Blog Update: It's Fun To Be 1!

So I decided yesterday that to celebrate my 1st Blog Birthday I wanted a change.  I am tweeking exactly how I want the "New" blog to look and I will add customizations later but for now, this is where we are.  The new Simply Me, the way I see it!  I like that it is clean and simple and I love that it is Texas Ranger colored. 

I started this yesterday just simply changing the way my handle appears.  When I first started this blog, I thought I was going to write a blog from the point of view of my dachshunds.  Ries and Sadie.  That idea fell by the wayside before the first post.  That's why the blog shows up as Doxiedoodle.  That was going to be the original title.  At some point I may do a second blog doing something like that because let's face it,  my dogs have an amazingly spoiled life!





So without further delay here are my favorite posts from the last year.

My absolute favorite post is the First Time Mountain Biking.    I almost died.  Well kind of.  This was what started the obsession believe it or not.  It's true. 






Probably my second favorite blog was this one Women, a users guide.   This blog just totally was fun to write.  Men-Women we are really just...well...yeah!

Definately next up in my favorite was from the Blog Challenge I did to start the blog.  My dream house.  I love this blog because I thought I was going to write one thing and I ended up writing another.  This is still my dream house.   I thought maybe by now someone special might be in my life but things never work out on my timeline, they work out on Gods and as I said in my It's Ok Thursday today, I am working on letting God handle the mess!




One of the hardest and most freeing blogs I wrote: Fitness Friday: Where I came from. This one I was afraid of because I had to face my past.  All two tons of me.  It was hard and it hurt but it was freeing.  I need to re-read that one more so I keep myself on track. (I say this after my boss brought in Tiff Treats warm cookies for everyone. 3 hours at the gym tonight is doable, right?)

This post was fun and now looking back on it, it makes me a little sad.  Write 5 Letters was sent to a variety of people that were important to me in my past or at that time.  It is sad because number 5 was written to a person I really liked at that time and it simply said "Please be real".  Turns out, I still to this day don't know if the person I originally met on-line was the real person or the one I met in person.  They are very different people and I could have loved one of them. (Actually, that isn't fair. The one I knew when we were alone was more like the one on-line but there just wasn't enough of him and too much of what I suspect is the facade.)  For better or worse,  I like both of them but only one of them could I love.  Anyway, I suppose it doesn't really matter anymore.  Life has a way of throwing you curve balls and sometimes you strike out.  I miss talking to him but I will be ok and if he happens to read this, just know...no regrets and thank you....for Mountain Biking, friend.
Opening Weekend at the Ballpark last year because I met so many awesome people and a few more throughout the season.  Specifically my friend Chance. There are actually two blogs that cover this time. I'm not sure why but that is how much I loved it! Opening Weekend Part1 (Oh, wait, I remember, because we were at the Ballpark for 4 days straight) Opening Weekend Part 2!  That was a lot of awesome baseball!


I am sure there are a handful of other blogs that I truly just loved writing for one reason or another. I think back on the woman I was when I started this blog.  I had had surgery 5 days before and I was hopeful that I was on my way to a special 2012.  Some things didn't turn out the way I thought. Some of the things I did, I would change in hindsight.  Some things I found out about myself in the last year would have shocked and surprised myself.  What this blog has given me is the courage to be myself. The ability to laugh at myself.  The realization that no matter who doesn't like me, I am a good person and I deserve good people in my life (although my potty mouth gets me in almost as much trouble as my temper). I found out that I am so much stronger and smarter then I ever gave myself credit for. 




Thank you to all my friends and family who willingly or unknowingly lent their images, stories, and with a few of them bottoms for me to kick, over the last year. I love you all! Thanks for making the last year interesting!

A BIG Thank You to all of you who stop by to read the random ramblings, vents, and life pep talks I give myself on this blog!  You have all been incredible and supportive and I can not thank you enough.  Stay tuned because this year I hope to add some awesome features to this blog and make it better. (As soon as I learn how to do all the fancy stuff.) I can't wait for 2013 to really get rolling and I expect it to be the best year EVER!

Simply,
Laura




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

It's OK Thursday!! Blog UPDATE

                                        Linking up with Amber and Neely for It's OK Thursday!




I can't believe it is only Thursday!  I am so ready for a quiet weekend with a little biking and  a lot of nothing special to do.  I am exhausted!    So, let's get to it!


It's Ok:

-To write two blogs today.  I can't miss my It's OK link up and today is the 1 year Birthday of Simply Me...So I have to do something for that, Right?

-That what I really want  to mark the 1 year Birthday of my blog by doing something special but I didn't realize until last night what I really wanted to  do so it will be a delayed celebration because I have to figure out how to do it.

-That I am still not very technically blog savvy.  I know how to do the basics and since a lot (most) of what I post is from my phone, it is limited in capbilities. 

-That I realized yesterday during a Twitter conversation with a friend that sometimes what you are saying to someone else is as meaningful to yourself as it is the person you are talking to.

-That I keep saying I am going to learn to cut myself a break and stop judging myself but I struggle with this.

-That my keyboard at work is the most nasty thing ever.  Now the keys are sticking and I am secretly plotting a way to get a new one.   This is going to require a work order from IT and waiting....does anyone's IT department move quickly?  I think they minor in slow in college.

-That I have two mountain bike rides semi-planned for this weekend so I am hitting the gym hard tonight.  I am concentrating on building my leg strength back up which means elliptical, treadmill, and a cool down on a stationary bike.

-That I would love a good nights sleep.  Does anyone actually get one unless they are on vacation?

-That I want to go on a real vacation this year....but WHERE?  If you are totally in love with your city, let me know how great it is and I will put it on the list. (If you are dying for a house guest...throw that in!)

