Dove Chocolate Challenge Day # 141 "Dare to Dream ." Dove Chocolate Promises

Hey guyyyyys!!!!!!!


I say, LONG TIME NOT SEE!!! Last time I blogged was in April. Crazy! I guess I kinda gave up, and here are some reasons why;

• No more internet (kind of a biggie)
• Moved to new apartment
• Was busy trying to get licensed for foster care
• Started a new position
• And got overwhelmed.

BUT...I think I'm back! And I do dare to dream!!!! I am going to continue my blog till I hit my 365 day mark! I started it, so I'm gonna pick right back up where I left off and I'm gonna finish it! ...6 months later, but nonetheless not giving up. I'm back guys. I'm gonna try my best. It might not be everyday, cause sometimes I won't have internet, buy I will definitely try my best. :)


So, there's a whole lotta catchin' up I gotta let you in on! Wow, wow, wow! Life has definitely taken a 360 for me, lots of change, But good change! After this little entry, I'm gonna go look at some of my beginning blogs and see where this year had led me.

Anyway, I hope you're having a great day, and remember, DARE TO DREAM! And if you've ever given up on your dreams, it's never too late to start over!!! K? Remember that! And rest assured that you CAN do what you've always been wanting to do, whether that includes going back to school to finish your degree, starting a better relationship with your kids, saving money to go on that one dream vacation that you've never gone on but always dream of, or that karate class or ballet class, even if your 50 years old and you think it's past your age limit. Life is full of possibilites, so GO FOR IT! Like that Nike slogan, JUST DO IT! :) You can do and be anything that you want to be. It's up to you. The world is full of opportunites and possibilites, you just have to make up your mind to allow yourself to dream again and to take action for it. Afterall, the world doesn't need a bunch of people that are walking around dead, it needs people to come alive.=)

You are your biggest stumbling block. If you allow yourself to do it, and set goals and deadlines, and get encouragement along the way, you WILL soar!

Love you guys,

And keep dreaming!

And pursuing your dreams!!! Don't give up!

And remember, it's never too late to start over!

-Your Fellow Chocolatier

Dove Chocolate Challenge Day # 140 "Engage Other. Inspire All. Believe in YOU ." Gretchen / Hatley WI

Wow,

 It's been forever and a day. :) It's good to be back! Life has been pretty hectic and crazy in the last month. ...I can't believe I haven't blogged in over a MONTH! How crazy is that? Well, hopefully now I will be back on schedule. It's always hard for me to get back into the habit of blogging when I get out of it, which happens with anything for that matter. It easy to break habit and it's always harder to start one. That's just the way it is.

Well, anyway, right now I'm sitting down on the couch watching some live footage of the Royal Wedding. Pretty cool huh? :) Prince William and Kate Middleton are getting hitched. This is pretty crazy, billions of people are watching the Wedding to be through the media. It's pretty interesting. I wonder how she feels with the eyes of the whole world on her? I bet they will be sooo happy once it's actually just them on their honeymoon. Best of wishes to them. I hope and pray that they truly and honestly have a happy married life ahead of them. :)

As for today's quote. I think that engaging others and inspiring all first has to come from engaging and inspiring yourself. I believe in getting to know yourself. Knowing who you are, what you feel strong about, what you like, dislike, stand strong for, don't care much for, what makes you happy, what makes you tick. it's important to know your boundaries, breaking points, and beliefs. It's important to know your weaknesses and your strengths. It's just important for us human beings to figure ourselves out. It'll make the world a much easier place to live in. That's what I believe anyway. That's why I'm taking a break from acting and other things for the next 6 months to really try to figure out who I really am. I want to take some time to figure things out for myself, clear my head a bit, and just work on myself. I believe I will be much more productive and helpful when I can have assurance of who I am. What do you think? Well, anyway, I believe that is starts with you. You can't change anyone, but you CAN and HAVE the power to changer yourself. So be EMPOWERED! I believe in today's quote, but let me reverse the order of the quote to make it fit a bit better. :) "Believe in YOU. Inspire ALL. Engage Others." Now that more like it. :)

Well guys,

I'm going to bed. I hope you've had a wonderful day so far.

Don't let anything or anyone get you down. Have faith and believe in yourself, and maybe something a bit higher than yourself. :)

K guys,

Goodnight or Good day, depending on your time frame.

