by Sarah | May 7, 2019 | All About Denver, All About Erik, All About Family, All About Kennedy, All About Me, All About Molly, All of Us, Redefining Perfect
Growing up the rhetoric was always the same.
“You need to go to college to get a good job.”
“You can’t go into dance, it’s not a career. You need something to fall back on.”
“You don’t have the strength to handle the rejection of Broadway. Go to college. Get a real education.”
“Go to college.”
“Get a degree.”
It was drilled into me over and over and over. I had to go to college. I had to. I couldn’t go for dance, I had to do something that was “worthy” of my intelligence, and my parents approval.
*~*
I went to college.
Twice.
First time I went for Environmental Science.
I flunked out…spectacularly.
Like, have you ever heard of someone having a 0.0 GPA?
Yeah….
Two years later I went back. New school. New state. New dream.
This time I went for Dance Education. I did well. I excelled, actually. 3.83 GPA.
Then I got kicked out of my aunt’s house because her husband is a spectacular ass and ended up out of school for a semester, then when I got back on my feet ready to re-enroll I learned I was pregnant and that was all she wrote.
*~*
College didn’t work for me. I have plans now, as an adult, to further my education again – but it’s taken me a long time to figure out what I’d want to go for to follow through on a promise made.
*~*
My kids?
Well…I’ve always held firm to the belief that the future was theirs.
When he was younger, my son wanted to be an astronaut, then a doctor…and then…he wanted none of it.
Did he have the intelligence for it? Hells to the yes. That boy is smart as a whip. He could probably have completed med school and become any kind of doctor he’d wanted…
But he no longer wanted it.
I knew all too well that being forced to go to school when it’s not what you want only leads to debt for something unfinished, and in some cases, completely unattended.
Do I worry about him?
Well, duh. He’s my kid.
But all I’ve ever wanted for my kids is for them to be happy. To find what they want and go after that dream. Denver did, he found it and took off 2 years ago and is still happy as I’ve ever known him.
Next up is the girls. Molly is about to enter high school – I mean, WHAT? When I started this blog she was a toddler!!
But I digress.
As of right now – neither of my girls have their eyes set on college. They both have a thing for art. They don’t know what they want out of it yet, and for all we know they may choose a different future for themselves.
Will it make it an easy path for them? Maybe not…
Will it make them happy?
Boy, I sure hope so.
Denver has proven that with enough drive and dedication, you can make a pretty good life without it. It’s taking me longer to prove the same to myself, but I’m getting there.
Whatever dream, whatever path, my girls choose – I’m there for them.
I truly believe that they need to live out their dreams, not mine.
I hope those dreams take them far.
No matter what, I will be proud of them for chasing them. I hope they are proud of me for chasing mine, even if those dreams came along later for me than it will for them.
by Sarah | May 6, 2019 | All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, Oola, Personal, Redefining Perfect
I’ve had a few different jobs in my life, as many of us have.
I’ve been in food service as a waitress, a host, a barista, a cafe manager. I worked in retail at several different places from a clothing store to a dollar store. I was in banking on and off for 20 years. I hated banking. With a white hot passion hated it.
In 2017 I dared to quit my job without something to back it up (Very un-oola, but I didn’t know oola yet) and left the banking industry determined to never go back to it.
It wasn’t easy, but thanks to a few good turns of events, a good friend, and a little sprinkle of luck I landed a new job in a completely new-to-me field.
Health Care.
I swear I mean it when I say I had NO idea what I was getting into. I knew I’d be working in the ER, but how much would I have to see? I have a very poor/weak constitution when it comes to things like blood and guts. I’ve never worked in health care, and while I have special needs children, my medical knowledge was pretty much…next to nothing.
I never dreamed how much this job would change me, my life, my goals. How it would inspire me to hope to return to school. How I would feel I found the place I belonged.
Over the past year and a half many things have changed, and some things at my job have changed, too, to the point where my job was just flat out not the same…but I still loved the people I worked with and the company I worked for and my managers and the doctors, nurses, and the many varied stories. My tasks were always the same, but every single day was so different.
Having to turn in my notice here was the true definition of bittersweet. It gave me great joy knowing that I was pursuing my dream and preparing to move, but I have never struggled so much to leave a job. My last day led to some great laughter, great hugs, and great tears.
This place took a chance on me, a woman with absolutely no experience in the field, and gave me some real goals for my future. They turned out a person that loves the field of healthcare administration and cannot wait for the opportunity to learn more and do more.
I have been saying for a while now that I’ve found what I love to do and where I love to do it, it was just in the wrong state. I’m hoping that my next position furthers this belief and brings me as much joy as this job did.
I will miss my doctors, my nurses, my hospital.
Leaving a job has never been so hard.
Only the draw of the future I’m meant to find could have ever made me leave.
by Sarah | May 4, 2019 | All of Us, Blogging Life, BlogRollin', Redefining Perfect
With so much going on in my life this month – I feel like I may have missed out on some posts…but I still managed to gather a few that I enjoyed, and I don’t care to skip a month on this if I can help it! So, without further ado, onto the sharing!
