Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
5 days till we are Georgians!
Yes, you read that right! 5 days and we will be headed up to GA! The apartment is pretty much all packed up except for the things we are using now...dishes, a few toys for the kids, shower curtains etc. The kids are out for the summer and are loving it! Here's a few pics from today. Hope you enjoy!{ BTW, they are all shot in manual mode! I'm pretty excited because I usually just shoot in Auto or TV mode...so yay me. I've always been intimidated to learn it, but now I am!!}
They were so nervous to stand in the middle of the road LOL! In hinsdight, I didn't compose this shot really well.....I should have emphasized the lines in the road better...but I was trying to hurry in case a car came! Oh well, I know what shot I have to work on! ;)
Little Miss Diva with her hand on her hip! Man, I think Michael and I are going to be in for it when she's a teen!
I love this cute little cottage! Isn't it darling??
My blue eyed beauty!
I love this sweet little face!
We are going on Wednesday to take some pics with my mom and grandma and are going to get some shots of the girls....my grandma, mom,me and Hailey...That's 4 generations :) I will post again soon!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
A photoshoot with my babes- Sugar Mill Gardens Port Orange, FL
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Women, Men and communication
I found this cool article about how men and women communicate and it ties in to a conversation I had with my hubby today about his, ahem, lack of communication, :)
You can go read the whole thing here.
Girls' friendships focus on making connections -- talk is essential to this process. Sharing secrets, relating experiences, revealing problems and discussing options are essential during girls' development.
Boys generally take another approach to friendship. Their camaraderie is not less profound; it's just different. Buddy groups tend to be larger, focusing on activities rather than conversation.
Top 10 Ways Men and Women Communicate Differently
10. Nonverbal Communication
9. Body Orientation
Picture this: It's happy hour after work. On one side of the room, there's a group of women, deep in conversation. Their chairs are all turned toward each other, and they continually make eye contact. On the other side of the room, there's a group of four men. They sit at angles to each other. During much of their discussion, their eyes roam around the room, glancing at each other infrequently. Each cluster is engaged in its preferred style of talk. It's great for tonight, but when group members are engaged with the opposite gender these preferences may cause problems.
One specific aspect of nonverbal communication is body orientation. If a man won't make eye contact or face his female conversational partner, she (perceiving conversation as integral to relationships) may interpret this as a lack of interest. He may become annoyed that she is rejecting his efforts; to him, his relaxed body position is actually helping him concentrate. The differences in physical alignment can make it difficult for talkers to reconcile the two styles [source: Tannen].
8.Arguments
Women often try to get their point across by asking many types of questions: defiant, informational and rhetorical. The questions are designed to present an opposition or gather data. Men's contributions to arguments are often simple and direct. They're so straightforward, in contrast to women's questions, that men might not even realize that a conflict is occurring.
When, finally, both parties realize they are disagreeing, their communication styles have great impact. Men are concerned with being right and less concerned about anyone else's feelings. This perceived lack of compassion upsets women. Men dislike questions, interpreting them as censure, and they react by closing down emotionally. This pattern leads women to become increasingly suspicious and wary. Time to go to separate corners [source: Booher, Whitworth].
7. Apologizing
Women use apologies to try to create or maintain connections. Men, on the other hand, are concerned with what an apology might do: It might lower them to a subordinate position, a place where they've never wanted to be since boyhood. [source: Tannen].
6. Giving Compliments
From a young age, females learn to give compliments; it's almost reflexive. Compliments are a way of reaching out to one another, an offer of affirmation and inclusion. Men are more likely to volunteer evaluations instead of hand out compliments. Similarly, they will not seek out compliments because they want to avoid being critiqued themselves.
Naturally, these differing approaches complicate communication. If a woman asks a question with the hope of being praised or flattered, a man may well see it as a way to offer advice. This affects their relative power: The advice-giver is automatically shifted to a higher position, with the woman having lower status [source: Tannen].
5. Problem Solving
Men and women approach an analytical discussion differently. As just illustrated, men tend to focus on facts and seek immediate resolutions; action is the conversational goal. Women desire more extensive talk about problems, sharing feelings and finding common experiences.
Even if there's a mutual dilemma to resolve, such diverse communication goals can lead to frustration. Men don't understand why women don't want to solve problems, why they seem ungrateful for direct help. Women are hurt by the perceived disregard for emotions and frustrated when they believe they are being pushed to decide too quickly [source: Torppa].
