World According to Shia

Rome wasn't built in a day.  Having goals and being passionate about them is just as respectable as completing the goal.  Having goals shows that you have ambition.  Also, when you tell others about your goals with passion it shows that you have drive.  Don't get caught up in the thought that the world is keeping score.  There is no one out there with a check list keeping track of what you do and don't because sometimes when you are working on a goal you may reach a point where you no longer want what you were working for - let's not get it twisted - if your goal is to quit drinking or doing drugs - those types of goals need to be completed for your health and well being.  Also, if you have one or both of those goals - CALL AUNTIE SHIA - she's here for you.  But seriously, sometimes your initial goal can morph into something new or you realize that the end result isn't really what you wanted and you then reevaluate and form a new goal. In all ac...

So you have escaped from home ... you now have your own place.  Great right?  No parents, no chores, no nagging you know the great life.  Well almost.  Dishes!  Let's face it they need to get clean and if you are living in the world without a dishwasher that means ... you gotta wash them.   It all starts with one cup or plate in the sink and before you know it everything you own is in there needing to be cleaned.  So what do you do?  Roll up your sleeves and start washing? Here are some tips .... 1) When apartment hunting make sure your kitchen is off the beaten path ... you know not viewable from the front door.   2) Decorative dishtowels over the sink will get you an extra day ... or two.   3) Soaking them for later is never a good idea - you just end up with STANK water and slimey dishes. 4) Marissa you are in luck ... bring that little sister over and bribe her to do the dishes.  Ex. Debra ...

What better day to make a fresh comeback than an It's Okay Thursday! I've done some blog soul searching and discovered that I had indeed lost my roots but I have gained some other great things along the way so those need to be embraced as well.  So here it goes ... my plan: First off, Friday Fancies are a must have comeback post so tune in tomorrow for my fabulous outfit creation! Second, I started this blog to WRITE and I haven't done that in a long time.  Some of it was due to writer's block and the other due to convincing myself that no one actually reads anymore because they just want pictures and the ability to move on quickly.  Well tough luck cuz I'm doing some writing. I am devoting one post a week to a new idea ... {here's a little back story} ... a fellow blogger, Stephanie at Bourbon and Glitter , recommended a book Adulting:  How to Become a Grown Up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps by Kelly Williams Brown  so I checked it out from my local li...

I hope you all had a great weekend! I have been so busy wedding planning that my blog kinda  stunk last week...oh well...moving on!!   I hope everyone had a great weekend! On Saturday, I watched my niece Kaelyn (2 yrs) for the first time ALONE!  I was a little nervous that she wouldn't be happy to spend the day with me ... so I had like a million  things planned...turned out I didn't even need to take her  anywhere ... she had fun at my house! Here's a sample of funny things kids say... Kaelyn ~ Dog...DOG!!! Me ~Kae don't call her Dog her name is Daisy  she doesn't know that she is a dog! Kaelyn ~ Daisy you're a dog (to Daisy) ~ She knows now (to me)!! HILARIOUS!!!!

My sister sent me this video so I thought I would share....

{click on the collage to see it bigger} Last Sunday I went to the zoo with my sisters and all my nieces.  We had a blast.  Marissa and Leah wore their matching outfits I got them.  The whole time I kept saying....I should have gotten Kaelyn one too!  Kaelyn was so cute.  She kept saying I see I see...and when I would kneel down to look with her she would  kneel down too.  She would tell all of the animals...bye bye when we were leaving I think she thought they would actually say bye back.  Kaelyn peeking through the wood posts was hilarious....Debra leaned over to get the pic of her lil face smooshed between the posts. Nicole asked me to stop on the way and get Leah some sunglasses!  They were the cutest thing ever!  She loved wearing them!  Leah was also wearing one of the bibs I made for her...it said ... My Aunties love me! Marissa and I walked around and I one point she was amazed that I knew all the...

So here are a few pictures from that exciting day with the zoo trip, playground...more playground....

