Category Archives: love

Warning: Mushy-gushy, Lovey-dovey, Hubby-wubby stuff.

Posted on by Christina Does It All
24

I usually try my best to keep from writing about the mushy-gushy, lovey-dovey, hubby-wubby stuff. For the most part, I like to focus on my adventures, friends, experiences and the rest of life in general. After all, those are huge parts of my world and there is only so much you can say about a wonderful relationship before making everyone around you want to puke. Thus, even in my day-to-day life I really don’t talk about my husband with others too much. When friends make comments on how cute we are or how great we are together, I probably tend to quickly agree, maybe blush a little and then change the subject. There’s no need to ramble on and on about what most already know: Robby is–without a doubt–a lovable, amazing person and an incredible husband. (He kind of has to be to put up with me. It’s a prerequisite.)

That being said, every once in a while I really do just have to gush, if only just a little. Because he is wonderful, and I very rarely give him enough credit for that. I forget that this world is made up of billions of douche-bags, and that I did not get one of them. Not even close. I got Robby. Robby, who is patient and understanding and calm when I’m frantic. Who allows me to over-analyze everything out loud and doesn’t mind that I’m insane. Who loves educating me on the simple things in life, such as Star Wars and Back to the Future marathons and cheap Mexican food. Who simply chuckles and looks at me with love-filled eyes when I dance obnoxiously or pronounce a word wrong. Who gets up to bring me water when he’s already laying down in bed, just because I don’t feel like going to get it myself. Who will be an amazing daddy one day, and who loves to annoy me every month by saying, “Yay! We’re pregnant!”, even when we both know that we’re definitely not. Who loves my friends, who love him right back. Who is always on my side and never fails to put me first. Who allows me to drag him to things he doesn’t really want to go to, and has a good attitude about it just the same. Who gets excited everytime he sees a deer. Who is always happy and rarely not smiling. Who is selfless and faithful and oh-so-handsome and the best listener I know. Who constantly is able to surprise me, in a good way. The other day he made homemade butterscotch cookies. They tasted like those Great American Cookies you can buy at the mall. Among everything else, the dude can bake. Apparently he learned from home-ec in high-school. Just when I think he can’t get any better, or that our relationship is at it’s best, he proves me wrong. He always gets better. And we always get better together.

To top it all off and for reasons that sometimes surpass my understanding (I mean, the guy knows everything about me…), he seems to think I’m pretty great too. The other day I received a typed love note that was just too sweet not to share. I did make sure I had husband’s permission before I showed y’all though. As it is a little sappy, I was relieved that it only took asking him, “Pleaseeeee?” a few times.

“Dear Christina,

A few of the many reasons I love you.

You have dinner ready for me after work.

You do Christmas shopping for my family on the most hectic day.

You do all those things around the house. Clean laundry and much more.

You keep me from being a total hermit.

You love our dogs as much as I do.

You go out and help make money for us.

You are a very determined person and an achiever.

You’re my light in the darkness.

There could never be words strong enough to express how much I love you. You’re my everything. I love you so much,baby.”

If it’s not clear yet, we maybe like each other a little bit.

As a side note, husband really isn’t much of a writer. He actually kind of hates it. So the fact that he typed this up was a heart-melter all in itself, though I couldn’t help but giggle about the “light in the darkness” bit. I was also pretty proud of him for how great his grammar was. I didn’t have to make any punctuation or spelling changes when typing it up, and only had to capitalize a few things. Props to him! (And me, for the English lessons I’ve given him over the years. Hee.)

Frienbs?

Posted on by Christina Does It All
30

Lookit all my  goodies, y’all. An adorable little bracelet from the four year old dude I nanny. A nice bottle of sparkling moscato from his parents. Lotion, cookies (that melt in my mouth, I must add)  and a Target gift-card from my lovely Katie. Leftover cupcakes from Sunday’s festivities. 18 white roses from my hubby dude. And all this before it was even Christmas week! I think I might be kinda spoiled. Not just by presents but also by the presence of so many wonderful peeps I have around me. Since my Christmas break started, I’ve been able to bask in all of the happiness and joy my loved ones and other people in general bring to my life. To further explain,  here’s an outline of my past few days:

Thursday night:

I was studying for my last final when I got a text from my best girlfriend asking if she could come over for a bit. Well,duh. We tested out her mom’s Christmas gift, watched a marathon of The Biggest Loser and she asked me how to make meatballs.  I don’t think I’ve ever taught anyone how to cook anything before, so the fact that she trusted me even on one of the easiest of recipes is still quite a big deal. We also decided we should have weekly get together’s involving marathons of The Biggest Loser. It felt pretty perfect doing absolutely nothing with my best friend.

