Day 526 ~ Life's Projects Update

Yesterday I caught you up on what we were all up to with the Blessed Spoon and how we were preparing {ourselves} with the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot Dinner Basket campaign.. . . .  today once again we have more progress toward our goal of feeding our first Ten Families.  I honestly am very excited!!

Now I wanted to catch you on all my other projects I am involved in.  
As far as my blogs go...
I continue to write on a daily basis on here, Took It. . . Making It. . .  Living It. . .  My Life. . .  I continue to chronologize my life on this blog for my children.  I share my ups, my downs and my successes and every so often, a let down.  I don't do it for attention, not at all!  I do it in hopes to help someone else who may be going through the same... or may feel alone.. I do it for you too.  wink, wink.

Besides, this blog I have my gratitude journal I keep online... I swear I don't do it for attention- I don't even go out of my way to publicize it..  Humble Gratitude is where I share what I am grateful for each day... to encourage others i being grateful!

My other blog, My LifeStyle ReDesign--- well I have highly neglected this blog.  This was a once per week blog on health, dieting, nutrition, health, from a forty-somethings, almost fifty, young gal , , , which has been since June since I posted.  Yikes!!  I loved this blog too... but that was right about the time that I started working more on getting the spoon (nickname for the Blessed Spoon) researched and was starting to get more and more involved in my church.  Although this particular blog has reached a stale mate at present time, I would think that the trade off has been worth it!!  

I am pretty pleased as to where I sit today.  I have a lot of great things going on for me and others and am very excited as to what the future holds.

One last thought, or request rather, , ,  please bare with me the next couple of days. . . I really want this Turkey Trot Campaign to be a  great success and do not want my blog to suffer because of it.   I want hard working families to know that their hard work does not go unrecognized and that their community appreciates their contribution. 

I am thankful for the hard working families in our communities-  
what a way to lead by example!!!!!

What's coming up?   Hmmm.... 
I think I see another challenge off in the near distance. . .

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

I am second..

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 366 ~ One Year !

Yes... yesterday was my 365th day in a row that I have blogged.  

However... this was a Leap Year... therefore... tomorrow is my actual one year anniversary... or rather... One year ago tomorrow I set out on my journey.  

So.. having today be my closing post is perfect.  More on that at the end of my post.

Wow!!  What an adventure!!  So many times I have shared with  you that I am gaining so much from this journey.  

Reminding you again... that this was to be like a "handbook" of sorts on me for my children, family and friends; a memoir if you will... in hopes that my sharing my life would help another with their's.

I have had ups this year, as well as downs... but as I sit here and look back... this has been the best year I have given myself!  For something that was meant for others... it has turned out to be such a HUGE part of my life.

I had literally cried with you... laughed with you... ached with you... and healed with you!  ... now I would be lost without you... life just would not be the same.

Am I done?

I really don't think so!  How can I be?  My life isn't perfect by any means... but... writing this blog night after night... at first anxiously awaiting the moment I would sit with my lap top... then there were some nights that I actually forced myself to share [only because I was tired]... other nights where I actually struggled with my thoughts...

All in all... I would not trade my experience with anything!

So as I have anticipated this moment for a while... wondering how I was going to continue my blogging... if I was going to do a sequel to this blog or just continue on...

I have started other blogs... I have a health-lifestyle blog {My LifeStyle ReDesign}... and I also have my gratitude blog {Humble Gratitude}... and my website I created which all my creations can be found {Carla Barilá Karam}... 

Will I keep my baby {this blog} going?  I don't know?  I almost want to keep going to see how long I can keep it up.  After all, what harm can it pose?

I honestly do not have the answer right at this particular moment.  But what I do know is that I am not going to stop blogging any time soon.  BIG SMILE!

Glory lies in the attempt to reach one's goal and not in reaching it.  ~Mahatma Gandhi 

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product.  ~Eleanor Roosevelt 

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

Leap Year!... {I DID IT!!!...  I can't believe it!...}

read about this count down in my "About my Blog" page

... for a, l & c.  you are my sunshine(s).

