A Week in the Life of Shelly, Days 3-5

NEW YORK CITY! I want to raise my hands in the air and scream it at the top of my lungs! I don't even know how to put it into words, but I'm gonna try.

Day 1:  Weds, July 27...

 Me leaving from MSP!  So so full of hopes, dreams and with a heart ready for whatever is ahead!

Something about being up in the air to travel makes me feel like anything's possible! 

 My first view of the Big Apple... I don't think I've ever been more excited in my life.  I'm sure the lady next to me on the plane thought I was nuts.  It's okay, Lady, I am NUTS!

 My journal entry the night before.  Also, just as I got off the plane I checked my voicemail.  There was a message there telling me that I didn't get a job I recently interviewed for.  And I was so thankful.  Because I am not destined for that... I'm destined for more.  And the reality of that made my heart crack WIDE open.  While I wasn't really expecting to feel that way going into the conference, I'm so so thankful that's how it played out.  Whew!  I slept so well in NYC, by the way.

Day 2, Thursday, July 28, 2011

I awoke bright and early to take in a few sites before I got ready and went to the conference.  Also, Starbucks: Venti Iced Vanilla Soy Latte... Never tasted better at 7 am!!!!

 I think I'll live here when I move to NYC. :)  LOVE everything about the architecture in this city!

 OK, I'm ready to go "make things happen."  BTW, my curly hair has never looked better... apparently it loves NY!  Who knew!  YAY!

 On my way to the conference I spent some time on Hannelore's bench in Central Park.  It was the perfect place to finish my iced latte and soak up the day!  Have I mentioned that I love NYC yet?  Oh boy!  There's so much in my heart!

 After my morning stroll through Central Park, it was a day full of heart changing events.  I can't put it into words.  If you want to hear, we'll have to have lunch, 25 times in a row.  Really though, I've never been more moved, inspired, and down right at peace, than I was at 8:30 pm on Thursday night.  Because I KNOW what's ahead... and it's only an amazing life in which I live with the right priorities, in which I parent and am a wife to the best of my ability, in which I live for Christ in everything, and in which I allow, for the very first time every, myself, to DREAM bigger, to GO bigger, and to be the very best me I can be.  Life is too short to play small.  I am Making Things Happen.

A little stroll under the Brooklyn Bridge on my way back to the hotel. :)  LOVE NYC!!!!

A little stop at the Buttercup Bakery for the most wonderful Red Velvet Cupcake I've ever loved.  It was perfect, perfect, perfect. 

Day 5, July 29, 2011

One of my first action steps for MTH was to get up earlier.  So, I awoke at 5:30 NY time, which is 4:30 MN time.  I walked to Time Square and sat there enjoying my latte. 

Found this lovely "park" in between two buildings... and also sat there for a bit.. .taking in the sites, smells and sounds of the greatest city on earth!  LOVED every minute of this... my ipod blaring in my ears "Good Life." by One Republic.  Almost the perfect way to end this amazing journey.

Oh, hello Rockefeller Center!

I took a picture of the Chinese family, they took a picture of me.  It was perfect.

The most delicious bagel ever, and it only cost me $.75!  That's it, we're moving to NYC.

Goodbye Midtown Manhatten, you've changed my life.

So, it's over now, and I'm home.  And it is gonna be a good life.  I am full of gratitude.  If you are a part of my life, you are a part of my life for a reason, and vice versa.  Thank you for being my friends.  Supporting me along the way.  Because, whatever I do now, no matter what it is, it will be fully, a million percent, from my heart, authentic, and true.  It will be good.  Possibly the best three days of my life... the best insight and revelations ever, the best epiphanies, the best friends I've ever known, the best crying I've ever done, the most honest I've ever been with myself, and the best hair I've ever had.  I love you NYC.  I love you MN.  I love you Brian Brady Owen Wesley and Bella.  I love you Pamela.  I love you Tammy.  I love you Kim.  I love you Kelly.  I love you besties.  I love you family.  I love you.  I love you MTH NYC 3.0 Alum!  Lara Casey, I love you with all I am.  You are beautiful, annointed, and have changed my life.  Gina Z... I have never seen anyone get more real, and it touched me to my core.  Emily, only the world's most loving moms name their firstborn Brady.  :)  I love you.