Friday afternoon:

I went to my friend Emily’s, and she had homemade baked macaroni and cheese waiting for me. (See? Spoiled.) She also let me delve into her scrap booking supplies, and we were both tickled at how horrible I was at being crafty. Below, you can probably see where some of our giggle fits came from:

If you’re still confused by my air-headed ways, I was attempting to spell “friends.” The stamps confused me, so it came out, “Frienbs.”

Friday evening:

Husband brought home my beautiful roses and we had a date night at the most delicious hole-in-the-wall restaurant. I’m usually not a fan of Mexican food, but Jardin Corona is on par with Italian and sushi for me. This is a big deal.

Friday night:

Tessa and I decided last minute to go to my friend Becca’s Christmas party.  I’m so glad we did. The whole night,or what I recall of it, was a blast. Highlights:

  • Being lost in the parking lot for 30 minutes with Tessa. We were cold and jogging around awkwardly and climbing on gates and cracking up laughing and, as always, having a blast together.
  • Becca, who was tipsy when we  arrived, introducing me to everyone as, “This is Christina. She’s lost 30 pounds.” Later on in the night, Becca and a friend of hers were talking about another girl who got jealous easily. Becca responded with something along the lines of, “That’s stupid.  I go places with Christina and she knows everyone, and that doesn’t make me mad.” Ha. Despite our many happy hours, I rarely see this girl intoxicated. It was fun.
  • Some random dude hitting on me by telling me I was too young to be married and that I should instead be with him. When I rejected him, he told me I could inform my husband that he had a good girl. Basically he was telling me that anyone who had the will-power to reject him was obviously a keeper. I found this more amusing than annoying. Douche bags are entertaining.
  • Cynthia, who I’ve met once before, telling me I looked like I weighed 100 pounds. I do not weigh 100 pounds. But I still thoroughly enjoyed the compliment.
  • Meeting new,exciting, fun people who made me laugh hysterically all night.
  • Being surrounded by a couple of the ladies who I love the most in this world.

 Saturday night:

This past summer, I went out on a whim and posted an ad on craiglist looking for a nannying job. The family I found turned out to be so much more amazing than I ever hoped for, and they’ve turned into much more than just a summer nanny job. They feel more like family to me now. I’m visiting them this week and the plan is to nanny for them again this summer. (Because I have another permanent job right now, I’m going to speak to both mommies and attempt to combine the two. Five kids+One me= Taking on a new adventure?) In the meantime, Gwen and her family have definitely helped open doors for convenient, heart-warming and fun part-time jobs. I was hired for my current job because of Gwen talking me up on the phone for over half an hour. Saturday night, I babysat for a 6 month old little dude who is the son of one of Gwen’s friends. This is the same night that both ladies were at a work Christmas party. When I got home from babysitting, I was tickled to have received these new comments on facebook:

The frequent babysitter card deal actually isn’t such a bad idea….

Sunday night:

Shannon hosted a small tacky-Christmas sweater party at my house. A few friends and family members came over and enjoyed a game of perverted Apples to Apples, alcoholic eggnog, ugly clothes and lots of laughs and holiday cheerfulness. As excited as I am for the new year and all of the opportunities and adventures I already see in store, I am definitely soaking up the rest of an already amazing 2011. This partly means enjoying the heck out of all of this/these happiness, food, festivities, excitement, adventures, fun and frienbs. Er….I mean friends.

The Best Kinds of Study Breaks

Posted on by Christina Does It All
16

My weekend revolved mostly around studying. And papers. And projects. And more studying. Luckily, I was able to work some refreshing and wonderful breaks into the mix, involving people I love, food, fun, and Christmas festivities. Thanks to these things, I’m feeling rejuvenated and ready for the madness now. Bring the next two weeks on. I got this.

My study breaks:

Friday:

Husband and I were startled by an obnoxiously loud knock on the door Friday around 10:30 pm. Who obnoxiously bangs on doors past 10pm without at least making plans to do so first? Rude! I should have figured then that it would be some dude in my life. (The last time this happened it was my best guy friend, surprising me by coming over to apologize for something around midnight. The boys in my world seem to like making unnecessarily big gestures.) Husband looks through the peep hole (I instructed him to do so, just in case a serial killer was on the run or something.) and I think we were both equally taken aback when he announced, “It’s your brother.”  My reaction was an honestly and completely surprised, “Really?!?!”  Brother and I hadn’t been speaking for about a month. Well, he hadn’t been speaking to me. To make a really long story super short, we were both put in the middle of some familial issues when we shouldn’t have been. It just put us in a bad place. I had been bugging him for a while to just talk to me, but eventually gave up and let him be. I figured he would come around when he was ready. This is another characteristic of the most important boys in my world. Still. I missed him. He’s one of my best friends, and I think I almost cried seeing that silly kid show up with that dumb grin on his face. We gave each other a big hug before he left, and I felt a little broken piece of me mend back together again. Siblings may drive you crazy and forgiveness may be hard, but they are more than worth the insanity and the pride you sometimes have to swallow.