Images are courtesy of either google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barilá Karam and of this blog- Taking Back My Life ~ Making it My Own.  US Copyright law apply  ©

Day 347 ~ The Next 18 Days...

I have been sitting here for close to forty minutes just staring at the fact that I have 18 days to go...  {unbelievable!}

I attempted to talk about the need of having compassion and communication in a relationship... and then went back to staring at the number 18.

I know that the last seven days have been a rough learning curve... and that is exactly what they have been... a learning curve... kinda like "growing pains"...

That's a bit more fitting... "growing pains" ... especially since the last 346 days all have been a growing experience for me.  

I have learned more about myself in the last year, than what I knew about myself in a lifetime.  I have had plenty of "aha" moments... and now to see that it has come down to 18 days... well... it is unbelievable to me.

Sooo... starting tomorrow I will be doing my own A to Z Challenge... A to Z, What I Learned About Me..  Huh?  In the next 18 days I will not only be counting down, but each day I will write of something I have learned about myself... first being up is the letters "A" & "B".  

Well, in order to make it work... using the alphabet as a countdown when there are only 18 days left... is as follows... 

On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, I will be choosing words for two consecutive letters and on the other days, one... for example... tomorrow Monday I will be choosing words that begin with the letters "A" & "B"; Tuesday the letter "C"; Wednesday letters "D" and "E"; Thursday the letter "G" and so on... 

Why not do this?  This way, I definitely will not get the "doe in headlights" stare at my laptop while staring at my days left on "taking back my life ~ making it my own"...
 

What will be next?  Well... I do have my website... carlabarilakaram.com ©... which has all my creations under one umbrella if you will.  

I still will be writing or blogging My LifeStyle ReDesign on a weekly basis.  Right now I am dealing with my latest findings that I have high cholesterol; finding out what having high cholesterol means; and the steps I am taking to reduce my risk of heart disease.

I also started humble gratitude; my new gratitude journal.  I took Oprah's advice and not only started my own gratitude journal, but put my own twist to it... I made it a blog.  Well, it is a simple gratitude journal to remind me all that I am grateful for.

I also still have My wii fit+ 21-Day Challenge published online.  Hmmm... I am starting to come up with a new challenge... a 50-day challenge to lower my cholesterol.  Talk about accountability... ooo... I think I am on to something...

Stay tuned for the next 18 days ... where things will be happening!  

Tomorrow the beginning of my new A to Z Challenge... with the letter "A".

I challenge you to make your life a masterpiece. I challenge you to join the ranks of those people who live what they teach, who walk their talk.

~Tony Robbins

(here's to you finding your...)

 Peace,  

18 days to go...  {unbelievable!}  

read about this count down in my "About my Blog" page

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Taking Back My Life ~ Making It My Own.  U.S Copyright laws apply.  © 2012 

Day 336 ~ When I Started Blogging...

Even though I am on "my home~stretch"... Taking Back My Life ~ Making It My Own will not be the last that you see of me!

336 days ago when I started blogging... I had a mindset that I was only going to this for one year.  Just like Julie did in Julie & Julia (my inspiration).  The only difference with Julie and me is that she was cooking to blog and I ... well I was healing to blog.  

336 days ago when I started blogging... I had no clue what I would do after the year was up.  Didn't even think that far ahead, other than wanting to be happy.  {with my family by my side}

336 days ago when I started blogging... I had so much pain, hurt, anger, and resentment inside me.  {One thing was clear, I did not want my daughter to follow in my footsteps.  The cycle needed to end.}

336 days ago when I started blogging... I had no idea that with time my pain, hurt, anger, and resentment would diminish.   

336 days ago when I started blogging... I never ever thought that I would accept all that caused  my pain, hurt, anger, and resentment.

336 days ago when I started blogging... I had no idea that it would end up playing a major role in my healing process.

336 days ago... I did not know that within time I would soon fall in love with blogging.  That I would see how much I missed writing and journaling.