Love Your Fellow Chocolatier

Dove Chocolate Challenge Day # 139 "YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL." Debbie / Henderson KY

Hi guys,

Long time no see eh? :)

Lots of stuff has been happening lately...and it's all exciting and very scary at the same time. I'm also learning to be a little more easy on myself. I guess I'm going from high standards, to almost no standards, meaning that, I'm not going to be so hard on myself if I don't accomplish what I set out to do. It's okay if I don't finish, and it's okay if I fail. I am not perfect. Obviously. And well, anyway...lately Leah and Stacy and I have started working out, and I have not been the healthy weight that I have wanted to be, although I look it, I've actually been overweight for my BMI, (Body Mass Index), and I just have had no energy, but since taking ballet this semester and since starting these weekly work outs with Leah, Stacy, and Sean, I have felt more energetic, and more healthy. And you know what? I actually don't have an expectation to lose weight. I just don't. My only hope and expectation is that I will be stronger. I want to feel strong and be strong. And that is my expectation, to be healthy, and be myself, not super model, but super chick. :)

Well guys,

I better get going,

I think a few things came up, so I have to go check them out, and I have to get to bed because I have class early in the morning!

K,

Love ya!

-Your Fellow Chocolatier,

P.S., You know what? Even though I don't always feel beautiful, I know that I am. :)

Dove Chocolate Challenge Day # 138 "Treat every day as a gift." PROMISES MESSAGES

Hey guys!

Haven't seen ya in awhile! :) It's been kinda crazy lately...I have to remind myself to actually blog and eat chocolate. Insane right? :) Well...life has been kinda hectic lately...lots of changes going on here and there.  ...I guess I'm just kinda stuck wondering where the next step will lead. I feel like I'm in a crossroads in my life, with the whole foster parenting thing, and acting, and my new job, and gaining new friendships, and seeing friends leave for awhile, and just things like that. It's like WHAM BAM!!! It's almost as if I don't even have the time to think anything through, It feels as though I am kinda being thrown into it...and it definitely feels good to blog about it. I am figuring myself out as we speak. Well, me and Brian joined the board for "The Well" and we will be having our first board meeting on the 3rd Sunday of April. And we might get Eleanor, this all might actually work out, we spoke with her attorney today, so we wiil see.. :) But so far, so good. And well, I'm just continuing with all the cooking, I finally feel like I can breathe and like I am actually catching up. It feels good. Oh, lol, Eleanor has a boyfriend, so she went to the movies with him yesterday, and all four of us went on a double date. We were in another part of the theater, watching an entirely different movie from the one they were watching, but we were still in the same movie theater, watching different movies at the same time. You see, we don't know the guy too well, so we weren't just gonna let her go on a date with him unless they followed our standards. :) I got to meet him the day before and he hung out at Joel's Place. Nice kid, so far. :) And I talked with him on the phone, and asked him if his intentions towards Eleanor were honorable, and he was suprised because nobody had ever asked him a question of the sort. So it was great. He's kinda intimidated by us, which is a good thing. :) And he is super polite, which I like. He's from Delta, so it's a long distance relationship, so this might work. I hope it actually does, because I approve. :) Well...anyway, we gave them an ultimatum, (since we didn't know the guy), that we would drop Eleanor off at the movies at the start of the movie and pick her up at the end, that way there wouldn't be any time for fooling around, whatever that means. Basically so that they wouldn't have any extra time on their hands...teenagers tend to get into trouble when they are bored or when they have too much time on their hands (which I trust the two of them, and I don't think this is the case), and the second option was that we would go to the movies with them, different movies, at the same time. We decided to do the latter. It was pretty fun. Haha, she said she fell asleep during the movie..aparently they saw "Battlefiend Lost Angeles," so she wasn't interested in the apocolypse via aliens novie. :) They were supposed to go see "I am number four," but ended up movie hopping in the beginning. lol. She made me laugh when she said she fell asleep. She said it was boring, although her date had fun and throroughly enhoyed it. That's good though. :) I like the both of them together, he's a nice kid, and I hope they make it. I could see them going far, but we'll see what happens. I have nothing but high hopes for them. :) And Brian and I ended up watching "The Adjustment Bureau," which is a great movie by the way, I would recommend watching it. I think I may even buy it when it comes out on dvd, it's kinda like Inception, but the story line was more like "Equilibrium," which is another excellent movie by the way.

Well guys, today was a good day, I guess I rambled quite a bit about yesterday, but today was good. It was a Monday, and Mondays are staff days. That means that we close down at 7 instead of 9 to have staff meetings, and I thoroughly enjoy those. I really like the Joel's Place family. I love all of my co-workers.