4. Getting Your Way
Men and women have very different ways of trying to get what they want, which can make it difficult to come to an agreement.
Women are typically in conversation mode; they are more likely to ask questions. Their goal is to get others to decide through agreement.
Men often interpret this approach as manipulation. They will make statements rather than suggestions. Their objective is to get their way directly and quickly. If that doesn't work, they'll exit the discussion; they may either be angry or simply less passionate about the subject.
These discussions, then, often do not go smoothly. Men are resentful, believing women are trying to trick them. If men won't participate in back and forth negotiations, women feel slighted. This could easily turn into an argument-something that no one intended [source: Tannen].
3. Chatterbox
Who talks more, men or women? Take into consideration all interactions during the day, with family, work, friends and businesses. Would you guess women are more loquacious? A lot of people would. And a lot of people would be wrong.
Research indicates that there is no significant difference between women and men in the amount of words spoken, although, when they do talk, men tend to use more words at a time. The major difference appears to be when men and women do their talking. Women spend more talking time with family and close friends, expressing support and discussing experiences. Men tend to talk more at work and in formal and social settings, and their goal is the exchange of information, even when conversing with a buddy.
At home, women do talk more and become perturbed with less responsive partners. Women try to work on their relationships, while men see little need to speak unless there is a specific purpose -- a problem to solve, a decision to make [source: Tannen].
2.Interrupting
"Where are the bandages? I cut my-"
"Huh?"
"I was working on the-"
"Ooh, it's bleeding a lot."
"I know, that's why-"
"Here are the bandages. Do you want-"
"I'll do it."
"I could-"
"What are we doing for dinner?"
Most people dislike being interrupted, but most people do it at one time or another. Women interrupt to show concern, but they think men disrupt the discussion by shifting the subject. Men do try to control the conversation by disrupting it. They also believe a woman's supportive interjections (for example, "go on") are interruptions.
Frequent interruptions, no matter the cause, no matter the target, can lead to frustration. This can build to anger and, unless the guilty party gets things under control, the discussion will come to a screeching halt. Or perhaps just screeching [source: Cowie].
1. Email
E-mail. So helpful, convenient and quick. E-mail. So overused, annoying and redundant. It's also pervasive. A 2009 study found 1.4 billion people worldwide use e-mail, sending 247 billion messages daily [source: Radicati]. Due to the enormous number of e-mails sent, it's perhaps not surprising that the tone of most messages is conversational, with little attempt to revise that pattern.
Mistakes occur in spoken language, and they also turn up in e-mail.
Most of the e-mail women send revolves around relationships: being supportive, making suggestions, apologizing, asking questions and offering thanks.
Men's e-mail messages are very different. Not only do men more often portray themselves as subject experts, but they have a more contentious interaction style, employing sarcasm, profanity and insults. Men may be looking for information from others through e-mail, but they are also seeking influence and respect.
Communication, whether non-verbal, verbal or typed into a computer, is open to interpretation. That is especially true when men and women are evaluating each other. Awareness of variability in communication styles can be the difference between an effective, fulfilling conversation and a distressing upsetting, prolonged argument [source: Rosetti].
So what did you learn? Nothing? Hahahahaaa. Me either. It's completely true. All of it. But I think we knew that! Anyone want to share how they get their hubbies to communicate better? It doesn't have to be important issues, it could just be regular stuff.
I'm sure my love and I are just in the " I haven't seen you in a while and its so hard to be apart that it hurts to talk about it" stage.......
But I'm taking advice anyways :)
You can go read the whole thing here.
Girls' friendships focus on making connections -- talk is essential to this process. Sharing secrets, relating experiences, revealing problems and discussing options are essential during girls' development.
Boys generally take another approach to friendship. Their camaraderie is not less profound; it's just different. Buddy groups tend to be larger, focusing on activities rather than conversation.
Top 10 Ways Men and Women Communicate Differently
10. Nonverbal Communication
Women's actions {direct eye contact, sympathetic looks, hugs etc} all focus on maintaining the relationship. Women give attention and encourage participation from other women.
Men are goal orientated. Their actions depend on what needs to be done. Does he want to appear to be in charge? Then he uses his body movements to control the discussion. If he wants to seem empathetic he will keep a calm face. [source: McManus].