Went to bed early, but I will tell you, I think Bella the doggie missed me most.  She has not left my side since I walked through the door.  And this morning actually jumped into bed and licked me in the face!  How's that for waking up happy! 

 "Go Big." A year from now, I can't wait to see... because I had the courage to start.  I had the courage to get real and dream.

A Week in the Life: Day 2

This is the time we pulled out of the driveway this morning... so much for summer break!  It was my day to drive the football players around, so we had to leave bright and early!

While they were at practice, I took the littles to the playland while I talked to my friend Pamoooola on the phone.  Talking to Pamoooola is both a. necessary, and b. entertaining.

The "boyz." All sweaty and stinky after practice. :)

This is the one who causes all the football traveling in our family... We are very proud of him, as he's extremely strong and a very hard worker.

Then, I worked on these proofs... all... day.... long...

We ate here for dinner.

Here's my love.

We delivered the proofs.

I got a treat.

We played in the yard.

And now, we're all going to bed.

The end.

PS: Stay tuned as tomorrow - Friday's posts take place in an entireley different state!  YAY!!!!

A Week in the Life of Shelly: Day 1!

And so it begins again!  I'm so so so thankful for all that's happened in the last year... Even looking at today's pix made me just beam with joy.  So much can change in one year.  Here's day one:

Our days always start this way... jammies and tv on the couch.

Confession:  I'm really behind on my editing.  It's about killin me!  I am so thankful to have so much work that I'm behind, but it's like a grey raincloud hanging over my head!!!!  My ham, cheese and pickle sandwhich helped though.

These shoes make me want to go to NYC!  I think I'll do that on Weds. :)

Me right now.

Kids, in the car.  This is a normal event in their lives.  Poor guys!  Since mom is the driver to all events like soccer and football, these guys live in the car sometimes.  A cool drink helped today!

This day included a walk around Lake Harriet.  I really like this gate that was by our car when we parked.  I love this neighborhood, too.  I love Minneapolis, also.

Dinner tonight:  Summer salad with strawberries and poppyseed dressing

and our family favorite: homemade pizza!  YUMMO!

The littles right before bed.

This wedding: I will be editing it until I die.  UGH!

NOTE: Need to hire intern to help with edits.

This is how my days end, watching TV in bed.  I also read, pray and journal too.  I'm trying to eliminate the TV portion of falling asleep and just do the other stuff.  Baby steps!

Until tomorrow friends!

It's TIME: RIGHT NOW

So, it's been an exciting week:

1. Am officially attending MAKING THINGS HAPPEN in NYC.  Two dreams on the bucket list, crossed off in one trip!  I can't, can't can't can't even put into words how aflutter my heart is.  Seriously, I feel like Jr. High squealing with delight!  What's MTH you ask?  Check here:http://mth2011.tumblr.com/ and I promise, you will NOT regret it.  It's such an honor to go... I'm so blessed!!!!!

2.  I stood up for myself.  YES.  Someone "close" to me, ie in the "family" pushed the wrong button, and after 10+ years of tolerance, I said, "NO, I will no longer allow you to treat me this way."  I feel like a million bucks!  Good-bye negative people in my life!  I will NOT miss you. 

3.  I am pumped about everything.  Even laundry doesn't seem as painful as normal.  My spirit is ignited and ready.  I am ready.

4.  I am working on things:  Edits (OH how they've piled up.), sales, marketing, my website needs some love, research, being inspired, and doing the HARD but WORTH IT work.  Check here: http://mth2011.tumblr.com/post/6621870949/the-challenge-is-on-its-time-to-get-back-to and I promise, if you DO the challenge, then there's NO stopping you.  There's no stopping ME.  There's no stopping US!

EXPECT GREAT THINGS WORLD!!!!!!!

I am taking my BIGGEST leap yet, and I'm not looking back.  You should, too.

A Week in the Life

Last spring I photographed and journaled a week of my life. I posted it here on this blog and also made a three ring binder of the photos and journaling later as well. I am so thankful I did it. It taught me a couple of things:

1. The everyday moments of life are worth photographing, because they change so quickly.

2. The people in your life matter and are often "gone" before you know it. Remember it. Write it down, take a picture. This is your life.

3. How easy it was to take my point and shoot with me and take random pictures of my everyday... my coffee. My friends. My work. Etc.

