Welcome 2018

Ok….so I’ll admit… I’ve been kind of MIA.  It’s a crazy thing when your children start getting older and your days start getting busier.  You tend to lose, well… yourself!  That is what has happened to me.  There are days when I wake up with a start, and my brain screaming, and my mouth uttering something along the lines of, “What day is it?”  Usually, it’s those days, when I actually have no obligation to be anywhere anytime soon – which is really irritating once I realize that.  Once I have tumbled out of my sleepy stupor, the fact that I woke up so confused also really irritates me.

I want out.  Not out of being a mom or having a crazy schedule.  I actually love that and can’t imagine my life “simple”.  I want out of the bit where I can’t find… me!!

Last year I posted a challenge on Facebook to my friends and family to comment with a #OneWordResolution.  I chose the word “Laugh” and I really think I stuck to it.  At the end of 2016 I felt frustrated – almost as if I had woken up in that sleepy stupor every single day.  I did not want that for my 2017.  So I laughed.  And laughed.  And laughed.  When times got me down, I laughed.  When I felt like my buttons were being pushed, I laughed.  When people cut me off on the freeway, sat through green lights, drove toward me with their brights on and rode my tail end, I laughed.  When co-workers pulled me down, I laughed.  The more mad things would generally make me, you guessed it, the more I laughed.  And I’m happy to say… IT WORKED!! My 2017 was actually light-hearted and joyful – mostly.  So, I decided to make it part of who I want to be and will carry it over to 2018 and every year following.  I realize there are some things you can’t laugh at, but it helps in a lot of situations.  It’s hard to remember that you can’t control everyone and everything, so sometimes you just have to sit back and laugh.

Moving on to 2018, I decided to get crazy and go with a whole phrase!!  So I again challenged my Facebook friends and family, but this time to comment with the quote or phrase they want their 2018 to model.  Originally I chose, “Have Less, Do More”.  While that is definitely still the plan – it’s more of a personal goal.  I have come up with another that I love and I think it is really going to help motivate me.  “Just get up and do it.”  (I’ll tell you where that came from in a few minutes.) So moving in to 2018, those two things will be my “live by” words.  I feel like 2018 is just the beginning. 🙂

So… where did I come up with “Just get up and do it”?  Well, I’ll be honest – it didn’t come from this momma brain.  I heard it on TV.  When I have some downtime and can do something for me – I like to watch HGTV.  My three favorites are Fixer Upper with Chip and Joanna Gaines, HomeTown with Ben and Erin Napier, and Property Brothers with Jonathan and Drew Scott.  (Clicking on those links will take you to their twitter feeds, but all of their social media links are listed below – make sure you follow them if you don’t already!)  Anyways, I watch them as often as time allows.  I’m super excited about Drew’s upcoming wedding to Linda Phan, Chip & Joanna’s #5 baby on the way and Ben & Erin’s new little bundle of joy, Helen. ♥ In one of the most recent Home Town commercials, Erin looks right at the camera and says, “Just get up and do it.”  Those words really spoke to me (Thanks Erin!!).  So that’s what I’m doing!  Getting up and doing it!  #everyday

Here are my plans: (There are a lot of them – don’t fret – I’ve got this!)

• Re-launching my Usborne Books & More business.  I enjoyed this so much when I started it in 2011.  I let it slip through the cracks because other things got in the way and I lost sight of my passions.
• My daughter Alli and I, really plan to grow our photography business this year.  Both, the personal – Calli Brooklyn Photography and corporate – Shutterbug & Co sides have taken a hit this year with my “schedule” going wonky.
• Continuing my path on my medical billing journey.  I enjoy medical billing so much!!  I plan to add at least 1 more comma to my credentials this year as well as get my medical billing/training business going.
• Working on my YouTube channel!!  We are revamping WAHMCat!!  I will be doing regular videos and Alli and Liam are both going to have segments that they are really looking forward to.  Maybe I’ll even get Blake to chime in a time or two. ☺  My channel will be unboxing from our favorite subscriptions AND we will probably be trying a new one every month.  I will also be doing recipes, DIY’s, tutorials and so much more.  I’m even planning to do a storytime segment for the little ones.  I am so stinkin excited.  I currently have 50 subscribers and need 100 to set up my custom URL.  So… wanna help a girl out? Subscribe here. 🙂
• Blogging every day!  I need to get back into my rhythm.  I’m looking forward to some of my blog plans.
• #KnowledgeIsPower – I want to learn… a lot in 2018.
• I would like to travel at least once this year – somewhere – anywhere.