Well, I am trying to treat each day as a gift, not to take any moment for granted, especially since what happened in Japan a couple of days ago, my heart goes out to everyone there. In case you are reading this blog and you are from Japan, I want to give you my condolences, and I also want to let you know that you are in my prayers. May God be with you.

I got a bit sad watching the news today, I had to turn it off, it was just so heart wrenching...what else is there to say? I don't think words are enough...

I just want to leave you with this message; take a look and evaluate what the important things are in life, don't take your family and friends for granted, love them every moment you have, forgive, and never give up on them. Believe in redemption, have hope, and be a shining light that you are placed on this earth to be. Keep your head up kid. :) Everything will be alright. I promise. Things may not seem like it now, but I promise you will get through. There is a rainbow on the other side, the storm will not last forever.  Anyway....live, laugh, love. Or even so, Live well, laugh often, love much.

With Love,

-Your Fellow Chocolatier

P.S., I meant it, seriously, don't take a moment for granted. LOVE every chance you get. Choose love, because Love Wins.

Dove Chocolate Challenge Day # 137 "Be brave and hope for a cure." Anne / St. Louis, MO

Crazy! Crazy!!!!

I've just been watching the news for about 2 hours. Japan got hit with a 8.9 magnitude earthquake and this also triggered a tsunami wave that will not only and not only has affected Japan but will also affect the entire west coast, from Alaska to South America. That's crazy! Warnings have been issued for the West Coast, Los Angeles is shutting down it's beaches, and they are estimating that the water may go inland and entire mile. That's pretty crazy and devastating. Hawaii should be hit next, and then the rest of the coast. I feel like the entire world is glued to the t.v, watching what will happen next. My friend Nicole posted earlier today that she was leaving for Tokyo, (She's in a foreign exchange program in Japan), and she attends Hokkido University. And today she posted as a facebook comment that she was headed to Kyoto and Tokyo. Everybody has been posting worried comments on her facebook page because no one could reach her, and Tokyo was hit the hardest...she just replied around 20 minutes ago saying that she was safe and that she got of the train before they shut down. All major transportation in Japan is shut down, leaving many without any way of getting home. Nicole and her friend are safe, they made it to Kyoto and she is eating a hot meal with her friend's family. Glad she is safe! Thanks to all who were praying for her!

I am just waiting and watching, just watching what will happen next, and I hope that many people will rush to help out in Japan, I am hoping for a cure, for a remedy, I hope that many helping hands will aide the people of Japan. If I could, I would go. So I am praying for open path ways for those who will make plans to go such as PeaceCorps workers, navy, and others such as that.

Well,

Love You Guys,

Stay Safe, have a peace filled night.

-Love Your Fellow Chocolatier

P.S., Go watch the news, and I also want to challenge you to help out in any way, whether that means informing others about what's going on, donating $$ to help after effects, or even going out to the nations and giving your personal time and strength to help others.

K guys. Love ya!

Dove Chocolate Challenge Day # 136 "Have courage, Love life." - Mary

So,

 The last three days have been interesting. I can't actually go into detail because I want to be careful about what I say, I wish I could go into detail, but I can't just yet. Not quite yet. But maybe soon, maybe even in a few weeks I will be able to. It's about foster parenting. But that's all the detail that I will give for now.

So basically, I have grown in a lot of ways in the past couple of days, and I have most certainly learned a lot more about myself, new things.

I am super tired and I am behind in homework, hopefully I will wake up early tomorrow and get a bit of reading done.

Well guys, I'm going to keep it short, and I'm kind of amazed at myself right because a lot of unexpected things are happening right now, things that I never expected, and so...I guess I'm just in a weird waiting place right now, with acting, foster parenting, and a few couple of other things. And today's message is a good encouragement, have courage and love life. And that, is a huge step in and of itself. So, if you think of me, say a prayer or two for me, k?

Thanks guys!

Hope you're having a terrific day or a terrific night! (Depending on where you live) :)

-Love Your Fellow Chocolatier

Dove Chocolate Challenge Day # 135 "Everyone deserves a lifetime." Pam / Indianapolis, IN

Howdy folks,

 Today has been a very tiering day for me. I just sorta feel very out of it. I've been extremely tired.Good thing I had a community service kid do all of the dishes today at work! That was a major help!

So, I've just kinda been contemplating life, the things I want to see, the things that I don't much care about anymore, and the things that if the big IF happens, then would I be okay with the process and end result?

So...I'm just in a contemplating place. Pray for me, k? :) I would really appreciate that.

