Friday, June 24, 2011

Oh Yeah? Watch Me.

How old do you have to be till people stop telling you that you are "too young" for stuff?

How old?

Supposedly I am too young for a lot of things...to think about getting married, to worry about employment after graduation, etc. etc...

Really...

I hate when people tell me I can't achieve or do something because of one thing or the other.
How discouraging do you want to be?
The only things that I am not legally old enough to do is drink/purchase/be in possession of alcohol(which will change for me in a week) and renting things like vacation homes and cars.

I've been able to legally work full time for 5 years and been able to get married without parental consent for 2 almost 3....so no I am not "too young."

Looking at maturity is I guess something to do....
Well, for the record I forget I'm not actually 28 years old. I don't have the limit of knowledge and experience in life of an almost 21 year old.
I've lived a lot of life. But I guess you didn't know that.

What ever happen to not judging a book by it's cover?

Sure I look about 15 with out makeup, but I have a wise soul.
I think I felt 21 in the 10th grade. Not because of alcohol or anything, but because of what I had to grow up and deal with.
Life happens to people at different rates and lessons are learned(or not) by people at different rates too.
So maybe, you were too young to get married or worry about employment after graduation at almost 21, but you have no place telling me I am.
YOU DON"T KNOW ME FOOL! (had to throw in a little humor)

Think twice before you tell someone they can't do something for one reason or another. Because if they are anything like me, they will say "oh, yeah?" and try twice as hard to prove you wrong.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

For those of you who know me, you probably think I'm really patient. I say that because those of you who know me know about me and my boyfriend and the fact that I don't get to see him much.
You probably don't know that, my boyfriend and I only get on average 12 one-on-one dates a year...yes, a year.
Did I mention we've been together for over 3 and a half years....yes we are high school sweethearts.

Anyways, I'm not patient. I pretend I am, but I'm far from it.
I get road rage really easily, I start count downs for things over 100 days before they actually happen, and I still ask, "Are we there yet?" on every road trip.

The Bible says that love is patient...well Bible you may be God's word and all,  but I'd have to disagree. (please don't smite me, please don't smite me, please don't smite me)

Love is NOT patient.

Love wants more than anything to have what it wants all the time, right then and there. I mean, love is what makes us want to be with someone ALL. THE. TIME. Because of this when we are gone from those we love we can't wait, literally, to be back with them. This is not patience!

Most people tell me they do not know how I do it, and honestly sometimes I don't either.

Waiting weighs heavy on a heart full of love. But if love is it's burden so be it, for it gives my soul pure joy and happiness. It is a a burden worth baring, for it is one so few get the joy of knowing.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

All the Small Things...A Thought for the Day

At work today I was sitting in the office of my boss and she was giving me a project. She printed something off for me and made a comment on how she is bad about printing things off and leaving them on the printer because it "is so hard to stand up and get them." Of course she said this jokingly, but then it hit me...

Why is it so hard to do the small things?
Why do we always plan for the large grand scheme off in the future type things?
Its always the small things that seam so insignificant.

We forget it's the small things that lead the big things to happen.
We forget that throwing a small pebble into an ocean, still causes a large ripple.

Planning for the future is wise, but making every moment count till then is what makes life worth living.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Age Aint Nothin' But A Number

BEFORE YOU READ THIS : please take the time to click "follow" and you can just sign in with your twitter name and password..yes its that simple. please please please. I'd just really appreciate the support.


So today at work we had this meeting all day long. It was a great learning experience for me...but that's not what I'm addressing today in this blog here today.
So anyways, back to being at the meeting....
Sometimes I forget how "not old" I am...meaning I am not young either, just not old. But I also forget I'm not as old as I feel. Which is about 28. I mean I've lived a lot of life. (For those of you who care I'll be 21 in 18 days)
But anyways...
 Looking around the room, I am reminded that I am the youngest person at the state agency I work at. I mean the next youngest at this meeting is about 7 or 8 years older than me.  Also, everybody at this meeting have kids.
So anyways as I'm eating my little oranges that were provided, I over hear two other employees talking about hot flashes and others talking about the joints and places on their bodies that hurt. And of course the line "Well, way back in the day..." is thrown out a few times. So then one of the ladies talking about her pains turns to me and says, "See what you have to look forward too? This is comin'."
I was taken back a little bit. I don't ever really think about how my body is going to deteriorate as I get older. To me, that's just part of it....I guess I just accepted it along time ago and moved on. But nonetheless that's why we have great modern medicine...and anti-aging cream.
Age is what our body does. But with age comes wisdom.

Wisdom is what I want.

I like the idea of being able to help others with their problems based upon my own wisdom.

Solomon was on to something.

Now, that being said...just because you are older doesn't mean you are necessarily wiser. I mean I know someone who is close to 70, and they are as far from wise as the moon. Wisdom does not come with the number on your birthday cake...it comes from having open hearts, open minds, and open doors to taking opportunities and risks (sound familiar fellow Methodist...haha).