Saturday:

Saturday night, husband, my lovely friend Katie and myself headed to our friend Deesh’s place. Other buddies were already there to greet us when we arrived. There was also moonshine and homemade beer waiting. Deesh got drunk for the first time in all of the years that I’ve known him. I believe we got home that night after 5 in the morning. What I’m saying is, it was exactly the good time I was needing after a full day of studying. Pictures do this night more justice than I can with words.

The next morning: 

Sunday:

This cold weather is making it really feel like the holiday season. Drowning in homework or not, this puts me in a super cheerful mood. Husband and I purchased a Christmas tree, which we plan on decorating tonight. (My study break for Monday! Hot chocolate will be included.) Later, I began my baking and cooking projects for the day. I’ve recently come to love cooking. I find it therapeutic and fun to create something and then eat it. This was bound to happen someday, as my whole immediate family loves to either cook or bake. I just thought maybe the gene skipped me.Thankfully, it didn’t. I’ve actually gotten pretty good at this whole making food thing lately. Almost all of what I make is edible now. Sunday may have been my most scrumptiously edible cooking day yet. After browsing the web for recipes, I decided on Honey and Pecan glazed pork-chops for dinner and Nutella Cheesecake for dessert. Before yesterday, I had never ever tried Nutella. I always thought sticky chocolate found in the peanut butter aisle would be rather gross. I don’t know if I’ve ever been more wrong about anything in my entire life. I wanted to eat the whole thing straight out of the can. But I managed to leave enough to make the cheesecake. Oh my goodness. SEX cheesecake. This should be the name. And the honey-pecan glazed pork-chops? Orgasmic pork. I’ve never made two recipes that tasted so decadently wonderful or that I was so proud of. And they were surprisingly easy to make! Also, husband loved them both. I don’t know why I ever hated cooking.

After dinner, husband and I were getting warm and cozy on the couch while watching a little tv.  I decided to play one of my little games with him. This one is self-entitled the, “Would-you-rather-do-this-or-leave-me-if-you-had-to-pick-game.” It’s fun. I ask him something completely outlandish, strange or ridiculous that he would absolutely never want to do, and then end my scenario with something like, “So would you rather do that or leave me and not have to do it…. if you had to pick no matter what?” Last night I gave him an especially crazy scene. He thought for only a second and then replied matter-of-factly with, “Yeah. I’d do it.” I was shocked. “Really?! But…that’s crazy!” He replied with, “Baby, you should know by now that there’s not much I wouldn’t do for you.”  This is something I know. He usually shows me with actions more than he does with words, so hearing it out loud still stunned me a little bit. Because it’s so true. He’s just so different. It’s not some gimmick he uses to get laid, or meaningless words used out of the giddiness of a new relationship, or something used to impress anyone else. This is just Robby. It’s who he is. It’s how he loves. It’s how much he loves me. I take this for granted. Having this man who loves me so completely that he would honestly cross the world and back just to see me happy. Hearing it out loud reminded me not to take something so rare and special for granted. To appreciate it, and him, with my whole heart. And I do. Goodness gracious I am a lucky, happy girl.

My study breaks are the best. They leave me feeling loved, blessed, content and ready to kick ass on these upcoming finals.

No Shame November- Baby Steps.

Posted on by Christina Does It All
15

My best friend posted the above on my facebook wall a few weeks ago. She is a great best friend and is always subtly pushing me to truly express myself, as she knows how hard this is for me to do. I immediately started working on this project, as I knew it would be a pretty difficult one for me to accomplish. Now it’s the last day of November and I’m still not finished. I had a whole heartfelt, emotional blog written only to realize I’m not that ready yet. Guys, I suck at being open and honest about my emotions. When it comes to taking chances and being brave, I can do just about anything–As long as it doesn’t involve letting people know what’s going on in the deepest parts of my heart and junk. That’s scary shit. So I scratched the first idea and am now giving you bullet points of things I normally don’t admit to people. Baby steps.

