witches, and vampires, and warewolves, oh my

Yes I am admitting this.....for the past few weeks I have been helplessly addicted to this show. I have been catching up from the very beginning and you can ask Steven, it takes up a lot of my free time. You know, the little amount that I have.
So many of my friends keep convincing me that I will turn into Team Damon, but while I find him to be a lot more attractive than in the beginning, I am now and have been from the start, Team Stefan.
What team are you on??

-kel

Thanksgiving in Pensacola

image found on pinterest

This past weekend, Turkey day weekend, I got to go home. It's one of the many traditions I love about the holidays. It always consists of spending time with family friends, eating way too much food, and reminiscing.  Every year we go, I seem to always get the best sleep and I always feel like I'm on vacation. Our Pensacola family is truly amazing and I love every single one of them. And it's so sweet to see each year how our little group grows larger as the younger generation (my generation) finds themselves getting married and having kids. Meals therefore are no smaller than 13 and I love that. I also love getting to hear about my dad from the people that knew him so well (and for longer than I did). 

The only sad part about the weekend is that it's over and I have to wait 300+ days until we get to go back again.

So until then........

-k

'tis the season

It was a full weekend. A very full weekend. And I still can't believe Thanksgiving is a few days away, and Christmas only right around the corner. 

There is so much to do and so little time, but I am going to try my absolute hardest to take in all of this holiday season and not let it fly away. 

And I already started by taking some Christmas photos for a friend and her family. Now...who else can I rope into getting pictures done by me??

-kel

thankful list

photo found on pinterest

I am thankful for.....

my Savior, who died for me

my amazing mom, who would do anything for me

my dad, who taught me so much in our short time together

my boyfriend who is always trying to take care of me

my stepdad who always give his all

my soulmate Leigh, who loves me and gets me through all my craziness

for my amazing friend Jen, who is always there for me when I need it

for my sweet friend Erica, who reminds me how to be a good friend 

for my sister, who shares more with me than just blood

for my nieces and nephew, who always make me smile

my aunts, uncles, and cousins whom I'm so glad I've gotten close to again

for my friend Sarah, who is probably one of the sweetest women I've ever known

my friend Ashely, who gives me new addictions (Vampire Diaries) and is always there for me 

for my oldest friend, Kim, who has been my friend through the crappiest and best of times

my Riverside family, who not only gave me a job last year, but made me feel like i was home

the girlfriends at Riverside who I still consider to be some of my dearest friends and are there for me

my previous attorney bosses, who have always believed in me and gave me an undeserving job

 a roof over my head

my former church family that supported me

 my former youth kids, whom I love more than they know and who taught me so much

Steven's friends who have always welcomed me into their group

 my sweet car that may be getting older, but at least still takes me from point a to b

 my blogger friends, whom I'm so grateful to know

 my teaching job

having today off

my college education

all of my roommates, past and present that I've been fortune to find

the new friends I've made from school, who have made me feel so much more at ease

coffee

girls nights, that keep me sane

my guy friends who have taught me oh so much

 all of my new and old friends, that always remind me of who I am

my Pensacola family, who is the most loving group of people I've known

my Ft. Lauderdale family who stuck by my side through the worst of times

my Alabama family, who love me and my mom no matter what

my 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers that made me want to choose this path

the study abroad trip that gave me wonderful experiences and amazing friendships

 the country I live in, despite all it's faults

the women and men who have died to make this country what it is

living in Florida- a gorgeous state

my first class, who still love me and write me notes

my current students who can be so sweet and caring

parents that care about their kids, my students and work with me to help them

coworkers that go out of their way for me

blogging, which always keeps me inspired

my pup, Aubre who always is so excited to see me

my past pups, Buttons and Coco who made me fall in love with dogs

that there are people out there that try to help each other, just because they want to

for my oh-so wonderful soft bed

my dad's love of history that somehow got passed onto me

the Bible, that continuously reminds me of God's love for me

the sunshine, that brightens up my day

a working ac

and a working heater

money in my account (even if it's not much)

helpful staff at the hospital that have been trying to help

doctors that are helpful and try to solve medical mysteries

comedies that make me laugh and cheer me up

pictures that help keep memories alive

my own classroom

my friend Joe, who has helped me tremendously in teaching

the upcoming Thanksgiving break that I have off from school and can visit family

books

technology

Starbucks, even if it is overpriced

shopping trips with girl friends

dresses

contacts

glasses

food

wine

gps that helps me always know where I'm going

cupcakes

the opportunities to travel

air fresheners that help my classroom not smell like complete crap

target and it's dollar section

fro yo samples

hair straighteners

makeup

forgiveness

love

the past 

the present

and the future

-kellie

baby shark photography

This past weekend my friend Jen and I headed to the beach. Her son, Keagan was a baby shark for Halloween and so we just had to take photos of the baby shark on the beach.
The whole thing made me re-realize two things: 1- this kid is sooo stinking adorable. 2- i absolutely love photography. I often am hard on myself and my work, but even though I'm not my biggest fan, I do love doing it anyway.
I also have an amazing friend that without even asking me, gave my number to a wedding photographer. I love her for that. That's how much she believes in me (and knows that I would never have the guts to do it myself).
-kel

to blog or not to blog, that is the question

Lately I've been wondering about this whole blogging thing. It's not that I don't enjoy it, it's just that I I have so many questions about it as of late.
What do I have to share?
 Can I share anything even of value or interest?
Who am I blogging for anyway?

I started this blog oh so many years ago for me. I wanted a place where I could share my life and memories so I could look back on it. I also wanted a way to stay in contact with friends who lived far away. I wanted to be able to still share my life with them (and vice versa)  since we didn't see each other as much anymore. Then came this whole blog take over, where I stumbled upon so many wonderful blogs. I honestly became obsessed with blogging. I felt so inspired by so many wonderful bloggers and I would spend entirely too much time in blog land.

Then something changed.

Somehow my blog became more about who else read it and how many other someones read it. It wasn't about me anymore, it was about what I could give to my readers.

Then for whatever reason, I feel like my readers began to disappear. Comments weren't being left and I stopped blogging because frankly, I just didn't have anything interesting to say. I contemplated stopping blogging or even starting fresh, starting over. But if I did start over, what would I do with the new place? What would it be about?

I wonder if this is a common thing for bloggers to face and feel. Maybe I'm not the only one that sees bloggers with thousands of readers who are just dying to leave a comment and be a part of that amazing blog.
But I don't like it on me. I don't want to compare myself. And even more, if I have a hard time hanging out here on my blog lately, why would anyone else? And didn't I start the whole blogging thing for me and no one else? What happened to that blogger?
So here I am....stuck in the abbess of what do I do from here?
To blog or not to blog, that is the question........

-kel