What I know now

A letter to my younger self.

Dear 18-year-old Emily,

I know right now, at this very moment you have no idea who you are or where your life is going and I wish I could tell you it was only going to get better, but as your 20-something-year-old self, I'm going to tell you that it's not... yet.  Listen up and listen good Emily, because it's time to get real with yourself!

When it comes to School:

Yeah, Savanna sucks, but take it seriously.  You're smart and can do WAY better and if you don't do it now, you will regret it later on.  Take classes that challenge you and stop talking to Daniel C. and Daniel K. in English... Pay attention.  Also... TAKE THE SAT's.  What the hell are you thinking?? (Ps.  All the people that used to make fun of you are either fat, have a bunch of kids with different guys, or try to hit on you... and you will reject them, so don't worry about it.)

When it comes to Men:

You’re going to meet a lot of them. They will find you attractive, and they will let you know that. And, as a result, you will let them walk all over you.  You really don't need them.  Your heart is going to get broken, you are going to be hurt and you are going to spend many nights crying yourself to sleep, but you will be okay!  After a bad breakup you will learn that men don’t validate you; only you can validate yourself. It will take a while, and it’s going to hurt while it does. But you’ll finally get it.

Speak up!

You let too many people walk over you.  This is something we still struggle with, so maybe if you start now it would be easier.  Listen to your gut, start standing up for yourself and stop giving in when you know better.  Start thinking more with your head and less with your heart, not everyone is as nice as you are.

Learn to Work

Things come to you easily.  Right now you don't have to work that hard for your money so you will get in the habit of putting in the least amount of effort.  Someday you will get a real job and you will have to work your butt off and it is hard.  You will learn that things in life aren't always free and you will learn it the hard way.

Embrace who you are

You think you don't fit in so you try to be someone you aren't.  It's okay to be different.  It's okay that you don't fit in.  Do what you feel is right in every situation even if that makes you stand out even more. 

When it comes to everything else

You are going to see very soon how important your friends and family are to you.  You are going to sometimes feel very alone and that will bring you to develop deep, personal relationships with thee most important people in your life.   Don't stress so much on things that have happened in the past, let them go.  Remember who you are and where you want to be.  You are going to make mistakes and you are going to struggle.  Life isn't always great Emily, but the choices you are making now are the most important, so chose wisely.

Also... stop spending money you don't have on credit cards that, you don't know yet, but you will be paying on FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!

XoXo

Yourself



I Just Wanna Go Back In Time...

(Disclaimer: My titles from now on will probs all reference a Lady A song, can't help it!)

Here's the thing, I'm a night time blogger.  Here's the problem, I work at night.  Good excuse right? 

So I've been busy.

Doing lots of things and stuff.

A few weeks ago me and my momma went down to La Jolla together <3

It was a beautiful day, like most days in that city

but not a beautiful reason for going.

We initially went to do some more cleaning out of Thee house,

but we ended up locked out, which was awesome.

So once I figured out that I wouldn't be able to break in I decided

to take some pics.

It was a really sad day for me.

My Gram had this home built back in the day,

she raised her children her

all by herself.

Her darkest nights and happiest moments

are no doubt within these walls.

The only children who have played in the halls

and filled this home with

love and laughter

are hers.

Now that life has changed

some one else is going to live here.

Someone who doesn't know

how hard she worked

and how much she sacrificed

for this home.

To them, it's just a really nice home

in an affluent neighborhood.

After a talk with my mama I felt a little better but it's still sad.

Life doesn't always get easier as you get older.

No one tells you about the sadness you will go through

watching the people you love, the ones that helped to make you

who you are and gave you the ultimate gift of life and loving parents,

fade away. 



Luckily for me, I have amazing memories with my Gram ^^

It wasn't always rainbows and butterflies, but it was love.

She never missed a birthday or graduation.  She was there for

almost every holiday and loved to travel with us. 

So many of the places I have experienced have been with her

or because of her.

I am a better person because of her and I could never thank her enough

for giving me my amazing daddy!

(she took this picture of baby K on one of our tips to the Merry-Go-Round)

As I get older I can truly see that she rose above all the obstacles in life

that most others couldn't imagine.  She was so strong <3 

A piece of me will always be on Avenida Manana <3





Terrible!

Why hasn't anyone told me that I'm terrible at blogging lately??  I need to do some catching up, obvs.  So I'm probably going to do it Wed... because Chelsea and I are going to see

Lady Antebellum

On tuesday!!

Thanks Pinterest!

I found this on Pin!  Good article.  Straight to the point! 

Dating Tips Every 20-something should know.

*It's pretty interesting that the title of this blog is "All Women Stalk" yet tip #5 is Be Cool, Not Obsessive! Ha!

And I think to myself....

Nights like tonight I can't help but wonder what I did right.
You know those times when you think to yourself,
God must have really known what my life was going to be like because He
put these people in my life for moments just.like.this?

You see, I have a few people like this in my life.

My mommy, my sisters...

and my girls.

My ride-or-die,

thick and thin

no matter how long passes I'm there for you girls.

One of these girls I met when I was 8 and FOREVER

changed my life <3

The other I met in Jr. High and has been

one of thee most supporting and understanding

friend 

I have ever had.

I have laughed and cried,

fought and loved,

been far apart and closer than ever

with these girls

and no matter how much time passes

we are still close as ever.

Tonight I am more thankful than ever, that life as kept us close together

and allowed us to grow and experience life with each other. 

These two girls are some of the best things that have ever happened to me

and I can't help but to lalalalalove them!

<3







Week Three

3.  Start being honest with yourself about everything. – Be honest about what’s right, as well as what needs to be changed. Be honest about what you want to achieve and who you want to become. Be honest with every aspect of your life, always. Because you are the one person you can forever count on. Search your soul, for the truth, so that you truly know who you are. Once you do, you’ll have a better understanding of where you are now and how you got here, and you’ll be better equipped to identify where you want to go and how to get there. Read The Road Less Traveled.

I think we are all guilty of it.

Do something that we shouldn't but tell ourselves

no one knows.

Like when you're on a diet

and you go to McDonalds but tell yourself

"Who cares I want it and no one will know."

Maybe it's not always about what we eat

a boy we shouldn't date

a place we shouldn't go

a bill we should pay.

Being honest with yourself it such a

good start to getting on the right track and we all should

do it or try and be better at it.

I know I need to.

After all

honest is the best policy.

Xoxo

Number Two

For the 2nd week of the year, here is number 2 of the Things to Start Doing for Yourself...

Start facing your problems head on. – It isn’t your problems that define you, but how you react to them and recover from them. Problems will not disappear unless you take action. Do what you can, when you can, and acknowledge what you’ve done. It’s all about taking baby steps in the right direction, inch by inch. These inches count, they add up to yards and miles in the long run.

EVERYBODY has problems.

I know that I, myself am guilty of trying to hide from them rather than face them,

example, My Great Financial Depression of 2007-2009.

Some problems I face and can see and appreciate those trials more as I look back and learn.

Then there are others that because I chose to not deal with them

as an adult,

I continue to suffer from.

So here is to ALL of us, raising our adult glasses and taking steps in the right direction,

whichever direction that many be!

Xoxo

Just Emily

I have a sister.

She is the oldest.

She graduated from USU.  She's married.

She owns a house and she has 2 kids.

Then there is a brother.

He is the only boy.

He graduated from the US Naval Academy.

He has a really good job.

He's married.

He owns a house and has a new baby.

Then there is me,

Emily.

She has a job at a hospital.

Then there is a sister

She is the baby.

She is married.
They are looking for a home to buy in Arizona.

Her husband is going to school to become and Architect.

If you were to ask anyone in my family, extended family or anyone who knows my family, that is how they would describe us kids... Sounds pretty great, huh?

I am Just Emily.