Q & A

So, as many of y'all saw earlier this week, yes I am back. and I'm trying to write a little more regularly. I have a lot on my mind and trying to figure out where to start has been a bit difficult. While the divorce is completely finalized, and I'm beyond thrilled about it, I'm still getting lots of questions. I figured the best place to start (aside from letting y'all know that I'm here) is to answer a few questions I keep getting.

How are you? 
Honestly, this answer changes daily. Mostly I'm good. Like I said, I'm excited that the divorce is final. I can finally move on and start a happier life for the kids and myself. However, there's definitely days where it's hard. (I just have a lot of feelings, okay?) I'm going through a lot of emotions about the fact that I'm about to be on my own for the first time, EVER. I went from living with my mom, to living with Josh, to living with my grandparents. Hi, I'm 28 and never lived alone. On top of emotions about not having primary physical custody of my children. Which leads me into the next question...

Why don't you have the kids?
This is super hard for me. As a mother, it breaks my heart daily that I don't have them with me. I give myself a hard time a lot about being a bad mother. Honestly though, I don't know a single mother out there that doesn't give herself a hard time. But for a JUDGE to tell you "you don't get primary physical custody of YOUR children"... that is basically the equivalent of having your heart ripped out, crushed, and then set on fire.
Long story short, the judge in our case decided that due to my lack of "my own place" and the fact that I've only been at my job since January, I was "unstable". Additionally, I was the one causing Josh's bi polar breaks. With all of that combined (I was not Captain Planet), he got primary custody. And I get every other weekend. Yeah, it sucks. I can refile for custody in a few weeks and I plan to. Until then, I have to trudge on and just make the time I have with them the best possible.

How are the kids?
With all things considered, they are wonderful! Zander is thriving in school and getting nothing but good progress reports. Ainsley is really blooming with her speech. They both had birthdays recently. I officially have a three year old and a six year old. There have been a few bumps in the road. Like Ainsley asking me one weekend, "Mommy why you no love us anymore?"... yeah, that one hurt. But after a lot of hugs and kisses and a long talk, that's past us. Overall though, the kids are amazing and that's all anyone needs to know

I'm sure there was more, but I really can't think of it. The struggle of not planning my posts. Sorry, y'all...

Was there anything that y'all wanted to know? Please ask me. I'm not shy, and I'd rather y'all ask than assume anything. Even if it's "why did you move to your grandparents'?"

Low Impact Working Out + Meet Nina

You know what the best thing in the world is for a runner? Getting a clear from the Ortho that you can start low impact walking and low impact working out.

I saw the ortho yesterday, y'all. MRI's were done, and a small bit of physical therapy to see how things were healing.
I swear I almost hugged him, y'all! Obviously it will still be a few more weeks before things are back to 100%. And they may not even be back to 100%, so I can't push things.But I was told that I can start working out with legs again. I can't run, and I can't do jumping jacks. I CAN do squats and lunges though! So GREAT NEWS!

Additionally,

I no longer have to wear my brace unless I feel like I need it. So, not a whole lot going on in the workout world this week. (That makes three weeks in a row! Ouch!) But, now that I've got the clear to do some low impact stuff, I feel better about actually doing something. Here's to a new week!

How have y'all been doing with Bloggers Give it 100? Link up with Kendra, Lora, and I to share!

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An InLinkz Link-up

And now for a real treat!

Describe yourself in four words. 
creative
faithful
passionate
resilient 

I really love your blogging style. What made you start blogging?
I've always been a writer. It's the one thing that has been clear to me but I don't know what it will look like. In the meantime, I want to be a good steward of the passion God gave me. Meanwhile, at the time, I'd moved away from my entire Italian family (no one leaves the Midwest) to San Francisco without knowing a soul and I wanted to chronicle the adventure, the hard parts and the amazing parts!

You're a new addition to the crayon box. Which color would you be, and why?
Anything bright. Just not purple. I have nothing against purple but every time I wear it, something truly awful happens. I am not even superstitious so I have even tested it out! But when you have to put a beloved dog down wearing purple and you're broken up wearing purple...Seriously! My friends love purple and I love that purple is kind to them but purple just messes with my mojo.

What's the best advice you've ever gotten about blogging?
I've gotten plenty of technical help. How do I start a newsletter? How do I optimize my posts?

