31 Days: Fierce Boundaries

Day 1: Fierce Boundaries

One of the main reasons I have been an irregular blogger as of late is that I just get too busy and feel as if I don't have the time.  

Instead of a simple and practical post, I always feel pressured to make it perfect, fit for for all audiences, and gorgeous in creativity.  But then, I remembered that is not what blogging for me is all about.  I didn't join the blog world for vanity, I joined it for a tool to self-discovery.  This little world has been a refuge and a place of healing for me and even if I am not admist a life crisis (at the moment), it doesn't mean I still don't need this little bit of liberation I get from it.

So here I am, giving it another go - but without the self-imposed demands I make for myself.  I do this for me, first and foremost.  That is my "fierce boundary" that I commit myself to.

I'm setting fierce boundaries to not deny myself the experience of blogging that I love so much just because my blog isn't the prettiest, the best written, or the most followed.  Also, I'm going to set boundaries on the time I spend blogging.  Sometimes I give blogging too much time and then resent it for weeks or months because of the time I lose.  Like how I try to apply 'balance' to everything in life, I challenge myself to do the same thing here.  

Cheers to a fresh, less-demanding start to blogging! 

peace & love

baily

I'm Back! (and this time with a game plan)

I always say that I am coming back to the blog world - and I do for about a day.  But then I retreat back to my hiatus.  For some reason, I just can not get my groove back. 

Perhaps I blog less because I no longer feel lonely, alone, and isolated.  Maybe I just got burnt out and lost the passion for it so I needed a break.  It could be that I have procrastinated on getting my laptop to the Geek Squad for a clean-up and I refuse to waste my tiny amount of patience on the irresponsive thing.  I think I know what the main reason for my apathy is though: Twitter and Instagram. 

I follow most of my favorite bloggers on Twitter, thus, I feel like I know them better than half the people I graduated high school with.  Not only do I read their miscellaneous 140-character thoughts, I also see pictures on Instagram of what they're eating, where they're going, or what they're doing.  The instant, direct, continuous flow of information given to me via those social networks, makes me less inclined to read or see the whole story on the blog.  I know, I know - I should care more, be less lazy, and continue to participate in this little online community that I've grown to cherish so much over the years, but I just can't seem to find my stride. 

UNTIL....

I braved the bulky laptop, signed on to blogger (gasp!), went directly to one of my "go-to's" ( H S C ) and found a PERFECT link-up.  Seems to be that I am not the only once-consistent blogger that's gone awry.  It's all about 31 days to a fresh blog start: starting over, but not.



I am already 5 days late to the party as you can see.  But is that not typical Baily fashion? I think so! 

I am going to work on the first few posts over the weekend (because Bama has a 'bye') and hopefully get caught up soon.  But seriously, who said I have to follow any rules?  If you know me, I do things my own way and 'on-time' isn't really my thing. 

 

peace & love

baily

 

 

p.s. Kai will be pleased that I am finally giving the blogger thing another go. I will need her to continue hounding me on Twitter to get back on the blog.  Love ya girl :) 

Hey Y'all.  I'm linking up today with...

Here we go!

...............................................................................................

current book(s):

I avoided the annoying Twilight and Hunger Games books, but I couldn't resist the urge to get in on this craze... I'm on book #2 and and #3 is waiting on me...

current playlist:

current food/drink:

I have been on a pound cake binge lately...

I have made 3 pound cakes the past few weeks - from scratch!

I'm not my grandmother, but I can make a decent pound cake. ;)

current favorite show(s):

While most of my sitcoms don't have a summer season,

I've been getting in my guilty pleasure reality TV...

Real Housewives of Orange County

Real Housewives of New York City

The Bachelorette

current needs:

I really need this rain to stop in Central Florida.  We needed it, but enough is enough already.

current banes of my existence:

This non-stop rain I'm talking about, I guess.

And the distance between Orlando and Charlotte. I miss him.

current celebrity crush:

Ummm... Phillip Phillips, please!

I could watch the video of him performing "Midnight Hour" for days at a time.

current blessing:

Beginning to see God's direction for me in the near and far future.

The prayers that have been answered for me lately has blessed me with peace and comfort.

current indulgence:

When the sun does shine, I like to indulge in a little "me time"...

current outfit(s):

I'm loving bright yellows, blues, and of course my favorite color - turquoise!

Summer is my very favorite season for fashion... I was raised a Florida girl, what else would you expect?

current excitement:

Only a couple more weeks until I'm on the beach in Wilmington with Sheldon!

Can't wait!!!

current mood:

Excited/anxious about the next few months. Lots of things happening!

current quote(s):

current wishlist item:

this amazing turquoise purse from Coach.