Well, I hope everything goes well with foster parenting, I hope we get the process going, and I hope that we get the specific child that we are hoping to get. Keep that in prayer too. So that the Lord will make a way.
I believe that everybody deserves a lifetime, and that everybody deserves a lifetime of love.

K guys,

Love you very much,

-Love Your Fellow Chocolatier

Dove Chocolate Challenge Day # 134 "Blessed is the season the engages the whole world in love." PROMISES Messages

Wow!

 I am such a slacker! I haven't blogged in forever!

But it's good to be back! :)

A lot has happened in the last 9 days, and it's been crazy to keep up with everything. This is definitely my breaking record of no-blogging. But like I said, it definitely feels good to blog again. It's kind of my one rock solid thing I do everyday. Something I know that I have to do whether I feel like it or not. I  mean, I do have a few more things that I do everyday, but this is definitely one of those very healthy things. It's like unloading my thoughts and starting off on a new clean slate, that's definitely what it feels like to blog everyday.

Well, lately I have entered into a season of friendship, I have a few people that I am pursuing and that are pursuing me back. I'm married, so I haven't had many friends lately, besides Mark and Heather, but now 2 other people really entered into my life, their names are Leah and Stacy. And it's just been a refreshing start. I've known the girls for a while, but we never really hung out. But we have become the closest of friends. And it's something I hold dear to my heart very much so.

So! Guess WHAT? Today is March 1st! (Well, maybe the morning of March 2nd), but either way....it's SPRING! Crazy how fast Winter went by! Well, it's still technically Winter in Alaska, it only takes a couple of looks outside to decide that, there's still tons of snow outside and you'll probably freeze your butt of if you take a brisk walk outside, so no world, sorry to dissapoint, but according to Alaska, it is still Winter. BUT!!! The snow should be melted by the middle of next month! Whaa-hooo!!! :) So exciting! I LOVE LOVE LOVE ALASKAN SUMMERS!!! :)

So, you know, Spring is known as the "season of love," and you know what? I agree. It just is. There's something about the weather changing, and just things changing in your life that makes spring so wonderful.

But I think my most favorite season is the Winter Christmas season. The Christmas Holiday Season brings so much spirit, love, and happiness all over the world! I thoroughly enjoy it! But right now, I'm convinced that seasons of friendships are the best. :)

Well guys,

 I better get goin', I have lots of homework to do. Yes. That is never ending. So it seems. Even though it's for a class that I happen to like very much.

Love ya'll

-Love Your Fellow Chocolatier

P.S., I miss Mark, he left to Seattle on Sunday. He went to take care of a friend who is sick. Mark, you are surely missed, but I know that we'll have you back one day, so in the mean time, have a blast! :) Seattle! :)

And...Brian and I may or may not be foster parents (like I've said, lots has happened in the last 9 days, it's almost too much to keep up with). We went to foster parent training tonight. We have lots of paperwork to fill out. It's for a specific child. So..I'm excited, who knows what will only happen next?  :)

Dove Chocolate Challenge Day # 133 "Chocolater thearpy is oh so good." PROMISES Messages

WOW! I can't believe I haven't blogged since the 17th! That's 5 days of no-blogging! How did I manage to ever do that?

Anyway...today was fun! It was a declared "Snow Day." So there was no work! Yeah!


AND, today was kinda intense too...we picked a girl up that we know (Leah, me, & Stacy) that was going through a hard time, and we helped her out. We stopped by the grocery store and loaded up on chocolate, had a girls movie night, hair cutting night, and chocolate galore. It was fun and much needed.

So, Leah, Stacy and I also went to Chili's beforehand and we had some pretty great food! I ordered a warm hearty soup for the day, while the girls ordered mini-burgers. It was fun! I really needed that because I was in a bad mood, I don't know why...well maybe I do, but I really don't feel like talking about it...I was sorta depressed and sad a little bit. But now I am well. I feel so much better. AND I took a pretty good nap today! Yeah!


Well guys,

Hopefully I will not let "no-blogging" go as far as it has this past week. I hope to be a faithful blogger, and now it's time for beeeeddddd.

K guys,

Night nights! Sweet Dreams!

-Love Your Fellow Chocolatier

P.S., my friend Mark is leaving this week, Mark, I'm gonna miss you.

Dove Chocolate Challenge Day # 132 "Believe the best in yourself." PROMISES Messages

Hey ya'll!