I'd like to invite you to join me in this adventure. Ali Edwards is hosting the similar challenge. Please visit here: www.aliedwards.com to get all the details and mark your calendar! JULY 25-31!

Live a life more remembered and cherished. We are worth remembering.

My best,

Shelly

25 Things You Don't Know About Me

1. I hate waking up. I love sleeping. I never want to go to bed and I never want to wake up after I've gone to bed.

2. My feelings get hurt super easy... even a look without words, and I'm crushed.

3. I'm super passionate, to the point that I often can't sleep and am overwhelmed with so many ideas and possibilities running through my head.

4. I'm rebellious against the PTA. I'm a mom of a 15 year old, 5 year old and 3 year old and so far I've been able to avoid all school meetings and committees and boards.

5. I loved the band "Motley Crue" as a teenager. I may or may not have their greatest hits on my i-pod.

6. I'm married to a pc, but I think I'm a mac. (SSSSHHHHHHH)

7. I wish I had SKIPPED my Sr. Prom. Seriously, a waste of time.

8. I've grown more emotionally, spiritually, and business-wise in the last year than ever before.

9. I don't like politics. Discussing, arguing, dealing with "appearances" of who thinks what and what they say they are when they really aren't.

10. I think wearing my pj's is better than any other clothes. Even when I go shopping, all I really want to buy is warm up suits, sweats, or pajama pants.

11. I love good food.

12. I have a birthmark on my left thigh, and it's the exact same birthmark that my Great Grandma Margaret Wilson had on her leg, too. My oldest son has it as well, but it's on his calf. It's just a little guy, looks like an island.

13. I believe that second chances are often more powerful than first time arounds.

14. My hair, which is out of control curly now, was stick straight as a child.

15. I have a bit of a photographic memory. I can close my eyes and see exactly what things look like. This was helpful in college during tests.

16. I've been to therapy. Quite a bit. It's helped me understand a lot about myself and those around me. It's also helped me to take control of things that were out of control in my mind.

17. I spend a lot of time looking at the artwork of others. (Probably an hour a day)

18. I hate doing dishes and laundry. I avoid them for as long as possible.

19. I believe most people are good. They just don't know it, believe it, or can show it.

20. I have nice handwriting. I can't help it.

21. I have one brother, six years younger. I always wanted a sister, but instead God have me a best friend that lived nearby and we grew up together like sisters.

22. I grew up in poverty, in a small town, on a farm, in a trailer house. This taught me invaluable life lessons.

23. I've never owned a brand new car. I probably never will.

24. I ordered this swimsuit from the J. Crew Catalog in college. It was my first purchase from a catalog with my own credit card.

25. I love gourmet cooking, but actually used to hate cooking altogether! It's weird how things have changed!

Doing Something...

I'm just overwhelmed.
This. Starting a new life business. Is. Hard.
We don't always know where the cash is going to come from or when it's going to come in. We aren't really sure we can afford to live this life.
Yet, I know, in my heart of hearts, I'm doing the right thing. I'm where I'm supposed to be, loving my kids, picking them up from school, being there for them all the time.
I feel so sad that I missed out on so much of them in the last two years when I was working at a job that kept me away. All. the. time. So, I made a change.
Took a leap.
Made a risk.
Don't know how it's going to turn out.
Don't care.
Just loving these moments. This time. This.

Each day challenges me. I'm not answering to anyone but me. And I tend to let myself off the hook a little too often. It takes a huge and overwhelming amount of self control to make it happen. Every single second. And I don't always feel like "making it happen." Sometimes I'd rather take a nap. Or sit and watch the Food Network in my jammies. Sometimes, I'm just not motivated at all. And then, I obsessively guilt myself over it. And I don't do what I need to do to make it happen. I just don't do anything.

And to follow my own advice, "doing nothing results in nothing." And that's the truth of it.

So, tonight, the kids are in bed, the husband's on a service call... and I'm doing research. And I'm pushing myself to think bigger. And I'm doing the work. What it takes, to make it happen. I'm doing something, which will result in something.

Couple of inspirational places to visit:
http://natalienortonblog.com
http://tarawhitney.com/justbeblogged
http://shellypeters.tumblr.com

I can do this. You can, too.