being content.

Sometimes I struggle with being content. I have a hard time not pushing myself to the limit and wanting more. I think that it is totally healthy to do that, but I have found that sometimes it causes me to not be satisfied with the "here and now". I always want that dream job, picture perfect home, wardrobe that is to die for. Then I remember... those aren't the things that really matter. Although they are nice to have, they aren't the things that make life worth living.

The things that should truly define happiness are the co-worker who compliments you on a rough day, the mess in the kitchen from entertaining friends and last years clothes that still fit. Finding my "happy place" is something I have challenged myself with lately. Finding the little things that make me happy. I am learning to be content.

This is what I have discovered, in order to appreciate the finer things in life, you must learn to embrace the phases that bring you to them. The tiny apartment that has no matching furniture will help you appreciate the beautiful home with a picket fence. The days of being single will pay off when you see your groom waiting at the end of the aisle. The "not so dreamy" job will lead you to where you are meant to be.

So raise your coffee cups and toast with me to health, wealth and happiness :)

Thoughts on a stormy Friday afternoon...

I wish I was outside playing in the rain.

Why did Justin Timberlake say he likes the smell of body odor.

I am sick of every piece of clothing in my closet...sigh.

I wonder if some relationships/friendships are worth the effort? If so, how do you determine that?

I think that my neighbor "D" is now a friend. She took me into her home when I was locked out this week. We talked while she smoked and drank henessey.

I wish I was more like Jesus.

I want to laugh from deep down inside every single day.

Have a beautiful weekend y'all. Much love and marshmellows.

empty words

I have a new pet peeve. People who make promises and never follow through. Whether it is a dumb boy who promises to change and doesn't or someone who no shows for an event that they rsvp'd to.

Here's a thought:
If you never make a promise, then there ARE NO EXPECTATIONS..... the end.

If you have no intentions of changing, then don't make claims that you are changed. If you don't want to attend something, don't lie to make others feel better and then end up bailing last minute. I would rather hang out with a brick wall then someone whose words are empty.

Sorry to get on a soap box. Lately I have dealt way too much with people who do this. Whew. Now that we have that out of the way. Do you want to know how I really feel about it......?

My take

My take on The Bachelorette [since you asked]

• Ali kept it classy the entire season. Props to her for that. She stayed true to herself, was honest and took chances.
• I was not a fan of Chris L. throughout the season, but the past 3 weeks he has won me over. What an incredible man. He will have no problem finding love after the season finale.
• The stingray scene..... so planned. You DO NOT swim with those things. Don't they remember the crocodile hunter? geez. Although, he was killed by a manaray .... none the less it had a stinger.
• Roberto is possibly the sexiest man alive. Those dimples... sigh. The way he looks at Ali like he simply adores her, it melts my heart.
• Ali needs to step outside her boundaries and start wearing a color other than yellow. By the end of the season I was so sick of seeing her in yellow.
• Love at first sight exists. Roberto is proof.
• I couldn't be more pleased with this season. Thank you ABC for a good Bachelorette.

my newest obsession

I went to lunch with a girlfriend yesterday at a cute little hole in the wall restaurant in downtown Montgomery. The place is called Mama's and they literally have sack lunches in brown paper bags like your Mama would make. I ordered the cracker roll with mixed fruit and pasta salad (not off the sack lunch menu). If you haven't been I highly recommend it!

While I was in line I spotted a drink behind the counter called Dience. It is an all natural energy drink with no caffeine, no sugar, no carbs, etc. It is also an appetite suppresant (which I found out post drinking). The drink is made right here in the wonderful city of "the Gump". It is delish. Check it out. I have already ordered my case from here. If it sounds too good to be true.... it's because it is. My life has changed because of this drink. I'm pretty much obsessed.

all the single ladies

I'm behind the bride tossing the bouquet at every wedding. I am not ashamed to be the third wheel. I have no problem vegging out on my couch watching chick flicks alone on Friday night. I would like to think that I embrace the joy of having no commitment. I don't have a dog to let out. I don't have a husband to cook for. I don't have a child to pick up. I have me. That.is.it.

It really is a beautiful thing. Sometimes I think to myself "self, take this all in because one day you are going to wish you had it". I smile. I soak it all up. There is something about being single that most girls cannot appreciate. That is independence. Freedom and the oppurtunity do whatever you want.

I have found here recently that dating is a tricky thing. I have never been really good at it. One thing I have found is this: dating in college and dating as a "young professional" are two different ball games. In college you go to a movie with a group of friends, you flirt at a social gathering, you eat at a table together during lunch and things somehow fall into place. How do you meet someone as a "young professional"? A few options: a bar, church, through a friend, the internet or work. There ya go. I said it. Boom.

