Thankful For Everything

So, I thought that My last blog before the New Year would be a few hours ago, But I changed my mind. I decided since the year is almost @ an end, I would write a little blog about some of the things that I have been greatful for in the year of 2011!!!

To The People Who Made it Worth It...

My Boyfriend: He is truly my best friend and my biggest fan. I am blessed to get unconditional love and acceptance, and he always makes me feel like I'm special and well liked. I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have him.

My Parents: I'm thankful to be the daughter of two very loving, supportive people. My father has been working in Africa for about a year now, and I don’t see him often, but he is never forgotten and always loved. My mom, and I have bonded more this year then we ever have and I have grown to love and appreciate all the little things she has done for me over the years. My parents enabled me to experience many things, regardless of how much they sometimes worried. They gave me everything they possibly could ... and even some things they probably couldn't. Thank You Mom & Dad!

My Siblings: I have been blessed with a blended & extended family. Some of whom I have never met, haven’t seen in years and one that I see on a regular basis. I want to make more of an effort in the year of 2012 to spend quality time with each and every one of you. I love you all!

My friends: If I named them all individually, from wonderful acquaintances to tried and true friends, I'd have a blog that would run onto 2013. I don't have a large number of close friends, but I do know there are a lot of good people, near and far, who I can count on, who care about me, and who want only the best for me. I truly value my friends and will never have "enough" or too many. I love you all so deeply!

My beloved Kitty Cat Jack:  Always there to greet me and even cuddle around my feet when I come through the door, Jack gives me so much love. I know he won't be with us forever, but I cherish the time we've spent together and the time we still have. There's nothing like the unconditional love of a Kitty Cat.


My Co-Workers: They have each day and night at work so much more bearable. Working in the health care field isn't always easy and having a great set of co-workers is what makes it worth it. I love each and everyone of you and thanks for making the shifts amazing.

To The Moments That Took My Breath Away...

Traveling to foreign countries: Thanks to my parents for the lovely Christmas Gift, I was able to visit Cuba with my boyfriend. It has opened my eyes to something new. Although I have been to New York, New Jersey and Las Vegas, It was nice to see a country that was not as fortunate as my own. To really appreciate the fact that we have it good.

Finishing a marathon: Although it wasn’t a big marathon, only 5km. The Cause (Breast Cancer) was what made me do it. I had a great suppose system, many donations and I met a lot of lovely people in the process. I look forward to training in the New Year and maybe run a half marathon when I can!

Beginning My Career in Health Care: It was a long road but I finally became a paramedic.  Also throughout the year I became an instructor of First Aid & CPR. I have been blessed with many great students! I also worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse in a seniors facility. I have a new appreciation for working with the elderly and have met an amazing group of people.

Buying a House: Its a dream that I have always wanted. I can’t say that I am completely organized but its a process in the making. I am glad to have been able to have this opportunity with my boyfriend!

Almost Debt Free: This year one of my biggest accomplishments was that I took a stance on my financial problems and did something about it. I still have debt, but I am 3 years away from being clear of it and it feels good!

Things About Me....

Being a nice person: I'm hardly perfect, but it's good to know in my heart that I'm a kind person. I'd never intentionally hurt anyone. I don't believe in being mean. I hate to see anyone cry and love to see people smile. I may be a bit shy sometimes and not the best at socializing, but I genuinely appreciate and care about people.

Being a decent Writer: At least, when I really try. I'm happy I can express myself and my imagination that way. I may not be the best writer, and there's always plenty of room for improvement, but I do know I have some talent to build on.  I hope to someday add “wrote a novel” to my accomplishments!

Accomplishing goals: To one degree or another, I tend to follow through on things. I thrive on having goals to strive for and am happy about the fact I've been able to achieve some of them. I like that I have been able to stick to them and not give up when the going gets tough

Having a good memory: I'm quite good at keeping track of things and remembering certain kinds of details. Or at least I'm good at writing things down so I don't forget. Most of the time, anyway.

Being sensitive: Some folks may say I'm too sensitive at times, but in a way I'm glad, because that means I'm sensitive to other people's feelings, also. I'd rather be too sensitive than not sensitive enough.

Overall 2011 was a Good Year...

Happy New Year

With hours to go until the New Year, 2011 is saying its final goodbye’s, and 2012 is ready for its debut.  Most people look towards the New Year as chance for a fresh start, a chance to evaluate their lives and set new goals, maybe look for a new job, find a new hobby, or reconnect with family and friends.  I recently saw this quote, "No one can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending" I forget who the author was but I really like the quote. To me this quote means that as people we don't start over; but we begin again right where we are, making things better in our lives.

So keeping it short and sweet... I am wishing all my friends, family, co-workers, my wonderful boyfriends, Jack my cat.. and so many others out there a wonderful and Happy New Year! Cheers to being positive and starting the year off right!!! xox, see you in the new year!