  • I know why I’m like this. I was taught through actions (and sometimes words) growing up that my feeling or showing emotions was (and still is) wrong, or stupid or bad or shameful. I’m slowly starting to realize that this is a load of crap. I like feeling things. And once I learn how, I’ll probably like expressing them too.
  • I use ridiculous amounts of defense mechanisms.
  • My feet sometimes get really gross and stinky.
  • I often have an unhealthy amount of determination/motivation. I’ve learned the hard way that always getting what you want is not always the best thing for you.
  • Karma scares me. I didn’t exactly make the best or most selfless choices as a teenager, and I often freak myself out wondering if, when, or how those things will come back to haunt me/bite me in the ass.
  • In the past year or so, I have started to vocally forgive and apologize way too easily. I often take on guilt for things that I shouldn’t. I’m beginning to realize that this guilty personality has actually served in protecting me from experiencing any other kind of uncomfortable emotion. If I’m always blaming myself, I’ll never have to admit that anyone else has ever hurt me. 
  • I have a good amount of stored up pain from the past that has never really been acknowledged. For the most part, it’s actually been completely dismissed. I’ve ignored it up until this point, and now that it’s surfacing, I realize that I’m pretty hurt. I’m hurt and I’m frustrated because I’ve been told my my pain doesn’t really matter. And it does. It does matter, and damnit, it is worth acknowledging. I’m allowing myself to feel a healthy amount of anger and sadness for the first time in a long time, and that actually feels really great.
  • The other night I was startled awake, and I somehow convinced myself that one of my best girl friends had died. (Tessa, I’m so glad you’re alive….) I think it might have been residue fear from a nightmare. I may have almost had a panic attack. I don’t like admitting that I’m dependent on anyone, but I would have such a hard time functioning without my amazing support system.
  • I’m learning now that momentarily removing myself from someone’s life doesn’t mean that I’m being heartless or cold. Occasionally, when someone is so far gone, walking away is the only way change will ever come. Sometimes it’s the only way to love them.
  •  On occasion, I would just like to shake certain people/loved ones and tell them that there are much better things to do than being mad and stubborn and holding grudges all of the time. Like being happy and forgiving and living life without the burden of resentments.
  • I cried in my Intro to Counseling class a couple of weeks ago. I rarely even cry in front of my closest friends, and I cried in front of my entire class. A marriage counselor came into speak, and he touched on a lot of subjects I personally dealt with growing up. When I started to ask him a question, I broke down mid-sentence.  It felt embarrassing and humbling and terrifying and freeing and exhilarating. It showed me that I am truly and finally making progress in becoming more honest with myself and with others.
  • It’s still baby steps, but it is something.

Seeing the Special.

Posted on by Christina Does It All
14

I am constantly reminded lately that family is so much more than what you’re born into. It’s more than often those you find, or who find you, along the way. It’s acceptance despite the disagreements. It’s laughter and arguments and hugs and fights and a whole lot of unconditional love. It’s connections that, sometimes, run just as deep or deeper than blood relations do. It’s those who are there. I feel like such a lucky girl to have acquired so much of this sort of family into my life.

Ahem:

More on Family and Thanksgiving Weekend:

The above picture was taken by Robby’s niece. She’s two. Impressive,eh?

Husband and I spent Thanksgiving with his family in Port Neches, Texas. This is about a 5 hour drive from Austin, and with two dogs in the car it makes for quite a road-trip.

Seeing my second family and eating the food that was prepared was quite worth it though.

My daddy-in-law and I got into our first ever political debate. We were sitting outside on the porch. Robby had to walk away. Husband is much like his mom, usually neutral and calm. I’m much more like his dad, argumentative and stubborn. I thought we were having a pretty friendly debate though. Mr. Boudreaux is extremely conservative. I’m pretty moderate. I was simply trying to clear up some stereotypes he seemed to have, and he seemed to simply want to wring my neck. He eventually walked away from me, obviously irked. I was scared. I had never seen my dad-in-law so upset, especially not at me. He loves me. I went back inside, feeling bashful, and eventually made my way to the dessert table. Mr. Boudreaux eventually made his way back inside too, and found me eating some pie. He looked at me eating my pie momentarily,and with an almost straight face announced:

“That’s what liberals eat.”

I attempted not to die laughing.

Um. I kind of got sick Thanksgiving night. Robby’s family paces themselves and drinks for 8 hour periods at a time. I don’t know how to pace myself nor can I drink for 8 hour periods at a time. I also kind of forgot that I’ve lost a significant amount of weight and my body can’t handle liquor like it used to be able to. Once 10:30 pm rolled around, I was throwing up in my in-laws toilet. I’m so glad that I’m past the proving myself stage.

My mom-in-law, sister-in-law and I all went Black Friday shopping. We had a lovely time bonding and shopping, and I came back with 100 dollar Reebok running shoes for only 35 dollars. Though I actually didn’t even spend that. Robby’s mom spoils me a bunch and bought them for me.

Robby’s niece and nephew are freaking adorable and I adore them. It’s also a nice reminder that husband and I are going to make some cute ass babies one day.

