33 Lessons in my 33 years

Just a little fun assignment from me to you:
Since I will be 33 in 2 days I thought it would be fun to make a list of 33 lessons I have learned in my 33 years.  Here goes!

1.   I've learned that it's not what you have in your life, but whom you have in your life that counts.

2.  I've learned that no matter how much I care some people just don't care back.

3.  I've learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

4.  I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

5.  I've learned that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

6.  I've learned that heroes are people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

7.  I’ve learned that you can keep going long after you think you can’t.

8.  Friends really do come and go. Some come back. Some don’t. That’s OK.

9.  It’s OK to be different.

10.  Being an adult can be fun when you are acting like a child.

11.  Love has very little to do with looks, and much more to do with time, trust, and interest.

12.  Greed will bury even the lucky eventually.

13.  Bad things do happen to good people.

14.  Most of the time what you are looking for is right in front of you.

15.  I have learned to say please and thank you a lot.  It makes a huge difference.

16.  People deserve a second chance, but not a third.

17.  I have learned that you should Marry your best friend. (and I did)

18.  Take lots of pictures.  Someday you’ll be really glad you did.

19.  Money makes life easier only when the money is yours free and clear.

20.  “No.” is a complete sentence.

21.  Normal is a setting on the washing machine. There are no people that can truly be defined by this word.

22.  Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words can cut so much deeper.

23.  The things that make life so beautiful don’t come with a price tag.

24. There is no "wrong" way to pray. 

25. That having a child fall asleep in your arms is the most peaceful feeling in the world.

26. That money doesn't buy class

27.  that I wish I could tell my Grandpa I love you one more time.

28.  That you should support your children and THEIR dreams. Not just the ones you dream for them.

29.  Life isn't fair but it is still good.

30.  Your children only get one childhood with you.

31. I have an the worlds most awesome  family and friends.


32. I have learned that I have an amazing, kindhearted and funny child.  I can not express how blessed I am for this!   

33. That I try as hard as I can to Make an impact.

So, there you go.  These are 33 things in life that I have learned.  I am sure I could go on and on. 

Happy New Year!!! Be safe!  Cheers!!!

Upcoming Vacations! YAHOO!!!!

Hello All!

I still need to post a blog on what an amazing Christmas we had and I can post some pictures because Todd and Karley bought me a new Camera!  WOO HOO!  I just need to figure out how to upload them....hmmm..... I will do this soon. Promise.

In the meantime I thought I would share that I did something completely uncharacteristic for me this Christmas too.  I booked not 1 but 2 trips.  ***SO EXCITED***.  Let me tell you about them.  The first one is a use-it-or-lose it credit that my sister had on an airline flight.  She was talking about some credits she had and wasn't going to use them so I called my friend Sarah in Oklahoma and we planned a good time when we could meet up.  Karley and I will be making the hour long flight to Oklahoma City for 4 days in January and we are both so excited to see all of them!!!  Thank you Jamie!  We owe you.

The 2nd trip is just for adults.  We are going to VEGAS with Chris and Sarah Newby in February for 5 days.  If you know me then you realize what a HUGE thing this is.  I rarely go anywhere without Karley--It's just as easy to take her with us but I am not sure that this is a place that is appropriate for her.   I can hardly wait for this trip either.  Not because I am a big drinker or gambler.  I will most likely do very little of either.  I am excited to have a fun long weekend with some good friends and Todd.  We are going to a few shows and explore the City.....Sounds awesome to me!  Karley will be spending the time with Grandma and will be busy with Basketball games and practice.  She is very excited also. 

WHEW!!!  I have a lot to look forward to!!  Anyone who has been to Vegas and wants to give us some tips on awesome shows or things to do please let me know!

Happy New Years!  Be safe!

KSU....UGH!

So disappointed in my Wildcats.  What a great game tonight minus the outcome.  Here is how Karley feels about it.  I agree.

 I love this picture.  She is so stinking cute!!! 

What in the heck is up with Jacob Pullen and Curtis Kelly?  What IDIOITS!!!  As my sister posted on facebook earlier:

"Dear Pullen and Kelly, I couldn't be more proud of you if I stapled my face to the floor"

That's all for tonight! 

Enjoy your week!!!

Pay it Foward

Tonight Karley and I are going out to shop for the rescue mission.  This year they have an exceptionally long list of items that they are in need of in the form of donations and I think it's an awesome way to teach a lesson in giving back to others.  Todd, Karley and I are very blessed and I am a big believer in the whole pay-it-forward message.  I love the idea of paying for the car behind you at the drive through.  I often buy fountain drinks for people in uniform who come into Kelly Express as well as take the time to thank them for all they do.  I try even harder to let Karley see these random acts of kindness.  I do it for a lot of different reasons.  I don't want her to have the "only child syndrome". I want her to realize that she is fortunate but most of all I want to raise her to be a good person with a big heart.  I grew up knowing that I was very fortunate....despite what people may believe, I didn't have many things just handed to me. I had to work for them.  We try to raise Karley with the same morals and beliefs that I grew up with.  She has chores where she does not get an allowance for but constant praise and, in turn, she rarely argues with us about these chores because it is just a part of life. With Christmas approaching and the decline in donations to so many wonderful organizations due to the economy we wanted to go a step further this year and really pay it forward.
I have been talking this shopping trip up all week to her and she is really excited.  I have gone over the list of items they are asking for and we have selected some pretty awesome things to get.  We will deliver the goodies later in the week and she will really be able to see that we are making a small impact to help those less fortunate than us. 
Every night when we sit down to dinner at our house we play a game called HIGH-LOW.  It is where we go around the table and talk about what our best and worst part of the day was.  I have a feeling I already know what both of our HIGH's will be tonight. 
I also have another surprise planned which can't be revealed at this time but I CAN"T WAIT to hear how awesome it will be.  It feels so good to know you have contributed to the happiness of someone else.  (I will post a full blog on this surprise next week!)
SO---to all of my 3 readers (haha!)....I am curious.....How do you pay it foward???