But I guess the actual writing and blogging part, the content and so on...I don't really follow advice. I am sure I could write more pinnable posts more often but I want to stay true to my mission statement and why I started the blog in the beginning.

Better than advice, the encouragement and support has been amazing. Maybe that's the best advice I've gotten: keep telling your story. 

What's your favorite movie quote?
This is so easy. Cary Grant says it to Katherine Hepburn in A Philadelphia Story: "You'll never be a first class human being or a first class woman until you've learned to have some regard for human frailty."

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Anything my nonna makes.

Why would I choose it? Come over to Nonna's and you'll know why.

I love how genuine Nina is. If you want to see more about her, follow along! 

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Christmas in July + Meet Rebecca

Y'all, last Thursday was my half birthday. June 25. If you do the math, then you've probably figured out that we're a little less than half way to Christmas by now!
Christmas is my favorite holiday. It's also my birthday. I've always loved it. So the fact that Amanda, Faith and I have something really awesome that's CHRISTMAS related brings me pure joy!

The idea is to bring the joy of gift giving in the middle of the year. So why not have Christmas in July and celebrate spreading the love?

CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!! 

Here's what you need to know...
Dates to Remember:

• Sign-Ups Start: Monday, June 29th at 6AM
• Sign-Ups End: Wednesday, July 8th at 6AM
• Partners assigned: Wednesday, July 11th
• Packages Shipped: Monday, July 20th
• Linkup Opens: Thursday, July 30th
• Linkup Closes: Thursday, August 6th

The Rules:

|| When you are assigned your partner, get to know them, and send items in your package that fit your partner’s wants and likes.

|| All packages should cost approximately $15-$20 before shipping, so that each swap package is fairly close in pricing and no one feels cheated.

|| Please reply to emails from us about the swap in a timely manner.

|| Your packages MUST be mailed on or before July 20th.

|| We suggest you send a tracking number for your package via email to your partner when you mail it out.

|| Please post and link up to your swap reveal, which will be posted on July 30th. Everyone would like to see your goodies after all!

|| Please do not sign up for this swap if you cannot follow the rules above.

|| If anything comes up, where you can no longer participate PLEASE contact either Faith, Amanda, or myself immediately so we can work out something for your swap partner.

** Please note: Non-US-based participants can only be accepted if we have enough bloggers willing to ship internationally (not everyone can afford the higher shipping prices). Thank you for understanding, we want everyone to be able to be able to participate! **

Interested??

Take a moment and fill out this form!! Don't forget to grab the button for the link up on July 30th! 

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And now for something even more fun... 

Some of my new followers might not remember this... but maybe. Back in Aug of last year there was a bloggy soul mate pairing. It was meant as a way to connect other bloggers that were either similar in blogging styles or had something outside of blogging in common. I was paired with Meagan and Rebecca. Let me tell y'all, I'm so happy to have been paired with these two. Meagan I already knew from a few link ups, but Rebecca was new to me.

I love this gal, y'all! She has quickly turned into someone I can randomly text for encouragement. We give each other mommy advice. She's amazing. It's my pleasure to finally get to introduce her to y'all!

Describe yourself in four words.
Loyal.
Trustworthy.
Sarcastic.
Fun. 

I really love your blogging style. What made you start blogging?
My husband, daughter and I were living in London and trying to keep in touch with all of our friends and family (mine back in the US and his back in Ireland). I had a photo blog for my daughter's first year where I posted pictures of her growing and changing for everyone who was missing it in person and I started thinking about *writing* a blog too - my husband pushed me to do it! 

You're a new addition to the crayon box. Which color would you be, and why?
Some shade of purple, since that's my favorite!

What's the best advice you've ever gotten about blogging?
Network, network, network! Or more simply - make connections. Read other blogs, comment on them with thoughtfulness, build relationships. Not only will you become friends with some individuals, but you'll find many will support and encourage you, offer advice, and help you learn more than you ever would on your own! 

What's your favorite movie quote?
Ooooh tough question. Totally depends on the movie!

One of my faves though is the sarky interchange between Duncan and Hawkeye in Last of the Mohicans...Hawkeye says they're going West and Duncan questions him: "There is a war on. How is it you are headed WEST?" to which Hawkeye looks at him without expression and says "Well, we kinda face to the north and real sudden-like, turn left."

It's the kind of sarcastic crap I'd pull, ha!

