A New Lease

I'm sitting here at Dunkin Donuts drinking an iced coffee, learning all about the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the National Association of Realtors, when my roommate walks in. She asked what I was doing here and I said, "Well my makeup looked too good today to just sit at the house," and she replied, "Seriously? You need to blog about this stuff." :)

That was just to kick I needed to get on here and write something! So you can all thank Shannon. :) True story.

I know I said that I was going to be more active on here but I've really been trying to decide what the heck to write about! This blog used to be about just random stuff between recipes, losing weight, running, etc. Then Daniel died and all of the response I got from CaringBridge made me re-evaluate that. (Good responses but just a new audience!)

Is it okay to mix my random topics of summer plans and the pain of someone missing on Mother's Day?

Is it okay to one day write about the death of someone too young and then the next about the best chocolate chip cookies I've ever made?

I think it is. So that's what I'm going to do. I mean, isn't that what LIFE is? Good, bad, ugly, and everything in between?

Right now, I can't help but think about how BLESSED I am. People say that all the time and sometimes they believe it, sometimes they are saying it in HOPES of believing it, but today, I mean it.

• I've completed all of my real estate requirements and I'm finally able to see a career path emerging. (However, please pray my FBI Background Check comes back in a hurry so that I can show houses and meet with clients by myself!)

• I'm part of a team that really love their jobs and what they do. Every Friday they have a devotional time as a company and today the topic was about happiness! We watched this video and people were singing and dancing along. Everyone is encouraged to help each other and brag on others and just the whole atmosphere is a positive one. It's refreshing to be somewhere that people LOVE their jobs, LOVE their coworkers, and promote a sense of teamwork even through the tedious times. True leadership is valued there and THAT is INVALUABLE.

• I have expanded my Younique team and found a passion for a company that I believe in and love. I never thought I would be one to participate in Networking Sales, but when you love a product like I do, you can't help but be passionate about it. (Check it out here!) 

• When I worked at the Chamber of Commerce back in grad school, I loved being part of the community. I feel like I am getting back to that and I have recently joined the Young Professionals of Murray and the Murray Board of Realtors. I'm PUMPED to not just attend but to dive in head first and really be involved. 

4 months ago on the day I was fired, I thought that my world was crashing down. but now I clearly see that it was just the beginning... the beginning of new and wonderful things - Time with my brother and family I never would of had otherwise; a new career that's fulfilling and FUN; and as cheesy as this sounds, a new lease on life.

Deuces,

Kimberly

Fired... the other OTHER f-bomb... and what to do when you're friend finds themselves kicked to the curb

In addition to the ACTUAL F-word, there are two other words I consider to be F-Bombs... Funeral and Fired. Both of them pretty much suck and if you think about it, it really does feel like a bomb has gone off when you're entrenched in such events. 

About a year or so ago, one of my best friends was fired from her job. At the time, I had no idea how she felt. I had no idea what to say or what to do and I specifically remember going to Google and typing "What to do when your friend is fired?" 

Guess what...

NOTTA. I couldn't find anything!

Seriously internet. I thought you had the answer for everything! Get it together.

Anyways, I was clueless, so I stuck to what I knew (which sounded very similar to what you say when your friend is dumped):

"Screw em'!"

"You don't need em'!"

"They don't DESERVE you!"

"Something better will come along!"

However, now, I have been there, done that "and got the tshirt" (as my dad would say... Do they make tshirts that say "MEMBER OF THE 'I'VE BEEN FIRED CLUB'"? Probably not.)

Moving on. 

I know exactly how it feels to be fired and it's embarrassing and mortifying and liberating all at the same time.

If there is anything I want to be able to do, it is to share my experiences with others in hopes that they know I can empathize. Because guess who the first person was that I called when I got fired- My friend who had been there before. (Of course by first I mean after my dad, and then my mom, and then actually my pastor, but she was the first friend of my friends that I called, so that counts!)