........................................................................................................

Visit Jenn's blog and join the "Currently" link up!

peace & love

baily

She Reads Truth - journal/devotional

I recently started doing a journal devotional through She Reads Truth. I am absolutely loving it and I am getting so much out of it.

Over the past two years, I have made it my challenge to have a quiet-time every day.  My journey has brought me along this path of discovering that my relationship with the Lord goes hand-in-hand with my happiness.  I have come to acknowledge that without my faith, depression would have eaten me alive. 

Sometimes it is still a struggle to knock the depressive thoughts about myself completely.  Depression likes to linger and anxiety still unwelcomely comes and goes, but neither of them shall wage another war against me so long as I put on the armor of God daily.  That's what my quiet-time is all about, preparation and strengthening for the day ahead.

With She Reads Truth, it's a combination of learning His word, expressing our creativity, and sharing our testimonies with other people like us.  The study is called "Soul Detox" and it holds a valuable lesson in learning how to rid ourselves of the toxic thoughts that prevent us from seeing and doing God's will for our lives.  Check it out on the website or on the Twitter and/or Instagram hashtag #SheReadsTruth. 

Join us!



peace & love

baily



“I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.”  

-Marilyn Monroe-

Happy Birthday Norma Jean!

You brilliant, beautiful, strong woman.

You'll always inspire me.

xo Baily

 



conflicted blogger

I've neglected my blog a lot lately.  It seems every time I find a moment to post, I get too overwhelmed thinking about what all I have to write to "catch up".  I regret not posting more regularly because the feeling of falling far behind on the blog gives me this weird kind of anxiety that I really could do without.  I guess that's why I have just sort of thrown in the hat and walked away without considering what all I was walking away from.

I miss sharing my life on here.  I miss the interaction with my blog friends and the incredible sense of belongingness that is unique to this social community.  A big part of me really wants to be gung-ho about blogging again while other parts persuade me to think otherwise.  Even when I do have the time for a "catch up" post, I lose the motive to do so for some reason or another. 

I do not want to continue to neglect this blog.  I don't want the gap between entries to intimidate me from posting the way that it does.  I don't want to feel like I am writing for others. Instead, I want to write for myself but help and inspire others in the process.  I don't want to be chained by the expectations of  being a "blogger", but be freed by the fact that this is a place for me to express myself in any way, shape or form that I want to.   I want to write like I did when I first started this blog - with passion, with drive, with self-need.

So here's to getting back in the groove of things.... MY WAY. 

peace & love

baily  

I'm BAAAAACK!

"That's all we are - just stories.  We only exist by how people remember us, by the stories we make of our lives.  Without the stories, we'd just fade away."

-Charles De Lint-

writer's rut

Sometimes, I just really miss writing.  But yet, I don't miss the way I was when I needed the incredible relief that writing never failed to give me.  As an extrovert turned introvert going through the high's and low's of depression, I was a fluid writer then.  Maybe because I thought too much - I thought deep and lucid thoughts all the time, and writing was my way of getting it out of my head and clearing the space. 

There are tons and tons of unpublished blog posts that served as a blank canvas to my angry and sometimes self-depricating thought processes of my past.  I never published them, some things that I have written are mine and no one elses.  Writing isn't always intended for an audience.  Sometimes what you write is merely a dance with one of your demons.  You do the dance, you bow, and you thank God that it's over.

I don't think in the same process as I did when I was going through a time of emotional disturbance and mental turmoil.  Therfore, I do not write in the same way either.  There is no longer that NEED for relief because I have fulfillment in life that I did not have back then.  Still, I miss writing.

Is it bad that I don't know how to write when I'm happy? Why is sitting in front of a type-writer so much easier when you're depressed? I want to write, like really write, and I can't get myself to be able to do so.  All I know is, if my writing abilities hit the road when I finally kicked depression and anxiety out of my life - then let it be.  There is nothing worth letting those two back into my life.

But there's something that tells me I was a good writer before I was a sufferer of depression, I think I'll get my writer's swag back, but I need inspiration.  How do you fuel your creative writing?? Help!

via pinterest

nola pics

a few pics from my PERFECTLY AWESOME weekend in New Orleans celebrating Jackie and Brett's wedding!!!

It was so good to see these amazing people again. I miss them terribly!

And I got to take Sheldon to his first trip down Bourbon Street.

Let's just say he faired better than I did.

I'll post more pictures later.

peace & love

Happy Valentine's Day!

Week 1: February Photo-A-Day

Here's my first week of the

February Photo A Day Challenge

via instagram

My view:  NSD! At home sick with the norovirus

 but watching the Tide roll in the #1 recruiting class

on National Signing Day Nick Saban Day!!

