sized jeans were a little tighter. My work pants weren't as comfortable as they used to be. I refused to acknowledge this change. I continued to make myself wear the tiny-bit too small pair of pants because accepting it meant buying a bigger size. And that was NOT going to happen. For those of you that know me, I'm a faithful viewer of What Not to Wear. I LOVE Stacy and Clinton. Stacy, with her flippant attitude and her know-it-all fashion sense, is constantly lecturing women that are insisting on squeezing into their too small clothing. "It's not the number on the tag that counts, it's how you look in the clothing." I would scoff at the WNTW contestants and wonder why they couldn't accept going from a 8 to a 10 if it meant looking better and not wearing skin-tight clothing. Until I was that person looking at changing clothing sizes. It wasn't just a change from a 4 to a 6, it was accepting that I'm gaining weight. And before all of you freak out on me, I know I'm not fat. I have a small frame, but I have gained a few extra pounds that don't need to be there. And the result is a lower self-esteem version of me. I look at my wedding dress and wonder if I could even get it zipped. So here's my personal challenge. Lose 5 pounds. My stomach doctor has put me on a gluten free diet (which translates to no breads, no pizza dough, no pasta, nothing made with wheat) so I'm going to faithfully stick to it. I'm also going to go walking. Now that summer is coming to an end and it's not unbearably hot outside, I'm going to take a stroll. Heck, I might even start jogging (although I don't think my asthma will tolerate much of that...). Not only will it help me get into better shape, but it'll be relaxing. Starting today, I'm on a slim down a little and feel better about myself kind of diet. If Audrey Hepburn can make a vow that she'll never weigh over 103 pounds, why can't I make a similar pact?

Best. Day. Ever.

It's almost my favorite day of the year!! Nope, my birthday isn't until February....Christmas, you say? Not quite....Valentine's Day? Please! It's almost Cecilia Days! I know, I can hear you laughing now, but it's one of those days that I look forward to all year long. I haven't been able to attend the last few years (one of those side effects of having a big girl job). I missed not getting to see the parade where I know 90% of the participants. I wasn't going to get to see my uncle ride his restored Allis-Chalmers tractor that was dedicated in memory of my Pepaw. I missed the barbeque sandwiches and the chicken dinner. I missed getting to work the Hardin County Dairy Assocation's ice cream booth with my Meemaw, mom, sisters and aunts. I missed getting to browse through the 20 or so booths filled with tshirts, purses, crafts and food. I missed, more than anything, getting to laugh at the "Almost" Talent Show (one of those things that I couldn't explain if I tried....you just have to see it). But this year, gosh darn it, I was going to take a day off from my big girl job and attend my favorite day. After all, this year, my Meemaw is the reigning Mayor of Cecilia! (a title that comes with virtually no powers except the priviledges of plugging in the town Christmas tree and leading the Cecilia Days parade). This year, my entire family is coming to ride on the Dennis Parrett for State Senator float (a tobacco wagon with hay bales :)) But the biggest change from my regular Cecilia Days festivities......this year, I'm setting up a booth that will have my Rustic Elegance crafts for sale. I have developed approximately 6 stomach ulcers, lost countless hours of sleep and fretted myself into a state of anxiety over this booth, but I'm super excited about it. I can't wait to decorate my tents with a touch of "rustic elegance." I can't wait to get my products out there and be able to really determine whether or not people like or want to buy my stuff. You can find me, along with all the other booths, at Cecilia Days this weekend (Friday night-all day Saturday). Come out, enjoy some laughs, crafts and a chicken dinner. You'll be a Cecilia Days fan for life :)

The longest 3 months of my life.