2018 is going to be amazing.  So for those of you that have been a subscriber, thank you!  If you are new, welcome!

Here are the links to my favorite HGTV stars:

Property Brothers: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
– The Scott Brothers Website
– Jonathan Scott: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
– Drew Scott: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
– Linda Phan: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

Fixer Upper: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook – Couldn’t find an official Twitter feed, but here is a fan site: Fan Site
– Chip Gaines: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook – Couldn’t find an official Facebook account, but you can search his name on Facebook and find other people that enjoy his humor too!
– Joanna Gaines: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
– Magnolia Market: Instagram, Facebook, Website – I have personally ordered from here and can’t wait to order again!

Home Town:
– Ben Napier: Twitter, Instagram
– Erin Napier: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook – this Facebook account is for Ben & Erin.
– Laurel Mercantile Co. – Their website – And Erin’s journal, which she is taking a break from.  However, it is really interesting to go back and look at their 2017!

Stay tuned and I’ll do a post later this month with my favorite YouTubers, Vloggers & YouTubers! 🙂

Here is where you can find me all over the internet…. I’m kind of all over the place – both literally and figuratively…lol.

– My blog. 🙂 – I know you are here, but this will take you to my home so you can subscribe. Currently: 1,550 followers ♥ 2018 Goal: 3,000 followers

– Youtube – Come see me! 🙂  Our YouTube channel is going to grow leaps and bounds this year.  We would love to share our videos with you! 🙂 Current: 50 subscribers & 2,427 views as of today ♥ 2018 Goals: 1,000 subscribers & 50,000 views. #FingersCrossed

TWITTER ACCOUNTS:
– Twitter – I post my family stuff and fun things I want to share with the world.  This is also the Twitter account I use for Usborne.  Currently: 388 followers ♥ 2018 Goal: 1,000 followers.
– Photography Twitter – This is where you can find some pics from our photo shoots.  From both our Calli Brooklyn Photography and Shutterbug & Co. sessions!  We are just getting it started though. Currently: 2 followers ♥ 2018 Goal: 1,000 followers
– Medical Billing Twitter – I tweet total Medical Billing stuff here.  If you are into medical billing at all – you’ll want to follow!  This is pretty new too. Currently: 14 followers ♥ 2018 Goal: 1,000 followers

INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS:
– Instagram – I use this account for my family photos, Usborne, photo shoots, and just random photos we take out and about.  We started another Insta for our photography business, but honestly, we post just about everything here.  Currently: 427 followers ♥ 2018 Goal: 1,500 followers
– Usborne *FreeBookFairy* Facebook – Not only do I post specials and book reviews here, I will post the links to my story time videos, special events and interesting facts about literacy, as well as fundraising tips and ideas.  And of course, I’ll tell you how you can get free books. 🙂  Currently: 224 followers ♥ 2018 Goal: 3,000 followers (I know – that’s a big jump – ☺)

WEBSITES
– Free Book Fairy Website – This is where you can go to order books, or contact me to set up an event for your home, school, church, library, etc. One of my most favorite websites.  *As of today 01/07/18 – the site is under construction, but will be going again soon.  I’ll make the link live when it’s working again. ♥
 – Calli Brooklyn Photography & Shutterbug & Co. – This is our site that showcases our gallery for both Calli Brooklyn Photography & Shutterbug & Co.  Calli Brooklyn Photography is for personal photos like family, engagement, maternity, new baby, senior and birthday type photos.  Shutterbug & Co is for corporate events like corporate holiday parties, corporate headshots, daycare photos, etc.

