Monday Monday....

Hello everyone! I hope everyone had a great Monday!

I had a really nice weekend. Friday night I went out with Shari & Katie to celebrate Shari's birthday! We went to Bullshead Tavern for dinner (delicious and they have my favorite wine) and then went to Gardella's to meet Lauren and her new boy toy then off to McFaddens for some dancing! It was a GREAT combination of good conversation and drinks and dancing:) I don't get to do this all that often so I had a great time! It was nice to be the one coming in after 1am for once!

Saturday we went to the mall and did a little shopping-we bought Olivia pink Converse shoes and they are so so adorable! I want to eat her up everytime she wears them! Saturday night we rented a couple movies and had some quality family time.

Sunday we went and got our halloween costumes! I'm a Greek Goddess and John is a Greek God...Olivia is an adorable little ladybug I cannot wait to post pictures of her on Halloween! :) 2 years ago she was a chicken, last year she was a pumpkin so I think this year will top them all!! 

I don't know about anyone else but I'm starting to get really excited for the holidays!! Thanksgiving is the best--wonderful food and we usually go to both sides of the family which is always a great time. Christmas will be great this year because it's our first year in our own place so the tree we decorate will be OURS and everything under the tree will come from hard work and dedication to our family:) I cannot wait! Christmas also means a lot this year as it will be our first Christmas as husband and wife! I am so blessed.

I hope everyone else had a great weekend! I'm off to watch my Monday night tv shows with John while Livi plays ski ball on my IPhone. No joke--she plays the games. She's 2...just to remind everyone! I love my daughter to pieces. The end!

Danielle

Excited

Ok so as I posted recently, I have really been struggling with stuff at work. But the last couple days I have been doing WAY better. I have become more at peace with the things I was told and still have confidence in myself.  I realized that I don't want to change who I am for my job, but I can always work on being BETTER!! Last night I was able to spend some quality time with John and Olivia again so that always helps a ton! 

So I CHOPPED my hair today! HA! I originally planned on donating 10 inches to "Locks of Love" however I chickened out and only got 8 inches off instead. I felt bad because I really wanted to put it toward the amazing cause but I just couldn't cut off almost a foot! ahh! I took a picture of all of the hair on the floor...it was crazy. I was freaked out! I think I like it though?? It's not super super short but it's short! I haven't had any feedback because I haven't seen anyone yet...so we will see what everyone says. I am more confident knowing that I made a change and it's nice to have something different!

Halloween is coming up and I need to start looking for a costume! I haven't bought one for Livi yet either...so there's some work to do. I'll have to do that this weekend and pray that there are still options left since it will be sort of last minute? 

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Danielle

Rough Time

Hi Everyone.

I am going through a tough time right now. I received some hard news at work this week and I'm having a really hard time shaking it. I had a good follow up conversation on Thursday regarding it, however, I'm pretty depressed about it and need all of the prayers that I can get. I'm usually pretty tough and good about getting through tough times. And this one wouldn't normally seem to be at the top of my list! But it has affected me in more ways then it should and I really just wish I could sit and talk for hours about how much it hurts and how my heart is aching. I work so hard and feel that I get nothing in return. I thought things were getting better, however, I'm back feeling down. I have been really really happy for about the last year so it's weird and uncomfortable to be this sad over something again.

If you would like to send me positive thoughts in the next few days, it would be GREATLY appreciated. I need John so much tonight and unfortunately, he is at a concert that he has had tickets to for a while. We got offered free Dane Cook tickets last night but couldn't go. I was supposed to go to out for my good friend's birthday tonight but couldn't go because we don't have a sitter and John is out. I could have really used some time out, for my sanity.

Pray Pray Pray! I need healing.

Love,

Danielle

Monday

So today was kind of all over the place. It actually went by pretty quickly though! John is sick for day #3 so he went home from work today and is missing class tonight. Poor guy-cold and flu symptoms. He only gets sick about once a year-I think it's from the change in the weather.

My mom and sisters are coming Wednesday and leaving Sunday-I'm so excited! It will be nice to have them around and I know Olivia will be soooo excited when they get here. We have been telling her about it, but not sure if she knows what "they are coming in 2 days" means or not. ha! Wednesday night they are going to take Olivia to spend the night in the hotel with them. She will LOVE that. 

