My Blog: it's an excuse

Really I'm just using this as an excuse to post some pictures.....even though they're of one subject...

My mind went there....

I saw a bouquet today that made me cry.

I.cried.over.flowers.

Photo Cred: Jose Villa

Then I cried over the rest of the tablescape and my mind immediately took me there, to the minute where I would feel every emotion inside me if I walked into that room. Or even just took that kind of picture. Or was even photographed by that photographer.

Jose Villa

Jose Villa

Jose Villa

My mind went there and I cried.

It's because of Netflix

Because it's on Netflix, I've picked up watching No Reservations. Although I've watched that show numerous times on the travel channel, it's not exactly the kinda show I watch religiously, nor frequently. But for the sake of boredom and needing something to watch as I get ready in the morning, it suffices.

He was in Paris. Now, if you know anything about Anthony Bourdain, you know he's "no holds bar". He says what he thinks and could care less who doesn't like it. Sort of a  Dwight Schrute meets James Bond....Ok. Bad example. Let's leave those to the clever people...

Anyway, the French get a bad rep ::insert terrible, poorly timed joke, here::

His whole idea behind this show was to show "Why France doesn't Suck". Also, to prevent seeing Paris the tourist way. Throw away the guidebook, as it were.

While I won't go into details on the entire episode, he did make a few points that have sat with me all day. He mentioned the things France does right. Food, Art & Wine. His major point was that if you look at the way the French do food, it's about the food. It's not rushed. They're not trying to come up with new ways to flavor a risotto that no body has seen before (though I'm sure those antics happen). In the heart of Paris, it's about the food. The raw flavor of it. It's about the people you share it with, or the time you spend with it. There are no health codes, there are no etiquette. The places don't get shut down because someone touches some food. The meat is sliced, salt and peppered, wood oven cooked, and served on the same tray it's cooked in. It's simple. It's about the food.

At the end of the show, he was sitting at an outside cafe and looked around and noticed that people there do it right. They make it about an afternoon. To sit and have a cup of coffee and a ham sandwich. But really HAVE a ham sandwich. They have their newspapers. They're books. Or they're quizzical, people watching eyes. They spend time enjoying the food and enjoying time spent by themselves or with their closest friends.

It got me thinking....when was the last time I did that? When was the last time I found a small park or local cafe (i'm not talking Barnes and Noble or Starbucks, Tony would disdain at that) and sat and ATE a ham sandwich. And read the paper....and not the paper on my ipod. I mean, really took an afternoon to enjoy those simple things.

Those are things I used to love to do. And it's the simplicity that I'm trying to bring my life back to. Starting with that...

Fashion Industry + Amy= a good laugh

Working in "fashion" can be terrible. Terrible for people like me. The one who would rather NOT put on a dress all day and worry about voice inflections. The one who's biggest choice of the day would rather be "which one of my pairs of jeans smell the least?" The one who is married to her books, music, and the occasional episode of Glee.

With the new plunge into the "fashion" (bridal fashions, that is), I think I spend most of my time trying not to look like a complete fool. I mean, have you ever heard me on the phone? How about trying to count the number of times I speak too fast for my brain? It gets a little excessive. Or going down the stairs at work? Instead of the normal person who is thinking 2 thoughts ahead of where they're at, I however am counting each step, wanting it to be over, and hoping that I don't fall down the remaining ones (in my mere 1 inch heels); all the while trying to hold a conversation with whatever customer I have following behind me (and let's not get started on my fear that the person behind me fall down, thus making me fall down).

Making sure I don't say the trigger word for a bride which makes her go crazy. Or worse....her mother. It's true what they say you know, the legends about moms and their daughters during the wedding planning phase. If you have to ask about the legends, you're too naive to know...

And now, 2 months later, I'm running out of makeup, I've worn enough black to last me lifetime, and I'm getting sores on my feet from the heels I now wear. Where is the justice? Where is my fishing pole? Why can't I be 10 again? How many times do I have to say something stupid for me to learn my lesson?

But in these times, I remember: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Cor 12:9

Finding my love....again

It's necessary to be surrounded by the things you love. No, not necessary. Imperative. And when things change, when your life goes through a huge overhaul, sometimes those things you love fall through the cracks. In my life? I like to say that they disappear entirely. Because I'm so focused on these new things, the old things that I love fall to the wayside.

I have my routine with work. I have my pace. Now's my chance to bring back the things that I love. Working out, reading, weddings. Those things that bring about my character and who I am. I don't want to ever lose those.

I've already brought back a few things. Getting up at 6 am. Reading the bible in the morning. Working Out. Now that I have those, I have more things on my list. Blogging. Reading the blogs I follow. Researching my business venture. Falling more in love with weddings. TAKING PICTURES!! That's the one I miss the most. My first love.

For that I thank Him

Sometimes people really make me cry. People's situations I guess I should say. Maybe it's because one of my strengths is empathy. Or maybe it's because I've asked God to help me love others like He loves them. Whatever the reason, I hurt for them.

The whole inspiration for this post is my ride to work. Straight down 441 to Broward Blvd. I see so much. I went to make a turn onto Broward and as I waited, I saw a homeless guy standing in the median. He had a small cardboard sign. I couldn't read it, but I could read his face. It was riddled with shame. He held his sign half-heartedly. It seemed like he wanted to disappear.

At the same time, on another corner, there was a woman. She was sleeping on the corner of the intersection. That wasn't the first time I had seen her. I started to cry. And I heard the Lord tell me "This is just a piece of how much I love them, and you." And that was it.

I think sometimes He does that for me. Allows me to feel even a fraction of how much He loves people, so that I can love people. It keeps me in perspective. Helps me when I really don't feel like loving anyone.

For that, and many things, I thank Him.

When new things come

It's been about 2 weeks. Tomorrow will be my second Saturday. I finally have 2 brides on the books for tomorrow that I am really excited about. It's kinda crazy that I do this for a living. Play dress up with big pretty white dresses. It's like having my own personal barbie doll.

The hardest thing about starting a new job is not learning all ins and outs, which will come naturally with time, but it's the people. If you don't know how to work with people, I recommend becoming self employed and work from home as some sort of computer programmer or something. Because that might be the only place where you won't interact much with people. And I'm not even talking about customers. I'm talking colleagues. The other employees. Learning to work well with other people is really an art form. One that I'm trying to perfect. This time has been a little bit of a rocky start, but once I asked Jesus to break down my pride and to see some of these people how He sees them, it's gotten easier. Mind you I'm still human. I mess up. But He helps me.

It's new challenge. A way to grow. Stretch. Become like Christ.
"I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some" 1 Corinthians 9:22b