Chow 4 Now

Nice Kitty...Soft Kitty...Little Ball Of Fur

So, because I am a crazy cat lover... and always have been... I decided to write a little blurb on why cats are great and why they make better pets then dogs (hehe). Just so you know... I love dogs too!!!

Cats have a better display of affection. No animal is more affectionate than a cat. Many dog lovers do not appreciate the kind of affection that cats can give because, well, they are dog owners and therefore require that their pets cover them in buckets of drool instead as a display of love. Cat's on the other hand show their affection in so many other ways.  They love you regardless of who you are or what you did that day, but want to be near you in your presence.

Cats Love You Enough to Eat Mice Admit it, even you don't love yourself enough to do that. In fact, you don't love anyone that much, do you? I know I don't. Personally, mice freak me out. Now, it could be argued that dogs would eat mice for you if they could, but the truth is, they don't or can’t, one of the two. Instead they are either too busy eating the newspaper or your shoe or anything else to bother with mice.  But a cat will eat mice for you to show you the nature of its love.
 
Cats Love You Enough to Prevent You For Getting Hurt Ever walk  barefoot in the night, that's another way to know how much your cat really loves you. See,  when a dog hears something they may love you enough to bark if there's a robber in your house, but that's about all a dog will do. Sure, it's very nice that D.O.G cares about your life and property, but he doesn't care about the little things. True love is in the details. Thats where we come to Cat Vomit...See, people think that cats throw up all the time because they have disgusting hairballs that choke them up and make them puke. But that's not why at all. They puke all over the carpet because they love you and are concerned about your health..obviously something in the house is dirty and unhealthy because it made them puke. You know those nights when you wake up and you start to walk through the house, your kind of in a daze...not quite awake...and you could trip and fall.. But you don't because dear kitty has left a nice wad of vomit to snap you entirely awake. Your cat loves you very much and wants to prevent you from bumping into something in the night.

Cats Love You and Want You to Be Fashionable. Everyone knows that cats are very cool. You've heard the expressions "Cool Cat" Well the truth is that they are cool and they don't want the people they love to be uncool so they try to help us out. Particularly in the area of fashion. Unfortunately cats cannot speak human languages so they have no way to tell us that our clothing choices look like horrible. But they can communicate in their very own way, which is why they shed their fur all over the furniture. All that fur stuck to your shirt and all down the backs of your nice black pants is really a feline way of saying, "Hunny, please, that outfit is awful. Go upstairs and try again."

Cats Are Easy To Bathe Bathing a cat is very simple. A few licks and it's done... and you don’t even have to do any of the work. Bathing dogs is nowhere near as easy. First off, dog fur tastes really bad...you don’t want to lick them, because they obviously don’t know how to.  So you have to put them in a tub or use a hose, which can become a lot of work.  Dogs make messes with water...and get you all wet when they shake. Cats will never get you wet. In fact, they love you so much they won't let you get them anywhere near a tub or a garden hose. Cats let you keep it simple, no water required!!!!

Cat’s Give Us Our Space Cats understand how important your personal time is. you and others may think that cats are cold because they ignore you and won't come to you no matter how much you call to them in that cute baby voice.  They are not actually ignoring you at all. What's really happening is that your cat is so smart it actually understands when you need some personal time, even when you don't think you do.  It knows better....

Cats Help You Keep Your Home Décor New. This is another area where people easily confuse dog actions with those of cats. You see, cats destroy your furniture for much the same reason they shed the fur that gets on your clothes. Kitty Cat retracts his claws and rips apart your upholstery is not because he is a horribly un-trainable monster in need of a swift kick. No Not at all. It's because he, being a fashionita and has realized well before you have that some furniture has gone fashionably out of date. Even if it is brand new cats will share their expertise with you and show you their opinion with their sharp claws. Think about how much this cat loves you if he is willing to risk being tossed outside or squirted with your little water bottle just to keep you from looking outdated to your guests.

Your Cat Loves you Enough to Purr. That's right, they do. What's more pleasant than a nice kitty, soft kitty..little ball of fur  purring on your lap, its little belly rising and falling with the sweet subtle sound of contented love? I'll tell you, there's not much. ( for all you big bang lovers....)

....So Cats Win, That is all! Speaking of Cats... heres our little Furball Jack!!!!

Figuring Life Out...

As a kid I think most of us fantasized about what we’d be when we grew up, where we’d live, what we’d name our 2.5 kids and what kind of dog we’d have… or maybe I just shared way too much personal information and that fantasy wish list was just me!  Regardless, I’m starting to feel like I’m getting to the age where some of my friends are actually engaged, married, starting a family or thinking about all three.  Is it crazy that Im not there yet? Should I be? Is this my quarter life crisis? (Don’t I have another few months until I hit my quarter life?) I feel content in my life at this particular moment, I’ve recently settled into a house with the boyfriend. I’ve started yet another career and absolutely love it. Debt is disappearing, slowly but surely. Eventually I will commit to all of the others.... and world watch out...Im going to be the best bride and Baby Mama (haha).

