I’ve decided to participate in Wordful Wednesday over at Seven Clown Circus today!  But instead of a picture or two, I wanted to share this short clip of one of my favorite sights to see {well, four actually, if you include DaddyMac & our kids!}  We are so lucky to live just minutes from the beach, and on Sunday, we decided to take the kids up for a little stroll on the boardwalk to enjoy the sights and sounds of the shore.

We’ve all experienced disappointment. It could be as minor as realizing you aren’t holding the winning lottery ticket, or as huge as losing a loved one. No matter what size or shape it comes in, disappointment sucks.

I know that the disappointments I’ve experienced along the way have shaped me into the person I am today. I get that. I know that disappointments are just apart of life. I get that. I know that, despite these disappointments, my life is great. I get that. I’m just tired of getting disappointed in the first place.

It’s likely my fault. Maybe if I didn’t expect so much, I wouldn’t be disappointed as easily.  I am an emotional person &, I’ll admit, I have high expectations with almost every aspect in life. If you {are lucky enough to be!} my friend, I will care about you deeply. I will be happy for you when you are happy, and sad for you when you are struggling. I throw myself into my family, my friends, my hobbies, my job–whatever it is that I am focused on in the moment. I like to give my whole self to whatever it is. I am not afraid of expressing myself, or being vulnerable around others. I may be scared of many things, but failure is not one of them. I’d rather fail at something–anything–knowing I tried than never try in the first place.

Sure, this personality, or behavior, can seem scattered or even overwhelming at times, and I certainly bite off more than I can chew often occassionally, but that’s who I am, and I am ok with that. I think that if I didn’t give myself to those around me, or throw myself into my hobbies or obligations, I’d be boring. But maybe I just set myself up with this type of attitude.  Maybe I even take life too seriously at times.

You may be wondering, “what happened?”  Well, nothing really. I am just realizing that some of the things I’ve devoted time to wasn’t all that worth it in the end, or relationships I’ve put my heart into and thought really mattered, don’t. It’s a hard lesson to learn, and it just sucks.

As part of my “Ask me Anything” post, Stephanie asked me to share my favorite country songs with my readers.  Country music is by far my favorite to listen to–I can go from laughing hysterically to crying my eyes out in a matter of songs, & I think there is nothing hotter than a guy in a cowboy hat!  But what I love the most is the way in which country songs {and their videos} tell stories, and the writer/performer/drama-queen in me just can’t get enough. 

I am going to think long and hard about my top 3 favorite country songs and share the videos with you soon.  I swear that if you give them a try, you’ll see exactly why it’s my favorite.  But, in the meantime, I thought I’d share with you where, exactly, we got our son’s nickname “Buckaroo” from…

It’s amazing what a little sunshine & fresh air can do for your spirits–it’s the pick-me-up that I needed to realize that it’s time I get my act {back} together.  I’ve got a lot on my plate these days–granted mostly positive, and the negatives are only self-induced negatives. 

My dreams of sunbathing in a two-piece are becoming balmy as I am realizing how much I’d rather live my life rather than suffer for the sake of two pieces of fabric.  And by “live” I clearly mean drink a few cocktails, indulge my sweet cravings, and run after my kids without sucking my gut in with all my might.  I am pretty satisfied that I’ve managed to maintain a weight that I am reasonably content with, and while I won’t throw a hissy fit if I do shed a few more pounds, I’ve decided to focus on shedding a few more inches instead.  This weather makes me want to get in shape, and looking good in a well-fitting tankini is do-able.

The pleasant weather has also made me come out of my hoarding phase.  I want everything from my closets to my hard drive to be unloaded and airy.  I don’t know how I’ve managed, being a control freak and all, to put organization in oversight.  I think it’s just that “live-to-get-by” attitude that we take on in the winter.  As I opened my windows and looked around today, I saw the clutter in every corner of my life.  My desk needs to be tidied, my diet needs to be tamed, my calendar needs to be better-scheduled, and even my floors need to be swept. 

Lastly…and I can’t even believe that I am about to admit this…I got my teeth cleaned at the dentist today, and it felt so great that even that rejuvinated my spirits {I know!  Me.  The one who loathes the dentist actually just said she enjoyed going there!  I know!  and I am not even medicated!}.  I felt like the clutter of plaque and tarter lifting off my teeth was yet one more way of wiping the slate clean. 

The game plan, you ask?  Hit the gym more consistently, re-vamp my diet {I’d like to omit the diet soda, limit my sodium, and start eating foods with less than 10 ingredients in them!}, stop sweatin’ the small stuff, and squeeze in some good old-fashioned Spring Cleaning!  

Life is pretty darn good and it’s about time I get off my a$$, roll out of my seasonal funk and smell the {soon-to-be-bloomin’} flowers.   You know what they say–”Spring is nature’s way of saying ‘Let’s Party!”  And boy do I love a good party!

It’s time to take a “Sunday Drive…around the Web!”  Hop in my virtual minivan ’cause here are some stops worth making…

*Blog Love Lane*

~ Muffin Tin Mom Michelle shared this segment from NBC’s Today Show with her readers.  It’s so disgusting how things you think are clean are really filthy dirty!  Yuck!

~ While I appreciate the honesty and advice in this post about being a Happy Housewife {especially after my rant this week}, I have to wonder how I can get one of my own.  A wife, that is!  I AM too darn tired to do all I do every day PLUS be the perfect wife.  Dang, make my lunch and buy ME a pack of twizzlers every now and then! 

*Real World Way*

~ Thank you CNN for validating my feelings that this is, by far, the most boring season of American Idol.

~ I finally found a reason to hit Starbucks every day {not that I really needed one, but…} They sell Dr. Lucy’s cookies there, and guess what?  They are dairy-free, egg-free, and nut-free….Buckaroo can eat them!  Looks like I’ll finally have something other than soda, fritos and skittles to offer him at the mall!

*Gimme Gimme Gimme Street*

~ I have been entering giveaway after giveaway just to win one of these Flirty Aprons!  I want one so badly!  They are so adorable that I think I’ll actually want to cook a big meal just so I can wear it!   You can find my latest attempt at winning one here. 

*Cha’Ching Circle*

~ I hit the mall {once again} this week & got some great deals at both Old Navy & Gymboree.  The Old Navy in my local mall had aisles of clothes on clearance & sale, and I was able to get Miss Mac almost all of this line at Gymboree for less than $80–shoes included!  Plus, it’s Gym Bucks time–earn them now and spend them when the new Summer lines come out in a few weeks!!