So if your life is one big bowl of cherries....good for you! However, life is a cycle there are always the ups followed by the inevitable downs. How do you get through when you feel like you've hit rock bottom? Because let's face it, it never fails that when something bad happens everything else seems to go wrong too. Here are some tips for making yourself happier because let's face it folks if you aren't happy...it's not gonna get better anytime soon.

Remember all those dreams you had...remember all those things you wanted to do. Well start working on getting some of them done. If you say, I always wanted to go to NYC. Well get on a budget and go on vacation. Let's just say it's Happy List (since by no means do we want to think of it as a Bucket List...you're trying to get happy not think about ending it all). So make a happy list and start ticking those items off!

We all have things that we hate about ourselves. Well stop dwelling on those and think about things your good at. Okay so you can't type a million words a minute, at least you can sew a mean pillow. Also, if you gotta make a list...do it and put it up somewhere where you'll see it all the time and it'll make you smile. Also, take something that you aren't good at and conquer it! Learn to speak French or build some shelves. When you accomplish something for the first time with hard work it will definitely give you a boost!

Get Healthy! Start eating better and exercising, you'll boost your body's endorphin levels and feel great. I'm not even talking about having to do a ton of exercising. Just taking a walk can do wonders!

Don't dwell on the sadness of the past. Even if the sadness is due to a current issue in your life try to think of happier times and ways to overcome the obstacles of the present. Everyone has down moments and the way they learn to get over them makes them grow as a person and the next obstacle become easier to overcome!

Be optimistic! Things WILL get better. Instead of thinking how can this get any worse think about the fact that it will get better because thinking negative will only make more negative things happen!

Don't listen to depressing music or watch depressing movies. You want to be upbeat so stay upbeat!

When you are already depressed don't add to it by drinking. Alcohol is a depressant so you're just adding fuel to the fire. Plus, the next day will be even worse if you wake up with a hangover. If you need something to relax your nerves, take a nice soothing bath with some candles, drink some herbal tea or go for a walk to get those endorphins up!

And remember...don't worry...be happy! (I know it's cheesy but it helps!)

Holla!

I have a love hate relationship with my digital camera. I hate it because it is old, it takes a XD card for Christ sakes, and now I no longer have the Installation CD for the software to take the pics off the card through USB port. So once I take a picture I have to trot on over to Walgreens and get the pics put on a disk. So many many MANY blog posts have suffered because of this problem! One picture for something yields forever waiting to have enough pics for a CD. Until....Tana, dear follower of the blog, co-worker, and walking buddy told me about this.....

it is a Memory Card Reader and it is....hold on to your seat...$9.99. I'm going to get it tonight! I can't wait! The blog world will suddenly get a whole heck of a lot better for all of us. Taller there might be more pictures and a few less words for you =) Okay there still will be a lot of words but more pics!!! YAY!!

Dilemma...

So I have complained in the past to Taller that Blogger does not have interesting blog designs, fonts, colors, etc. Well now it seems like there is a whole new world of design for the blog....so should I give up the white and black damask on the sides and switch it up for a change? There isn't any damask to choose from in the new design stuff so the only damask would be my header....what's Shia to do? I would like some change but NO DAMASK?? Could I survive without it?

I'm Alive....

Okay so I know I know...I suck at blogging! But good news folks...my boss is on vay cay so I will be a posting queen this week! I have soooo much in store for you so just tune in daily for thrills and excitement oh yeah and my clever wit.

Sisterly Love

As you all have read I have had my share of sister issues. I mentioned to some friends that it seems like when I have a blow out with one sister the other one steps up. So today I drove to Gainesville to go with Debra to get Kaelyn's 1 year old pics done. (She got them on CD and will be emailing them to me so I'll be posting them ... Kaeyln is sooooo cute in the pics) Anyways, I spent the ENTIRE day with Debra and not one issue. She was completely nice and actually talked to me about my life and it wasn't all about Debra. All and all it was a great day. I can't wait to show you all the pics because they are SUPER cute!