So prepare yourself for the posts to come. Because I am now dating. So who knows what in the world is going to happen. Wish me luck it is "exclusive".

angry

When I think about BP I find myself getting angry. When I drive past a BP I have the urge to pull in and say ugly things to those pumping gas at their stations. I watch the news and it makes my stomach hurt. Now, oil has been spotted of the shore of my Panama City, only 9 miles offshore.

If you think that this oil is short term, think again. Guess what? The sea turtles, dolphin, sharks, redfish and all of God's creatures out in the water are suffering. The oil in the watter is affecting the oxygen levels, causing sharks to come close to shore. I am scared to death that some of our most precious wildlife creatures will be extinct in the next couple of years.

This is just the beginning of total devastation to the gulf coast, the place I call home. The booms are up and tar balls have been are floating.

So thank you BP...... for looking out for the "little people" on the coast. Preciate it.

[I will now get off of my soap box]

use your imagination

Sometimes my thoughts wander off. Partially due to the fact that I am A.D.D. and the other half is because of my wild imagination. I am an only child. Part of growing up as an only kiddo is that you learn to entertain yourself. In the summers there is no sibling to play with. On family vacation you are the third wheel. At the dinner table there is nobody to fuss with. So, a result of all of this is a vivid imagination.

Growing up I would imagine myself as a princess who would have lavish tea parties. I would lay in the bathtub and swoosh my hair around and pretend to be Ariel from "The Little Mermaid".

Not much has changed these days I have found. Sitting at a wedding Saturday my imagination got carried away and I imagined myself walking down the aisle. Sunday at the pool I watched a mother splash around with her children in the water. I imagined that being me one day.

It's funny how as we get older our imagination grows with us. I bet some women imagine themselves in a motorhome with their old wrinkly husband because they long for retirement. Or some imagine sitting in the crowd watching their child walk the stage.

I have learned to let my imagination run wild. It makes life more interesting. No matter how old I get I will always be dreaming of my lavish tea party and maybe even a prince charming too.

songs that speak

I love music. I love it in every shape form and fashion. Country, classic rock, acapella, rap, indie, jazz, r&b....I love it all. I can appreciate the talent and creativity in all music. There are some songs that reach out and speak to me though.

I'm sure you have songs in your life that do the same. Maybe it's a hymn you sang growing up or the song that you danced to for the first time at your wedding.

I grew up in a part of Panama City called Bayou George. It was out in the country. We played hide and go seek after dark in the woods. We rode Four-wheelers in the mud. There were a lot of kids my age in the neighborhood so there was always something to do. Our Summers were spent wandering the roads of our neighborhood.

My parents built our house on 7130 Everest St when I was about to start kindergarten. It was a 3 bedroom 2 bath brick home with a pool in the backyard. I transferred elementary schools and moved into a neighborhood with kids I had never met. I made best friends that are still by my side to this very day.

Our house was a place of middle school "dances" in our garage, slumber parties, end of the year bashes, volleyball games, 4th of July pool parties and so much more. I had my first kiss in that house. Many a chase down the hall by my mother with a paddle. My dog is buried in the backyard. My hand prints are on the back porch. The mail box is bent over from me hitting it with my go-cart.

When I was a junior in high school my parents began building my mother's dream home on the water in Panama City. She has a folder of all her ideas for the house. They designed the house and construction began. I was mad. It was about to be my senior year and they were making me move into a new house that was not home.

I missed the comfort of the country. I missed driving through the neighborhood and stopping to see friends. I missed the smell of our old house. I missed MY house.

Miranda Lambert, a country artist, has a new song called "the house that built me". This is one of those songs that speaks to me. I'm sure that she watched me grow up and wrote that song about me. Go here and listen to it.

That house out in Bayou George really did build me. I still go out of the way to drive by it when I go home. I park a little way down the road and look at it. I feel like there are strangers in my house. I learned about life in that little brick home on Everest Street. And if you were wondering, I shed a tear writing this post.

my mouth

My mouth gets me into so much trouble. Growing up I remember always getting in trouble for talking in class. The teacher would call my house and report to my parents... "Brooke is doing exceptionally well in class, she just talks too much".

I am proud to say that I was nominated class clown out of a senior class of over 500. Yep, yours truly. I blame it on the fact that my mouth seems to have a mind of it's own. I can't help but make a joke or slip in a "that's what she said". I was the student that teachers either loved or despised.

It's like my brain says, "Don't say that out loud" and my mouth blurts it out. My brain and mouth have a love/hate relationship. Sometimes my mouth can lighten a situation or help me make friends. And others.....well it can be embarrassing and even hurtful.

I think I get it honest. All of the women in my family have AWLAYS spoken their minds. You never have to wonder what they are thinking.... they are SURE to let you know. They marry easy going men who love them and their big fat mouths. I can only hope to do the same.

