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2/27/12

It feels like yesterday

One day back in September 2011 I was sitting in the Caribbean sea. The water was a little chilly, I was looking up at the sky, checking out the clouds and then up at the gorgeousness mountains. In that moment I remember thinking "I can't believe that in 6 months I will be gone from this place". It seemed so unreal. So far away. And now? It's been two and a half months since I've seen the Caribbean Sea.

On August 17th 2007 I was sitting in my room. Everything was peaceful and I was a little nervous. I remember thinking "Tomorrow my entire life changes. Tomorrow there will be a baby in that crib and I am going to be a mom" (I was scheduled to be induced). And now? It has been four and a half years and throughout that time I've lived in Virginia, Kentucky, and Dominica.

As I sit here tonight, in my messy place that I call home, I can't help but think about how everything goes by so quickly. I know that in 8 months, 2 years, 7 years... I am going to look back at my life when I was 22 years old living in Louisville and think about how it felt like just yesterday.

Cheers to a bright future and to living in the "now".

Journey: Week Nine

Stop trying to buy happiness.

“Many of the things we desire are expensive. But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.”

My bank account is laughing it’s ass off right now. In other words, even if I did look to “expensive things” to fulfill me—there is no way that’s happening. Check this off as “does not apply”.

I am, however, all over working toward my passions. I spoke about in Week Four, but I'm starting to make ASL a priority. A few other things that I'm specifically enjoying right now are: working at Scary Mommy, focusing on making my son happy, making new friends, and playing video games (yes, I just admitted that publicly--yikes).

Until next week…

2/25/12

Honored!



I’ve never been officially awarded for anything in the blogosphere before, until this week! You’ve seen Katie (from Priceless Adventures) mentioned here numerous times. She was my sponsor back in November 2010 who answered my 101 questions about Dominica and made my transition to island life smooth. She also did my blog make-over and has recently started up her own blog design business at Priceless Design Studio.

I was completely blown away when she announced me one of the winners of the Leibster Award this week.

Stolen from Katie to clarify about the Liebster Award:

“Liebster is a German word which means “dearest” or “beloved.” It can also mean favorite. The idea behind the Liebster Blog Award is that it is given to upcoming bloggers (with fewer than 200 followers) in order to create new connections and bring attention to wonderful growing blogs.

Part of the fun of getting the Liebster Award is that you get to pass it on to 5 other up-and-coming bloggers! I have been following these 5 bloggers for some time now, and they each bring something unique and special to the blogging community.”


Life Of Ikkins is happy to present the following with Leibster Awards:

Ken @ Gods Good Grace

Nile @ Big and Dumb

Heather @ Life Love Laughter

Nic @ The Dynamic Davidson Duo

Mark @ About Twenty Months in America


I am so excited to have carried on the Liebster tradition. Each of these blogs will keep you laughing, interested, and entertained. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!


If you have been awarded the coveted Liebster award, here’s what’s next:

☞ choose five up and coming blogs with less than 200 followers to award
☞ show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
☞ hope the 5 you nominate will keep the cycle going to spread good blogging karma!

2/21/12

Journey: Week Eight

Stop berating yourself for old mistakes.

“ We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us. We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.”

It didn't take me long to learn that the only thing I have the possibility to mold is my future. The past isn’t going anywhere but further away and what I do in the here and now is what matters. That said, it is WAY easier said than done.

I spoke about being stuck in the past two weeks ago and that is still the hardest theme I’ve faced in this journey so far; this week being a close second. I've always prided myself with having enough instinct, common sense, intelligence, (whatever it is you want to call it) to do my best to keep my eyes looking forward through this roller coaster of a life. At the same time, I’m not sure I really had a choice to look back if I wanted to. When I found out I was pregnant, I had to look forward. When I became a single mother, I had to look forward. Even now as I work and am in school, I have to look forward.

I can’t say that I’ve fully let go or fully forgiven myself for some of my past mistakes—but I can say with certainty that I learned from each and every one. I am who I am today because of them and I don’t think I’d change “me” for the world. So, on to tomorrow and the next adventure…



If you're reading about my Journey the first time and are wondering what the heck I'm talking about, click here. :o)

2/12/12

Journey: Week Seven

Stop being scared to make a mistake.

“Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success. You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.”

I'm first going to say that I can’t believe it’s already week seven!!! This has been a great self-evaluation and growing experience, I feel like it started just yesterday. But, I digress…

This is the first theme that I’ve been pretty resistant toward. See, I’ve been living life at 100 miles an hour since I was 17. I’m not getting into the gory details, but I’ve lived through more experiences at 22 years old than the average 50 year old has. This is not something I’m particularly proud to admit but it’s my life, and it’s real.

That being said, I think I deserve a break from the madness and I’m all in favor of "doing nothing" for now. My main goal through this chapter of life is thrive at being a mother, and do my best in work and school. Anything in between is a gray area that I’m dealing with on a day-to-day basis.

So, while I'd normally love to agree and fully embrace this theme, I just can't right now. And, I'm ok with that!

2/7/12

I miss the island..


I miss seeing my best friends every day…

I miss breakfasts at PBH…

I miss going out to Tulips and shooting the shit…

I miss island time (not getting island timed by sometime else, though)...

I miss fun trips to Roseau and going to the “Spice Man”…

I miss the crazy Apples To Apples games...

I miss my local friends who always had funny stories to tell…

I miss seeing the Caribbean ocean every day…

I miss the gorgeous sunsets….

I miss being able to see the stars at night…

I miss the simplicity of catching a transport...

I miss the hikes and natural beauty of the rain forest...

I miss the random adventures...

I miss walking outside and looking at the mountains…


I know that many reading this are still on the island, wishing they were home in America. The grass is always greener on the other side, right? I'll tell you what though, I really miss that damn island. <3

2/6/12

Journey: Week Six

Stop trying to hold onto the past.

"You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one."

I wish I had something profound or encouraging to tell myself (and you) about this weeks theme. To be honest, the fact of the matter is that I still have an iron grip on a LOT of my past. So much that it's painful to even admit. Whether it be recent, or events from years ago, I am haunted with the good and bad of those times and seem to be stuck on "reverse".

If you have any suggestions on how to let go, I'm open to any and all advice in this area...