336 days ago... I would have thought you were nuts if you would have told me that I would set up my own website and add three additional blogs to my repertoire.  [and another underworks!] 

 

336 days ago... I would have thought I was nuts to think that I would soon be unveiling my new website ----> on Mother's Day.  

Simply put... I just had no idea all this wonderfulness would be going on.  Not to say that I did not see some rough times... some say you have to relive bad times in order to heal from them. ... and If they haven't said that, then I am saying it!

You have to go through the rough times, to know the good!  ~ Carla Barilá Karam

Blessings,

29 days to go...  {SERIOUSLY?!}  

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Taking Back My Life ~ Making It My Own.  U.S Copyright laws apply.  © 2012 

Day 205 ~ Out With the Old * A Look Back At 2011

SO here we are... at the end of another year.  As I sit here and look back at the entire year, only one word comes to mind... PHEW!

Seriously now, I am going to say that this year has definitely ended on a great note!!  It may have started out as a continuation of prior years, but at about half way through I made a decision that ended up changing my life forever!  Come with me and take a look see at my "condensed" life in 2011.

As I look back my January started a little rough.  I was still working at my daughter's school and had been put in several uncomfortable situations there.  The staff at the school was awesome, a couple of wrinkles here and there, but all in all I worked with some pretty great people.  Our boss on the other hand... how do they say it in the south with that naughty southern twang... God Bless her.  That is all I will say.

Our February here in El Paso started off in a cold freeze.  Our city shut down, lost power and water due to freezing temperatures.  We were in the teens for several days.  That was a real experience.  Pipes were frozen all over the city causing mayhem at local hardware stores.  Bottle water was no where to be found.  We were lucky there... when it first was starting to dip in temperature, I ran out and bought around six or seven cases.  We were set.

March, April and May went by fast being that I was buried at school.  I was extremely busy with putting out the year book, along with other presentations I had to put together for end of year activities.  And it did not help any that my year at school ended on a sour note due to issues there.  I had made it a rule of thumb not to work for another woman in prior years, what made me think this would end any different. 

Low and behold June came around.  By the time June arrived I was at a very low point, and was looking forward to our trip to Los Angeles at the end of July.  The only thing that had kept my spirits up for the past year when I was down was popping in Julie & Julia in my dvd player. 

The movie had some sort of pull on me.  I think it was the slight connection to Julie, being that I wanted to write a book (for nearly 20 years now) and she wanted to be published.  I know that wanting to write a book and wanting to be published are not exactly alike, however I felt a similarity and a pull.  

This is where unbeknownst to me at the time, I would make a decision that would turn my life around!  I decided to blog.  Although very intimidating at first, I was soothed at the thought that I would commit to doing it for a year as Julie did in the movie.

I had issues.  Unresolved issues.  Many of them.  About forty-eight years worth to be exact.  Not only that but the lack of both my sons' presence in my life has affected me as well.  I thought that by writing my blog I could somehow show my sons (Calley, other family members, and friends too) who I was.  Tell them of our past, my past, explaining who I was so they would know me one day.  At first, as I look back, I started angry.  I was hurt.  

As time went on I started to notice that there started to be a difference in how I was feeling all the way around.  I was getting all this garbage off of my chest, being fair and honest to everyone involved, but I was getting it off my chest!  It was like going to therapy everyday.  There would be a day or two I would unload and then I would feel for elated for the next few days afterwards.

in July I challenged myself to prepare for my 30 year high school reunion by writing My wii Fit Plus 21 Day Challenge where I "extreme" dieted for 21 days. I exercised my butt off and ate healthy for three weeks and blogged about it.  I only wish I would have started it earlier.  Why?  The last week of my diet was the first week of my vacation.  Not a great ending.  I only met half of my goal.