-That my diet has been total crap lately.  I am stess eating junk and this is BAD.  I am going to focus this weekend on cleaning the house and the diet!

-That someone told me yesterday what pretty kids my 'boyfriend' and I will have because he and I look so good together.  That's awesome!  Except we aren't dating.  (Despite the best nagging efforts of my current roomie and my boss)  It's not that we don't love each other, we do.   Just not THAT way.   I would be lucky however to meet a amazing guy like him to fall in-love with.  He is the best guy I know and one of the only ones that doesn't drive me totally insane.

-To love your dogs like crazy.  They make me laugh every day.

-To remind yourself when you are throwing a pity party how blessed you are.

-To also remind yourself that God has this and to stop trying to fix God and let Him fix you. 

-To really be really happy sometimes even though everything isn't going the way you planned.

-To remind yourself that there are reasons why things you want haven't worked out.  "There but for the Grace of God go I" has been dropped on me time and time again lately.

-To care about people who haven't earned it and to remain loyal to friends no matter how much they don't deserve it.

-To still believe in fairytales.  I have had conversations with two friends in the last day and both conversations have gone the way of "I just don't think I will ever find someone that loves me."  I go through that 'feeling unlovable' stuff too.  The thing is, deep down, I believe in Prince Charming.  I just wish Prince Charming would get his act together and hurry up!!!

-To really love being a simple woman.  I realized yesterday that nothing is as good as a good Tuna Sandwich or Grilled Cheese.  I love the fact that I can still find Peanut Butter amazing and that every once and a while I think a good meatloaf and Mac and Cheese or Hamburger and Fries is simply GRAND!

-To finally like the woman I am even with the flaws.  Give me a break, it as only taken 42 years!


That's what is OK with me.  What about you???


Simply,
Laura

Hump Day Blog: OHP

Linking up with Michelle for Oh, How Pinteresting!

Forgive me if what I pinned is kind of all over the place. My emotions run from completely positive and happy to completely frustrated and searching for the silver lining lately. I do know, I will find the silver lining and my happiness is my choice. 

So here is a little taste of my week on Pinterest:



Baseball:
I miss the Rangers so much!




























Dachsies:




Nobody is less excited about Valentines Day than me. Still having two of my own, I find them irresistible...

And funny!



I have 2 Dogs and 2 Dog angels and 1 cat angel and I am positive THIS is fact! (My cat, Ranger will be there too.)





Faith:
Not going to lie, I am struggling with trying to understand a lot of "Why's" right now. I still trust God....Laura on the other hand I am finding to be a little foolish.

Love & Relationships:
.

Story of my life!

As frustrating as my love life is....I still believe, Kinda!

Mountain Biking/biking:


This is my happiness. The weekend looks promising!

So TRUE!

(Yes, my Mr. Right will like baseball and biking and he won't mind that I am slower sometimes cause he just wants to be with me)

Misc:

Working on this!

I made these Spaghetti Squash recipies and OMG!!!

So ready for SUMMER and longer 110 degree days.  Thank you TEXAS!!



So on a side note: tomorrow is my one year blog anniversary. I started the blog while recovering from surgery and it has been an amazing journey. The positive responses from all of you have been special and are much appreciated.
That said....I have no idea what to do for my 1 year anniversary. I have thought about this and I just don't have any brilliant ideas! Hopefully something comes to me on the elliptical tonight!
Happy Hump Day!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Blog Update: IPhone Tuesday:Fun Apps!

As far as I know, there is no such thing as iPhone Tuesday so I created this header using a app called Labelbox.  I am obsessed with picture apps on my iPhone 5 and impressed with how easy they are and how awesome they turn out.   I share this obsession with my friend Rachel who's blog you can see here.  I suggest you check out her Mobile Monday blog because she actually uploaded the video I told you about yesterday where we were serenaded Friday by Jamie Holland.
I use the free app version of these but there are paid apps that give you extras and no ads!

Labelbox: Lets you add a label to any photo.  You can select from several ribbons.  This is a cool app to play with and I use it sometimes for my blog when I want to create a header such as the one above.



Instaframe is my newest obsession.  This lets you select from a variety of frames, sizes, and number of pictures and you can add smilies, writing and choose text color and adjust the photos in the boxes.  I LOVE this app!!! 
.

The only thing I haven't figured out is how to move photos around.  I wanted this in order and it didn't put the photos in the order I selected them.  Nobody but me knows that....but gosh it is cool.  This is the 2012 season start to finish.

These are a bunch of my Ranger Friends!!!

Chance and I have been to Rangers, Stars, and Mavs games so it seemed only right to make a Chance collage. Now you see his glasses, now you don't! 

This one started out as a Rachel collage but although I realized that I could easily do that, most of our pictures are pretty much the same...so I expanded it.  Besides, I didn't want to leave out Khrystal, Julie, Trish, Monica, Whitney, Felicia, and Lyn!

I changed my Twitter profile picture to this.  I love how the writing matches my shirt.  I played with the color to get that to happen.  *It's a female thing!





My children needed attention too!


Snapbucket:
Everyone has Instagram but I hate how Instagram makes you crop everything.  I also hate how Instagram chooses your frame for you.  Snapbucket has some cool effects like this one, plus you can choose your own frames.  I like control!

Picibooth:
This one is my other obsession.  I mentioned it before.
It gives you the option of taking booth like photos in square and long versions and you can go back and forth between them and save both.   You will become obsessed with this app quickly and kids LOVE it!

Now, I am sure that a lot of if not all these apps are available on Android and Windows phones.  I just happen to be totally in love with my iPhone 5 and after 2 1/2 years on an Android, I am happily back to my iPhone for good....probably.
So, please share with me in the comments any AWESOME apps you all use.  I would love to find new and fun apps to share.....plus use!

Simply,
Laura