Picture this: It's happy hour after work. On one side of the room, there's a group of women, deep in conversation. Their chairs are all turned toward each other, and they continually make eye contact. On the other side of the room, there's a group of four men. They sit at angles to each other. During much of their discussion, their eyes roam around the room, glancing at each other infrequently. Each cluster is engaged in its preferred style of talk. It's great for tonight, but when group members are engaged with the opposite gender these preferences may cause problems.
One specific aspect of nonverbal communication is body orientation. If a man won't make eye contact or face his female conversational partner, she (perceiving conversation as integral to relationships) may interpret this as a lack of interest. He may become annoyed that she is rejecting his efforts; to him, his relaxed body position is actually helping him concentrate. The differences in physical alignment can make it difficult for talkers to reconcile the two styles [source: Tannen].
8.Arguments
Women often try to get their point across by asking many types of questions: defiant, informational and rhetorical. The questions are designed to present an opposition or gather data. Men's contributions to arguments are often simple and direct. They're so straightforward, in contrast to women's questions, that men might not even realize that a conflict is occurring.
When, finally, both parties realize they are disagreeing, their communication styles have great impact. Men are concerned with being right and less concerned about anyone else's feelings. This perceived lack of compassion upsets women. Men dislike questions, interpreting them as censure, and they react by closing down emotionally. This pattern leads women to become increasingly suspicious and wary. Time to go to separate corners [source: Booher, Whitworth].
7. Apologizing
Women use apologies to try to create or maintain connections. Men, on the other hand, are concerned with what an apology might do: It might lower them to a subordinate position, a place where they've never wanted to be since boyhood. [source: Tannen].
6. Giving Compliments
From a young age, females learn to give compliments; it's almost reflexive. Compliments are a way of reaching out to one another, an offer of affirmation and inclusion. Men are more likely to volunteer evaluations instead of hand out compliments. Similarly, they will not seek out compliments because they want to avoid being critiqued themselves.
Naturally, these differing approaches complicate communication. If a woman asks a question with the hope of being praised or flattered, a man may well see it as a way to offer advice. This affects their relative power: The advice-giver is automatically shifted to a higher position, with the woman having lower status [source: Tannen].
5. Problem Solving
Men and women approach an analytical discussion differently. As just illustrated, men tend to focus on facts and seek immediate resolutions; action is the conversational goal. Women desire more extensive talk about problems, sharing feelings and finding common experiences.
Even if there's a mutual dilemma to resolve, such diverse communication goals can lead to frustration. Men don't understand why women don't want to solve problems, why they seem ungrateful for direct help. Women are hurt by the perceived disregard for emotions and frustrated when they believe they are being pushed to decide too quickly [source: Torppa].
4. Getting Your Way
Men and women have very different ways of trying to get what they want, which can make it difficult to come to an agreement.
Women are typically in conversation mode; they are more likely to ask questions. Their goal is to get others to decide through agreement.
Men often interpret this approach as manipulation. They will make statements rather than suggestions. Their objective is to get their way directly and quickly. If that doesn't work, they'll exit the discussion; they may either be angry or simply less passionate about the subject.
These discussions, then, often do not go smoothly. Men are resentful, believing women are trying to trick them. If men won't participate in back and forth negotiations, women feel slighted. This could easily turn into an argument-something that no one intended [source: Tannen].
3. Chatterbox
Who talks more, men or women? Take into consideration all interactions during the day, with family, work, friends and businesses. Would you guess women are more loquacious? A lot of people would. And a lot of people would be wrong.
Research indicates that there is no significant difference between women and men in the amount of words spoken, although, when they do talk, men tend to use more words at a time. The major difference appears to be when men and women do their talking. Women spend more talking time with family and close friends, expressing support and discussing experiences. Men tend to talk more at work and in formal and social settings, and their goal is the exchange of information, even when conversing with a buddy.
At home, women do talk more and become perturbed with less responsive partners. Women try to work on their relationships, while men see little need to speak unless there is a specific purpose -- a problem to solve, a decision to make [source: Tannen].
2.Interrupting
"Where are the bandages? I cut my-"
"Huh?"
"I was working on the-"
"Ooh, it's bleeding a lot."
"I know, that's why-"
"Here are the bandages. Do you want-"
"I'll do it."
"I could-"
"What are we doing for dinner?"