Returning from Los Angeles in August, left me expressing my feelings about where we live, wanting to leave the area within a year.  Yet, through blogging I have also learned to communicate with my husband better.  Don't ask me how, but yes it happen.  In doing so I discovered that my husband loves it here in El Paso.  You see he did not grow up with his father or brothers... and to live here now, a handful of miles away from them... he's happy.  It's a wonderful thing to have a great family.


Following the death of our Nana August 28th, I have grown even more closer to my mom (mother in law) and dad (father in law), let alone my brother in laws... Let's just say that we are not thinking of moving any time soon. (big smile)  I have decided to permanently shelf the idea.  Having a wonderful family can be a negative, just as much as it can be a positive.  I wish I could move and take care of us all!  

This past fall has been a whirlwind.  Our family has undertaken the responsibility of getting Nana's estate taken care of, including the sale of her house and all it's contents.  This in itself was a learning experience.  Let's just say that when it comes to shopping, I always ask myself "Want or Need?"  If it's a need, we will buy the best to be able to pass it down to our children.



Since July, I had not been feeling satisfied about not reaching my goal on My wii Fit Plus 21 Day Challenge.  It prompted me to rethink the whole dieting thing and the fact that I was not in my 20s, let alone 30's and was almost done with my 40s.  I do not have a need for being completely skinny minny, but I do want to feel and look good.  SOOooo, on the first of December I started My LifeStyle ReDesign.  A healthier approach to dieting.  Actually, it's not a diet in itself.  I have to modify the way I live a bit, get on the right track, to be the person I want to be.  Eat and live how I want and look good too.  Body, mind, soul and spirit.  



For the first time in my life, I have gotten to know who I am... and I like myself.  I have forgiven myself for mistakes I have made in my life, as I have even forgiven others as well.  This has been an enriching and enlightening experience.  I am looking forward to see what the next six months has in store for me.

Dean and Grandma Betty ~ March 2004

*** At approximately 3:15 mountain standard time on Saturday December 31st our family's matriarch, Dean's grandmother Betty Karam, became on of Jesus' angels and was reunited with our dear grandfather, her beloved Ted Karam.  God Bless you Grandma.  We will always carry you in our hearts.



2011 is the year I took back my life and am making it my own!  

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.
Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again.

Some trails are happy ones,
Others are blue.
It's the way you ride the trail that counts,
Here's a happy one for you.

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.

Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again.

~  Dale Evans Rogers

Blessings to all!!

160 days to go...

PS... Sons, I love and miss you.  To the moon and stars above and back.  You are my sunshines.

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied.  All accounts herein are written by Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life.  Some names may be changed to protect the innocent or protect me from the guilty.  (just kidding...wink, wink)

Picture credits... first two images are property of Bing images, third property of Sony Pictures and last four are property of Carla Barila Karam, Taking Back My Life - Making It my own, My wii Fit Plus 21 Day Challenge, My LifeStyle ReDesign.  All Copyright Laws apply.

Day 176 ~ Continuing to Discover...

Created by ME 

Very exciting day today.  Today is the first day of my long, healthy, happy life.  Today if the first day of my new blog... My LifeStyle Re-Design!

After months of anticipation, on my part, I did it.  I am doing it.  I started a second, actually third, blog.

This is not just about dieting... it is about that and much more.  We all know we can not just diet and expect weight to come off.  We also have to exercise.  Not only that, but when you finish dieting, what happens?  The weight generally creeps back on.

I am not exempt from this happening... as soon as you reach your goal, you get happy... and slowly but surely, you go back to your old weighs.  (wink, wink)

Well this will be interesting, especially knowing that I will be continuing this blog for another one hundred eighty-nine days.  I do hope to keep them both interesting, informative and FUN!

I do know one thing for sure... writing this blog has been very rewarding.  As blogged many times before, I love blogging.  I have discovered a new me and am loving it!  

"Whether serving in your hometown or on the other side of the world, use your talents and energy to make a better world.  Whenever life leads you, pursue the path of service and you will find fulfillment beyond measure."  ~ Laura Bush 

Blessings to all!!

189 days to go...

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied. All accounts herein are written by Cali-Gal/Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life. Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.