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Elf on the Shelf

Creepy. Yes. 

Amazing.  Double yes.

  Karley had an orthodontist appointment today so we went to Barnes & Noble where I found this.  I have heard from some of my friends how amazing this little guy is and I laughed at how ridiculous it sounded.  I have a pretty good kid but when the holidays come around she gets the case of the gimmes and the whinnies and the entitled attitud-ies.  Plus we suffer from staying up way too late and whining about EVERYTHING.  I try my hardest to teach her the true meaning of Christmas but she is 7 and sees every ad in the paper and every silly toy on TV and NEEEEEEDDDDDDSSSSS it.  UGH. 

So, today at Barnes and Noble I found this book and made a big, huge deal about it and how I wondered if she was old enough to learn about Santa's secret.  She was more than excited.  We sat down and read the book right there in the store and the look on her face was priceless.

I was willing to jump on the bandwaggon and give it a try. 

We brought it home, named it (buddy), and put him up on the shelf.  She swears that he turns his head and follows her around the room.  :)  The most amazing thing happened after Buddy was placed on the mantle.  Karley started acting like a true angel. No sass....no i-don't-want-to's..... She offered to do extra homework, help with the dishes and laundry and wrote a cute little letter to her teacher about how awesome she thinks she  is.  Tonight she told us she was ready for bed (at 7:30) and hit the sack on her own. 

One little elf made my day today. 

Update time!!

We had the best weekend!!  On Saturday Night we went over to my Aunt Karen and Uncle Roger's house for the annual Kelly family white elephant gift exchange.  It is always so funny to see the crap treasures my crazy family comes up with.  This year was classic.  Unfortunately I don't have many photos.  My I phone camera isn't the best and I was too busy laughing.  Sorry! Here are a few of my sister opening her present.  Such funny facial expressions!

Here is Karley, Chase and I.  Such cute kids!!!! 

Last Thursday evening was the second grade Christmas program.  They were all dressed up so cute!!  Here are a few photos of Karley and a couple of her friends after the program. 

Karley and Mrs. Scott.

This was Karley right before we left.  She is getting so big! 

It was a action packed week!  It is so hard to believe Christmas is already almost here!  My favorite part of the holiday is surprising people when they least expect it.  I have some big plans this year and hope they are successful!  What fun!  I will keep you posted!!

Garage door Mishap

I don't have a lot of time to blog today.  I just wanted to share a bit of a funny that happened to me today.  I have been so busy lately going 5,000 different directions and sometimes my ability to multitask goes a little wrong. 

Here's the story. 

I was rushing home to hide a stash of Christmas presents and try and make it to the school to pick Karley up.  I was grabbing the mail and talking on the phone and trying to wave to the neighbor all at the same time and BAM.  I drove right into the garage door.  I didn't even take the time to TRY and open it.  I just drove into it.  SO--my friend on the phone is freaking out, my neighbor was pretending he didn't see it and I was so stunned that I started laughing.  Not really laughing though....more like the laughing hysterically through tears type.  I quickly end the phone call with my friend and decide to back into the garage.  (why? I don't know.  I was delirious!) but after I backed into the garage and got myself together I called my friend back and went to close the garage door.  The damn door came down right on top of my car because I didn't get it backed in far enough.  I thought these things had sensors!  WTH???

I have spent most of the evening tonight trying to figure out how I am going to tell Todd.  Any other time I would have been able to skip some of the details but I KNOW my neighbor saw me and would rat me out.  :)

Last time I did something like this I told him that the door didn't open fast enough.  Or "I hit the refrigerator in the garage because my car was bigger than his."  None of this makes sense but he has been very patient with me in both of these incidences. 

Tonight when he called to say he was on his way home I decided I needed to tell him BEFORE he got here.
Here is how the convo went
Me: "Hey! I got some Christmas shopping done today! What a relief! I drove into the garage door too." 
TZ:  "Good.  Wait, What?"
Me: "What? What?"


  I was busted. Lucky for me he just made fun of me and all is good here in the Zimmerman household.  No major damage was done (except to my pride) and I have learned the lesson that I need to learn to SLOW DOWN AND TAKE MY TIME......the funny in this story? I preach this same moral to Karley all the time.   What a role model I am! SHEEEEESH.

Happy Tuesday!