All kidding aside though, I feel okay where I am in my life.  I love the freedom I’ve created for myself by moving to an amazing city, I love my job as a Medic & @ the Assisted Living Facility.  Your early/mid 20s seem like a time to discover who you are as a person. Clearly there is no magic age when you’re supposed to get married, start a family and buy a house, it’s really unique to every individual person. It’s a challenge sometimes, especially for someone like me who does wonder about the future, to open your mind, follow your heart and just live a little.  There really aren’t any expectations of you out there and your life is really what you make it , so I guess I am just going to go out there and do that.

What am I?

Alright.. This blog will be short and sweet unlike my other long winded rants.  I need a title for myself.. and I will explain why... I have been looking up online bloggers... seeing what they have to say and getting idea's for my own blog! However... I can't find anything.

Everyone has a title...but not me, so I need your help. If you have children, you can look up "mommy' based blogs. Same goes if your married.. there is tons of blogs based on married life and life with children and even blogs about the newly engaged couples. Also if your single...you guessed it! Theres a blog for that!

I am none of those, Ive never been married or engaged and I don't have any children, Ive also never been pregnant or have never been to jail, so that takes away another type of blogging.  So what am I? am I a Mid-20's Girl... with a job, house and boyfriend? Is there a category for that?

I can't be the only girl in the world like me? Can I?

Letter To My Teenage Self..

Dearest Teenage Cassie,

Boy do I have a lot to tell you! I am writing you this letter in the year 2011, almost 2012, which is approximately ten years later. So much has happened and there is a bunch of stuff I wish you would have known growing up, So here goes!!!

I realize that you think you know nearly everything at this point in your life. You think you know your parents. You think you know what makes a good friend and a good boyfriend. You think you know how to parallel park in any road condition. You think you know how to listen. You think you know what’s flattering on your body type. You think you know where you’ll go in life and who are you. Well let me tell you, and this may take you by surprise... you didn’t know anything!

Lets talk about friends for a moment.  It is okay if it doesn’t seem like you have found your clique of friends yet.  Your best friendships are yet to come.  You will have great friends in life.  Friends that know exactly what show to put on to make you feel better, friends that you will stay up all night with for no reason at all except that the conversation never stops.  Friends that encourage you to follow your passion and friends that encourage you to leave your comfort zone, but are protective enough to say, ‘make good choices’ before you embark on a new adventure. The friends that you thought you would have through high school, after the diploma came, on to college .. and through life... well they changed. You probably talk to 5 people from High School! (Don’t worry... they all changed too).  I know this is important to you right now, but popularity isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Oh, it’s nice and all, but don’t try so hard to fit in. No matter how hard you try to be everyone’s friend, not everyone will like you. That’s true later in life, too, but that’s okay. You do have a great group of friends now though, and that is what matters.

Parents are not perfect. Okay, so you already know this. But you will have to learn to truly believe it. They will make mistakes and disappoint you and will anger you more then anyone else and make you wish you were actually the product of space aliens or Brad and Angelina. But you were not. So try to remember that they are human and might be stuck paying their nursing home bills one day. Better to do that while on speaking terms. You relationship with mom will get better over the years, try not to be so hard on her. All those times you told her to shut up... you will begin to feel guilty when you start working with troubled kids! Then the “I told you so” will come into place. You and your daddy will get a lot closer, he will be there to bail you out of all life’s financial problems, but remember.... even if not directly blood related... he is your FATHER... and will always be and he loves you more then you know.  Stay in contact with your sisters... even though they are far away and build that relationship with your baby brother, he is the smartest person you will know!!!!!

Its going to take you a while to figure out success and happiness. There are going to be ups and downs, disappointments and heartaches, AND you are going to learn a lot of things the hard way. Its ok. Dont look back with regret. In the end your definition of success and happiness will change and you will realize you had it all along. Your life long goal in life was to get into a profession where you would help people, and hunny... you do just that. You go to college, and university and have many diploma’s and successes and debt to go along with it, but you manage. You love your job... and through your soul searching and following your dreams you met a man who loves you more then anything.  To this day... its not over for you... your still following your dreams and learning to stand on your own two feet.
You will realize that all the little things in life that you thought mattered like name brands, popularity, weekly boyfriends.. didn’t and when you get older you would rather have one boyfriend then 5, a good group of friends, then to be liked by everybody... and you will learn that you actually love Wal-Mart... so stop wasting you money on all the name-brands.... because no one cares when you get older.

People are both meaner and nicer than you think. Be cautious with your heart, but not too cautious. You have to let people in, to learn to accept that they will sometimes disappoint you — even enrage you. And then, despite the fear that screams to you to close yourself off, you’ll have open your heart again. Stop letting people take advantage of you, your to easy of a person. You always want to help, and give people things... “buying” their friendship... well... those people will never do anything for you in return. That is a problem... you are still working with today.  Life isn’t all about your crushes on hockey boys,  and how many friends you have.

