No Holding Me Back

As I'm totally crazy with life right now,

I reminded of this awesome quote I saw posted on Curly in the City's blog.

Today I am so grateful for all of the wonderful successes this year has afforded me and am so freaking glad
I did not WASTE ONE MORE SECOND toward creating the vision I see for myself.

Anything you've been thinking of doing lately? Need the push to get started?

Compliments: Feels Good to Say Thank You!

So proud of myself that I had to share with you:

a girlfriend I hadn't seen recently told me today when I saw her that I looked great. My response:

THANK YOU...

ya know, I FEEL GREAT!

Wow. My response caught me off guard because I find it hard to take a compliment.

Are you good at taking compliments and appreciating them, or do you instead say "oh please, my hair looks like a mess today" or "thanks but my thighs are about to explode they're so huge!"

(don't lie: so many of us are guilty of it!).

Ya know what?

I walked away feeling REALLY great about myself... and my response. 

Try taking a compliment sometime.

You'll like it.

(via)

Two Oprah Moments I Can't Get Outta My Head

Yes, I'm on Oprah fan.

(please, please, please... please keep reading even if you're not).

Whether or not you would watch her show daily, she's a total inspiration.

During her recent three-part finale (!),
I almost lost it (ok, tears were in def. in effect) when
Kristin Chenoweth sang "For Good" from the musical, Wicked,"

as hundreds of graduates from Morehouse College who received an Oprah scholarship fled the stage holding lights in Oprah's honor. It was incredible and awe-inspiring.

If you haven't seen or heard it, watch it here.

Another amazing Oprah moment during the final weeks?

During her "besties" ep with Gayle, her best friend for more than 25 years.

We should all be so lucky to have one friendship in our lives like this. They're really lucky.
While I have close friends, I can't say I've yet to be this lucky to have a friend for that long that I'm still as close with on a daily basis. Life moves you around, ya know?

My favorite part of the show was when Gayle responded to how people ask her if she's jealous of her bff, Op's. Her response?

“I feel like I’m
standing in her light,

I never feel like I’m
standing in her shadows."

(via)

Think about that! I have been obsessing over this the past week because it's such a powerful reminder to always cheer on our successful friends and think about how you can rise even higher,

not think of jealously during your bestie's best moments.

I LOVE IT. Like want to scream it from the roof tops, LOVE IT.

Be Happy. It's Friday!

If there's one thing I've learned, it's do what makes YOU happy.

Everyone else does.

Sounds silly (or even rude) but I've learned I'm a little too nice and therefore get my feelings hurt because I try so hard to accommodate others because typically they're doing what I should be doing...

making themselves happy! And, I've seen other women fall "victim" to this, too.

So lesson learned (that's taken me 30 years and I'm still working on it!):

Making YOU happy should always be number one priority. Always.

And the people around you should appreciate it.

So, my friend, happy Friday to YOU!

Raise Your Bar High

You know those songs that every time you hear them the lyrics just jump out at you?
It's incredible how musicians and writers can reach your soul so deeply. Must share with you one I was just reminded of while driving home the other day that I know will resonate with all you gals.

Don't stop reading after I share the next sentence. Pinky swear? Ok...the song is "country." Don't hate! I used to be a hater (to be honest), but after a girls getaway in 2006 with sorority sisters to Nashville (so freaking fun!), I found a home in my heart for country. The live music scene in Nashville is awesome. Love the rockin' country, the kind where we found ourselves dancing 'til 4 am. Here's a photo of us around town, lovin' our country look.


me, logan, julie, dori, susan, stephanie

Once home, I started listening a little to the country stations (and even attended a country chili cook-off!) and was captivated, absolutely captivated by this song by Sugarland. Doesn't hurt that it has a great beat. It's called "Settlin', and it should be the mantra for all women.

The message: Do not settle. Absolutely do not. In your relationship. With your friendships. With your career. With your life. It's yours to make. So as the song says... Raise the bar high!

"Settlin'" 
(download from Amazon)

Fifteen minutes left to throw me together

For mister right now, not mister forever

Don't know why I even try when I know how it ends

Looking like another "maybe we could be friends"

I've been leaving it up to fate

It's my life so it's mine to make

I ain't settling for just getting by

I've had enough so so for the rest of my life

Tired of shooting too low, so raise the bar high

Just enough ain't enough this time

I ain't settling for anything less than everything, yeah

With some good red wine and my brand new shoes

Gonna dance a blue streak around my living room

Take a chance on love and try how it feels
With my heart wide open now you know I will
Find what it means to be the girl

Who changed her mind and changed her world

I ain't settling for just getting by

I've had enough so so for the rest of my life

Tired of shooting too low, so raise the bar high

Just enough ain't enough this time

I ain't settling for anything less than everything

I ain't settling for just getting by

I've had enough so so for the rest of my life

Tired of shooting too low, so raise the bar high

Just enough ain't enough this time

I ain't settling for just getting by

I've had enough so so for the rest of my life

Tired of shooting too low, so raise the bar high

I ain't settling no, no, no, no, no, no

So raise the bar high



One of those Days

Today's one of those days. Do you have those? Be honest with yourself. This post isn't about fashion, shoes, a new recipe, a super deal, or anything else like that, it's about life. My life at this moment. I struggle with giving you too much about my life. Do you want to know? Or, do you want just the "fun" stuff. I'm not sure, but at this moment, I selfishly need to this post this and well, I'm not sure where else to do it...

My dad's about to have triple-bypass heart surgery, I'm exhausted, and feeling so blah. Passed on a lunch date (sorry!) and a shopping meet up with girlfriends (sorry again!) because I just want to fast forward this day and know he's OK. I went to the hospital last night to visit; it was the first time I saw the inside of a hospital since I was there last year for a month temporarily paralyzed and changing my life forever after discovering I have some little-known neurological disorder. Ugh. Lucky me, right?

Everyone says I'm always so strong and optimistic but not feeling it at this moment. I'm scared to be honest. It scares me about my dad and then about me, too, that maybe I could have a relapse or something awful. I'm doing pretty well considering, dealing with crap many of you hopefully will never have to consider and then lucky I'm not dealing with pain and agony that you have. All I asked for was that 2011 to be a healthy year because in so many ways 2010 was not for me or my family. After today, it better damn well be!

I need to be doing work for my real job, but how is that important right now? (again, my apologies). Trying to focus on the positive...

 Deep breaths, relax....

 Really meaning it: wishing you so much health and happiness for you and your loved ones. It's all that matters in life.

Words of Wisdom

I thank the totally awesome Kendall K. for posting these words of wisdom.
Remember this...

Have a great weekend, ladies!!

xo

Alyson

Always be a first-rate version of

yourself instead of a second-rate version

of someone else.

- Judy Garland