Liv and I just made those cut out pumpkin sugar cookies-she loves them. I planned on waiting until my mom got here so she could make them with her, but that didn't end up happening! Livi, mommy and daddy all love the cookies:)

I am hoping to find out in the next day or two when my second interview will be for the promotion at work! I'm getting some assistance from a friend along with family so I'm hoping their tips will help! I have homework tonight so I gotta fit that in or I might get yelled at tomorrow!!! ;) I better get to it. Hope everyone has a great Monday!

Danielle

IPHONE!

Guess what? I bought an IPhone last night!!! ahh! I am totally not a "cool cell phone buying" type of girl. Ha! I've always had just a cheap cell phone that gets the job done. So I am pretty much freaking out over my new toy! It will take me a long time to learn how everything works...but it's an exciting new experience:) Who knew a CELL PHONE would bring me such joy? hehe. Hope everyone has a great Saturday!

Love,

Danielle

Pretty Good Day

A couple of great things happened today. The first is that I got a second interview for the promotion I applied for at work. Now don't get me wrong, all 7 people got a second interview, but it's still encouraging to know that I'm still in the running! The second part to this story is that my boss sent me an email saying that I have made big improvements to my interviewing skills:) This made me VERY VERY happy to hear. I know to some people that might sound like something small, but to me it meant a lot. Especially coming from her!

The other thing that made me feel really good today was when I went to pick up Olivia from daycare. Debbie (daycare provider) is constantly telling me how much she loves our daughter. Always tells me that she has a sweet disposition, smart and just a great overall child. Today she said all these things, and then began to tell me why I am a great mom. She told me that when I walk in to pick her up that Olivia's eyes just light up and she gets SO excited which proves how much she enjoys being around me. She said that Liv talks about both me and John a lot during the day. This has got to be one of the best (if not the best) compliments I've ever received. It's fabulous to be told you look beautiful or to be told that you are really good at something...but to be told I'm a great mom? The feeling is sensational. I can't even describe it! 

On a side note: I have been sick and throwing up over the last couple of days and feeling really awful kind of on and off. I realized today why! I missed my birth control for 3 days due to not getting to the pharmacy in time (stupid-never do this) and so because of this, when I just got back on my birth control Wednesday night it messed me all up. It's good to know it's not the flu or some disease or something! Phew. 

John, Liv and I are going to run errands tonight. We are buying new curtains for our living room and a new phone for meeeeee! YAY! I currently have a razor and have had it for 3 years and hate it. I'm SO SO SO excited to be catching up with the times:)  Overall good day. So excited to sleep in tomorrow also--especially knowing I'm falling asleep in a CLEAN apartment. My husband is the greatest, I know I mention it all the time but he is seriously the best.

Love Always,

Danielle Elizabeth Sheeran 

Hump Day

My day today went well overall. Olivia woke up on her own this morning which was a great start to the morning. Waking her up is something similar to waking a teenager. She moans and groans and pulls the blanket over her head. It's usually about a 10-15 minute battle of me walking back and fourth in and out of the room. I turn on the light, turn off her fan, and eventually tear her covers off. I should videotape it sometime, I guarantee you would be entertained.

So my boss, Stephanie, is my favorite person today. She was great and helped me out big time today and I can't thank her enough! Stephanie-thank you. I feel much more prepared for tomorrow because of you. Whether I do a great job or not, at least I feel more comfortable then I would have!! I did have a couple of emails when I got back to my desk asking if I was in trouble...haha. Ooooooooh call centers:)

Has anyone tried the turkey bacon ranch sandwich from Arby's? It's delicious. I get it without bacon and I thought it was healthy but Crystal informed me that it is far from it. Dang. It tasted so good too! (of course I will still eat it on occasion) It is also $5 and something cents just for the sandwich, so it's probably good I don't get it often! yikes!

I went to Target to buy a cute shirt tonight. This does not happen very often these days due to us saving for a house so I always get really excited when I get new clothes. My one luxury is getting my nails done. I promised John that pedicures would go bye bye once it got cold...is it cold yet? Maybe I could get ONE more in. ;) 

We are going to the Bob tomorrow night for dinner with friends. I am excited! However, one of the guys that was supposed to come is being extremely rude so he knows that if he shows up, he will get a piece of my mind! He sent me a message today and the first part of the message was "OMFG" ok so first of all, not a good way to start a message with a girl let alone me. Second--I am not a pushover and will not be spending time with people that are rude and disrespectful. Just a little insight to how I work:) Life is too short to surround yourself with people that are anything less then uplifting! Granted everyone has their flaws, however, you should never have to put up with people in your life that are constantly trying to bring you down. Sometimes it cannot be controlled like with an in-law or a boss or something...but you know what I mean. I have a lot of people in my life that are very good to me and for that, I'm extremely thankful. If you are reading this, you may be one of them!

Have a spectacular night everyone! Gary Unmarried and Criminal Minds are on the agenda for tonight!

peace and love.

Rainy Day

So let's be honest for a second, the weather today has SUCKED! Omg I had not been outside since I went into work this morning and it didn't change at 4:30 from what it was at 8! Yuck! Olivia wanted spaghetti for dinner and I thought that was a perfect meal for a yucky day like today. Monday nights suck because John has class until 9 but it's kinda nice to have some quality time with the baby girl while he is gone.

I found out today that I have my interview for a new position at work on Thursday morning. I am usually really good at interviews but for some reason the big boss terrifies me so I'm really nervous. The last couple interviews I've had with her haven't been the greatest. John says he is going to drill me the next couple nights on the "interview questions" so much that I'm going to cry. LOL what a loving husband, right? The position would be a huge blessing and make me really happy, however, I am not getting my hopes up this time!

I love that I'm sitting in our extremely clean apartment right now. It's so nice to not have to worry about doing laundry for a few days because it was all caught up as of yesterday. John and I might look at a couple houses next weekend depending on how things go. We may end up renting a house for a year while we save up and then buying after that. We have found a house in Wyoming that we would like to rent, however, we need to think about Olivia's school district when deciding on a location for a house.

I have to share one last thing before I go. Last night I witnessed pure greatness. My daughter dribbled a soccer ball across Papa's back yard. It was the cutest thing I've ever seen. She's so little and yet she looked so big for a moment. Being a parent is truly the greatest treasure--I can't even begin to describe the joy that little girl brings to our lives. If you are a parent, you understand. If you aren't, hopefully you will experience it some day!

Love,

Danielle

Follow

I would love for each of you to comment on my blogs! Share your thoughts and ideas with me! In order to do that you have to sign up-I think you have to click on the spot where it says "follow this blog" or something-anyway you have to add all your information. You don't need to actually start your own, but it will ask for your information. Have a great day!!

Danielle

Saturday's are the best

So John just took Olivia with him to run some errands and he turned our 2 year old into a tomboy. She was wearing a Notre Dame hoodie (pink and very cute), jeans that have a whole in them, tennis shoes, a backwards hat and she was holding a mini basketball in one hand and a mini baseball in the other. LOL. It was actually adorable-but I had to laugh at the thought that she would never look like that while running errands with mommy:)

We are going to Orlando for spring break this year. My dad and sister might come along too because my mom and other sister are going to Europe, so my dad and younger sister might join us. Everyone is telling us that Olivia is too young for Disney World so the plan is that we are going to stay in the Floridays Resort in Orlando and spend one day at Disney World just so she can meet all the characters and run around. I think it will be great-especially if my dad and sister decide to join us! I LOVE LOVE LOVE vacations. I know most people do, but I get so excited I could just pee my pants thinking about it. 

I am a sports geek and get excited to make picks for the college/NFL football games every week. John has won one week, John's dad has won one week, and I won the first week. I am currently making my picks and would LOVE to beat the boys again. For those you that don't know, we are big Packer fans as well as Notre Dame fans. I went to my first Notre Dame game 3 weeks ago and it was amazing!!!! The whole atmosphere was unlike anything I have ever experienced. My dad has suite tickets for the Packers every year which is amazing but just not quite the same experience since I've never been out in the actual *crowd*. I'm having a hard time with the fact that Brett Favre is now playing for the Vikings. John is still super supportive of him, but I have lost a lot of respect for him. However, I do LOVE the Sears commercial that he recently did. I think it's great that he's sort of making fun of himself in it. 

I'm off to the ever-wonderful Target to get a few things. We still have gift cards left over from the wedding so we take lots of trip Target lately:) 

I hope everyone has a GREAT day. Live today like it's your last.

Love,

Mama D

TGIF!

Today was a better day then yesterday. I worked really hard at work and felt accomplished with what I got done. I also had a couple of good conversations with friends today, which helped the overall mentality of the day. I laughed a lot today too. Unfortunately, some was over people's misfortunes. I realized today that some people are just incredibly awkward on the phone. I wanted to jump in a conversation I heard a co-worker having on the phone today just so I could save them from their misery! 

I am really looking forward to having a relaxing weekend at home. We are really trying to save money so that forces us to stay home a lot more often, which can be a good thing. 