Words:  these words came from my book, "The American Night: the writings of Jim Morrison."

Hands: enough said.

But if you want to check out one of the ways that I try to stop hate,

visit www.r-word.org and pledge to stop using hate words!! 

(image found via google)

A stranger:  I went with strangers and used a flashback shot

 from the Hangout Fest 2011 in Gulf Shores, Alabama. 

10AM: this one was on Sunday and at 10:00AM I was getting ready for church - where at 10:45AM I heard an AMAZING sermon on serving others locally and worldwide. 

Dinner:  Some yummy baked chicken and vegetables!

Button: from one of my favorite tops.

I'll post again next week!!

Anyone else joining in the fun on Instagram or elsewhere?

Follow me on IG at @bailyjones

peace&love

baily

looking forward

I’m excited about a lot lately. And life is GOOD!!
I have so much to look forward to in the coming weeks.
Not to mention, it’s purty darn exciting that I’m not feeling like I was this time last week. Oh what a difference a week’s recovery makes!

In a couple days, I'm headed to Charlotte to see Sheldon.  I am so fortunate that we do what it takes to see each other as often as we do, given we have a long-distance relationship.  He is THE best person ever!  I am lucky to have him in my life... and he gets me.  He's been putting up with my little bratty butt since I was 11 years old! :) I'm SO GLAD we are going to get to celebrate Valentine's Day together - even if it is a weekend early.  Come Thursday morning, I'm leavin' on a jet plane and I couldn't be happier. 

It’s almost ONE MONTH until my best friend Jackie gets married! I am so excited for her and her life with Brett. They are great friends! I’m so excited that Sheldon gets to go with me and meet all the crazies from my college days. The 1008 Oak Ave girls will be reunited… in NEW ORLEANS. Watch out, Bourbon Street!

I can't wait to wear this at their wedding next month.

It's going to be a beautiful event!

I’m getting excited and anxious for SUMMER to get here. Can you say MUSIC time?!? I’m super stoked about TOM PETTY in Orlando in May and I’m looooving my beloved Hangout Fest’s lineup for 2012. Can’t wait to reunite with the newlyweds (Jackie and Brett) for another groovy year at our favorite festival.

LIFE IS GOOD!

What are you looking forward to in the coming days, weeks, months?!?
Cheers to exciting adventures!

PEACE & LOVE
-bjj-

 

Where have I been?

A couple weeks ago, I set out for a week long visit to see Ashley, Tyler, and Grayson.  The very first night we were there, another tornado outbreak hit Alabama.  While Ashley was working the night shift at the hospital, my mom and Tyler and Grayson and I bunkered out in the laundry room with Maybelle, Beau, and Millie - and, wow!  Only a mile from where we were lifting the Birmingham area up in prayers, a tornado devastated entire neighborhoods.  When I say close call, I mean it was a close call.  To say something makes you think about life, blessings, and eternity is an understatement.  God bless those people.

This photo is from RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD from my sister's home where I was. SCARY!

Please pray for the Trussville and Clay communities, where an F3 tornado injured multitudes and took the lives of an adorable 16 year-old girl.  Other communites in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham were affected and I pray for the entire state as they face these turbulent times.  Sometimes I wonder if the South has seen so much devastation in these recent years because it's the 'Bible belt' and it has a been the chance for churches, communities, and society's finest and most gracious people to come together and show that through God there is a greater good in all things.  I believe whole-heartedly that the Christian nation is given it's chance to prove God's mercy and grace in these years of devastating current events like Hurricane Katrina, the tornado outbreak of April 27th, the Gulf coast oil spill and the depths of the economic crisis.  Churches from all over have come together to help the South and it's amazing to see a nation still be so good-at-heart.  I'm proud to be a Southern girl, as I've seen the most amazing things come about in these harsh times.  Continue to pray that God can show his LOVE through those communites as they face another devastating blow.  My love is with them all.

Right after I got home from Alabama - which was filled with amazing memories made with the most precious nephew of mine - I got the norovirus flu.  And I threw up a LOT.  I ended up in the Winter Park emergency room with bags of IV fluid, Zofran and all sorts of good stuff that made my stomach spasms stop.  Aaah, but it got the best of me for the ENTIRE week.  No bueno.

Happy to be back! Glad I'm feeling better! And I'm looking forward to my trip to see Sheldon in Charlotte this weekend! :)

Peace & Love

Baily

P.S. Can't wait to post my first week of my #FebPhotADay Challenge from Instagram. Who else is doing it... and what's your Instagram name?!?

ROMANS 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.