Hmmm...today's quote rings true in my heart. It's something I've been struggling with lately, you know, the whole, believing in yourself thing...I have been feeling like such a failure lately, like I don't measure up to certain standards that I create in my frame of mind somehow...Well...I don't know, I guess I also have been comparing myself a lot lately as well! (That's a great self-esteem booster* (saying that sarcastically of course).Well...and I don't remember where, but I read either earlier today or yesterday about not comparing myself with others. Oh yes! That was today! And that was at Barnes and Noble....ok, so funny thing is that every time I go to Barnes to do homework (when I bring my homework), I end up reading anything and everything BUT my homework. Does that ever happen to you? Happens to me all the time! I am so easily distracted! Anyway... I've been comparing myself lately, and that just, needs, to, stop. Period. Hahaha, I forgot how exciting it is to use capital letters. What fun! :) There's all kinds of cool little tricks like these on this blog layout that I never really think twice about using, hmmm...maybe I should look into those things a little bit more. 

Anyway...I'm hoping to start with a little flame of hope in believing the best in myself. I tend to live by a theory that does exactly that for others, you know, believing the best in others, seeing the good in others, what my favorite thing about them is. So...I guess what I'm trying to say is...why not do that to myself? Why not believe the best in myself, and that the troubles and anxious things that I'm going through now are just little stumbling blocks that I WILL overcome? Why not be a little easier on myself? I sensed a "be easy on yourself," type of thing going on when I was praying, and that was my answer. :)


Well.. I guess I'ma be easy on myself and get to bed. :) So I can feel rejuvenated and alive tomorrow morning. lol. But no, for real. I need to just let things go, and realize, that each step that I am in is a beautiful process, and it is exactly that, a process. Rome wasn't built in a day, and it wasn't torn down in a day either.


Well ya'll


I'm going to bed!


-Love Your Fellow Chocolatier


P.S., Be easy on yourself. Give yourself the same level of compassion that you give to others. Step outside yourself and look at you. That's my little bit of wisdom. :)

Dove Chocolate Challenge Day # 131 "Exercise your heart." PROMISES Messages

Hey guys!

 Wow! I haven't blogged for the past three days! I feel kinda lost when I don't blog! LOL!

It's been crazy busy lately, we had our biggest annual fundraiser for work this past weekend, and I'm behind in school work (reading assignments), and I've been crazy sore lately and a bit sick!

It feels like I'm being attacked from every corner. And I kinda feel like I'm a failure cause everything feels like it's spinning outta control.

My eye has also been irritated since last night. It's red and swollen. Not fun. Hurts to blink. I bought visine though, and my eye has been feel lots better.

Well...anyway, back today's quote. I had a dream a little while ago and it was very vivid and the message of the dream was very clear. I had this dream last Summer. And since I had this dream, I have not been able to shake it off. It's a story, a story of four friends, and their lives. Anyway...it would take forever to explain, but basically, the story line is that girls (or really anyone) should not waste their time on guys who make them feel inferior, less than, or kinda stupid, not smart enough, basically intimidated. And it's about moving on and pursuing greater things. A guy might be great, funny, ruggedly good looking, but if he makes you feel like you are less than, then in reality, he is not worth your time. So, that is going to be the message of the book I'm starting to write, which is based on my dream.

Anyway...it's a story about four friends, and two guys and two gals, one gal is in love with one of the guys, but he is clueless and has other "pursuits." And basically...the story just goes through their lives. And it's a positive story. Girls, and guys, if that one other person is truly meant to be yours, when you let them go, they'll come back to you. They'll return, you will be together. And if they don't, then they weren't really yours in the first place.


Well anyway, I've been telling myself since last summer that I would "someday" take the time to start writing this book, but today, I just sat down, and exercised my heart out by creating the characters and bringing their stories to life. I gave them descirptions. So...it all begins. :) I guess blogging has been a pretty good thing for me so far because it has taught me to speak / think / write freely, and to do so in chunks at a time. I mean, wow! I'm on day # 131! How crazy is that? It just takes a couple of minutes a day, but in the end it's a great accomplishment. And so far, the journey has been great. :)

Well ya'll, I'm exercising the dreams in my heart, I am definitely exercising my heart. And you know what? Lately I've been laughing and cracking tons of jokes and making other people laugh too! That's quite a good exercise as well!


Well ya'll,

I think I'ma go drink some tea and sore off to dream land.

*Oh wait...* HOMEWORK......

Dang.

lol.


Good night world,

Love Your Fellow Chocolatier

P.S., think positive thoughts and take 5 minutes (right now) to exercise your heart! Whatever that may be! :)

Dove Chocolate Challenge Day # 130 "Cherish each Day - Take time to play." Mary / St. Petersburg, FL

Hey guys!