So here it is:

5 Do's and Don't's For When Your Friend Gets Axed

1) GO TO THEM, SUPPLY THE BEER/WINE/SHOTS/CHOCOLATE/WHATEVER-INDULGENCE-OF-CHOICE, AND BE PREPARED TO LISTEN. 

No, your friend does not want to go out. No, your friend does not want to be seen in public right now and they definitely do NOT want to awkwardly run into someone that might have just fired them. I personally looked like I had been attacked by bees or punched in the face. My eyes were red and swollen from all the ugly crying. I was A MESS. Your friend wants to sit in THEIR home on THEIR couch and go on and on about what BS it all is. And your job is to keep the drinks available and an open ear. Nod your head in agreement. Say, "That IS ridiculous," no matter how much you agree or disagree with them. 

2) ASSUME THAT ALL FUTURE TRAVEL PLANS OR PLANS THAT REQUIRE MONEY ARE OFF UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

100% transparency here people. I had some money saved up, not a lot (definitely not my recommended 3-6 month fully funded emergency fund according to the big D.R.), but some.  And yes, I was that person that walked into the Unemployment Office with my Coach purse and my iPhone in my hand, but that didn't mean I wasn't worried about my sudden lack of cash flow. Thankfully, I've never been one to experience panic attacks, but as I was picking up a few things (MINIMAL THINGS!) from Kroger a few days after getting the boot, I felt this tightening in my chest and then shortness of breath and then HOLY CRAP WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING!? The walls seriously felt like they were closing in on me. I was only spending $12.00 but that was $12.00 I might need for my electric bill! or for my mortgage! I was able to get out of there before I went into full on cray cray mode, but shew. That was a close one. 

I tell you all of that to say, if I am freaking out about $12.00, how much do you think I am freaking out about that trip I had planned to New Jersey to see my friend, or that Bachelorette party this summer or even going to the movies next week? The last thing I want to do is be a flake so don't put your friend in a position that they will feel that way. Do your friend a solid and go ahead and say, "I know that we had this awesome, amazing, ridiculously good time planned, but seriously, don't worry about it!" AND BE GENUINE ABOUT IT. Your friend wants to be there just as much as you want them there. Also, just because they get a job fairly quickly, still cut them some slack. I was fired without any severance or anything so yeah, my savings has taken a hit and let me tell you now, at least for me, Unemployment really didn't come close to what I was making before AND it took a good 6 weeks to even get approved. That's 6 weeks worth of bills, rent/mortgage, groceries, etc. that's coming from my account without any money going back in. Sometimes being an adult SUCKS.

3. DON'T ASK THEM "SO WHAT'S YOUR PLAN?" 

Your friend will hear that from everyone else. EV-REY-ONE. Just don't do it. If you are a close enough friend, I'm sure they will let you know as soon as they've got that figured out. Until then, just chill. As much as you want to know what they are going to do, they want to know that for themselves times 100.

4. DON'T FLOOD THEIR INBOX WITH JOB POSTINGS UNLESS YOU HAVE THE LOW-DOW FOR THAT COMPANY.

First of all, I guarantee you that they've already seen it by scouring the internet looking at job postings in the crazy amount of free time they find themselves with. Second of all, I'm a firm believer that for most places these days, it's not what you know but WHO you know that will get your foot in the door. Unless you know someone that works there who can mention their name to the right person to get their resume out of the sea of applicants, once again, just keep it to yourself if it's already publiclly posted. Now, if you hear from a friend that they know of a friend of a friend who is looking for someone to fill a position, then by all means, pass that info along! But seriously. They've checked indeed.com 1001 times today.

Number 5 is more for those that were not just friends with that person, but also coworkers.