I am pleased to announce that my three month self inflicted shopping ban has FINALLY ended!!!!!!!! Three months of walking into stores, getting only what I needed and walking right out. Three months of being tempted by the change of season clothing like sundresses, shorts, tank tops and sandals. I can't say that I was a good girl the entire time. I came close to cheating SEVERAL times. Once, I was shopping with my sisters and mom (I do not recommend this if you're on a shopping ban. It's no fun to watch other people buy clothes). I found this fabulous navy blue and white peasant top that I could just picture with a white pair of shorts or a pair of jeans and a cute pair of flats. It had been a horrible week and the darn shirt was on clearance for an amazing $11. Against my better judgement, I picked the shirt up and carried it to the dressing room. Against my better judgement, I tried the shirt on. Just my luck, it looked fabulous. I walked around the store, shirt in hand and internal debate going on in my head. "You don't really need the shirt." "But it's so pretty!" "You're on a shopping ban." "It's so cheap!!" "You'll feel guilty after you buy it..." The argument continued as I walked up to the cash register. I could just feel the judgement being passed by my sister and mom. My rational side prevailed and I reluctantly walked back to the clearance rack and returned the shirt...a cute bargain for someone to find other than me. Temptation number two came in the form of a white linen dress at TJMaxx. Again, I ran into the clearance monster. It was adorable. It was perfect for summer. I could just picture wearing it to some of dad's campaign activities. I had a pair of bronze heels that would look AMAZING with this dress. Again, I made a trip to the dressing room (obviously, I'm a glutton for punishment). Twenty minutes of wandering around the store, I finally put the dress back and sulked out of the store. There are a million of little temptation stories I could share...a cute pair of shoes here, a jacket there....but the end of the story is, I resisted! I celebrated on Sunday by walking around Fayette Mall to BUY THINGS! Not just walk around and admire and feel jealous, but actually buy myself something. I ended up with two Anne Taylor shirts (both under $15, score!), a pair of flats and a pair of sandals. And I felt redeemed. I proved to myself that I could go three months without buying something for myself. I proved to other people that I was not materialistic and didn't have to buy a new article of clothing every time I made a trip to town. I can now go in a store and not feel the temptation to buy something every time. I can ignore the red clearance signs and just pick one thing. These past three months have been good for me. Unfortunately, I don't have a higher bank account balance due to my recent stomach issues, but my personal sense of accomplishment more than made up for it. So watch out malls! I'm free to shop again!!!

One room down, five more to go...

I am happy to announce that Phase One of declutter and organize my house is complete! The first task on my quest to organizational perfection was to attack (I mean that literally) our shared office/my art room. After browsing online and finding picture after picture of one perfectly organized office and craft room after another, I set it in my mind that I could do the same. I could make our office organized, pretty to look at and functional at the same time. When I set out to tackle this room, I never realized the amount of STUFF Marty and I had gathered over a year of marriage. Rolls of wrapping paper, acrylic paint bottles, a mountainous pile of Bluegrass Cellular pens and an endless supply of paper was the clutter that was taking over my life. There HAS to be a way to keep all the junk you need (and I was surprised how much of it we do need and couldn't just simply be thrown away) but keep it organized. With this in mind, my journey began. Target became my best friend. I picked up black media boxes, magazine holders and hanging file organizers for $3 apiece. I found a scrapbook storage box on sale for $2 thanks to a little nick in the side. Anything that looked halfway fashionable but could also double as storage and was cheap, I picked it up. I went through piles of old paperwork, magazines, newspaper clippings...wondering when I picked up the label of "packrat." Now that our stuff was organized, it was time to *gulp* paint. When we were in the process of buying our house, the builders had already painted most of the rooms when we entered the scene. They asked if I was okay with the color, and being the people-pleaser, conflict-avoider I am, I said it was just fine. And it is. It's a beautiful neutral shade of yellowish-tan that goes with almost everything in our house. Problem is, it's ALL over the house. When we started to move things out of the office, I saw the opportunity for color. A trip to Lowe's was planned. I practically skipped to the paint section, imagining all the possibilities. I drooled over Coral Passion, I fell in love with Tantalizing Teal and fantasized about Limolicious. When the time came to make a color purchase, I realized one very important thing: I am scared of color. Sure, Coral Passion looks beautiful on a 2"x4" card, but how's it going to look covering 4 walls of my room? What if I hate it?? How do I know what color is going to look good and make the room appear bigger than what it really is? Reluctantly, I left the paint section uncommitted to any certain shade and more confused than ever before. I showed my favorite paint samples and took a poll of several people and realized that I just needed to go for it...or in the words of my sister "Go big or go home." Yes, I may hate the color, but repainting the walls is an option (not one I would look forward to, but still an option). And if I don't take a risk, how will I ever know if it would have paid off? To Lowe's I returned. Two coats of Laguna Green later, I'm ecstatic. The black and white furniture looks AMAZING against the turquoise-y color and I couldn't be happier. Phase One is complete. :)