 Today has been a blah kind of day.

The day just didn't start out right...you ever had one of those days? You know?

Yeah...It was just not my day. But I got through it! And I was a bit depressed today. But as a spur of a moment, when the day was done, for some reason Brian and I were just hanging out, talking to each other, and we got to talking about food, specifically salads, oh that right, he was telling me that he's been eating some tasty salads at the Ice Park lately, so the entire conversation spurred a late night trip to Fred Myer's in the hunt of a perfect salad. :) It was fun. We bought a lot of healthy fruits and snacks, and yes, of course Brian bought two mango rock stars, (he calls them the nectar of the Gods), lol.

Anyway, I love eating baby corn! So we bought some corn and kidney beans, black beans, romaine leaves, dijon honey mustard dressing, grapes, and raspberries! I am excited to eat all of those! Yum! :) And of course we bought the staple of our household, which are onions and potatoes! We've always gotta have those!

But anyway, late night trip to Fred's was our "time to play." And it was fun! :) You gotta love those type-a sporadic trips spurred by conversation. ;) They make life interesting! :)

Well ya'll, I guess I'm going to go something, possibly drink some tea, stretch, and go to bed.

Love ya'll!

-Love Your Fellow Chocolatier

P.S., What have you done lately that you would consider as your "time to play?"  :) (If nothing comes to mind, then go do something fun! Quick!)

Dove Chocolate Challenge Day # 129 "Close your eyes and relax." PROMISES Messages

Hey ya'll!!

I was so tired this morning that I slept right through class! But I tell you what, I totally needed some extra shut eye time. And I'm definitely getting to that point again. I'm getting a headache. You know, I'm still trying to figure out my schedule. This is the official 3rd week of school, and third week of my new job...anyway...I'm just kinda going through a bunch of change. And it's a bit challenging...

I've been shutting my eyes lately to relax, I did that during lunch time. And it was much needed.

Anyway...I was going to blog a bit more, but I am actually extremely stressed because me and my husband got in a freakin' huge arguement just now.

Goodnight.

-Your Fellow Chocolatier

I think I'm going to go close my eyes and relax.

Dove Chocolate Challenge Day # 128 "Count your blessings not your worries." PROMISES Messages

Hey ya'll!

 Today was a good day, but a tiiiired one at that!

Boy, am I exhausted!

I am learning to count my blessings, I am realizing that life isn't exactly in my control, nor is it always the way that I want it to be or go. But that is okay. That is A-OKAY! Because you know what? There's a thrill that lies in the unknown. And it's an adventure. Who woulda known that I would be living in Alaska, attending the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and be married all at the age of 22? Who woulda known? Seriously? It's an adventure! If you told me 7 years ago that I would be living in Alaska, I would have laughed.

So, I don't know, I guess what I'm trying to say is that life is unpredictable, and that we need to cherish each other and love each other, because you never know what will happen or when your time will be up. So simply live.

I am going to bed.

Goodnight World

Love Your Fellow Chocolatier

P.S., Count your blessings. :)

Brian and I just had a movie night tonight and we watched "The Truman Show." Cool. It was good. Brian has seen it before, but I haven't. Good movie.

Dove Chocolate Challenge Day # 127 "Be a good listener." PROMISES Messages

Hey ya'll!!!

 I am so sleepy, I'ma hit the sack soon.

Today was a pretty good day. It was a much needed "at home" day.

Although it was the super bowl, I stayed home all day by myself and Brian was at work all day. But I thoroughly enjoyed my at home day. I feel refreshed. I mean, I work 6 days a week now, so it's good to just lounge around the house once in awhile.

I re-arranged some of the house today, specifically the living room and the kitchen, which in actually is pretty much one room. But nonetheless, it's our little home for now. :)

I moved a couple of chairs down stairs, and just re-arranged small stuff here and there, but it looks clean, and it feels like a new start. So that's good.

You know, lately today's quote has been running through my head. I am working on trying to listen to people more. Less of me and more of others. I think I like that concept.

Well guys...I guess one part of my listening was that a few minutes ago I was right about to go to bed withoug blogging because I'm so gosh darn tired, but Brian kept urging me to blog. So I finally caved in. I kinda felt like he was up to something, and sure enough, when I opened my computer up to blog, my screen saver was miraculously changed to a kissing monkey saying "kiss me."  LOL!!! That boy!


Well,

Off to bed I go.

Nighty night

Love Your Fellow Chocolatier

By the way, here's the picture of my new screen saver! LOL!!!

Dove Chocolate Challenge Day # 126 "Change is a process, not an event." PROMISES Messages

Hey guys!

 This week has been sorta hectic for me! And I've been extremely exhausted. Did you know that I haven't blogged in 5 days? CRAZY, huh? I haven't gone this long without blogging since I started! I've been falling fast asleep and have been crazy busy. I am looking forward to a nice Sunday morning tomorrow! I am looking forward to sleeping in!!! YES I AM!!!

I'm not much of a super bowl goer, but I love the company, but I think that this superbowl I am just going to snooze.

You know...that last two weeks have been hectic with school starting and a new job starting all in one week. I'm still getting the hang of things, and I'm just not quite there yet, ya know? I work six days a week now, instead of four. I'm taking two classes and and working full time, it seems like I don't really have time for anything else. I am so tired. Oh boy, I just remembered that I have about 200 pages to read tomorrow! Pop Quiz on Monday!

I just actually opened my quote of the day about now, after I've already written about my day. And it all kinda fits together. It's a nice message to me, reminding me that change really is a process, not an event. Change is gradual and takes time to go through and get used to. So...I guess I just have to allow it to take place, yeah? Life in progress, a day at a time, a dove a day. Man. Even though that's such a simple concept, it's kinda hard to accept...because...I WANT CHANGE NOW!!! LOL!!! I really gotta slow down a bit and smell the flowers, or in this Alaskan's case, catch some snowflakes on my tongue!!! :)

Well ya'll, I'ma hit the sack.

Much Loves,

-YOUR FELLOW CHOCOLATIER

Dove Chocolate Challenge Day # 125 "Chocolate therapy is oh so good." PROMISES Messages

Mmmm...I agree!!!

Chocolate therapy is most certainly "oh so good!" As well as bath therapy, tea therapy, and sleep therapy. Definitely sleep therapy! Uh huh! I love me some good ol' sleep! :)

I am so stuffed right now, we ended the day with a trip to Denny's with Leah, Stacy, Brian, Alex, Walter, and John. It was fun. John, Walter, and Alex left to go watch a movie so grabbed some to-go plates (although they still ended up eating with us and they left their junk for us! LOL!). And then it was just me, Leah, Stacy, and Brian. We finished off the night and just had a good time.

The day started off early for me cause I went to Door of Hope to learn how to make coffee for work with Nick! He was a pretty good teacher. And I made a mean mocha! It was good! So, I am proud of myself! Whaaa-hooo! I now know how to make good coffee!

The day ended with The Well, music, food, and of course Dennys. And now...I am going to fall over and fall asleep. I am tired.

Well,

Gotsta go!

You know, I didn't do as much relaxing as I would have liked today, but it was a good day anyway!


Too - da - loo!

-Love Your Fellow Chocolatier

P.S., I also went to the UAF library and studied! I had some reading assingments that I had to read. So today was kind of a busy dizzy day. BED!

Dove Chocolate Challenge Day # 124 "Close your eyes and relax." PROMISES Messages

Hey ya'll!

 I'm watching Bible stories with Brian. The t.v. ones. :)

Today has been a pretty good day. Went on a little shopping spree to Old Navy with my cousin, and afterwards she took me out to "AJMI Shushi." And it was gooooood!!! It's a new little only Sushi restauraunt! And it's delicious! I've never been to a strictly shushi joint, so it was fun! I just finished off my left over shushi! Yum! I've learned that I like the plain shushi best, you know, like the California rolls (which are probably my favorite). I ordered some spicy/crunchy sushi rolls, they were good but a bit too spicy. So Nina and I ended up trading dishes. :) Nonetheless, it was all pretty tasty!

After lunch, I picked up Brian and drove him to work, we got into a little tiff, but all is well now. :)

Because I almost overworked my 40 hour work week, I had to take a break, so my friend / co-worker and I drove to Chartreuse and took pictures of my artwork before it was taken down! That was fun! And I bought a pair of $25 dollar earrings there which I have been eye-ballin' since about August! They are beautiful! Very Hawaiian I might add, which is exactly what we need in this cold Alaskan winter! =P

Anyway, we took pics of my artwork and I'll post them up soon as promised! I was kinda bummed that one of my paintings was sold (the hummingbird one), because I didn't get a chance to take a picture of it, but I was happy that it got sold!

Anyway, I took a little break today. We just got a super comfy couch at work in the upstairs office, so after my 40 hours were up, I totally crashed on it, and it was niiiiiiiiiiiiicccce! :) I definitely took advantage of some relax time. :) That's the way to do it! :) You have to take a break once in awhile, I know I've gotta!