5. CONTACT THEM!

I worked at my job for close to 4 years. That's 4 years of seeing people day in and day out and spending more time with them than I did my own family and friends. I was amazed and surprised by the people I heard from and the people I didn't. And I was also hurt. Shoot them a text and just say, "Man this sucks. Please let me know if you need anything," or "Don't know what happened, but gosh I'll miss you around here!" And if you were really close with that person, call them! Yeah, it might be uncomfortable and you might not know what to say, but it was really nice to hear from people that I spent so much time with and to know that they actually DID care about ME as a person, not just ME as a coworker. (Side note: when my brother died, a few of my co-workers did text me to express their condolences and some of them went in together to get me some great gifts and for that I am extremely grateful!)

So there it is. I've been on both sides, the friend of a friend getting fired and the friend getting fired and maybe what I've gone through will help someone else get through it, too. All in all, remember, you're their friend, not their mom or dad or accountant or job recruiter. You're their friend. Be one. And be a good one. 

If all else fails, send this to them as a gift and call it a day. 

Deuces.

Kimberly

PS, Today is World Autism Awareness Day. Head over to www.autismspeaks.org to learn more and Light It Up Blue!

Jacked this shirt out of Daniel's closet when going through his stuff and I'm so glad I did! 

 

So It's been a while...

I have no reason for my sudden abrupt disappearance from the blogisphere. Nothing happened on June 12th, 2013 (the day after my last post) that made me think, “I’m going to stop writing.”

I just stopped… And now I’m starting again.

S&$%’s about to get real yall.

The last two years had been pretty normal. “HAD been”… past tense. (notice that?)

The last two months though, my life has changed. Changed completely.

On January 30th, 2015, I was fired from my job. F-I-R-E-D. I was mortified and embarrassed. I am not the kind of person to get FIRED. I have worked since I was old enough to babysit and then got a real job and have had one ever since. I went to college and then grad school. Hell, I held 3 jobs while I was a full time grad student just because I WANTED to. THREE! I was involved in organizations. I went to church. I did everything they way you’re “supposed” to do. (Not to say that people that don’t follow that same path aren’t doing it right… Yall know what I mean though... Let's not get all PC here... Moving on.)

Truth be told, I wasn’t happy in my job, and getting fired was God’s way of kicking me out of my comfort zone. Of course at first I was crying the ugly cry… you know the one... the one where you can’t breathe and people look at you like, “um… this is uncomfortable…I don’t know what to do now.” Eyes were swollen and puffy. It was bad yall. BAD.

I told myself I would take 2 days to cry and be mad and then I’d get over it. I believe that happiness is a choice and I was going to choose happiness and faith over anger and sadness. (I realize that that is easier said than done because I still have moments of anger… who wouldn’t? Don’t get me started…)

"Look for the silver lining!" I told myself. The Today Show. Kathie Lee and Hoda. Unlimited gym time. Glass of wine at 2pm on a Monday afternoon. Yes, please.

(SIDE NOTE: The reason for my firing was nothing illegal or really bad or whatever, but for the sake of not wanting to burn bridges, I'm not going to go into details. The people that REALLY know me know my heart and know my work ethic and know my strengths and weaknesses. I have come to realize that hardworking, honest, good people get fired more often than others might realize. It’s not something that people put on their Facebook timeline: “Feeling like S&%$ today. I got fired!”… Facebook is everyone’s highlight reel… not real life… okay I’m getting off on a tangent here. More on all that another time.)

Fast forward to two weeks later, Friday, February 13th. I woke up to a text from my dad that my brother was in the hospital.

He had been sick with pneumonia that he had been fighting at home for a while and he was now in the ICU. I packed enough stuff for the weekend and headed south to Huntsville.

I thought for sure I’d be back in Murray on Monday, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. When I got there, he was awake and talking. We had a few conversations during visiting hours and even had a few good laughs, but he progressively got worse.

My brother, Daniel Bridges, passed away on February 23rd.

At the age of 31.

From pneumonia.

Yall… That’s not suppose to happen.

But it did.

And we had to accept it.

I would write more about all that, but 1) this post is long enough as it is and is only getting longer, and 2) I’m sitting in a coffee shop writing this, tearing up already and I don’t need to full on ugly cry in a public place. You never know when your soul mate is going to walk through the door and that’s NOT the first impression I want to make!

