Hi, it's me again.

How silly, who else would it be?

Let's be honest, I'm one of the worst bloggers ever.
I want to tell you that I'll try to get better, make regular posts, be more involved, yet we all know it's not really going to happen.

I have several posts that I do plan on actually finishing and uploading, as well as several ideas for posts that will (at some point) indeed be written.

I suppose for now, I should simply catch you up to where my life is. Most of these are going to be simple bullet points as I plan on furthering a few into actual posts...

Little Rock, oh, Little Rock {pt1}

I had a great weekend in Little Rock.

It was better than I expected, even though I wasn't sure what to expect. As it always does with TheBeardedWonder, time flew by. The drive to was fun (he fell asleep, so I jammed out. DriverSeat dancing... Singing Solos...), the sights were great even though we only saw a small portion. 

While Little Rock has very dangerous areas, and is very hood, everyone was truly nice, as well as friendly.

Fathers Day Weekend{2015}

Let me start off by saying this is not my favorite holiday, neither is Mothers Day but that's not the topic. 

Fathers Day is difficult for me because I do still feel like I am fulfilling both roles. I realize I'm going to end up catching flack for this, but please hear me out. This is not to attack anyone, this is just an expression of my views. 

Last year I absolutely was both mommy and daddy. I was bitter about the day, yet thankful for those who did wish me a 'Happy Fathers Day', most of them understood my pain as they were single mums as well. 

This year was a bit rough. Slightly different reasons though. 

This year I had to share my baby with her father, which isn't the issue. He is her dad, he has decided to be a part of her life. But I am still both disciplinarian as well as friend during the week, and every other weekend. I'm still the one kissing every booboo, imaginary or not, and attempting to get her to eat her food, while continuing the battle to not hit mommy. 

Let me be even more honest, there have been things said by persons who are much more bitter than myself. Even though I do my best to not fully acknowledge such things, they have been said. Add those things to the unfortunate and brief history he and I have and it's hard not to worry.  I want to believe with all of my heart that he is becoming everything she deserves, though I have no proof. It's the lack of any sort of evidence, aside from fleetingly brief bye-byes, that makes me worry.  

Learning to Live Again

I'm not sure if 'again' is correct, honestly. Although thinking about it, I haven't been near this happy since I was a kid before we moved out to Arkansas. 

It's seems that I have found some one who loves the outdoors, and adventures as much as I do. He has been teaching me a bit about cycling, great places to hike, and accepts my weirdness, as well as my child with open arms. He is his own person, who loves his children, as much as I love LittleMiss. 

Although things are new between he and I, his support of my love for adventure is helping to make it great. Yet this relationship isn't the only thing this post is about. 

See, I'm finally eating more, my depression doesn't consume me as frequently, my anxiety is not as high, and my creativity is resurfacing. I realized a few weeks ago that I have buried a large part of me down, attempting to kill off what makes me happy. Upon that realization, I knew had to do something to change it. I needed to live again. While being the primary caregiver to my beautiful baby girl will never not be my top priority, I have decided that doing what makes me happy is important as well. It too needs to be tended to. 

Riding my bicycle has been the biggest help yet. From short errands, to blowing off steam, I love how much confidence  in my riding I have gained over the past month. 

I've fallen in love with rock climbing and can not wait to join my best friend to climb again. 

Hiking is becoming a part of my life again, as well as simply walking around town, visiting new stores, meeting new people. 

I'm so excited to make several purchases for my new love of outside: kayaks, hammocks, bicycle gear...

While I haven't painted in over a month, I'll be picking up my brushes again this week to begin the fun once more. 

But on this short journey I've made thus far, I'm also realizing how closed off I am to people. While I am considered a people person, and I do enjoy social interaction, I have made sure to not let those new faces get closer that absolute face value. Maybe one day I'll go into detail as to what has driven me to be as such. 

The point is that I wouldn't mind making more friends, having more groups to hike, bike ride, or swim with. Ha! Or simply grab a cup of coffee to discuss a book or life. 

Yes there are sour apples of people out there, but that doesn't mean everyone deserves to be shut out. 

Even as such I find myself following the advice given to me by several people: daily forgiveness. Not only to those who have caused me great pain, but also of myself. It's not going end over night, but it is becoming easier day by day. 

So this is my promise to myself, and my tiny family, I am going to live again. I am going to go on adventures, continually trying new things, and not let bitterness win. I will reside in happiness, never allowing my anger to control me. 

"It is not the pursuit of happiness, but the happiness of pursuit."