I wish I was better at listening. That is a goal of mine. To listen better and not let my mouth get carried away.

happy thoughts on

....This dreary Monday mornin'....

*Kristi Wolford: one girl who can make me laugh my hardest.

*Baseball: the weather was perfct at the Biscuits game Friday night.

*Dancing: I tore up the dance floor at a wedding saturday night. It really is good for the soul. Don't judge.

*The pool: nuff said.

*Fresh flowers in my apartment: flowers always make me smile

*New friends and old friends

*Dumb and Dumber

I am having to think happy thoughts today because I really didn't want to get up and come to work. I hope you have happy thoughts today too :)

words

It has been said "words don't defy a person, actions do". True. Words can do a lot of damage though. Written or spoken, words can forever change a relationship, "friendship" or situaition. Once words are used, they can never be taken back. Words can edify or tear down. So, be careful which words you choose to use towards others because once you have said something, you can never take it back. Jus' sayin. So watch yo mouth ya hear?

issues.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge HIM, and HE will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 3:5-6

I have trust issues. I don't trust others, I don't trust myself and I will admit to you, a lot of times I struggle with trusting God. I have this need to know and understand why everything happens. I was the little girl that consistently asked "why?" .... nothing has changed. I think it is partially human nature and partially from being burned so many times.

Sometimes though, you just have to let go of understanding. You have to learn not to lean on it. Because part of God's awesomeness is that when you stop leaning on your own understanding He can reveal His promises and blessings to you in ways you have never dreamed of.

funnies as of late

My roommate thought the ipad was a phone and asked last night if you could get service through at&t.

Pamela Anderson on DTWS. Have you ever watched her in the background when Brooke interviews the dancers? You should, quality entertainment.

The random old men sitting in front of us at the biscuits game. One of which drank a daquiri, oh so masculine. We coined him "Margaritaville" and continued to call him that the entire game. He said I stole his quarter, what of it if I did?!?!

My roommates mother and her bf walking in on me laying on the couch, eating chocolate and listnening to "chamagne supernova" at 5:30 Friday afternoon. They are concerned that I am depressed. I assured them that I am just strange.

My Meme telling Faulkner employees/students that she broke her foot because she fell off a table dancing at "Boomerangs" (the local nightclub).

Ricky Martin coming out of the closet and folks acting surprised.

Dear Montgomery

I don't care what anyone says, I still love you. Despite the fact that there were multiple shootings overnight, one in which a baby was shot, you are my love. Your baseball games make me giggle and your downtown lofts make my heart go pitter patter. I loved sitting in the sunshine on your grass Sunday afternoon while listening to live music. I enjoy your history. You are the Capitol of this beloved Sweet Home Alabama, which makes you legit. I am amazed by your beautiful homes. Although, there are some parts of you I despise, that is to be expected. Please watch out for me and keep me safe in my little flat. Sometimes your people are scary. Thank you for taking me in under your wing. I have enjoyed you thus far.

Warm regards,
Brookers :)

stepping on toes

Have you ever gotten your toes stepped on? Maybe it was by your preacher(like me), friend, family member, co-worker or even a random person. I wonder why it is that God knows when to step on our toes when we need it most.

Sunday at church our preacher spoke about friendship. I struggle with tunnel vision. Maybe I am the only one, but even so, I admit to it. Sometimes I get so caught up in the every day occurences in my life, I forget to be the friend I should be.

We studied Ecclesiastes 4. My toes were sore by the end of the lesson.

Eccl 4:9-12
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:

If one falls down, his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

It is my prayer that I am a friend of Ecclesiastes 4. I sure am thankful for the friends who have helped me up, kept me warm and helped me defend myself.

discovering

"Joy must be discovered in the going, as we never really arrive, not even in a lifetime"

Unknown

I am sure you have heard of those people who spend their entire life waiting for everything to fall together perfectly. You know the kind. "When I graduate college and get a job, I will be happy" or "When I get married, I'll be happy then"and "When we have a baby, I KNOW I will be happy". I believe we are all guilty to some degree of this mindset. I know I am.

Here is what I am beginning to learn. Life is never going to be picture perfect. The job gets old. The marriage gets rocky. The baby cries through endless nights. So here's the deal - find the joy in each stage. Find the positives in being a single young professional. Learn and grow from the valleys and mountain tops of marriage. Remember when the baby is crawling around destroying your house, that one day you will wish that they were little again. The joy is found in the journey, not the destination. I get way too caught up in the destination sometimes and totally miss out on enjoying the journey.

My goal is to start soaking up the moments. The little moments and the big moments. The moments that I dread and the moments I dream about. I am going to enjoy this ride, I challenge you to do the same.