Saturday night, hubby and I were back in our house and I was ready to see some more family of the non-related kind. Five of my closest buddies came over, bringing liquor and love along with them. The great thing about my friend’s liquor and their love? They both seem to stick around long after they’re gone. Priscilla left a whole bottle of wine (I’ve been instructed not to drink more than half,but I may or may not oblige.) Deesh left plenty of cotton candy vodka, and someone left some Shiner for the husband. I feel the liquor love.

Other favorite moments of the night: Unintentionally being color-coordinated with my best dude friend. Breaking a wine glass and Emily vacuuming it all up for me. Sometimes I call her Mommy Emily. Giggles with my girlies. Getting Deesh tipsy. (He rarely drinks and has never been drunk. Seeing him tipsy is always a  pleasure.) Looking around the room at faces that I love and who love me right back, and feeling overwhelmingly satisfied and happy.

Last night I made chicken parmesan and french onion soup and cuddled up on the couch with the husband to eat it. I’ve gotten much better at cooking lately. And the two of us seem to keep getting more awesome at this relationship stuff. We’re now going on four years of togetherness.  The first couple of years we were together, I kept wondering when things would start going downhill. I had been conditioned to believe that this was how all relationships worked.  It’s all I had ever really known. Surprisingly, it’s only gotten so much better. We’ve only gotten so much better. We’re annoyingly good together. There’s enormous amounts of mutual trust, respect, adoration and attraction. We’re friends just as much as we are lovers. We call each other sickening names such as “honey bear” and “cuddle bug.”  Husband, in husband-like fashion,mentioned a couple of nights ago, “Baby, We get to have sex forever.” And this, for us, is a good thing. I’m beginning to realize now that a relationship that gets consistently and disgustingly more good as the years go by is probably a really good sign. We’re not going to go downhill; We’ve made it up that damn hill and we’re going to stay there. Him and I, we’re in this thing for the long haul.

My family is the sort that comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes—Sometimes even with four legs and a tail. It’s all of the amazing wonders in my world who know and love and accept and cherish me as much as I do them. It’s those who make me the happiest. It’s those who do nice things when they really don’t have to. It’s those who adore me, not because they have any sort of obligation to, but just because they do.

To sum it up, My best friend commented on my blog the other day and said this:

“I’ve never met anyone quite like you and I wish I was the only one who could say that butttt I probably am not because you are that special in so many ways.”

I think family, wherever they may come from and whoever they might be, does just that. They look past the imperfections. They see the special in you. 

Celebrating Life and Stuff.

Posted on by Christina Does It All
11

A celebration is in order.

Because it’s officially my Thanksgiving break.

Because there’s two more weeks left until my much longer Christmas break.

Because I’ve almost finished a 7 page paper for Comm Tech and a 10 page paper for Intro to Counseling.


Because my university account has been on hold for the past few months, due to the fact that we were struggling to pay my college tuition this semester. Thanks to some amazing and giving people in my life and an extremely helpful front desk lady, the hold was taken off last night. I’m all registered for next semester. Huge sigh of relief and happiness goes here.

Because I’m taking Theatrical Performance next semester. I miss being theatrical.

Because I have a hot (and loving) husband.

Because I’m completely engrossed and fascinated with a non-fiction book right now. My mind is opening up to different genres!

Because I might be drinking a glass of wine at 2:30 pm on a Wednesday.

Because, in a couple of hours, hubby and I and our two mutts are heading out to Robby’s hometown of Port Neches, Texas. We’re attempting to miss the Houston traffic, so we won’t leave until around 6 or so. Perhaps giving me time to drink another glass of wine. Or two.

Because I’m lookin’ and feelin’ good.

Because, when I tell my friends that I simply miss them, I get a reply text message full of sweet compliments and perhaps slightly inappropriate inside jokes. See below.

Because I’m going to attempt to convince my mommy-in-law to go Black Friday shopping with me. I’ve been working the past two years of Black Friday (Not something I ever recommend doing. Ever.) and am so very excited to not be one of those poor ringer-uppers this year.

Because, for the next 5 days, I’ll be completely surrounded by friends and family and food. Is there anything better?

Because I’m happy and alive and stuff.

Thoughts while reading the thoughts of a younger me.