Wah wah wahhhhhhhhhh

So my comments on the blogs didn't get "published" on bravotv.com because instead of bravo wanting actual intellect (yes even for real housewife blogs) they want...YOU ROCKKKKK!!! I love you!!!! Please! Apparently if you spell enough words incorrectly you can get posted. Oh well! (and yes I am bitter!)

Okay I couldn't resist....

As you all know, I spoke recently about my addiction, "reality tv". Yes my name is Shia and I am addicted to Bravo, Oxygen, Style and E! So I'm here to confess....I just commented on Bravotv.com to the housewives' blogs. I will justify it by saying it was only two blogs but still...I posted a comment. Apparently my comment has to be approved by an editor before it goes up on the site but can this be counted a "published" work? LOL! What if I don't go up on the comment list? How am I going to take that kind of rejection? Okay okay I promise not to cry. But seriously if I get on I think I'm going to try to make a weekly thing of it. Please, I might get my own show on Bravo...Shia says! Look for it people...it'll be entertaining!

Crackers are hard to swallow even with cheese!

No joke I wrote this blog on the plane....days after the last post where I dissed the South...I calmed down and then this happened....

So we're on our last flight headed to Jacksonville. I haven't been annoyed by "stupid people" until now. So we all know I have issues with people and a true part of me that hates people well I think I have narrowed it down to a deep hatred of ignorant crackers. Currently, I am surrounded by a toothless (no joke) ignorant cracker family that thinks its hilarious that "Bubba" (that was his name folks I am not making this up) has to sit next to an Indian man wearing a turban. Look crackers if you aren't prepared to enter the real world stay at home and watch that glowing talking box to see it. When are they going to break out the banjo? I'm seriously disappointed that the minute we get anywhere near Jacksonville I'm surrounded by the very ignorance that makes me hate Jacksonville. Also, it's been a week and a half since I've heard an annoying southern accent so maybe I am just not easing back in well. I mean I'm sitting next to the family from Deliverance people! DELIVERANCE!!! OMG I am such a typical northerner! Don't even get me started on these people with the Sky Mall magazine. "Look pa dem dare gots a coffee table that's a dawg kennel!" Ew dawgy...I don't dink dem date hold all da dawgs..." You can take the cracker out of the "ville" but you can't take the "ville" out of the cracker.

OMG they just announced that we have to sit on the runway for 20 mins. I'm not exaggerating folks this "mother" is encouraging her kids to throw spit wads in the Indian man's turban. Serenity now!!!

Homegirl practiced her manta...Be Zen Grab a Pen. I literally wrote this with lil bubba reading over my shoulder well looking I don't know about reading. Again I know I know...I am mean but seriously this was bad. That Indian man didn't deserve this and you know he sat there and took it because of fear he would be stereotyped as a threat if he said anything to them. Sad! Is this what the world has come to? A man has to sit and be tortured by a family and just endure it? Tisk tisk...what would Jesus do people? I mean isn't that your mantra? Crackers and Jesus oh my I think I should stop while I am ahead! Again if you are upset with my words about this family put yourself in that man's seat or sitting there as a witness you would have been mortified too!

Note: I'm not saying that all southerners are crackers but face it there are a lot of crackers in the south!

North versus South

(Again written on vacation and I am FINALLY posting...YAY!)

So isn't there some kind of saying about southern hospitality? Well as a northerner who has been living in the South for almost 20 years (OMG I just found that sad...can I even say that I'm a northerner anymore I've officially lived in the South longer than the North...excuse me I need a minute...I can't deal with the fact that I could be dubbed a southern), I will have to say that I like the northern stand offish mentality a lot more than the "fake" hospitality of the South. Come on I don't need to spell it out but those overly enthusiastic people that you see on a day to day basis that are complete strangers = F A K E!

I remember when we first moved here and anytime we passed a vehicle on the road they would give the wave. Really? I don't want to give you a wave? I don't know you. I'm just trying to get from point A to B.