And I ended the day by rocking out with John on the stage! We were awesome! It was amazing!

And of course, Brian took me out to Ichiban, our favorite restaurant in town. It  was the perfect way to end the day!

The day went well, except for the tiff we had earlier, but we won't let that put a damper to our spirits!

Well, off to bed, early morning tomorrow (learning to make coffee from Nick). Learning to use the espresso machine for work!

LOVE YA'LL!!!

-Love Your Fellow Chocolatier

Dove Chocolate Challenge Day # 123 "Do not waste a moment. Love Life." Deb / Helena, MT

Hey guy!

 Today was a great night!

The birthday party was so much fun! I had a blast! And my most favorite thing about the night was hearing everybody at there laugh. I had to step out to the ladies room, and on my way back, I heard a bunch of roaring laughter coming out of the main room and I saw a bunch of red faces and a bunch of smiles! That made my day! Knowing that everybody had a good time made me happy! I loved it! Although we didn't have much food (or variety of food, it was a smorgesboard of cakes and chips and salsa), I think that all had fun enjoying each
other's presence and sharing the laughter. Afterall, laughter is good for the heart! :) 

We had a lot of inside jokes come out of tonight, and I was just super happy to see everyone's faces. I felt loved. Knowing that I had so many friends that cared and seeing them there to celebrate my 22nd trip around the earth (my birthday), was just a big huge blessing. I definitely feel loved. I loved being around everyone. :)

Well guys,

I definitely loved life today, and I hope to say this about every single day for the rest of my life, no matter how crappy or how great!

AND I had a bunch of facebook birthday wishes written on my wall and I saved a bunch of fun birthday messages on my phone. I still have some saved from last year on my phone! LOL! They are precious! And they make me smile!

Well ya'll, have a good night!

Blessing to all!

-Love Your Fellow Chocolatier

P.S., for dinner tonight, at work, I made tuna melts and grilled cheese! The kids loved it!

Dove Chocolate Challenge Day # 122 "Chocolate brings good things to life." PROMISES Messages

Hey ya'll!!!

 I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!! GUESS WHAT?!? In half an hour, at the stroke of midnight, I will no longer be 21 years old!!! I'm going to be an old fart! Hah! :) Actually, I'm pretty young, the older I get, the more convinced I am that 30 is actually quite young yet.

And forty isn't all that bad either, neither is 50, I guess I'm one of those, "love every season" type of people. :) I am like that with age, moments, and actual weather seasons.

I think that life is a beautiful thing, so you gotta take a day at a time and a moment at a time.

You know, I've always said that I want to be the type of grandma that can run and play with her kids. I definitely want to keep up a fit regime so that I can be healthy! I want to be an active parent and an active grandma! I don't want to sit on my butt! Although, we'll see where life takes me right? I hope for the best! :)

The ballet class that I'm taking is quite amazing by the way! I'm lovin' it! :)

Well guys...today has been a pretty good day but the night was kinda rocky. I work from 2-9pm, and I am the cafe manager, so we had a bunch of oranges and lemons that we picked up from the food bank last week, and they were starting to go bad, so today we made real lemonade (yum!), and we made orange juice...except...we did that all by hand, the lemons were easier cause we only had to cutt them once, but the oranges took about an hour and a half to squeeze the juice out of. They were a bit tricky because we had to cutt them a few times and pitt them. So two kids decided to volunteer their time to help me. They volunteered an entire hour to juicing the oranges...and when we were about 3 cups of juice away from done...one of the kids named Lee decided to be a bit obnoxious by purposefully pouring his cup of water that he was drinking into our almost finished oragne juice....and so...we had to throw the orange juice down the drange...and you pretty much can guess how the rest of the night went down. All the kids that were around including those that were jucicing were mad a Lee, and Lee got kicked out for tonight and all day tomorrow. It was quite the stupid thing...but that's what happened.

I wasn't so much upset with the fact that he poured his water/spit/backwash into our orange juice as I was upset about how much work was put into juicing the oranges by the kids. That's what upset me, the disrespect.

Well...guys...I am going to bed!!! Well...maybe I'll drink some tea first! :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! (I'm counting down for the next 8 minutes!!!) Crazy!!!! I will be double trouble now! Twenty-two! Craziness!

***Thank you God for letting me live!!!

Goodnight ya'll!!!

-Love Your Fellow Chocolatier

P.S., Today, I indulged in a bit of chocolate for breakfast lol! Chocolate does bring good things to life!