Posted on by Christina Does It All
16

Since beginning my intro to counseling class, I’ve been in constant self-analyzing and exploration mode. You may have noticed this from recent blogs. I’ve even caught myself talking out loud,while doing the dishes, giving myself a “counseling session.” It’s strange, but I also feel like it’s healthy. I’m coming to terms with a lot of things right now. I’m expressing feelings and being honest with myself. It’s a little terrifying, but it’s kind of cool too. Delving a little deeper and also procrastinating on homework, I found myself perusing through blog entries from an old domain today. This is always a little scary to do. Seeing who you used to be. I skimmed through about two years worth of entries, starting at age 20 and reading back until I was 19. It was an embarrassing, inspiring,humbling, hilarious and nostalgic journey. I decided to take notes on my thought processes, as I was reading. What came out was a completely honest assortment of word vomit:

  • Oh, little Christina. No. Just no.
  • “I have friends coming out my butt who love me for all of these things.” Wait….WHAT?! How half of my sentences ever made any logical sense to me, I do not know.
  • As much as I love working with kids, I also miss working with people. Er. Bigger people. And making coffee.  And getting paid to socialize. Or maybe it’s just a rush of nostalgia for younger days creeping up on me.
  • Was this REALLY two years ago?!?!?!
  • I had almost forgotten how amazing my honeymoon was…..
  • Oh Lord. I seem to have considered myself a poet.
  •  That boy is so lucky that Robby isn’t the type to throw territorial punches. Jeeze,Christina. You were oblivious or just in complete denial.
  •  “I like journals because I can end the entries with kiss my ass.”  I can still agree with this.
  • Why must puppies and children grow up?
  • It’s interesting to see who comes and goes. I’ve lost a couple of friends I thought I would have forever, and have become extremely close to many who I thought would always just be casual acquaintances. There are some amazing people I’ve met and through the hustle and bustle of life have slowly lost touch with—but have left me with so many smiles and amazing memories just the same. And then there are those friends that truly have been there through so many years, through thick and thin, and through all of my ups-and-downs. I can honestly say now that I’m incredibly thankful for each and every person, and for all of the experiences and life-lessons I’ve gained through each relationship.
  •  Dear me:  You are not nearly as subtle as you think you are.
  • So many of the goals I questioned accomplishing and dreams I never even imagined reaching…I’ve done those things now. It’s so easy to undermine those accomplishments while reaching for a bigger goal. Reading back is a wonderful reminder to take the time to be proud of how far I’ve come so far.
  • Ever having referred to Robby as my boyfriend seems SO weird now. Probably because we’ve been married more than double the time we were ever boyfriend/girlfriend. Then again, I remember how weird it was calling him ‘fiancé’ and ‘husband’ at first too. Every title has been a new one for me, and I clearly remember how proud I was to pronounce each one.
  • Almost everything has changed in just a few short years. If there has been one constant, it’s my boy and his always present love for me. My husband, bless his heart, has been through a lot of my annoying life stages with me. The teenage socially awkward and confused stage. The teenage “I-now-think-I’m-a-philosopher-and-know-everything” days. The younger 20’s “LOOK AT ME I’M SO COOL (But I still don’t know how to brush my hair)” days. All I can say is, major props for hanging in there, dude. Major props.
  •  Goodness. I am so happy to be who I am and where I’m at in life right now. Though I’m sure three years from now I’ll look back at some current blog posts and maybe inwardly cringe a little. We’re never really all grown-up, are we? And that’s kind of beautiful, I think. That there’s always so much left to learn.

Oh,Leander.

Posted on by Christina Does It All
14
“This is a big world, That was a small town;

There in my rear-view mirror disappearing now…”

Copyright MSL Designs

Last weekend I drove into the town of Leander,Texas for my little brother’s sixth birthday party. This isn’t unusual. My parents live in Leander, and the city line is about 5 minutes or less from my house. But this five minutes never fails to bring me to another world entirely. And no matter what, the minute I drive in, I am swept away with this bittersweet nostalgia —One that no other town, despite only a five minute drive, could quite provide. With all of the milestones I am passing with each second, I am always overwhelmed by the rush of memories and feelings I experience so intensely and abruptly. It’s like I’m not the present me anymore. I’m not Christina Boudreaux. I haven’t been happily married for two years. I’m not a house-owner, or a full-time student, or a nanny. I’m not satisfied or confident or happy or sure. I’m not a 22 year old girl doing her best to get the most she possibly can out of life. Maybe that’s who I am in the city 5 minutes away, but that’s not who I am the minute I drive into Leander,Texas.

I’m 16 again. I’m lonely and confused. I’m terribly missing my best friend, who’s recently moved thousands of miles away. I’m jealous that she’s making her own way where she is, and I’m unsure why I can’t do the same. I’m missing my old neighborhood and hesitant about this new one. I miss my friends and my pool and having my own bathroom.