Acknowledging first that we are not wise is the first step to becoming wise. If we step back and realize we don't know what to do in an situation, we can then better learn what to do through trial and error, both our own and of those around us on what to do the next time...

Listening is another way to gain wisdom...like, truly listening and understanding. If we are able to absorb what those that have gone through certain situations, we don't have to make their mistakes and/or we know what to do without making our own.

You also must know yourself before you can achieve wisdom. How can you better yourself, if you
don't even know who you are?

I personally am looking forward to getting older. I am excited to see what life has in store for me.
I don't care if I am going to feel a little sore now and again or get hot real quick all of a sudden, it's a price for something better that riches; wisdom. That's not to say I am not going to get my hair enhanced once it shows the dreadful grey hair....But getting older and wiser does come with more responsibilities...but there some great responsibilities I am so excited for. Things like marriage, children, owning a house and having steady employment are responsibilities and opportunities for wisdom that I look forward to taking on.
Have a wisdom filled day. :)

Now, off to change that world.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Oh to be a Southern Belle

So I was driving to work and thinking about how much I love the South. I mean really we are just awesome. And then I started to think about music...and you know what I noticed? I'll tell you, I noticed that songs about beautiful/awesome girls are always talking about Southern girls. OK, so there is also a song about California girls, but hey I'm still not convinced they aren't their own country. But that's a topic for another day.
Anyways, so yeah the South rocks.
With the finding of my Southern pride today I thought I'd publish some of my favorite Southern belle quotes. These are sayings only true belles understand. And of course I'm going to reflect on each quote, I mean duh.

"Southerns don't just drink iced tea, they practically inhale it. They see no reason not to drink it when snow is on the ground. It's equally as appropriate in the middle of a heat wave. " -from a Southern Belle Primer

Regarding this quote...Can I get an "I heard that," from yall?
I love tea. Although I'd argue that belles from Arkansas prefer sweet peach tea...I bet the Georgia belles would agree too. Well, at least that's what my Southern belle of a grandmother would always make...I blame tea drinking on my dislike for the taste of plain water.


"Big hair always been a fashion statement in the South. Teasing has not gone out of style. Hairspray sells are awesome. To a southern girl, getting her first can of hairspray is far more important than getting her first bra."- from a Southern Belle Primer

Just walk around the tailgating on football game day at the University of Arkansas and you can see the truth in this quote with your own eyes.

"What is considered trash or quality in the South has nothing to do with money. Some of the best families around haven't had money for generations. The emphasis is on breeding and manners. No amount of money can make you quality if you don't act like quality. For instance, good Southern belles don't place much importance on paying $400 to buy a pocketbook that's got some Italian designer's initials all over it. In the South, grandmother's monogrammed napkin rings are much more important than Gucci's monogrammed luggage. To think otherwise is just tacky. And around here, nothing is more tacky than being tacky." - from a Southern Belle Primer

"No amount of money can make you quality, if you don't act like quality..." love that.

"Ask Southerns what the most popular religions are in the South and they are quick to tell you--Baptist, Methodist, and football." - from a Southern Belle Primer

I am Methodist. My dad's side of the family is baptist. Most of my friends are one of the 2 except for the Texans....most of them are Catholic.

We here in the South are all guilty of counting down till the first fall football game of the season. We belles are always on the look out for game day attire and we always dress as if we are going out to a party to games. Of course, here in the South every social event is a party to us belles. We are social creatures and jump at the chance for an excuse to tease our hair, put make up on, and well....participate in various social activities (you know what I mean) while keeping it classy of course.
For you Razorback fans it is 85 days till the first football game of the season.

One last quote.
"The belle is a breed that has endured for generation after generation. That's what she's best at -- enduring and surviving." -Maryln Schwartz

True belles tend to have families that have lived here in the South for years. Most of us belles have mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers that are belles as well.

True Southern Belles are a unique breed of woman. We are strong. We are taught how to survive on our own. But we are also the modern day princess and expect to be treated as such. We are a sucker for chivalry, but we always keep our wits about us. To be able to claim the title is a privilege that is taken on with great responsibility. "To think otherwise is just tacky. And around here, nothing is more tacky than being tacky."

Hope you enjoined this one!
Now, off to change the world.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

A Sister's a Sister, No Matter How Far

Yesterday I got a text from a sorority sister telling me her boyfriend just broke up with her. Without blinking I immediately started to try and comfort her, altruistically. Before this I hadn't talk to her, like really talked to her in about oh, 2 months give or take.
And it got me thinking....

How great is it to know that when you have a problem or situation going on you can have a group of people that you can turn to and confide in with no risk of harsh judgement? This is truly a gift that not all people have in life.
I'm not saying that you can't have this if you aren't in a sorority, but I have found this in mine.

I have friends, and then I have sisters.

Sisters are friends that will tell you how it is whether you ask or not, they are going to be there when you get your heart broken, and they will be your biggest fan. They will pick you up when you figuratively and literally get knocked down (or fall/trip/stumble/tumble etc...) to the ground. They will be the one to take care of, look out for, and support you. They are also there to play "mom" when you need it.

