"30 Day Challenge... Day 30"

Day 30: A letter to yourself: tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself.

This is not as easy as I anticipated. But I will give it a shoot.

Kelli,

You are a great person. You have taken the hand life dealt you and have made the best out of it. You had to leave everything you loved when your husband left. You moved back home because you were put on mild bedrest, for the health of your tiny growing baby. In 3 short years you have completely turned your life around. You are a great [single] mother to a gorgeous toddler. You are following your dream and are one step closer to your masters degree and teaching. You are finally living on your own & working two jobs

 and love every hectic minute of it. You have proved that you can do it on your own and that you don't need a man. You are setting a great example for your daughter, keep up the good work and you will go far

Love, Me

**Write A letter to yourself: tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself.

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"30 Day Challenge... Day 29"

Day 29: Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.

I stress myself out so much, over the little things in my life. If I could not stress so much, I feel my life would be much easier. I want to learn how to be less stressed. 

**What is something you hope to change about yourself, & why.

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"30 Day Challenge... Day 28"

Day 28: What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?

Well I would probably freak-out and wonder how the hell that happened. You have to do "something" to get pregnant & I am NOT doing "that". At. All. I am not in a relationship, I am not FWB with anyone. I have no desire to "bed bounce"; I have a daughter whom I need to set a good example for. Having random men, in & out of my house, is NOT a good example. I am okay on my own, not doing "that" with anyone. 

If I was doing "that" and was pregnant, I would sue my IUD company. A few people have gotten pregnant with one in and sued the company and won, millions. 

So if I was pregnant, it would be somewhat of a miracle. :)

**What would you do if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant?

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"30 Day Challenge... Day 27"

Day 27: What’s the best thing going for you right now?

Well, I have a lot going for me right now, no one thing is better than another. 

I am finally at a point in my life where I feel as if things are all moving in the right direction. 

I am about a yr away from receiving my master's degree in Early Childhood Development (birth- age 8; third grade). 

I have 2 wonderful jobs, one at a great dental office (3 days a wk) where the atmosphere is light and inviting. I laugh so much when I am there. The other is at an elementary school, doing extended day, 5 days a week. I love this job b/c I am working with children which is my passion. I have a great class of 18 4th graders. But I love all our ext. day kids k-5. I've had em all at one point or another. 

On top of both jobs and school, I do a lot of observation at elem. schools because I need a certain amount of hours before I can student teach. 

I have a great [small] group of friends & I love each and every one of them! I know they are there for me, rain or shine. Not to mention a wonderful family & support system. 

I love my house, I feel like E & I are getting more and more settled in every day. I walk in from being gone, no matter if its a mess or not, I am just glad to be home. It is a picture of the life E & I are building. 

So, like I said, I am happy with everything going on right now in my life. 

**What’s the best thing going for you right now?

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"30 Day Challenge... Day 26"

Day 26: Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?

Who hasn't. Times get tough, but you pull through and look back and realize that times weren't really so bad. I went through some really rough times in about 2005/early 2006-ish, I have never address this in the blog and I am still not ready too. I also had some rough times in 2007/2008, when the ex walked away and I did the whole pregnant thing alone and then became a single mom instantly. But now I love my life. 

**Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"30 Day Challenge... Day 25"

Day 25: The reason you believe you’re still alive today.

This 'prompt' hots close to my heart, as I have almost died a couple of times. Once from a horrible staph infection, once from the antibotic that was used to kill the staph, as I was allergic to it and the massive amount pumped into my body almost killed me. It burned my skin, horribly. Then there was the time I didn't know i was allergic to shellfish and had some shrimp cocktail {shutter} and passed out b/c my throat closed up and I could not breath anymore. I think thats about it. 

I believe I am still gracing all of you with my presence b/c the Lord was not done with me here, on earth. It was not my time. He had a greater plan for my life. I hope that I have made him proud with what I have done with the time he has given me and I hope to continue to use that time wisely.

**Whats the reason you believe you’re still alive today.

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"30 Day Challenge... Day 24"

Day 24: Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. 

I am a country music junkie, as stated here, and a lot of the people in my life listen to country too, but only occasionally. Not as much as I do. I have 3 country pre-sets on my radio. Sometimes I can pick-up a 4th. I have close to 6,000 (some are books on "tape") songs on my iPod, about 4,000 of those are country.

So I think it would be hard to make a playlist for people in my life, as they rock out to different genres. Although, a while ago I made my bestfriend, Hayley, an 80's "mixtape" playlist. B/c along w.country I could rock out to 80's music, any day, all day. It was pretty rocking. 

80s Mix Tape:

Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams

Love Shack -The B-52's

My Prerogative - Bobby Brown

Tainted Love - Soft Cell

Prisoner Of Love - Foreigner

Free Fallin' - Tom Petty

Footloose - Kenny Loggins

Head Over Heels - The Go-Go's

Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield

Turn the Beat Around - Gloria Estefan

Love Is A Battlefield - Pat Benatar

Material Girl - Madonna

Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper

Like A Virgin - Madonna

Thriller - Michael Jackson

Juke Box Hero - Foreigner

I Don't Want To Live Without You - Foreigner

Get On Your Feet - Gloria Estefan

**What songs would you put on a playlist? Who would you give it too?

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"30 Day Challenge... Day 23"

Day 23: Something you wish you had done in your life.