Or

I’m 17 again. I think I’ve found security and control in the ability to control what I eat. I am unhealthily thin and people are worried but I can’t see it and I don’t care. I am 5’7 and can fit into my 5’1 cousin’s size 0 blue-jeans, and that is all that matters to me. I will ignore the looks I receive and the fact that I look rather sickly and that my bones should never be that apparent. Luckily, it’s not just the bad kind of determination that drives me. I am also determined to attend an accredited school my senior year, because I do not want a GED, damnit, I want a diploma. And then I do. I do attend an accredited school. And It’s scary and I’m awkward. But I make friends. I slowly find my way to healthy again, with the help of some classmates who truly care about me. In my class of 13, I develop crushes on ¾ of the boys present. I giggle often and at inappropriate times. I convince myself I will be the 40 year old virgin. I also convince myself that I am madly in love with my best (and first) guy friend, and I listen to sad, teenage-angst,TaylorSwift-ish songs because he is dating somebody that isn’t me. It won’t be until much later that I realize I love him without being in-love with him. I’m learning about myself and life and I’m facing my insecurities while still being horribly insecure. I’m still terrified of many things, but I’m doing what I can and I’m learning. I’m learning so much.

But more often than not….

I’m 18 again. I’ve been to Paris and London and Maryland and New York and Colorado within a 3 month period. My eyes are opened. I’m living, I’m fully living, and I want more. I am facing my fears, often without even realizing it. The world is amazing, and I never knew it, and I want to know all of it. I am on the edge. I am innocent beyond measure and I want so badly just to be kissed. I want to fall in love. I want to explore life and the world and do things that I maybe shouldn’t. I can feel these things growing inside of me, and I know that I’m ready for things I haven’t been before, and I know that this could be dangerous. But I don’t care, or maybe I do, but just not enough. I’m not confident, but I’ve found a joy and wonder in living which may slightly resemble confidence, and that’s just enough for me to get by. And then I’m working my first real job. I’m a waitress and I’m a horrible waitress and I get yelled at a lot. And then I get better. I learn how to talk to people and multi-task and to take criticism positively. Somewhere in this mix, I also learn how to flirt. And then I get kissed. And I fall for somebody I shouldn’t. And the city of Leander,Texas becomes a marker for my first broken heart. And pretty soon, I’ve hurt my family and I’ve hurt other people’s families and I’m hurting so badly too. This isn’t what I’d read about or dreamed about or watched movies about at all. Deep down, I think I always knew it wouldn’t be.

I am at the year and the job and the time in my life that will affect and change me more than any other, but I don’t know that yet. All I know is that my heart hurts and I am sad and that other people are sad because of me and that really, I don’t know very much at all.

A close family member and I were talking the other day, and she asked me about those now infamous months in my life. “If you could take all of that back, you would, right?”  Without really thinking, I told her that I would, of course I would. But honestly, I know I wouldn’t. I wish I could take the hurt I caused others back, but that would mean also taking back all of the growing and learning I did through the hurt. Yes, that was the hardest year of my life. And in some ways, I did change for the worse. I have major trust issues. Eighteen is the year I put my guard up, and it still hasn’t come down completely. I lost my innocence, not psychically, but mentally. I occasionally miss that girl and her complete faith in the world and others, but more often than not, I just smile and wish that I could give that girl a big hug.

Because if I was still that girl, if I had never made the mistakes that I did then, I wouldn’t be the girl that I am now. I wouldn’t have ever realized that sometimes, it isn’t as simple as good guys and bad guys—Sometimes there is no bad guy. Sometimes we’re all just trying to get by, and stumbling until we get it right. Sometimes black and white just doesn’t cut it. I may never have learned to have such a strong sense of empathy, to realize that everyone is hurting just like me, and sometimes more than me. I wouldn’t know not to judge before I had listened. If I hadn’t seen and found forgiveness in the most unlikely of places then, I wouldn’t have ever learned to let go of resentments now. I wouldn’t know not to take for granted the amazing man I’ve found in my husband. I wouldn’t know that true, real, unconditional love takes work, and tears, and time and sometimes, big mistakes. I wouldn’t understand that those mistakes don’t necessarily mean walking away, that sometimes it means working out the kinks and becoming even stronger. I wouldn’t have ever realized that the worst parts of life can lead to the best lessons, the most growth and the largest changes of heart. I wouldn’t be capable of giving the love that I am capable of giving today.

Four years ago, A wise lady acted as a mentor to me when really she had every right to throw me out of her door and tell me to never come back. She listened to me when I really didn’t have any other mentors to turn to at the time. Whenever we’d talk, she’d often sneak in an, “Everything happens for a reason.”  It was one of those phrases I heard without really hearing. Now, it haunts me. In a good way. I rarely go a few days without thinking of the phrase and realizing how true it’s come to be in my own world. It’s more or less the story of my life, or at least the story of my last six years. Leander,Texas happened to me. Whether it be 5 minutes or 5000 miles away from me, it’s the reason I am the me I am today. For the good and bad and for what it’s worth, I wouldn’t take that back for anything.