A Letter to the Father of My Child

Dear Fellow,

I almost started this off with 'I'm Sorry', but I'm not. I do feel bad for you though, seeing as for the rest of our lives you are connected to me. Which, to be honest, started as completely unexpected. Only in my wildest dreams did I ever think you would want to be a part of our beautiful baby girls life. Then again, sometimes I find myself questioning how much of this is you wanting and how much of it isn't...
You see I feel bad for you because that little girl and I have a very odd, very close bond. After all it had just been her and I for roughly 16months, then your family was involved. After that she was roughly 19months when you first met her.See I nursed her for roughly 20 and a half months, I bottle fed her, we mostly still co-sleep, I was there when she learned to walk, to talk and bettered her motor skills. It was me not you, who she first called 'dah-dah' (after all she didn't know better having no one else to bestow the name on.)
And oh how stubborn she is, really she gets it from both of us although I would love to blame it all on you.
See I feel bad for you because I expect so much from you. I've been approaching this situation as I would a wild animal for fear of you running away. Yet even though at this point in the game your ability to run away would equate you decreasing to zero communication (which isn't far from where we are now). What I expect from you is to be a man, not a boy who is angry at me because I informed his family of the life of a beautiful child he helped create. Not a boy who thinks his dashing good looks will help him get away with whatever he wants. No I expect to know that when she is with you on the weekends it's your turn she is safe in a bed that is her own.
When I ask if you would prefer do things a different way, it is not to trap you it is so that we can avoid as many bumps in the road as possible. So that this will be easy for both you and I, as well as our daughter.
I expect you to stop treating me like your ex-wife, to stop projecting the past you have with her on to me. As unfortunate as it is, we were not together long enough for you to have the disdain you have for me, nor for you to be so absentee when I try to contact you. I am not her, yes I get upset, I get frustrated, and I can be hurt by your actions, but I am not her.  I do not react the way she does, I do not want to hurt you or anger you in retaliation.

I am not at all concerned with ever having a romantic relationship with you again.
        My focus is this beautiful little girl, completing my degree, obtaining a job in my degree field and living a life for God. I am not focused on convincing or making you want to be with me.

The thing is, you and I created this tiny-ever growing-beautiful child, not your mother and I. Who I am tremendously grateful for. She is a huge help watching LittleMiss while I work, or an occasional extra day I need to focus on homework or can't find a sitter for the me shift. But she is the grandparent, she is not the parent.
I expect you to be a co-parent, standing firm with me in disciplining her as needed. I expect your cooperation with school function and activities. I expect communication. I expect that you are providing her attention, not sending her off to be with a sitter continually and instead spending the time you have together with someone else.
I expect you to be a parent, not a perfect parent, but a loving parent.

Here we go again!

Being freshly single (again, honestly that's just a never ending story..), summer college courses starting today, and the best part: I'm finally happy with life. 

Maybe it's the being freshly single, sun is shining, had a great morning with LittleMiss talking, but I. Am. Happy. Since I have no idea when this glorious feeling will end I am riding this boat as long as I can. 

So of course here we go again with my promises of steady blogs posts, yet thankfully while parenting, homework and my job will be dominating my schedule I foresee several slots of time that I will be able to share tasty recipes, fun crafts, gardening and exciting outings. 

I hope everyone had an exciting weekend and didn't forget the real meaning of the extra day off. 

My seed-filled excitement!

Ohmygosh. 

So many beautiful and exciting seeds. I haven't ever started a plant from seeds so this is going to be a journey I will document almost as much as I document LittleMiss. 

To be safe I only did four seeds of these two packets, so that I wouldn't ruin my many others. Although I will probably be starting them soon. 

These girls are actually in some of my very own compost. It was a worm compost until the worms ran away from an accidental caffeine overdose. 

Keep your fingers crossed!!

An Unexpected Adventure.

{A perfectly fitting title.} 

I haven't posted in a while for a few reasons, the top and main two being that 

1: I have been very busy [two jobs, school, being a mommy]

2: Custody Court had a countdown. 

That's correct: custody court.

Sometimes you just need a Donut

I'm talking about those cheap, fluffy, gas station, totally bad for you sugary donuts. 

Especially when you're incredibly hungry, exhausted and a bit frustrated. 

Okay fine... I'll admit it. I had two. :(

I really truly do try so hard to eat properly, healthy and as organic-local as possible. Unfortunately none of which is easy (especially if you're as busy as me). 

2014 was...

Something I am ready to move on from.

Plenty of good days, tons of them.

Yet looking back all I can see are the lost days, the countless hours spent working.

Unfortunately 2015 is offering the same allure of hours, if not more, away from the house. My goal is to have a very set schedule, well as set as a toddler will allow. Although there seems to be a silver lining, the first few months are going to be quite busy.

Aside from my beautiful LittleMiss as a very good distraction, there is a gentleman who has caught my attention. haha I say gentleman, and mean it. He has been nothing but polite thus far. Even asking about LittleMiss. We have agreed that we will not be putting any pressures or expectation on anything, as he is only guaranteed to be in Arkansas for the next six months.

I'm staying optimistic about 2015, I even set a few goals {can't do resolutions, I tend to rebel against them}.

::2015 Goals::

• Gym/Yoga 3-5times a week
• Start Charity
• Bible Study 5-7times a week
• XXXX profit from my boutique
• Keep my house consistently clean
• Become an almost Minimalist
• Potty train LittleMiss
• Write to LittleMiss 3-4times a week 
• Completely Paleo//Glutenfree
• Start making Almond milk
• Start canning/making fermented foods
• Paint once a month
• 3.0GPA
• Teach LittleMiss colors/shapes/alphabet
• Relearn French
• Blog post 3-5times a week
• Refill my savings

hahaha That doesn't seem like too much does it? ;)

Other than that, my New Years Eve was brought in decently enough. Left work about 1145pm and had some laughs with the fantastic friends who were watching LittleMiss. Once she woke up, the fun really started: toddler dancing is the best ever.

{photo credit:Kunkle}

As all working parents know, there really isn't anything better to get me through my day or my shift as seeing/receiving photos of my baby.