If you’d like to know more, or rather the play-by-play of events those two weeks, here is a link to the CaringBridge page I kept updated through that time.

They say bad things happen in 3’s right?

On Friday, March 21st, my best friend and her family (including my 6 month old “nephew”, Lincoln) picked up and moved 11 hours away to Minnesota.

MIN-E-SOOO-DA.

E-LEV-EN HOURS.

Who does that, yall!?

I did have to laugh when she texted me two days after she got up there to tell me they had gotten 6 inches of snow the night before. It was 70 degrees that day in Murray. (Note to self: I won’t be visiting Amanda in the fall, winter, or spring, or anytime where there is a CHANCE for snow on the ground. Ain't nobody got time for that.)

I know this sounds like a lot of complaining, but I felt like I needed to give some background information to get to what I really want to share with you all today… the reason I’m even writing this post. 

I can’t tell you how many people have said to me these last couple of months, “I admire your strength” or “you’re so strong” or “I can’t even imagine.” This morning in church, the band sang the song Cornerstone by Hillsong. It’s my absolute favorite worship song and for some reason the words really hit me hard this morning.

Christ alone; Cornerstone
Weak made strong, in the Savior’s love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all

When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

The strength you see in me is not because of me. It’s not because of some magical power or some superhuman strength. “Weak made strong in the Savior’s love.” It’s also not a mask. When people ask me how I’m doing, I really am okay. I really am happy… through it all. In "EVERY high and stormy gale”. And the only reason for that is because of my strength given to me FROM GOD and my faith IN GOD; My faith that there really is a REASON for all of this. ALL. OF. IT. 

Some might say, “Where was God when all of this happened?” when someone they love passes away too early or when a mother and father have to bury their son.

I say, “Let me tell you how my God showed up through every single step…  Every. Single. Step.”

From the timing of my sudden unemployment to the random phone call my brother made just to chit chat the Wednesday before he was admitted. (We never just “chatted” on the phone.)

From the countless visitors at the hospital to the thousands of people praying for my family all over the world (LITERALLY).

From the best Celebration of Life Service we could have imagined, to gaining a sister I never had (Courtney (Daniel’s roommate) – I love you girl!).

A frequent topic of discussion that came up at the hospital was “How do people without faith get through something like this?” I really don’t know. I have no idea. Absolutely none.

I’m so thankful I’ll never have to experience that.

From everyone reading CaringBridge, I heard countless times, “You’re such a good writer.” And “You should write as a profession.” First of all, thank you. Second of all, although I don’t plan on getting paid to write, I do think its time to resurrect this thing. so get excited people.

I’m back.

I’m back, stronger than ever, with lots to share, and I'm excited about what the future holds.

Deuces. XOXO

Three posts in one! Yeah, this is going to be a long one...

Sorry I've been MIA the last few days.

Let's start off with the weekend recap:

Friday I headed to my aunt's house and stayed the night. Early Saturday morning we piled in the cars and headed to Louisville for The Color Run. This is the second year my aunts and cousins and mom have done this and I'm sure it won't be the last.

If you've never done a Color Run before, let me just tell you, DON'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY! If you are an avid runner or training for a 5K or trying to beat a record or something, you are totally missing out if you just put in your headphones and run. Am I a runner? Yes. Can I run a 5k? Sure. Did I run any part of The Color Run? Absolutely not. AND I HAD A BLAST. 3 of my cousins and I stuck together and walked the whole way. We were people watching and snapping pictures after each color station. I even got down and rolled on the ground a couple of times to get more color on me. We had so much fun and that's what it's all about.

After The Color Run, we had time to kill before we could check into our hotel. The original plan was to pack a lunch, we'd bring a cooler, and after the race, we'd just hang out in the park and have a picnic. Well some people decided to just get Subway instead of bringing something... and by some people, I mean everyone except for me. Long story short, Subway wasn't allowing any color runners in and we had to find another option.