Shucks, Girls.

Posted on by Christina Does It All
12

I love girls. I do. A lot. In a purely platonic way. 

I love when we openly communicate with one another. The way we compliment. The honest and pure affection we often share. The emotion felt words. It’s among my favorite things in this world, relationships with others who share my body parts. Well not mine. But body parts like mine. You get it. I hope.

What I’m getting at is, I adore conversations and loving exchanges with fellow girlies, and I’m blessed with plenty. Within two days this past week, I received three sets of sweet words from three different sources; One a best friend, one a blogger friend and one a sweet lady I had just met at my first 5k.  In case you’re wanting examples of how special us ladies and our communication with each other is, here’s three: 

  • 1. My best friend (She’s the best.) : 

I’m so glad she thinks I’m nice/great. Because she is wonderful. Super duper wonderful. It’s been a few days since I’ve seen her and I have the need to find her and hug her right this second.

  • 3. And finally, a short but sweet blog comment from Miss Jessica, who I met at my first 5k on Saturday morning:

“Nice to meet you today. You are full of great energy and spirit. Cheers, Jessica”

See?! Aren’t we girls amazing? I love how we can be childhood friends or blogging buddies or near strangers, and it just doesn’t matter. We love on each other just the same.

In closing, I’d like to say that I was supposed to say 7 random things about me for my Versatile Blogger Award. (This is actually the second time I’ve received it from a blogger buddy, so actually 14.) However, because today is also the day I am supposed to video blog 10 questions on Take Ten Tuesday, I combined the two. I tell you 9 random things about me, and have my girl friend Becca tell one random thing about herself too. After watching the below video where I word vomit a little, you may have a hard time believing I like my girl friends just platonically. But honestly. I do.

8 Reasons I Love Talking To Strangers

Posted on by Christina Does It All
26

I used to feel so alone in the city. All those gazillions of people and then me, on the outside. Because how do you meet a new person? I was very stumped by this for many years. And then I realized, you just say, “Hi.” They may ignore you. Or you may marry them. And that possibility is worth that one word.

Augusten Burroughs

8 Reasons I love talking to strangers:

1.  I’ve met some of my closest friends (and my husband,for that matter) by striking up conversations with people I’ve just met. I find it hard to imagine what my life would be like if I wasn’t such a blabber-mouth with a love for taking chances on others. One of my close girl friends was once asked how her and I got to be friends. She responded with something along the lines of, “Well, Christina just talks a lot…”

2.  It keeps me open-minded and always with a new,fresh perspective on life. The reason we usually judge others is because we don’t understand them. The reason we don’t understand them is because we’re not talking to them. Properly communicating makes loving so much easier.

3.  I don’t understand or like boundaries. I personally can’t stand the fact that I can’t just walk up to someone and say, ‘Hi. I need to pee. Wanna be great friends?”  Why not? We’re all people. We all pee. If I think I want you to be my friend, why can’t I just tell you so? Who made up these unspoken rules? I don’t see the need to beat around the bush. It frustrates me. But because my ideal world isn’t socially acceptable and I’d probably scare lots of people, I start off with random,casual conversation and take it from there. I also seem to have inadvertently passed on my way of thinking to my five-year old brother. He’s known for starting conversations with cashiers by saying, “Hi, My name is Joshua Thomas Cirotto. I’m five years old. This is my mom. And this is my sister. What’s your name?”  We are most definitely related.

4.  You know how some people get anxiety if they talk to people they don’t know? I’m the opposite. I get kind of antsy if I’m not talking to people I don’t know. Thus I am an obsessive complimenter and if I meet you for the first time, be prepared for me to possibly vocally like your purse, shoes, shirt, dog or eyelashes.

5.  This world is wonderful to me. There’s endless adventures—so many places to go, so much to do and feel and taste and live. It becomes just a little more wonderful if I feel connected to those around me. We’re all living in this big ‘ole universe together. Might as well get to know those we’re sharing it with.

6.  Because I’m a thrill-seeker; It’s equal parts exciting and terrifying to me that the random person I’m talking to could love or hate me, could give me funny looks or a smile, could turn away or could become a lifelong kindred spirit.

7.  Because I want to hear everyone’s story. Because I want to know what makes a person who they are. Because finding what we have in common despite our differences fascinates me. Because to me, part of feeling alive is talking to others who are alive right beside me.

8.  Because once you talk to a stranger, really, they’re not a stranger anymore. And that simple fact is beautiful to me.

I’m pretty smitten with the below video. I went around Austin/Texas areas filming random people. Most all of the people on video were people I had just met or barely knew; The fact that so many openly and happily let me record them with my camera/phone makes me smile. People are awesome. Don’t ever forget it!