You will go through boyfriends throughout your years, what you once thought you wanted in your partner will be completely different then what you choose. You will live, love and learn and your heart will break, but you will never give up on love. You will still be that sappy girl who cries in movies, loves to cuddle..continues to write love notes and always puts your significant other before yourself, not because you have to but because you enjoy it and want to.

Continue to be that girl that takes pictures of everything, continue your passion of cooking.... the ring you picked out when you were 16... is still the ring you love today!  Save your money and pay your bills.... good things come to those who wait... and learn to look outside the box more often then you do. Learn to take constructive critisism... and learn to give it! You still can't parallel park... but you can back up, and that important in your job later on in life.

Most of all, stay true to yourself. Never lose that bubbly, quirky.. say anything type of personality. You will be a well liked women.... you won’t even have to try hard.  You will always be loud, that will never change!

Oh and some fun little things.... Spandex do come back... and you wear them.  You did eventually get a cell phone although you swore to god you never would. All those times you snuck out of the house.. they knew... Dad always knew when you were drunk... but he chose not to say anything because you responsibly called him to pick you up.  You flew a plane, a dream you have had since you were six... and your dream of marrying Goose from Top Gun... well thats almost true... you met a wonderful 6’5 man.... who used to be a pilot... but none of that matters.... you will see it in a few years.

You are flawed but beautifully flawed. Your imperfections make you strong, real, gorgeous. Love yourself not despite them, but because of them.

...Look @ how you have Changed.... From.. age 4 to age 16... to age 27!!!

Be Proud of Who You Become!!!!

Dating Outside The Box...

So, I hung out with some friends today...went to the local chinese food hot spot, stuffed my face... ventured over to Starbucks for a hot beverage, and then home with the ladies...to enjoy a glass of wine with SR and JS! Halfway through our glass of wine, we got to talking about “dating” and dating your “type” of guy. So I just had to blog about this idea of dating men who are totally different than the guys we have typically been attracted to in the past. (Full disclosure: I'm currently dating my so-called "non-type," and thus have a vested interest in the subject.) SR is recently single... and although won’t admit it, she has a type. JS.. is in a long lasting relationship with someone who is compltly 100% opposite of what she usually goes for. 

So many women talk about their "type" and how they wouldn't settle for a guy who didn't have certain criteria or characteristics. However I often hear stories of women who fall in love with men who weren't what they thought they were looking for.  Lets call this the  "Non-type" .. Women often fall a lot more in love than they realize, so it's no surprise that we may not consider someone at first who later grows on us (I’ll admit it, my boyfriend now.. wasn’t on my radar when we first met due to my preconcieved notions of having a “type”).

Oftentimes, when you break out of your usual “type”, you discover more about yourself. A non-type can bring out parts of your personality that you didn't even know were there. For instance, I am a loud, obnoxious social butterfly but I never wanted to go out with someone just like me, so I tended to go for the shy quiet type. I discovered that I needed someone who was social like me, the life of the party, the one who everyone liked and got along with. I am really happy that I found my “non-type” not only because he's great, but because I likes who I am when I’m around him.

I am not Einstein or anything, or claim to be a love guru but If you keep dating the same type of guy, or repeating a dating pattern that's not working for you, logic would tell you to try something different. It takes a lot of courage, though, to break out of your comfort zone into unknown territory. If your dating pattern is that you're always the one who is more interested in commitment then the person you are dating, you may want to make a point to remind yourself not to settle for that any more and will only date men who know they want to be with you. This may sound like a simple, but we all get used to our roles and patterns. If you go for bad boys... give that cute “mama’s boy” a chance....

Almost every woman has a type of guy she prefers to date, sometimes without even knowing it. Some women like men in suits, some prefer blue-collar guys. Some girls like smooth talking men, and of course, every woman falls at least once for the bad boy (try not to exclusively date this type.) But every now and then it’s good for a girl to “think outside the box,” and try something new. This means turning your attention to a guy who really isn’t your “type”. If you prefer jocks, take a second look at the computer guy in your office. If you like your men really tall, give men who aren’t as towering a chance. The point is to take a chance and have a date or two with someone you normally wouldn’t. Who knows how it might turn out? You never know, the person you thought would never be the one, could in fact be your knight in shining armor in disguise. 

I believe that when you have a “type” of guy, you might not realize you’re attracted to what you hope or perceive he is, not who he actually is. This can lead to heartbreak on both of your parts, as you have expectations that he’s not even aware of before you even meet him! Give the guy a break.... if you put him on a pedestal, he is sure to fail. By only dating a certain type of guy you have shut off entire categories of men (divorced, under six feet, unable to play golf, the guy who likes to geek it out to Star Trek or even the Sports Fanatic.) 

 Dating outside your type can also mean you meet guys who like to do things you never experienced.  For example in my case If you usually only date sports fans a new type of guy may introduce you to skydiving, or flying a Cessna 172 for your birthday or some adventure you’ve never even thought of experiencing. Who would have though! Then again if all else fails... When Mr. Right turns out to be the type of guy you’ve been dreaming of since you were ten, it’s all the sweeter for knowing you gave other types of guys a chance. After all, that's only fair.   