 I wish I would've gone on the cruise with my family in 2007. The cruise that was booked for my 21st birthday. I did not go, b/c my now ex-husband, told me that if I went he would not be there when I returned. This cruise was booked long before he was in the picture, it was booked late 2006, my ex and I started dating Jan 2007. My parents had booked the presidential suite for me and a friend, as this cruise was for my 21st. My friend went through getting her passport expedited, so she could go, she saved $ from her paycheck so she had spending monies. We were so excited. 

But I was in a bad place in my life right before and after I married the ex. A few months after we had started dating and a few before we got married, I learned I was pregnant, 12.5 weeks later I miscarried. I was devastated, a month and a half later I married him. I was still an emotional wreck as it was my second miscarriage, it took me a long time to get past that miscarriage. Anytime I saw a pregnant belly I lost it. 

The thought of him being gone when I returned scared me enough to tell my mom that I wasn't going, that was the beginning of a bad time for my family and I. I had to break the news to my friend, who already did not approve of my choice of man. 

Shortly after I told my mom I wasn't going, I married him. I spent my 21st birthday, ALONE and sick. He lied to me about having duty. He said he had duty, which didn't make since b/c it wasn't on our calendar, where we put the duty days, but I was sick so whatever. Come to find out he was out with his buddies all day. I was sick at home on my 21st birthday. A few weeks later, I got pregnant with E and he took off.

I wish I would have gone on  that cruise and spent such a monumental birthday with my family, instead of crying, alone, sick. I should have known he was going to leave no matter what, I just prolonged it. 

But every decision, good and bad, had lead me to where I am today. I am in such a great place. I am in the process of getting my masters degree, I have a beautiful, healthy, smart, loving daughter, 2 great jobs, a loving supportive family/friends and a beautiful home. 

I am still young, there is so much I want to do in my life and since I am so young I have plenty of time to do those things. I want my child/ren to experience so much. I see great things happening in my life in the coming years. I can not wait to start teaching, I was made to teach and being in a career that I love will allow me to give my child/ren experiences that I never had.

**What is something you wish you had done in your life?

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"30 Day Challenge... Day 22"

Day 22: Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.

I like how this one is worded. It says "Wish you hadn't done" NOT "regret". To me there is a big difference. Everyone has things they wish they hadn't done. I wish I hadn't dated some of the uniforms guys I dated in college; for may reasons, I wish I hadn't broken-up with a certain someone, I wish I hadn't partied as hard in college, I wish I hadn't had to stop dancing, etc. Theres a ton of little things I wish I hadn't done, but the reality of it is, you can't take back actions or go back in time. I did the things I did and those experiences made me who I am today. I am happy with who I am becoming. Without those experiences I would not be me.

**What is something you wish you hadn’t done in your life?

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"30 Day Challenge... Day 21"

Day 21: (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?

This is simple. 

I would go be with her. I would make sure she was okay. Her life and well-being is far more important than some silly fight. I would say sorry ASAP, but I think my being there would show my apologies. I can't think of any fight, aside from sleeping with my husband (that I don't have), which she would NEVER EVER DO, that would keep me from getting to the hospital at a speed that would rival Ashley Force Hood's speed.

**What would you do?

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"30 Day Challenge... Day 20"

Day 20: Your views on drugs and alcohol.

I think drugs are stupid. If you smoke (marijuana) thats your purgative, don't do it around me or my child. I am so against any other kind of drug use, I have stopped talking to people b/c of their illicit drug use. I don't like those type of people in my life or my child's life.

As for alcohol it is what it is. I have a glass of wine here and there, socially sometimes after a rough/long day with dinner. That's it. I know it [alcohol] has the potential to be dangerous, and I have seen alcohol ruin lives but that doesn't scare me away from a nice chilled bottle glass of white.

**What are your views on drugs and alcohol?

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"30 Day Challenge... Day 19"

Day 19: What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?

I am a religious person. I don't force my beliefs on anyone. I have blogged about my feelings on church and God before. I was/am working on my walk with him. I hope that by this time next year I have a much better relationship with God. I have a GREAT church, that I grew-up in and church family. Recently I have felt God working through me, so I suppose I am 'walking' in the right direction and I am on his desired path for my [and E's] life. I am nowhere near the perfect Christian, I don't know many, but at least I know this and want to become a stronger one. 

**What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"30 Day Challenge... Day 18"

Day 18: Your views on gay marriage 

I am a SOUTHERN BAPTIST, REPUBLICAN who is for gay marriage. Oxymoron? I don't think so. I have a few family members that are both gay & lesbian. I also have a handful of friends that are GLB. I love them all the same. I think they deserve to spend the rest of their lives with the one they love and have it legally recognized, like every other marriage. Not just by a few states. I don't think a person's sexual orientation defines them. They aren't just GLB, they are a person, too. With likes and dislikes and hobbies and careers, etc. 