*~*
The Queen of Free, Cherie, always has some great tips on paying off your debt. This week she breaks it down into 7 small, easy to follow tips that could have a big impact. One of which I need to practice with more frequency for sure…the grocery list. Ugh. I suck at that one!
Linda over at All & Sundry writes a beautiful post about a task she was iffy to complete, but her husband wanted to “check off that box”…and yes, it’s Disney-related, because of course…but she writes beautiful about their trip to Disneyland and how lovely a time their family had together. Just be careful, it’ll make you want to check off that box, too.
Karl’s post is about his Unfavorite Things is so much fun, I may just do that thing he talks about where I steal it and credit him back..I mean, I spend a lot of time in gratitude, but sometimes there are things that just my unfavorite…
Rachael could be writing my own thoughts and feelings when she talksa bout why she’ll never quit Facebook. Which is funny, considering I never wanted to start…
You’ve heard me wax nostalgic about Give Kids the World…but I’m not the only one. Matt talks about his family’s recent trip for his daughter’s wish in a way that makes me super excited to go back as an alumni again soon!!
The Bloggess is so crazy popular because she continually exhibits how she’s just like us (but occasionally weirder, which I aspire to be)…and this latest post about an embroidery incident is so totally me.
In recent months I’ve been revealing a lot more of my real self than I ever have in the past…it’s totally terrifying in many ways. So, this post by Amy on her recent experience doing the same touched my heart and gave me all the feels.
**
That’s it for now. I’m keeping my eye out for more.
If you think I missed YOURS, let me know in a comment here! I’d love to find some new feeds for my reader!
by Sarah | May 2, 2019 | All About Family, All of Us, Blogging Life, Disney, DisneyTips, Redefining Perfect, Universal
I haven’t been to Disney hundreds of times (yet. Give me a couple years), but I’ve been my fair share.
I’ve done it with crazy intensity, and in a casual jaunt.
I’ve done Disneyland (finally), and Disney World.
I’ve picked up a few tips along the way. And while there are blogs across the web, I wanted to hand out my own Disney advice I’ve learned along the way, and tips I’ll be learning as I begin to go more frequently.
This months tip isn’t anything new if you’ve been in the past few years, but I still think it’s worth a mention. We’ve sure appreciated it on multiple occasions.
Use Disney’s Mobile Ordering for your quick-service meals.
When you’re trying to pack everything you can into a Disney day – the last thing you want to do is spend half an hour in a line ordering and waiting for food at a quick-service restaurant. Even if it is air conditioned, and themed, often there’s plenty more you’d rather be doing than waiting to satisfy the rumbling in your tummy.
Mobile ordering was a huge plus for us on our last couple of trips. While we weren’t as rushed to get through ALL the things because we’d been several times, it was nice to expedite what could be a long delay for the next thing.
I’ve already mentioned that we are notoriously bad at remembering to eat while in the parks. Mobile ordering lets us scan our app at the first pangs of hunger to see what we want along our route and order it in advance.
The handy thing about mobile ordering is that you can order it when you’re waiting in line, or on the other side of the park. You’ll be given a generous enough time frame during which you can pick up your order – but don’t worry that doesn’t mean they’re making it yet! Nope. They won’t start making the order until you click the “I’m here!” button in your Disney app. They’ll make it fresh and you’ll pick it up at the easily spotted “Mobile Order Pick Up” window.
You can find your seat, get your family situated and you’ll get a notification on your app that your meal is ready, then pick up and dine away.
Know what is awesome? Especially on those really hot days?
<<—–It’s available for grabbing your Dole Whip!!!
Oh yeah, baby…
That’s a stop we make a LOT.
I mean, it’s Dole Whip – and Aloha Isle is right by the silly-fun Jungle Cruise!
by Sarah | Apr 29, 2019 | All About Denver, All About Erik, All About Family, All About Home, All About Kennedy, All About Me, All About Molly, All About Ripley, All of Us, Blogging Life, Disney, Disney Mom, Florida Dreaming, Oola, Redefining Perfect, Universal, Universal Studios Mom
*disclaimer* I am writing this over a week before publication. All information is subject to change. I’ll try to update if that happens, but I’m packing and moving and all the things…sooo…
It’s been over a month since the last update and a LOT has happened.
I mean, a LOT.
Namely…
WE ARE MOVING!!!
After months of a lot of nothing and nowhere interviews…I had a great interview about two weeks ago that led to a job offer.
My notice has been turned in at work, I’ve worked my last day, Erik has turned in his notice.
I’m on a packing, cleaning, planning, freaking out, ecstatic, so much to do rampage…all while trying to spend time with hubby and kids before I go…
Yeah, before I go. The kids are still in school so Erik & the girls won’t be down for another month after I head down.
That means I get a month to explore, learn the ropes, and FIND A HOUSE.
Yeah, no house yet. No job for hubby yet either.
It’s gonna be a squeeze, but I know it’s going to pan out.
It’s time to move on, out of Indiana.
My target was June, 2019.
My entire family will be in Florida in June, 2019.
I love it when a plan comes together.
Growing up the rhetoric was always the same.
Well…I’ve always held firm to the belief that the future was theirs.
