They Told Me Not To Blink.....

..................................and I did!  18 years ago today we were blessed with our beautiful daughter Ashley.  On a day like today you find yourself flashing back & wondering where the time went.   I was there every step of the way, but I feel like I fell asleep & took a little nap & here we are.  As most people know, being a parent is one of the most exhilarating, frustrating, & rewarding experiences we get to have.  There is nothing like it!  Ashley & I have been butting heads since she was 5 years old but over the last couple of years we've developed a mutual respect for each other & have kinda a cool thing going now.  I still drive her crazy & she still pushes my buttons but it's okay.  It'll always be okay because she has grown into a young woman that I admire & respect.  I wish I had her confidence as a teenager.  She knows what she wants & she's not afraid to go after it.  We've been very fortunate to have incredible role models in her life.  These women know who they are as I have thanked them every step of the way.  It truly does take a Village to raise a child!  We're about to begin a new chapter in a few months as she goes off to

UNC-Wilmington to major in International Business & French.  As sad as I will be the day we take her to college.....I cannot wait to see what she does with this next chapter of her life.  She will do amazing things & she will continue to make us so very proud.


Oh, if you happen to run into me today....please give me a hug!  I sound like I got it together in this blog.....but I also feel like I need to cry.  :)

To my little Sweet Pea.....Happy 18th Birthday!  I love you more than words can say!

Holly Springs Elementary gets its Zumba on!

Many of you know I have become a Zumba "freak" in the last 8 months! It has become a passion as well as a stress reducer in my life. So when I got the opportunity to combine 2 of my passions (Zumba & Fundraising) I was all over it! A couple of weeks ago the Holly Springs Elementary PTA sponsored a Zumba class for families as part of their "Family Fit" series. Brilliant idea! Michele Arthur of Holly Springs Personal Training was kind enough to donate her time & talent for the cause. As you can see, Moms, Dads, & kids had a great time!

A New Beginning.....

So many of my friends had kids graduating from High School this weekend so this seemed like a natural post to write. Graduation is a big day & I remember feeling both excited & sad when I graduated from high school & college. It's the end of an era & a new beginning all at the same time!

Looking back, here are some thoughts for our newest graduates:

"There's a big world out there. Bigger than Prom, bigger than high school, & it won't matter if you were the Prom Queen or the Quarterback of the football team or the biggest nerd. Find out who you are, embrace it & always be true to yourself!"

“The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.”

I definitely still think of those days & I guess always will....l have some great memories from that time in my life! Congratulations to all of you as you begin the next chapter in your life!

Being Better

We were given these very cool bracelets at the office last week to remind us to always strive to "Go" Be Better. I have been wearing mine every day & it has transformed my way of thinking in every aspect of my life. I find myself stretching to find ways to be a better Mom, a better wife, a better Realtor, friend, daughter, sister, neighbor, etc. I have a friend going thru a very difficult time right now & typically I would have called to check in, but in the spirit of "Being Better," I bought a small bouquet of flowers & dropped them off at her office with a note that simply said "I'm not letting you give up." Striving to be memorable sounds easy but can take a little time which we all struggle with finding. Trust me when I tell you though that the rewards are so worth it! One of my favorite quotes is "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." How can you "Be Better" today?

Grammy Granny!

I watched the Grammy's this week & felt incredibly old & clueless. I consider myself a pretty "hip" person (my kids don't) but I didn't recognize most of the people nominated. Of course I knew who Bieber was but really....is that what today's music has to offer? I did like that Aretha was honored & that Mick Jagger & Barbara Streisand performed. They are true icons in their own right!
I'm sticking to my classical rock & Pat Benetar!