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Bread. Who doesn't love bread?? 

Want more Bug & Boo?

Follow Along here:

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Bloggers Give it 100 + Meet Kristin

Well, it's no secret around these parts that I'm taking my health (and my family's health) pretty seriously. If you are following me on snapchat, you've probably seen running and dance central videos. #SorryNotSorry... it's not going to stop anytime soon. Especially here on the blog. Leave now if you're sick of workout posts. You won't hurt my feelings. 

Recently, Lora approached Kendra and I about a fun new project. I personally love both of these ladies, so I'm always more than willing to work with them. Lora and Kendra both share a love for getting fit the healthy way. Staying active, and eating better. So it gives me so much happiness to announce our new collaboration / project / link up. More of a link up than anything else. 

If y'all are familiar with Kendra, (and if you're not... you should be) then you'll know she does a workouts with Kenji each Wednesday. This is kind of going to go hand in hand with that. Y'all! We're happy to announce Bloggers Give it 100! 

The idea came from #GiveIt100. A motivational tool to stay active for 100 days, and track your results. Most people update videos and monitor their progress. It's all up to you. 

The link up will occur every Wednesday and will serve as a check in, a motivational, a rant session if you're not doing so well. Whatever works for you. We just want to see our blogger friends to get active and stay active with us for 100 days. We're very excited about this to help keep everyone on the path of motivation and getting fit. 

So, I hope you'll join us on our journey. I hope you link up. Or at least support us on our journey. This will go live NEXT WEDNESDAY July 1. Grab a button, and use hashtag #bloggersgiveit100 on social media so we can spread the love! 

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AND NOW... for something really special. (I know, excitement overload on this Wednesday today!)

Y'all, I have a real treat for you today! I'm happy to introduce you to a blogger that I've become very close with over the last few weeks. She is also all about getting fit the healthy way, so this was a happy accident that our announcement came on the same day that I'm introducing Kristin! 

Kristin is very real, down to earth, focused on getting fit, and a lover of cats! I love our daily snapchat conversations. She's seriously an inspiration to me working out at bootcamps and in the crazy South Carolina heat! phew! Take it away, Kristin! 

Describe yourself in four words. 
Loud.
Bubbly.
Odd.
Cats. 

I really love your blogging style. What made you start blogging?
Oh man, I've been doing the blogging thing off and on since the LiveJournal days. I've always loved writing and having a diary-of-sorts online has been a part of my life ever since I learned to type. I had a Fitness blog on tumblr years ago that I really enjoyed but eventually just got too busy to post. Back in September I decided to create this blog when I got bit by the crafting bug (hence the name My Year in the Making) and wanted to document it, but soon the crafting bug went away and I decided to start blogging about health and wellness again. 

You're a new addition to the crayon box. Which color would you be, and why?
Yellow. Because it's bright and happy. Even if it doesn't show up on white paper very well. (That's not a metaphor, it's just a fact.) 

What's the best advice you've ever gotten about blogging?
Don't force yourself to post if you don't want to. No one wants to read forced content. 

What's your favorite movie quote?
"It is better to help people than Garden Gnomes"-Amelie

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? 
Pizza :D Because life is not worth living without pizza.
Llama's note: TRUE STORY! I completely agree with you on this one, Kristin!! 

Want to get to know Kristin better?

Follow along!! 

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Household Jams + Meet Kati!

Y'all, I'm a super fun person to fold laundry with. Allow me to explain. Each laundry folding / putting away session always turns into a dance party. I cannot fold laundry without listening to music. Jams just make the dreaded task go by faster.

I don't listen to the radio though. I have several mixed CD's I go to so I don't have to listen to commercials or worry about a song coming on that I don't care for. I would call these my guilty pleasure songs, but given that I've got Kati on my sidebar I can't bring myself to say it. (Kati doesn't believe in guilty pleasures!) So here's some of my favorite jams that may or may not be current.

Hot Chelle Rae. Tonight Tonight.
The first line... "It's been a really really messed up week" accurately describes most of my weeks. The fun beat and silly lyrics make this a good one to dance to.

Weird Al. White & Nerdy.
This is just my life in the form of a song. Can't help but dance.

Kelly Clarkson. I Do Not Hook Up.
Because why not? Kelly... fun beat... I don't hook up... so yeah. Dance away!