The amount of energy my 4 year old niece has is amazing.  Today she got up early like 7 am to meet have Christmas pictures taken...then trip to Santa...more pics...then Circle and Marissa off to the zoo...playground....more zoo...ride to Circle's house...napped in the car for about 45 mins....playground...played on the steps in the pool...more playground....now she's running around the living room with Daisy.  How does she have all this energy?  It is INSANE!  Nicole we need to figure out how to bottle this and become millionaires.  Now the Wizard of Oz is on TBS...hopefully this wears her down...PUH=PLEASE...Aunt Circle can't keep up!!

Marissa and Leah napping...look how Leah is holding on to Marissa's arm...awe! Nicole sent me this picture from her phone... I thought I would share...it's just too cute!

Marissa with her new book bag And of course the black and white outfit I got Nicole for the girls... good thing it's big on Marissa...Leah is soooo  tiny that it will take her awhile to grow into hers. I had her initials put on it because Nicole pointed out that strangers could act like they know her from her name on her book bag...good thinking mom!  That's why I'm just the Auntie!  So of course we had to get yellow.  It was too cute when Marissa said to me while sipping on my Starbucks green tea while waiting for our bags to get done...I'm so excited about my bag "Circle".  I said, ME TOO!!!  Nicole seriously thought I had lost my mind but the fact that Marissa was excited too just made it even more magical!  Are we sure this isn't my child?  Also at one point in the day I rescued her necklace from being lost and she said...Circle you're my best friend!  Awe! Of course...Shia had to get a bag too!

She had to steal the show at gift opening time and show off her horse. This thing really moves! I just love her cute lil face! When Marissa rides in my car she wants to hear the "Barbie Song" so I made her a CD with the "Barbie Song" (Barbie Girl by Aqua) and some Disney Princess songs. So she got a gift too at Kaelyn's birthday party. Plus, you know Aunt Circle...I had to jazz it up. I couldn't use puff paint so I decked it out with some Disney Princess stickers.

Leah Kelly was born on July 7, 2010. Marissa and her little sister, Leah   Okay see how her little lip stands out. Nicole's was like that when she was a baby and I used to hold her and feed her...she would fall asleep and I could rub that little crease and she would wiggle her nose and I thought it was hilarious. I was five!

I got Marissa and her new little sister, Leah, matching outfits. This tradition of bibs started with Marissa. I got Nicole a bib and I ironed on letters to spell out my name so Debra couldn't say that the bib was referring to her. So then when Debra had Kaelyn I did the same thing, but this time I put Circle...since Marissa had dubbed this nickname before she could say Mellissa she called me Circle. I want the new babies, Kaelyn and Leah, to call me Shia but I stuck with Circle for the bib. Mad lady with the puff paint.... It never stops, I was a puff paint manic. I changed it to say Aunties since Leah has two and I had to change the tense hence the flower in the middle...come on it couldn't say My aunties loves me! Here's Nicole with the bibs! I knew she would love them =)

Starting position Her "solo"...she's the blurry one in the front..."no flash photography allowed" ...I'm just surprised these pictures came out at all. After the show, Marissa posed for the camera...too cute!

Simply Mad about Marissa! I adore my little niece Marissa and today is her 4th birthday. The first picture was taken when she was just 2 weeks old, it feels like yesterday but she's growing up. I'm getting her a bike for her birthday! So Happy Birthday Monkey ~~~ Love Auntie Circle! Can't wait to give you a big hug Saturday when I see you at your birthday party!

Marissa and Kaelyn - Kaelyn's First Christmas

Frosty, Me, Kaelyn, Paul and Marissa

This is my only pic of me and Marissa and I think it is ADORABLE. And look finally ME AND PAUL!

A memo was emailed out to everyone in our firm this week. The memo states that with our new remodel that they want our personal office decor to be limited to a piece of framed art. Well Pissy Pants (former attorney I worked with) bought me a nice framed Monet painting which is apparently okay to have up. However, I am holding strong on keeping my memo board with my nieces up. Apparently it is okay for new associates to have swords and posters of Saddam Hussein with bullet holes in it hanging proudly in their offices...however nieces...THOSE are not corporate friendly. Well as you all know, I am hard headed and I'm not taking my lil girls down. It's not like they are ugly kids (you know you know people that show you pics and you are like DAMN I mean awww cute). My nieces are ADORABLE! So I'm going to keep them up until they threaten me with more than a memo. HELL NO THEY WON'T GO...is my stance for the moment!