Chow 4 Now

STOP!!!!

I Just read an Interesting article online based on the Negative things that we do to ourselves.. and I would like to share some of what he has written.  (http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/12/11/30-things-to-stop-doing-to-yourself/)

Stop spending time with the wrong people. Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. if someone wants you in their life, they will make room for you. You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot. Remember its not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends. (I couldn’t agree with this more. We all have friends in our life that we keep around because its easy, because we like having the social crowd..but how many can you truly consider your close friends... the ones that really know you?)

Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too.  Yes, help others; but help yourself too.  If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now. (Another one that I agree with, I have always been that girl who does everything for everyone else.. and rarely for myself, I am learning though. For example, I am writing this blog..curled up on the couch in an extremely comfy blanket, when I should be sleeping... but don’t care)

Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else.  Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you.  Don’t change so people will like you.  Be yourself and the right people will love the real you. (There is a quote that I use to tell the children I used to work with and it goes like this “always be a first rate version of yourself rather then a second rate version of somebody else” and it fits well with this one!)

Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us.  We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past.  But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future.  Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come. (Its always best to live & love in the here and now....rather then stress about what could have been).

Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you.  You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough.  But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past.  You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation.  So smile!  Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be. ( I like this one because it sums up my year of 2010. I had a rough year, but in the end it made me a stronger person and for that I am greatful).

Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while.  You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well.  You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears.  The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again. ( This one is hard for me because I hate being a burden on people, i’ve been one of those “suck it up” kind of girls, i’ve finally realized that it isn’t working for me.)

Anyways these are just a few, But I enjoyed them... and they kind of went along with my last

blog! If you want to read the entire list.. I have attached the link @ the top!

New Years Is Comming...

Hey Everyone, NYE is closely approaching...

It is almost the end of December and most of us are probably going to make new years resolutions! I have never made a new years resolution that I have kept, and I think that sucks! I believe that it is pointless to wait the whole year, just for one day. A day when you are expected to receive a burst of motivation and energy to do something, that you are not quite sure you truly want to do, but everybody else thinks you should!

Most people, claim that they will begin eating healthy, exercising more regularly, quit smoking, stop drinking, blog more often and so on, when the new year comes. But do they really believe it? Most new years resolutions are based on “living the right way”. Stop for a second, and think about your new years resolutions that you have made in the past. How many of them do you truly, deeply want with your heart to happen? How many are actually attainable? How many have you succeeded in?

To my knowledge it appears that almost all new years resolutions end up with failure. It is the same as “ I will start dieting on Monday!”…and what you have two weeks later is that you’ve wasted fourteen days, keeping up with your old bad habits! Change is not about the right time, the right circumstances… it is more about desire, motivation, patience, perseverance (Look at me sounding all philosophical).
Most new year’s resolutions are not realistic. They are a bold dream, a big gap between where you are now and where you want to be. Almost every single person on Earth, will make at least one resolution! When January comes, everybody will start with big enthusiasm to do wonders and change the world, but in two weeks, most people will give up on the change, and live with their old, bad habits!

In my opinion, Forget about new year’s resolutions and start living today. Don’t put off your life for tomorrow or for the next week! Your life is today! Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you truly want something, start doing it today!

With that being said, my New Years Resolutions will be simple, I am going to start living for me.. and get with the program! Im not going to get anywhere being lazy!!!

Christmas Day

Happy Christmas Everyone (I know its been a few days, I have been extremely busy). I bet you thought I’d cleared off for Christmas and forgotten all about you! Nooo! I am still here and there’s just time to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a not-too-hectic day today! This blog will be short and sweet, I would like to wish everyone a safe and Happy Holidays, and to tell you to get off the Internet. It's Christmas day, for goodness sakes. Shouldn't you be spending it with your families? Ha Ha (says the one who's blogging eh?). Just kidding. But I will be taking the day off from blogging, ready to fire things back up on Monday with a new post.
Lots of Love, Stay Safe xox

A Girly Blog!!!!

I Love Heels, They are Fabulous and make me feel Sexy. I know, I know. It’s weird to hear me say this because for several reasons I wear flats most of the time. And when I wear heels, they’re only one to two inches high. For lots of us the thought of teetering around in huge heels is a nightmare but there is no denying that some outfits just look better with a bit of extra leg length ( and for us vertically challenged people, its a necessity).

We are not all blessed with the aptitude for curving our feet into foot oragami, the talent of balancing the tips of our heels onto a slither of a wedge. It’s not every young woman’s calling, yet the majority of us respond to society’s appeal for the long, lustrous sexy legs attained by the elevated shoe, aka the high heel.

I cannot walk in heels… I just can’t. Except for the times I’m slightly inebriated, which for some reason whisks with it the magical capability of maintaining the composure of my usually wobbly feet. Or if the shoe features a thick wedge and a front platform. But for the most part, I’m the waddling penguin who seems to have grabbed a pair of shoes from her mother’s closet. But a couple of times a month, I break out my high heels, which are no higher than three inches because that’s all I can bear. And I feel fabulous.