Ok, so that’s it.  I’ts a lot… I know.  Again, I’ve got this. 😀

 

Love,

 

The Grandma Tag!!

Hi Guys!

I have been so sick since the beginning of December, but I am going to caught up on my Social Media Challenge.  I am finally starting to feel better and thing I have a good plan in place to get all caught up. 🙂  So here I go….

This is the 42nd day of #365smc!!  If you don’t know what that is – check out THIS LINK – which will tell you all about it and how to play along if you wanna. 🙂

Today I am thankful for something that everyone has at least 2 of….well, biologically speaking.  I’m talking about grandmothers!!  Some of us have foster grandmas (I mean that both literally and figuratively), adoptive grandmas, bonus grandmas, etc. I have 2 grandmas and decided to create a grandma tag.

Grandma #1 – Mamaw.  She is my father’s mother.  She passed away on February 11, 1979.  I was three years old.  I don’t remember much about her, but she did pass her red hair down to be and I am super grateful for that. 🙂  I remember the date she passed, because unfortunately it was also my fathers birthday. 😦  I feel like I have some kind of connection with her though… even know that she is gone… must be the red hair.  We redheads tend to stick together like that.   However, because I don’t know a ton about her or have really any memories with her, I can’t do the grandma tag on her, but felt like she absolutely deserved telling you about. 🙂

Grandma #2 – Granny.  Man do I miss my granny.  She is my mother’s mother.  She passed away on May 5, 2011…I remember that date for a whole other – kind of comical reason.  My granny lived in the Northside of our town for most of my life.  They Northside was predominantly Hispanic.  My granny wasn’t prejudice at all, but she complained a lot about her neighbors that were not so nice and usually spoke little or no English.  So the fact that she passed on Cinco de Mayo is just kind of funny to us.  We think it was her way of sending us one more little haha.  Also, I had my son in 2011 and I was prego when she passed.  So… her passing date is pretty easy to remember.  I sure do miss my granny.  I think about her all the time and try and talk to my mom as much as possible.  My granny had a long life and we had lots of laughs, I was very lucky to have known her. 🙂

THE GRANDMA TAG

1. What do you call your grandma and why?

I call my grandma: Granny.  Not sure why!  My cousin (one of my very best friends now) calls her Nanny… I don’t know where that came from either!

2. What does your grandmas house smell like?

My granny’s house always smelled like food!!  She was always cooking something!!  She would find the best recipes in magazines and make new things all the time!!  I LOVED her skillet meatloaf!!  I can’t share that one with you.  Family secret. 😉

3.  Can you name something specific or interesting that your grandma always wears?

Scrubs!!  My granny loved to wear scrubs! Mostly scrub tops with cute little animals. 🙂  I love that I get to wear scrubs to work now.  When I shop for scrubs it reminds me of my granny. 🙂

4. What is something you enjoy doing with your grandma?

I loved to go thrift shopping with my granny when she was still alive.   I remember one time we were shopping in one of our favorite thrift stores and my granny wanted some new flip flops…  She kept scooting along in her wheel chair – pushing herself around from isle to isle yelling out: ” I sure do need some new thongs!  Do you see any thongs over there that will fit me?  I nearly peed my pants from laughing so hard. And she just thought I was nuts. 

5. What is something that your grandma has or passed on to you?

That’s easy!  Her love of Avon and a good book!…and a good bargain!!…and her love for food!!! 🙂  And hopefully if I’m lucky in my old age… her sweet sweet spirit.

Take a second to hop over and check out my VLOG this weekend.  I’ll be posting a video called “The Grandma Tag”.  It’ll have a little clip of my granny in it, just a few weeks before she passed away.  It is a memory I will chericsh and it makes me so thankful for the technology we have today.

That’s it for me guys!  Sweet dreams and I’ll see ya’ll tomorrow!

Love, Cat