Also, just because northerners are stand offish doesn't make them rude. I mean you wouldn't say that someone who is shy is rude would you? Face it folks, southerners are rude. You can shove your fake how are you, come again and yes sir no ma'am. I'd much rather earn it in the north. Also why do southerns think everyone needs to kiss their ass? You aren't that special ... get over yourself. You will live if someone doesn't talk to you.

Also we drove 100s of miles on our trip around NH. There was no one out cutting you off, slamming on the brakes, beeping excessively...so maybe southerners are the ones that spread the rumor of southern hospitality to offset the stereotypes of being "less educated" and "country" or maybe my northern-ness (yes folk that's a word) came back on my trip in full force but seriously I found the people in NH to be a breath of fresh air.

Note: Apparently I have deep hatred for Florida but don't worry I'll be moving soon so no need to try and convince me that you believe the South will rise again or any of that BS!

Soy Bring on the Bucks

(Written on vacation)

So while in New Hampshire I've seen 4 Starbucks including the 1 in the airport. As I have already mentioned this state is ran by Dunkin Donuts! Every small town has a gas station, pizza place and a Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks is nonexistent. So at the airport Paul wanted some water so I had an excuse to go to Starbucks. Hello they give out FREE filtered water people! So I decided to get a Grande Iced Coffee with soy. They didn't have sweet and low! I felt like that guy trapped in the room of cookies without milk in that milk commercial. Oh wait I jacked some from Dunkin Donuts and it's in my purse. Crisis adverted. (Yeah the sweet and low that leaked and caused airport security to freak out because of "white powder" in my purse and where's Paul oh yeah he kept walking while my bag is being hoisted in the air and a man is yelling WHO'S BAG IS THIS?!? Thank god it was Chanel and I could be happy to claim my pretty bag. It would have been worse if I had to publicly claim an ugly bag...hello Shia loves her purses anywho I digress) So back to my drink. Not only did they not have sweet and low homegirl behind the counter apparently thought that WWII is still going on and wanted to ration the amount of soy she was going to give me for my 65 cents up charge. Seriously folks she had like a sip of soy in the cup and said "this okay?" HELL NO! It's not okay, I want like three times that much. So joke is on her folks I busted out my "registered" Starbucks gift card and didn't have to pay 1 cent more for that soy ration! Muah ha ha ha HA!

Seriously though, I feel like Starbucks takes advantage of us lactose intolerant people. I mean face it folks Starbucks costs a pretty penny no matter what you get and on top of that you have to pay more for soy. They offer skim, whole and half & half for free! Maybe cut out that expensive splenda and start passing out the cheap sweet and low and give us lactose intolerant folks a break!

No wonder Dunkin Donuts has the lockdown on NH. NH says FU Starbucks and your soy rationing selves! (Okay I was angry...I hadn't had Starbucks for like a week and a half and this is the treatment I get!)

So listen up fellow lactosies (homies that are lactose intolerant) get yourself a Starbucks gift card...register it at www.starbucks.com and keep adding money to it which is SUPER easy online I mean even Taller could do it...wait I had to manage her cards never mind it is EASY I promise. You get soy for free. Free refills on Iced Tea, Iced Coffee and Brewed Coffee and free pumps (okay that sounds dirty but you know like flavors...hazelnut, etc.) If everyone that got soy would do this we would essentially be sticking it to the man! Heck yeah!

Diet Coke / Coke Zero

These pictures are HUGE but I guess it's good way to represent the fact that I feel like these two things are monsters in my life! I am 10 days Coke Zero and Diet Coke free! Last week was rough! The first day I had a major headache but now I'm happy sipping on my water and green tea! Well remember Shia's Healthy New Lifestyle...it's back and this was my first vice to beat! One vice down...

Sex and the City Boo

Boo?!? Did I just boo Sex and the City? Yes...yes I did! So like every college girl I was hopelessly devoted to this tv show to the point that I own every season (and the first movie which was also a big BOOOO). Back then I didn't have cable let alone HBO so I had to ignore all talk and press about each season impatiently waiting for the season to come out on DVD. Let's face it folks there was a point when this show was on VHS. When DVD finally took over it was bang for your buck because more episodes fit on the DVD than the VHS...so less $$ in rental fees! Yes I have been jew my whole life and yes I am old!