We ended up walking to a deli type restaurant, but damn it, I had my salad and I was going to eat it!

So I did.

Everyone else ordered food and I busted my salad out, right there at the table. I didn't care. I had already counted these calories AND I didn't want to spend the money. Double bonus! Topped it off with some yogurt and granola. Not too bad if I do say so myself.

We did end up hanging out in the park until we could check into the hotel. After washing my hair twice and getting dressed, we went to a comedy show (hilarious) and then out to dinner.

It was a great time, except for being sick. Started with a scratchy throat on Friday, then turned into allergies and sinus crap all day Saturday (pretty sure I had a fever by the end of the day) and Sunday it settled in my chest. Oh well! Nothing a little good ol' medicine can't fix.

Side note... I'm a big advocate of before and after (or in progress) pictures, so I thought I'd share this with you all...

_____________________________

Next...

Last week's goals:

1. Get all of my runs in.

Did better this week about that, but still didn't get all of them in. I missed Sunday's because I got home and just laid on the couch. I was still feeling achy and sick and all that crap. (Excuses excuses)

2. Stay under my calorie goal every day.

I did this except for Saturday. However, for the whole week, I was WAY under my calories by the time I added in working out and stuff. Sad part is I only lost .2 pounds. I'm thinking I might need to up my minimum calorie goa.

3. Go to BodyPump at least twice this week.

CHECK! Plus I checked out kickboxing and almost died.

This week's goals:

1. Lose weight while in Gatlinburg.

Going on family vacation this week Wednesday-Sunday and I've got my whole entire meal plan figured out. I have packed a cooler with my own food and snacks and all that. I'll do another post on that later.

2. Get all of my runs in.

Seriously going to happen. Even while on vacation. Shoes are packed.

3. Water Water Water.

Been slacking so picking it back up. Downloaded an app to help me with this. Again, I'll do another post on it later!

_____________________________

Finally...

Tonight was week 4 of speed training. My friend Allie told me that we would be doing stadiums once a month. I was excited.

Until I walked in and actually saw it... close up...

The plan was to do a 1 mile warm up, 1 set of stadiums, 800 meter recover, another set of stadiums, 800 meter cool down.

When I say a "set of stadiums" that means running up from the bottom to the top, walk over a section, and run back down, the entire length of the stadium, which equals out to going up and down 4 times each.

Yall...

THE ONLY REASON I DIDN'T HURL WAS BECAUSE THE FOOTBALL TEAM WAS THERE!

Seriously.

I thought I could at least RUN up one time.

No. That didn't happen. I took 5 steps and my ass was walking up the rest of the way... definitely NOT running.

I got to the top and wanted to die. But I wasn't anywhere CLOSE to being finished.

THREE DIFFERENT TIMES I had to close my eyes, breathe deep, and tell myself not to puke right then and there. Thank JESUS I did not. Can you just imagine how embarrassing that would have been!?!

I got done with my first set of stadiums walked a couple of laps, and I was done.

I told myself there was no way I could do another set.

Now that I'm home, I'm totally pissed off. I didn't even TRY to do a second set. Not going to lie, I am really disappointed in myself. You might be thinking, "You're nuts! You should be proud you did what you did!" and I am... but more than that I'm disappointed that I didn't try. So what if I had hurled my guts up? So what if I could have only done part of it? Ugh...

Saw this on Pinterest this morning and saving it as my background on my phone until I do that second set of stadiums... I will be making that stadium me B%&$#.

Keepin' Up with the Big Boys

I've been waiting since Monday to post this NSV because I wanted it to be part of the linkup!

My workplace is currently in week 9 of 13 in our Biggest Loser competition, which consists of 10 people (2 girls and 8 guys).

Since starting, I've gone back and forth between 2nd and 3rd place. Well this week, I pulled ahead into FIRST PLACE.

We all know that guys lose weight faster than girls. It's a given. So the fact that I'm keeping up with the guys, this far into it, I'm fricken ecstatic.