Don't we all feel so sexy when we slip on those gorgeous high heels that we just HAD to have .... sexy until we start walking that is! It's the age old pleasure pain principle ... we get all the pleasure of feeling like a supermodel but at the expense of walking like a fool. The “High Heel” is at once every woman's best friend and worst enemy.

Even if you think you’re “too tall” or “can’t walk in heels”, think again. Every fashionista should own at least one pair of fabulous heels and they’re the perfect example a true fashion must-have, a transformative piece of clothing that adds a little extra something to any outfit. So, with that being said, I have bought several pairs of heels in my lifetime. Some that I have wore and some that have sat in my closet collecting dust. With this whole blog, of me growing up.. I decided to do it.

When I first started wearing heels these are the types that I have bought!   They were easy to wear, they had straps to prevent them from falling off my feet, BUT... they always gave me blisters.

Today, I went Shopping and found the most amazing heels, Actually wedges.. They feel great! I love them and I just have to show them off.

Lastly, I have a goal, the more I teach myself "how to like my heels" .. the more excited I am to slip on a little black dress, and put on these bad boys without breaking my neck!!! They are 4.5 Inches High!

.....I will leave you with an awesome quote about heels that sums me up perfectly!!!!!


"I`m always the girl at the party who, within five minutes, has taken my heels off, hitched up my dress in my knickers, and probably spilt drink down my cleavage"

Chow

Insight On Me..

In my family, women have big mouths, loud voices and broad shoulders. Everything about me stems from this fact.  I don’t play games (or at least I try not to). I just open my mouth and say it. Straight out, even (especially) if it hurts. I often get myself in trouble for expressing how I feel and blurting out the unessecary, but not to the ones I love. I have difficulty expressing things to them sometimes.

I consider myself to be feisty, pretty, intelligent, if I’m truthful with myself, I usually deserve better, settle far too often, and am intensely loyal. A friend is a friend forever, but do not cross me. It will become my life’s ambition to see you in as much pain as you cause (really imagine... Just Kidding). With that being said, I like to pretend like I am tough.  I despise unfairness to the point where I can become a whiny little girl ready to explode @ the world. I never learned to be enough. Not pretty enough, smart enough, thin enough, polite enough, good enough. I didn’t know I could be. With that being said, I have accepted the fact that I am not perfect and yet still love myself!!!

On the inside, I feel the same as I did at 17, warm and restless. I worry about gray hair and wrinkles on my face, the pudge that begins to build on my body and the fact that I probably won't grow past my 5 foot 2 vertically challenged body.

The past few weeks have been like candy: Full of hard, sticky memories, too sweet and too sharp to swallow. I moved straight past anger, through blame, and am just now settling somewhere between sad and satisfied but thats life right? thats how we deal??  What is important is that I am for the first time in my 27 years of life releasing any and all attachments to particular things that I stressed out about and I am forcing myself to slow down, look around and take in the happiness that life can bring.

In 27 years, I’ve never traveled without a plan, or a spare pair of underwear. I am a master organizer who will not rest until the goal is accomplished or at least almost done. I always need to have something on the go, or I feel like I am missing out on things. I feel content with saying that I am going to sit back and relax more often, and find myself with the help of some great friends, family, boyfriend and a nice big bottle of Pinot Grigio (wine).

I won’t lie. This is a huge adjustment.  Sort of like having a supporting role in my own life. I’m present, but not too present. Self-contained, but wholly unfamiliar. Maybe the air will smell cleaner, sparkle more..... this is me growing up and turning into an adult! How am I doing?

Sassy

Ugh Monday Again..

Hey, I'm the type of person who believes that.. our days are how we make them.  However, Its something we cannot get away from. It’s a given thing that every single Monday, Facebook is filled with people complaining about the fact that it’s Monday. Really? What’s so bad about it? Sure you’re not at home doing nothing, but when you think about it, you’re just somewhere else doing nothing or something, maybe your working...who knows!!!

The average person’s work week I am sure has the least amount of work done on a Monday (unless were not productive and we leave Friday's work until Monday). This is probably due to the amount of time people spend telling the world how much they hate the fact that it’s Monday, and agreeing with EVERY other person on the internet who thinks the same way! I work @ a job where anything can happen.. some days being busy, some not so much. But if its a quiet day on the ambulance I will say.."its because its a Monday" and if its busy.. again I will say "its because its a Monday". So... really... I think its Me.. and I am treating Monday "unfairly".

Then there is the weekend...After two whole days of having nothing in particular to do, but no-doubt filling it with things to do and then complaining about how much you had to do; it’s entirely understandable that returning to work after being bored with such prolonged periods with nothing to do can be a horrible experience, so you have my sympathy there(NOT). However, do you really have to tell everyone? Every week? Really? These types of things don't apply to me, I work nearly every weekend... so My response when Monday comes is.... YEAHHHHHH!!!!!

The average person’s Monday doesn’t consist of work that’s accumulated over the weekend, because all those other average people were doing absolutely nothing over the weekend too! No, the average person’s Monday consists of all the leftover work from Friday. For many personalities, Monday is the most difficult day of the week.  It’s different than the other six days.  It feels different, response is different, and the audience is just…different.  Why is it different (that is a question I am sure that we have asked ourselves forever).

Maybe People are just different on Mondays.  They’ve just spent two days in a different “routine”. They’ve been in weekend mode, and now it’s time to crank it up again.  People move a little slower.  Whatever is in our body that normally cause them to respond well don’t produce the same result on Monday morning. Whether we are adults or children, teenagers or elderly we will all complain about the same things.

I am obviously not the only one who thinks this way... Think of the song "Manic Monday". 

My Advice to you is to prepare psychologically.  If you program yourself to start the weeks full of enthusiasm, with an attitude of new opportunities, your Monday will follow the same.   Happy Monday Everyone!

NYC 2012

Well, My "Future Mother in Law" has been travelling since forever and she always goes on these bust tours. I never knew much about them, but after doing some researching, I think I am sold of the idea. I have only travelled a little but in my life to places other then Canada. 

I went on my first trip to Maine in 2008 to go white water rafting with some friends from work. In 2009 I went to Las Vegas, with a few people. In 2010, I went to New York & New Jersey with my classmates from "Paramedic" school. Then in 2011, I went to Cuba with my amazing boyfriend.

This year, I would really like to go on a Bus Tour to NYC with my Lady Friends. I say lady friends cause lets face it, were going to walk around and do a lot of shopping. Not very many guys want to do that. I am chosing a bus tour cause lets face it, strange big city, no vehicle and no sence of direction except when iam in the ambulance. I am going to want someone to take me on a tour and show me all the hot spots.

For anyone who is interested, it seems to be a good price. Its approximately $575 per person, on July 2-7, 2012.  I am going to book through Good Time Adventure. So if you want to check out the plan there it is!!!

Cassie

All I Want For Christmas...

I remember being ages 5-15 and waiting every year for the Christmas Wish Book to come out. I would spend hours upon hours envisioning what I wanted for toys, who would play with me and how I could trick Santa into believing that I wasn't Sossy to mom. As the years moved on and I got older, Christmas became less about gifts and more about the meals, parties and get togethers. Now that I am 27.. Christmas sometimes comes and goes, I often pick up shifts, so people with Children can have the day off, I open presents before or after.. and haven't been able to cook a Christmas Dinner yet!  I guess I am realizing now, that I have more pleasure in getting people gifts, decorating and someday hoping to see my children as excited as I once was about Christmas.

Also, materialist things have changed through the years, I practically have all that I need, because I am to impatient I buy it myself. However, I find myself looking for gifts that help me grow up as a person, like slippers to keep my feet warm so I don't get sick.  A Blanket to warm me up on the couch while I am reading, a cook book to teach myself better ways of cooking in our new kitchen. I get excited about home decor & decorating the rooms.  All of things are in no way hints.. just things that I would never have considered when I was just a child.

...As for NYE and resolutions.. I make them every year and I never keep them. I know I need to get healthier.. I am working on it.  I've lost a little over 20 pounds since this summer.  I feel like I put others before myself, sometimes good...sometimes bad. I'm beoming more independent... BUT... the one thing I am going to work on for myself is finding hobbies, spending more time with friends..and doing things for me. Im not being selfish, just a way of keeping myself sane...<3

Muahh!

The Perfect Agenda

So, there is something that I dread each and every year, I fear it, I obsess over it, and think about it before, during and after it is done. Its not my birthday, I actually like having those, although I would like to be younger.  The thing that I dread the most is buying an agenda.

Now from this moment you may think that I am on crack but I will explain my crazyness. From the time I started school we were always given those school agenda's for homework, we would doodle in them, they would become our diaries, a place to hold notes and pictures of the boys we liked. As we got older, they held all the important points about our social lives, exa, schedules and our first jobs like MacDonalds or Tim Hortons.  Now that I am an adult, I need one to keep me sane.

I work 3 jobs, I have work apointments, social appointments, health appointments, somewhere in there I have find time to go to the gym, family time, friend time & boyfriend time... and sleep (we gotta have that right). Anyways, I have specifics for the agenda I am looking for and what I would consider "perfect".  I need an agenda that has a full calender. One that I can write all my schedule in it and be bale to see it a month in advance. I also like to have page by page calenders. I like agendas that have rings in them or coils.

Once I have found one of these (which it took me 3 weeks to find) I have to then switch everything over which gives me anxiety. I feel like I will leave things out, miss important dates... who knows! I realize someday I am going to have children of my own and my obsession,fixation and anxiety about keeping track of things is going to be crazy!!!

Alright.... haha now you know it, I am a freak! :)

The House!!!