I of course believed back then that I was Carrie. Even back then I watched her type on her computer and longed for that life being in NYC and writing for a column about randomness...(let's face it her column wasn't really about sex)! Hello I'm a pro at randomness!

So when I visited NYC after college graduation I bought a post card of a billboard advertising Sex and the City...hello it was a post card of a billboard! The entire time I was in NYC my travel mates scolded me and threatened me with my life if I didn't stop mentioning how EVERYTHING was just like Sex in the City oh yeah and that everything smelled like pee!

There was a point when I would watch the seasons OVER and OVER! Hello I didn't have cable. I have like EVERY episode memorized. I even had the Sex and the City board game and found mistakes in the answers! Yes I was truly obsessed.

So the first movie came out and I was disappointed. Sure it was a little closure but...eh! I started to just think...maybe I have just grown out of that whole fad. I mean I'm not a single girl about town anymore with crazy dating stories, etc. I'm not pining over that guy I idealized as Mr. Big anymore. I've grown up. So I let it slide. I mean I bought the movie because hello I had to. Just wouldn't be right not to. LOL

The new movie seemed promising. In the beginning, I thought I could hold out and wait for it to come out on DVD. However, with the three day weekend I decided to go and bite the bullet and see it. There were highs and LOWS!

The characters have definitely grown in a way. They have their "grown-up" lives. I just felt there was a lot of trying to be the younger girls in the movie.

Samantha - OVER THE TOP! Of course that is her character in a nutshell but Samantha in the Middle East...please that is definitely a disaster in the making! When are you going to stop? I mean yes yes we know you don't want to get married but does that mean you're a ho bag until the end of time?

Charlotte - Still in la la land. I mean come on she is Martha Stewart on crack. She was wearing vintage while making cupcakes and next to a 3 year old finger painting with red paint...COME ON! When is her life going to meet reality? There is a hint that her life was going to have a little shake of drama...but nothing...NOTHING! There was a whole lead up and then NADA! Maybe less Middle East more storyline....remember us the audience...we want story!

Miranda - Powerhouse attorney. She struggles with work and life....hello that's the same as it always has been. But let's just sum in up licky split without any real drama or issue.

Carrie - Mr. Big issues. Really? MORE? Didn't this series teach us all that crappy guys never change? They'll just keep kicking you when you're down? Didn't we all live and learn through seeing Carrie and Mr. Big? Apparently Carrie has become that Urban Legend that she spoke about in episodes. You know that girl that is in love with the guy that won't commit then he proposes

Middle East trip - Was this supposed to make Americans jump on planes and take off to the surface of the sun...also known as the Middle East? Was it a lesson in how fashion makes the US and the Middle East kindred spirits? I just didn't see the point. Maybe less of this trip and more script. They had all these things going on but they just went to the Middle East and came back and it was all fixed. ?!? Really?

Big gay wedding - I think this was the moment when I thought rut row I'm in for some disappointment and I think that was like 5 - 10 mins in.

But with all that said...didn't they all realize it was time to "grow up" okay minus Samantha. So that part of the movie I could definitely respect but again a little more of actually showing the characters growing might have been helpful.

Is there going to be a Sex and the City 3? Let's hope not! I think for the sake of the characters there shouldn't be, but they know everyone will continue to shell out money to see it so there probably will be a part three.

However, if the next one really starts to focus on how their lives have changed then it might be worth all the pain of the first two. Maybe they really needed to get past all of this to finally have an ending but then again....apparently just because my life has moved on doesn't mean I should expect these characters to do the same.

Next Vacation?

So we're looking into taking the plunge and traveling out west! We're wanting to visit Spokane which is all the way on the east of the huge state and other places like Seattle, Tacoma, Portland etc all the way on the east coast. Flight and road trip? Two flights? Sigh...this is what I have Paul for. =) He'll have it figured out in no time!