Most people dislike being interrupted, but most people do it at one time or another. Women interrupt to show concern, but they think men disrupt the discussion by shifting the subject. Men do try to control the conversation by disrupting it. They also believe a woman's supportive interjections (for example, "go on") are interruptions.
Frequent interruptions, no matter the cause, no matter the target, can lead to frustration. This can build to anger and, unless the guilty party gets things under control, the discussion will come to a screeching halt. Or perhaps just screeching [source: Cowie].
1. Email
E-mail. So helpful, convenient and quick. E-mail. So overused, annoying and redundant. It's also pervasive. A 2009 study found 1.4 billion people worldwide use e-mail, sending 247 billion messages daily [source: Radicati]. Due to the enormous number of e-mails sent, it's perhaps not surprising that the tone of most messages is conversational, with little attempt to revise that pattern.
Mistakes occur in spoken language, and they also turn up in e-mail.
Most of the e-mail women send revolves around relationships: being supportive, making suggestions, apologizing, asking questions and offering thanks.
Men's e-mail messages are very different. Not only do men more often portray themselves as subject experts, but they have a more contentious interaction style, employing sarcasm, profanity and insults. Men may be looking for information from others through e-mail, but they are also seeking influence and respect.
Communication, whether non-verbal, verbal or typed into a computer, is open to interpretation. That is especially true when men and women are evaluating each other. Awareness of variability in communication styles can be the difference between an effective, fulfilling conversation and a distressing upsetting, prolonged argument [source: Rosetti].
I'm sure my love and I are just in the " I haven't seen you in a while and its so hard to be apart that it hurts to talk about it" stage.......
But I'm taking advice anyways :)
Monday, May 14, 2012
Three months?
How is it possible that it has been three months since I last posted?!? I
can't believe that. Hmmm, where to begin. I suppose with the kids.
Everyone is doing great! Zachary has officially learned all his
Kindergarten sight words and has moved on to learning his first grade
words. He also has his first loose tooth!! He is beyond excited.Mikey
is doing amazing in school also. All A's and B's on his last interim.
{this has been his pattern since the start of school!!} my little
princess is her normal bouncy self....except she's getting antsy about
the move. What move, you may ask? Well, I don't remember if I told you
all or not, but we are moving up to GA! Michael and I thought he would
be out of the Army {medically retired} by now, but it looks like it
could be anywhere from 5-8 more months. :( We found and locked down
{paid the deposit} for our rental house.
Kitchen, 1 bedroom, straight back is the bathroom and behind the stove wall is the laundry room. In front of the breakfast bar would be where our dining table goes....
Hailey & my brother, Tim-she thinks he's funny!
Hailey and her Aunt Bubby...Awww!
Daddy came to visit April 17-27
Fishing with Uncle Tim
My Z going all the way under the water. He HATES water on his face for some reason so this is a HUGE deal for him! I'm so proud! :)
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse
Kitchen, 1 bedroom, straight back is the bathroom and behind the stove wall is the laundry room. In front of the breakfast bar would be where our dining table goes....
One of the 3 bedrooms. This is only half of the room! The bedrooms are HUGE!
Part of the living room. Fireplace!!! :) Those two windows are on the front of the house.
The house! It's a triplex. We were very lucky because it's a month to month rental because we will be looking for our forever house once we get settled in. Also, Michael's cousin, his wife and kids live to doors down! It's going to be GREAT for the kids to have their cousins so close!
Hmmm, what next? I know. My work. It's been wonderful at Home Instead Senior Care! My client is moving to an assisted living apartment, so she had decided to stop using my company. :( I haven't been with her for about 3 weeks now and I miss her. Ya ya, I may be too attached, but I think that my genuine care and concern for people is what will make me a good nurse! I put in my two weeks notice just a few hours ago. It's definitely a bittersweet moment.
Here's a few pictures since the last time I posted.
Hailey totally trusts her Mikey!
Hailey & my brother, Tim-she thinks he's funny!
She wore an itsy bitsy teeny weeny little polka dot bikini...
She entertained herself for a good 15 minutes doing this :)
Mother's Day, we went out with my mom, grandma and her boyfriend on their boat. We had sooo much fun. Here's a few pics from the day!
Leaving the inlet
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse
Well, now that you are all caught up......;)
Thanks for stopping by. I'm surprised I have any readers still!
Till next time----
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