So, the Boyfriend and I decided that it was time to move away from "apartment" living and purchase a house. We were talking about the prospects of buying a house in the new year around income tax season... lo and behold... we did everything in three weeks ( its not even christmas yet, let alone the new year).
     Buying a house is great, you get to start over & decorate in a shiny bright new house to call your own. Well thats just fine and dandy.. but then the reality sets in..."packing up the apartment". I have gone to the old apartment nearly everyday for two weeks and you would think that I would be done by now right... Wrong!!! I will be happy when I can hand over the house and say "nice knowing ya, ciao".
     However, things in the new house are looking fantastic, I will post some pictures soon. We moved to Shediac and I am noticing some major differences already. First being the silence of the house. When I lived @ home, apartments or in dorm rooms there was often that comfort of hearing what was going on next door or upstairs. No guys, not "those" sounds but the sounds of knowing somebody is around. You don't hear that in a house, at least not yet. The second thing I noticed about the new place is the neighbourhood, its very welcoming & everyone says hello and waves. At our old place you were too afraid to wave to anybody, walk alone in the streets or keep yoru blinds open at night. Alright, I may be exaggerating a little bit, but you get the point I am trying to make. Lastly, Shediac feels like home. The town is beautiful, everyone is so friendly and...I have a beach in my back yard. I literally am a 1km walk from Parlee beach! Bring On Summer!!!!
      Stay Tuned... for some Pics!!!

Part Two - Getting Aquainted!!

...So, to continue with my earlier blog. I have stated that a lot has happened in the past two years and how true that statement is.  However... none of that really matters, unless you know what happened in my life before the past two years so hear goes the “Short but Sweet Sassy Biography”. I was born in 1984....on a mid-summer day... (haha JK, I won’t bore you with things like that).  To keep it short as promised... I discussed the family & boyfriend in my last blog. So I will talk a little bit about me.
    I graduated High School in 2002, Moved to Quebec and got a Diploma in Social Sciences... Moved back to NB...got a Diploma in Youth Counseling...worked as a Counsellor for approximately six years (wow eh).  Then decided to follow my heart & my dreams and do something in the healthcare field.... I decided to go back to school to be a Paramedic (not an ambulance driver..for you old folk who don’t know the difference).  The course was a year long.. it was hard but worth it & for the past 11 months I have been working in the healthcare field.  So its been good to me and I love it. Its different everyday.. its challenging & rewarding.  With that being said... following my heart & all... I just enrolled in a “Bridal Consultant” course... another dream of mine (BIG SMILES!!!).
    Yadda Yadda Yadda... so thats school & work covered!!!  How about friends...  Remember when you thought boys had cooties...when friends were new, dreams were un-shattered and worries few...when recess was too short and life was too long...decisions came easily without needing to belong...when storks delivered the babies and passions weren't so strong...friendships were un-broken...right was right, and wrong was wrong...when bad things didn't happen...when only skinned knees brought tears and the night light in it's socket quieted all our fears...when farewell meant just for summer and real friends didn't part...the fun went on forever and never left a broken heart.
As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back (Yup That about sums it up eh?).
  ***Chow For Now... I'll Be Back***

To Get Aquainted...

Hey,
Like every new blog that exists, there is always an explanation, so as promised.. here it is...
     My name is Cassie (although I will sign my name Sassy).  I am 27 years old and in this past two years I have begun my second career,  ended a relationship & started a new one,  traveled across the world, made friends & lost some, purchased a house and most importantly... I have grown up (scary thought eh..).  I mean it had to come eventually... but really this soon???
    Although I am not the greatest @ keeping things in my life private, I am going to try to refrain from using real names, and instead give nicknames to those who are important to me. So before I get into my “grown-up” adventures, I will quickly get on with some nicknames. Two very important people in my life, that have brought me into this world and have raised me well will be referred to as Mommy Dearest & Daddykins.  I have a Blended & Extended Family with 3 stepsisters who I will refer to as S1, S2 & S3 ( 3 being the youngest) a Half Sister who I will refer to as S.5 and a single Brother who we will call Brother Bear.
    I have several friends as well that will be discussed, I am sure throughout my blog. but for them to prevent confusion, I will use their initials and let them figure it out (haha).  MW is probably my longest friend, she recently got married last summer. I was fortunate to be part of her wedding & will continue to miss her as we live some distance apart. SR & I have known each other for almost just as long & have been through more then two friends should.  We will always have each others back through thick & thin. LB & I have known each other for almost 2 years and became very close in such a short time. Our friendship continues to grow & although we don’t see each other daily, its unconditional & remains perfect. JM is my newest friend, we clicked instantly. We have been fortunate enough to work together & play together...growing together with each night shift that passes. These are just to list a few!
    Last but not Least, my main squeeze who I will refer to as the boyfriend, maybe someday the fiance & hopefully some day the husband (no dear... this isn’t a hint, well maybe). There is one more person (well kind of a person) who means a bunch to me too, he’s important and he gave me permission to use his name. This character I speak of is Jack, my 6 year old Tabby Cat.
Well, I hope this sums up my first blog & sums a few things up. More To Come, I promise <3