Cascada. Evacuate the Dance Floor.
OK... confession time. This is on the first Dance Central game. So when this song comes on, I totally stop what I'm doing and break out the dance routine from the game.

Tag Team. Whoomp! (There It Is). 
I'll end with this one because "Tag team back again".

Now since Kati was mentioned, I felt it was only fitting that I let y'all get to know her a little better. Kati shares my love for music. Her blog is so unique, and I love that. We all see the blogs with make up do's and don'ts, the fashion posts, the DIY's... on and on. Which I LOVE as well, I mean I do still read those. Kati on the other hand, is full of music, new artists, travel, and real life.

Describe yourself in four words.
Driven.
Quirky.
Loud.
Free-Spirited. 

I really love your blogging style. What made you start blogging?
When I first graduated I wanted to keep myself surrounded by music, art, entertainment, photography...the topics my blog is run by. Constantly Seeking Wonder became that outlet. 

You're a new addition to the crayon box. Which color would you be, and why?
Tyrian Purple. It's the color my blog theme is based around. It has a rich history that I find fascinating. How the color was originally made it didn't fade easily, but instead grew brighter and stronger through wear. I like to see the parallels to myself and my life. Plus it was always a color associated with royalty which is just fun because who doesn't want to pretend they're a queen? 

What's the best advice you've ever gotten about blogging?
Be yourself. For a long time I worried nobody would want to read about the things I was passionate about because they weren't the normal blog topics. People don't want to read you pretending to be someone else just to "fit in". Your love of what you're doing and talking about is what will drive people to read your blog. 

What's your favorite movie quote?
This specific quote is on my blog business card and from my all time favorite movie.

William Miller: What do you love about music?
Russell Hammond: To begin with, everything.
-Almost Famous

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
PASTA.

I'm a carboholic. I have a problem. This is my go-to comfort food. There's so many ways to eat it too. I would never get bored. Now I want pasta...

How great is she, y'all? I also want pasta now! LOL.
So what's your favorite household chore jam? This was a giant excuse for me to share some of my favorite songs. LOL

Want to follow Kati... simple!!

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Interviews Suck

So, by now I'm sure everyone knows I'm newly out of work and trying to adjust. I've been applying for jobs daily. In the state of Georgia, when you file for unemployment they require you to submit at least three contacts a week where you've tried to get a job.

Last week, one of my many resume submissions actually came of something. I had an interview with a really big company. *Here's where Melissa gets SUPER nervous!*
At my old job, I was one of the ones asking the interview questions. Applicants for MAC would have a phone interview with HR (I use that term loosely), and if HR thought they were a good fit they'd interview with all of the ladies from customer service (when I left there was four of us), if they passed our interview they'd move on to an interview with the general manager (AKA the dragon).
My point being- I'm familiar with the standard interview questions. This didn't make me any less nervous about going for an interview though.

The night before this was my mind running through the reel of questions (Keep in mind, I've already had said interview... I'm just in panic mode again thinking about it because I have a SECOND interview with the same company tomorrow 6/24/14)

//Describe your most recent responsibilities at your previous job
OK! Do you have the next three hours cleared on your calendars? Holy cow where do I start? I spent a long time trying to think of the key points I thought would be good for the position I was applying for. I knew I needed to include I'm a certified green belt in Six Sigma and I know what bill of materials are.

//What did you dislike about your previous job?
I hated the fact that we didn't really have a real HR manager and the fact that all of the guys in the office thought they could treat women like trash. Oh wait, I can't say that in an interview. crap. OK... I hated the fact it was an hour away from my house. That sounds good right?

//What would you say your strengths are?
Oh, that's easy! Time management and communication skills. [please don't make me elaborate]
...they made me elaborate...

//What are your weaknesses?
UGH! I hate this question. With a passion. They want you to say something. You can't just get off with saying "oh, I'm just incredibly awesome- I don't have any weaknesses". It's not going to fly. You have to say something. But you can't even be honest either because if your weakness is not being able to get to work on time that would blow the whole interview. I couldn't sleep the night before trying to think of an answer to this one.

//Why do you want this job?
Uh, because I'd be broke if I don't have this job. Plus you're super close to home. Oh you want the real reason? Because I really want to know everything there is to know about adhesives!

Trust me there were more. Maybe to be continued.
So like I said, tomorrow I have a second interview. Fingers crossed.