I was thinking the last couple of weeks that maybe I would be ready to have baby #2 earlier then we had planned. We were planning on trying in the next 2 years or so, but I have had baby fever lately and John says he would be ready as well as long as we are financially stable. But in the last couple days I've realized I don't think I'm *quite* ready yet to go there. We will see-I love Olivia to pieces but being a mom is hard work! Thinking about mom's that have 2 under age 2 or 3 under 5 or anything like that makes me cringe! I have a great respect for my mom knowing she raised four children. For those of you that don't know, I have a sister 13 years younger then me so my parents will be "active" parents for a lonnnnnng time. 

That's all for now...dinner calls...

D to the Nell

Early Mornings

I don't know about all of you, but I am NOT a morning person. I'm constantly running late in the morning and it drives me nuts. If I didn't have to get Olivia ready and off to the sitter, I would be like lightning. It's just tough coordinating every little detail! I wish I had someone to do that for me in the morning. 

Did anyone watch Greys last night? I totally turned it off @ 10:15 because it was absolutely the most depressing episode(s) I've ever watched! Wow! I looked at John and I said-if this person starts crying in the next scene, we are changing the channel. And then Dr. Torez started crying, so we changed the channel. ha! They couldn't lighten it just a LITTLE!? So sad.

On the news this morning there was a story about how a guy was going at extremely high speeds down a road in Kentwood--a woman called the police when she saw how fast he was going but by the time the police got there, he had hit 3 trees and all that was left of the car was the bumper. It took them a while to even find the rest of the car or the body. This is going to be a series of stories I write about called "What the hell is wrong with people?????" Was it really worth it so this guy could get an adrenaline rush and feel like a "man" ? I seriously doubt it with the outcome.

I am SO relieved that the weekend is here. We don't have any real definite plans other then a few errands so it will be GREAT to just relax and get things done. I don't know about everyone else, but it seems that no matter how hard I work on cleaning, keeping the apartment tidy, doing laundry, dishes, etc...that it's a neverending cycle. I remember my friends teasing my mom growing up because she cleaned all the time and was constantly vacuuming. (John likes to tease her about it too) However--with 4 kids omg I'm sure we left behind ridiculous messes!!! We only have 1 and the second I clean her room, there are toys everywhere again. I'm sure this is a stressor for a lot of moms-make sure to share your thoughts if it is so I'm not the only one!!

I need some votes on if I should chop off my hair. I have been wanting to do it for a while now but wanted to wait until after the wedding. I'm very annoyed by it lately because it's sooo long and thick and it takes a while to straighten. Anyway--I would like people's input so let me know what you think. The last time I got it cut short I was pregnant, so I think it would look way better now that I'm thin again:)

I hope everyone has a GREAT Friday and that this blog made you think, made you giggle a little and made you go "hey-I feel the same way!!". 

I'm Danielle, and that's my opinion on life as we know it!

The start of my blog

So my current boss at work started a blog and she gets really into it and loves to write. I also love to write, so I decided to start one and see if I can keep up with it. It will be a combination of talking about my life as an individual, married life, family life and updates on Olivia. We will see where this goes...

Today I had a bit of a rough day. I was just feeling as if I wasn't doing anything right and I struggle when I don't get affirmation when I'm actually doing things right. But then I came home at 5:00 to my beautiful daughter and wonderful husband and everything seemed to be ok:) We had some pizza and ice cream for dessert. Speaking of junk, I have gained 7 lbs since the week before the wedding. That is a grand total of 7 lbs in 5 weeks. YUCK! Yeah Yeah I know you are thinking "screw her she's so tiny 7 lbs is nothing"...but when you are short it shows more. I'm tellin' ya!

I want everyone to know how lucky I am. I really do have a great life. I have a good job, my husband has a good job working for Coca Cola, a great little 2 year old and I'm a generally happy person. I think that more people should appreciate all that they have instead of wallowing in their sorrows. I am sad at work when I constantly hear people around me complaining about how awful their husband is or how much they hate their lives and need to drink all the time to make themselves feel better. Life is what you make it. If you want to be happy, just focus on being positive! John just got done reading "Always Looking Up- the adventures of an incredible Optimist" by Michael J Fox. I haven't read it yet, but John has shared how it has made him see life from a different perspective. I think more people need to think like Michael.

"The 2 hour season premier of Grey's is on and you are blogging" says my husband. Uh oh if he is saying that, I should get my butt in gear. 

Man I knew I was a talker...but didn't think I would write this much for my first blog.

Peace in your crease:)

-DS