Not even going to lie... I kind of feel like a bad ass right now and this is how I'm walking (or dancing) through the office... (at least I am in my head.)

2nd place isn't too far behind me though, so I can't slack off too much.

Color Run this weekend in Louisville so look forward to a Weekend Recap!

Workout Wednesday 6/5

First of all, I finally got with the times and added a Bloglovin button. Follow me yo.

But really, let's get onto what I want this post to be about...

One of my goals this week was to go to BodyPump twice. Might seem like a small goal, but I couldn't go Monday afternoon and I can't go Friday afternoon, so that meant going either yesterday morning or tomorrow morning. 

Well I got my butt out of bed and went yesterday. For a girl who usually rolls outta bed at 7:32 and has to be at work by 8, that's a big deal.

And not to toot my own horn or anything, but since it's Workout Wednesday, I will add that I also ran three miles yesterday when I got home from work. ... toot toot.

Not only did I do it yesterday morning, but I did it THIS morning too! HOLLA!

My friend Shanna and I decided to try out kickboxing this morning. We were all set with our gloves and I was ready to beat the crap out of a bag, something I haven't done in over 2 years.

We walk into class, (and I don't know what it is, but morning class people are SO much more friendly than afternoon class people!) and her and I are standing around, along with 3 older gentlemen (old enough to be my dad).

THEN the instructor walked in. 

Ladies, let me tell you...

If I knew that he was there EVERY Monday, Wednesday, Friday morning, I would have started a LONG time ago. 

*sigh... those dimples... those muscles... that smile... sigh*

Okay, enough of that... back to my post...

He comes in and said that we were warming up on the bikes. We quickly figured out through chatter of the other people, this was not kickboxing. 

Well crap.

What have we gotten ourselves into?

Turns out it was more like Cardio Blast and they must not have changed the name on the class schedule!

Lord almighty what a workout. We did everything from weighted squats, pushups, burpees, lunges, and the list goes on and on... High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

It was super intense, but I was excited that I could actually keep up for the most part, even with the burpees. I still hate them with a passion, but I'm not complaining that I torched 472 calories in the hour class.

I've decided that since I've done morning workouts the past two mornings, why not keep it going? What's that thing people say? 21 days and then it's a habit?

Only 19 more mornings to go.

Weekly Goals 6/3

As far as my goals go for this past week, I sucked big time. I'm going to blame it on the long weekend and that I didn't get them posted on Monday... yeah... that's why I didn't accomplish them...

HOWEVER...

I PASSED THE 50 POUND MARK!!! Stepped on the scale this morning and lost a whooping 5.4 pounds this week. I don't even know how I did that, but I'll take it. Actually no, I DO know how I did that. I worked my ASS off and I EARNED it. So I'll take it. 5.4 pounds this week which makes my grand total of weight loss 50.4. It's taken a little over a year, but hey... better than going the other way.

Anyways, onto the Weekly Goals Linkup...

Recap of last week's goals:

1. Clean my craft room. 

Didn't happen. I ended up having to make 200 masks for church for a family event they were having. I GROSSLY underestimated how long it takes to make 200 masks.

2. Do core work everyday.

Still haven't done that. I think it's because I have such a set workout routine now, that I forget about it and then think about it right before falling asleep.

3. Stay under my calorie goal everyday.

I went over on Memorial Day (damn cookouts) and Saturday. A friend came in town and we went to the hibatchi grill that night for dinner. It didn't help that I was still making masks that morning and then it was raining all day, so it was hard to get a workout in. (I know I know... excuses excuses excuses...)

4. Cook what I have.

I did do this! Success!

This week's goals:

1. Get all of my runs in.

4 runs a week and last week I only got 1 in. Unacceptable. All 4 WILL get done this week.

2. Stay under my calorie goal every day.

I'm going to Louisville this weekend so that will be hard, but I am determined to do it this week!

3. Go to BodyPump at least twice this week.

We are doing speed training tonight, so that means I'll have to go tomorrow morning and Wednesday.

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