**What are YOUR views on gay marriage? (remember no judgements here @ KK)

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"30 Day Challenge... Day 17"

Day 17: A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.

Well there has been two books that really helped me in my journey as a single mother. One was "Single Mom Seeking" By Rachel Sarah and the other was Three Wishes its a book about 3 friends who decided to be choice moms. Both great reads. I read the books in about 48hrs, each. They didn't necessarily change my views on anything, but helped me more or less as I struggled back in mid-2008 as I was a new single mom. (I just recently read 3wishes)

**Whats A book you’ve read that changed your views on something?

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"30 Day Challenge... Day 16"

Day 16: Someone or something you definitely could live without.

I could live with out mean, two-faced and rude people. They ruin perfectly good days. I don't think this needs anymore explanation.

**What is someone or something you definitely could live without?

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"30 Day Challenge... Day 15"

Day 15: Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.

It sounds so silly but its a tie between my DVR & my cell phone (iPhone). I had to go w.out a DVR in PA and there was a two day stretch, while in PA that an ATT tower in my area was down and I had ZERO cell service. 

I love my DVR because I am so busy from the time I get home with getting dinner on the table, tubbies and bedtime for my little one. That by the time I get a second to sit down all my shows are over, but thanks to the DVR I can watch them. Its coming in handy now with all the Christmas programs/movies. I really enjoy my DVR on Fri/Sat nights after E goes to bed. I mean you can watch alot on Hulu.com, but I get sick of a comp after using it for work and HW.

As for my phone, it does everything. Its my lifeline. When I had to go 2 days w.out it I felt so disconnected. It could have also been b/c I was 1000+mi away too. Haha. 

I'm sure if I HAD to, I could live w/out these things but, I've tried and NO THANKS!

One other thing I can't live w/o is JEANS! I 'collect' jeans. I have over 10 pairs. I wear jeans year round. 

...and we all know I COULD NOT LIVE W/O MY GIRL. That one is a no brainer. 

**What is something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it?

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"30 Day Challenge... Day 14"

Day 14: A hero that has let you down. (letter)
I am going to change this one a tad-bit; there has only been one 'hero' who has let me down and I am not ready to write a letter to that person. So I am changing it to a person who has let you down, in anyway.


Hey You,


We've been friends for a while, that means we've been through quite a bit. I love you, you are a good person and you have the best of intentions; you are a great friend. But recently or not so recently, maybe recently I just started to notice; you try to "one-up" me, on the weirdest things. There's no need for that. I am not in competition with you and you shouldn't be in competition with me, you are my friend. I don't compete with my friends, on anything. Unless its a friendly sports team thing, but thats different. When I first started noticing it, I got aggravated, now it just hurts my heart. I wish I knew why you're doing it. It leaves me wondering,  did I do something that is making  you feel that you need to "one-up" me? Just remember the next time you go to do it, think about it and realize, we're friends and there is no need for that, we're friends and you and I are NOT in competition. Please don't try and "one-up" me.    

Love,
Me


ps,
Don't ask if this letter was to you (or who it was to), I won't tell you. 
If you have to ask then maybe it was to you. If you are a "one-upper", stop. It's not a good trait to have. 

**Who is a hero/someone that has let you down?

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"30 Day Challenge... Day 13"

Day 13: A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days.

Well since I was in the womb I have listened to country. It's funny because my mom no longer jams out to country, but I still do. 24+ years later. So the only kind of music that has helped me is country. I have different playlists for different times in my life and I have been known to listen to the same songs over and over, but always country (maybe a few noncountry bands made the cut).  

**What is a band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days?

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"30 Day Challenge... Day 12"

Day 12: Something you never get compliments on.

This is difficult, b/c my mom compliments me often and so do my friends on what a great  job I am doing with E/ what a good mom I am. She also tells me often how proud of me she is for going back to school to get my masters, working 2 jobs and keeping my house up, all by myself. 


I guess I am going to have to say that nothing comes to mind. I have people in all facets of my life that compliment me on SOMETHING. From my cooking/baking to my wardrobe, to my ability to listen, etc. 


I guess when you're single you don't expect compliments from a nonexistent s/o - friends are always better compliment givers anyways. 

**What is something you never get compliments on?

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"30 Day Challenge... Day 11"

Day 11: Something people seem to compliment you the most on.

I get compliments a lot on my eyes and smile & in turn my teeth. Sometimes it makes me feel uncomfortable, although, I do take great pride in my teeth. I did even before my stepdad and mom married and before I worked in a dental office.

I also get quite a few compliments on what a well behaved and sweet child I have. They tell me I am raising my daughter well, that I am doing a good job. That is one compliment I will gladly take without shame & it will never get old. My daughter is my pride and joy. I think the world of her and to hear OTHERS praise her makes my heart swell, with love, joy & happiness.

**What is something people seem to compliment you the most on?

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli