Before Bed Routine

I have found that having a bedtime routine really helps me get into the sleep mode as well as helps calm my nerves in preperation for the following day.

This is my before bed routine:
Wash face.
Brush teeth.
Whiten teeth.
Brush hair.
Moisturize face.
Take allergy medicine.
Pick out clothes for the following day. (If I'm feeling ambitious I even lay them out.)
Charge iPad
Set alarm and charge cell phone.
Check the sink for dirty dishes, if there are any, do them. (I've been slacking on this one)
Shine the sink.(again, i've been slacking)
Check the locks, the windows, and lights.
Say goodnight to all the animals, tell Jazzy and Petey its time for bed.
Go lay down.
Check email one last time as well as my to do list for the following day.
Say my prayers.
SLEEP.

Now, all of these things don't have to be done in that order, even though it is the order I tend to do them in, and they don't all have to be done right before bed. I start some of these things right when I get home from work, but before I go to bed they all have to be done. It has really helped make my nights and mornings a lot less stressfull.

What do you do that helps you eliminate daily stress and/or anxiety?

Progress on becoming a lady...

Holding the title of Lady comes with the responsibility of actually looking and behaving like one. This wasn't something I was really prepared for when hubby and I gained our titles but it's something I have been trying to embrace.

Working from home for a few years really slowed down this progress since my only "subjects" were my family, best friends, and my fur babies. (None of whom really cared if I hung out in yoga pants and a hoodie all day with my hair a sloppy "bun")
Now that I have a new job things have really changed. Someone said something last week that really hit a nerve but instead of getting upset, I decided to use it as a jump start for what I'm going to call the "Lady Hill Project"

I used to take chances with with my style, but somewhere along the line I got timid. Well, as you can tell by yesterday's post, I've decided to put an end to that.

I wore an outfit that I never thought I could pull off, got a haircut that puts me on my way to my dream cut, and wore makeup colors that I was too afraid to try a week ago.
Guess what?
It felt GOOD to get out of my comfort zone. Going to work today was like bungie jumping. I needed to take that leap. I was nervous, thinking that there was no way I could pull this off, thinking I'd get laughed out of the boutique... and yet, that didn't happen, quite the opposite actually. Even if it did happen, I think I might have been okay, b/c I felt good. I liked the me I kept seeing in the mirror when I passed by... It was awesome.

So, I need to keep the momentum going. I plan on getting my eyebrows done so I look a little less like a grumpy old man, and I also want to go and get my nails done. The nails are something I have always loved doing but always felt guilty about spending money on. The last time I had them done professionally was for my wedding! I also need to dye my hair. I spent about a year growing it out to get it to my natural color, and now that it is 100% my natural color I can say "well, at least I tried" because it is SO not what I remember it being. The last time it was all my natural color was when I was 15 so I guess it was a little silly to assume I'd still be a fabulous blond after all those years... Now I just need to decide what color to go with. Highlights so I can be a "real" blond, or do I go red? Maybe I'll let you vote to decide! I'm also going to go on a small shopping spree to get some new clothes.

I deserve to feel pretty, I need to remember that.

What is something you do that helps you feel pretty/pampered/feminine?

New Year, New Me.

Everyone says that right?

Well, I really hope to accomplish it. Maybe not a "new" me, just a "better" me. lol That doesn't sound much better.

I started this blog as a place to show my journey from being lazy me, to being lady me. I don't think I've changed nearly as much as I would have liked, but I am proud of the changes I did make.

I am going to challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone more this year... Whether it be with challenging myself at work, with my writing, with hobbies or my appearance... so without further ado... I present the new Lady Hill...

 

and just for fun... here's a "before" shot....

Blessed

It's so easy to sit around and feel sorry for yourself. To sit and say "oh my, I'm so tired, work is kicking my butt, I have no time for my friends, I have no time to cook, I have no time to go see my mom. Wah, whoa is me"

I would like to take a minute and say that I am truly blessed.
2010 was a really hard year for me. My mom's cancer, losing my job, losing Tango, family drama, dealing with fibromyalgia... you name it, it sucked.
I really let it get to me. I got to the point where I just couldn't take any more, had a major panic attack and almost ended up back in the hospital because of it.

2011 is going to be different. My mom still has cancer, I still miss Tango, and I'm still bitter about what happened at my last job. The difference will be with me, and how I respond and react to my life. 2011 is going to be about positive attitudes.

Thank God, I have a job.
Thank God, I have friends. Great friends. This might be the first time in my life when I can actually say that and mean it.
Thank God, I have food in my fridge and do not need to go hungry.
Thank God, my mom is still here. I am so grateful for every minute that God gives me with her.
Thank God, I have family that loves me. Drama or not, I never have to question whether I am loved.
Thank God for my daddy. He is my rock. 
Thank God for giving me the years I had with Tango. For letting me help him know what it felt like to be loved. For giving me a little ball of unconditional love in return. For teaching me patience. For bringing me to a point in my life where I would get Jasmine.
Thank God for Jasmine. Without her, I may never have gotten out of my funk last year. She has given me a reason to get out of bed every morning.
Thank God for Petey and Bella and McDuff. My children.  Fur, or feathers, paws, or claws, my loves.
Thank God, for Disney World. For at least 8 days a year I get to just be. I get to live in my fantasy land, and be the Princess I know I am, see the world, and be a kid again.

Thank God for my amazing husband, who can always make me laugh, and makes me feel like a princess every single day.

What are you thankful for? Do you think your attitude can impact your future?

Royal Wedding Fashion Ideas for Today's Bride

As you may or may not know, wedding planning is a passion of mine and I have been lucky enough to get a job involved in the wedding industry. One of the best parts of the job is that it combines my love of weddings with my love of blogging.
Check out my latest blog post featuring wedding styles by David Tutera, St. Pucchi, Marina K., Stephen Yearick, Ysa Makino, and Erin Cole.

Bridal Reflections - Royal Wedding Fashion for Today's Bride

Design Issues

I have run into a snag while trying to put up my new banner.
Since I'm no longer 27 I thought a change was in order.
Unfortunately, even though all I did was edit the old banner, the new one looks awful.

Please forgive the appearance of this blog for a little bit, while I try to figure all of this out.

The Jets

I am not a Jets fan. I like football, but I don't really have a favorite team. I root for New York as a general rule.

Tonight however, may have changed things. I don't care so much about the Jets winning, I car about the fact that they made the Patriots loose.

I won't get into specifics, but due to certain past circumstances, I LOATHE the Patriots. So, keeping them out of the Super Bowl makes the Jets my friends.

That is all.

Pay it Forward 2011

I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment here. They must, in turn, post this and send something they make to the first 5 people who comment on their post. *The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011*

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This has been floating around facebook and I think it's a really cute and fun idea and I would love to participate but I wanted to expand on it a little bit since I make things for my facebook friends all the time.
This is open to all of my readers. Regardless of where you are located. 

I won't be taking requests but so that you have an idea of things you may receive: I make jewelry, keychains, hand embroidered gifts, photography gifts, drawings, and stuffed animals. 

In your comment be sure to include the following:
- A link to your post with the same offer.
- Your email address so that I have a way of contacting you.
- Your favorite color.

Feels Like Forever...

I feel as though it's been forever since I posted. I miss my blog, and my readers, and the blogs I read very much but alas, I have not had the time to keep up. Between work and my fibromyalgia I just don't have the time or strength to come online at night to post for the following day.

I am going to try writing more on the weekends and then scheduling the posts so that there is at least a little something here and there. I hate how sad and lonely my blog looks these days.

I will be putting up another post right away today as a way of appologizing for being gone for so long. It's a giveaway of sorts so stay tuned.

In the meantime, please either tell me one thing you think I should know about you that I would have missed this past month, or even better, share a link to a blog post you think that I and/or all of my readers should check out.

Welcome 2011!

I want to wish you all a happy, healthy, fun, and zombie free new year!

I hope 2011 is kinder to me than 2010 was.
But, that doesn't mean there weren't some great things about last year...
I made some great friends both online and off.
I got a job I love.
I got my Jazzy girl.
I accomplished quite a few of my blogging goals.
I lost a few pounds.
I started a chapter of the Zombie Research Society.

There were a lot of good things. Hopefully this year will play host to many more good things, even if it's just less bad things, that will be okay too.

What is your wish for 2011?

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