A true sister accepts you for who you are even if they don't like you all of the time or if you make choices they wouldn't. Those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. A true sister doesn't mind.

The relationship isn't perfect. Because just like siblings, sisters quarrel and disagree. But the great thing about sisters is the issue gets resolved one way or another. Most sisters know how to forgive.

I first noticed the special bond sisters have with one another after my first summer break in college. I hadn't really talked much to, let alone seen any of my sorority sisters all summer. But, as soon as we all got back up to school it was like we had never not seen each other. We were still just as comfortable, talkative, and familiar with each other as we were when we left, if not closer. Sure we still caught each other up on our lives to that point, but it was just like we were telling each other about the night we had last night; normal.

Personally, I know I would do anything for anyone of my sisters. But then again, I don't know of any of my sisters who wouldn't do the same for me. That's just how sisterhood works I guess. And I'll tell you what, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Alpha Love

Now, off to change the world.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

They call me TaySte, Google for short

So, blogging.
I've been meaning to start for a long time now. I'm one of those people who walks around and thinks of something I feel is brilliant but have no means to the public expression I long for.
I also tend to keep a lot of myself inward, and so I am taking a challenge from a friend to blog everyday for 2 months (as long as I have Internet). Wish me luck! Haha.

Now for the explanation of my blog title "Girls Wear Pearls."
Every since I can remember, the women in my family told me about my great-grand mother, who is also one of my hero's. She always had something to say, and always did what she wanted even if it did get her banned from her Southern Baptist Church (this is why my family is Methodist). Well something I was told she always said was that pretty southern belles always wear their pearls. She would say, "It's just expected. That's how you know she real South." My grandmother, or Nana as we call her gave me my first real pearl necklace for my 16th birthday and I pretty much haven't taken them off since. Well, except to wear the beautiful pearls my now boyfriend of 3.5 years gave me.
Needless to say, I always try and follow what I've heard and can some what remember my great-grandmother says.
My family tells me I'm like her. I take pride in that.
There is also a double meaning to my Blog title in that one of my sorority gems is the pearl. The other is the ruby which happens to be my birthstone.

So now, about me.
I am a proud brunette with blue eyes. I am pretty short at only 5'4". I blame my great-grandfather for giving me the leprechaun gene. I mean the man was full Irish, a devout Catholic that went to an all boys Catholic boarding school for High School, where he played the fiddle! He also perhaps liked whiskey a little to much too (hey, he was full Irish). Did I mention his name was Thomas Francis McCarthy!?
Anyways, more about me.
My parents got a divorce when I was 14 and in the 9th grade, but the mess of it all didn't settle down...well till never but the divorce was final when I was 15 and in the 10th. This time in my life is where I grew-up. I learned more about the world in 2 years then most people learn in there lives. I am both thankful and bitter about this time in my life.
All that said, I have a dad, a step-mom, both  of their parents, my step-mom's brother and sister-in-law, my mom, her 2 brothers and there wives, 2 cousins, my mom's mom, my step-dad, his sister and brother-in-law, 3 step cousins, my step-dad's parents, 2 step-brothers, 2 brothers and 2 dogs in my family. I jokingly say we are an honorary Catholic family, hahaha.
I strongly dislike reading, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE to write! Words are so beautiful and powerful to me. But whats even more powerful are actions. Going out and participating in activities that bring people together through a common bond is one of my favorite things about the life I get to lead. I am involved in a sorority that has given me life long friendship and a very interesting, a times fast-paced, and over all fun college career. I have learned a lot about life, love, and people because of the experiences I have had at AOII (Alpha Omicron Pi), and for that I guess I am in debt to Stella. (AOII joke...) Also, I love helping people (and animals) in the community. I take community service very seriously. Whether it be through an organization, on my own, or doing something out of kindness on a daily basis for someone is something I take joy from. It is also expected. I have been very blessed in my life and given a lot of opportunity, resources and skills. You know it's said, to much is given much is expected. I try my best to meet said expectations.

So you are probably wondering about the title for my post....Well, let me first start off by saying with  2 generic and simple names for both your first last name, many nicknames come around. I've been called TayLay, TayTay, Tay, TaySte, TES, Stevens, Steve, T Sparkle, Google and lovingly been referred  to as "mom" by some of my sorority sisters.
I feel like most of my nicknames are pretty obvious on how they were come up with except TaySte, T Sparkle, and Google. T Sparkle was given to me because when I was younger I had a shirt with the letter "t" on it and then a rhinestone next to it like "t." And to T Sparkle was given to me.
TaySte is just the first syllables of my first and last names combined; TAYlor STEvens.
Google was given to me by my friends and sorority sisters because I know a lot of trivial things. If anybody has a question nobody knows the answer too, they come to me and I more than likely know it. Anything from what over-the-counter medicines you can take together and how often, to the state laws of Missouri, Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma regarding alcohol offenses (not that I've ever had to use that knowledge for myself). The thing is I have a thirst for knowledge and I find pure joy in knowing information just for the sake of knowing it.

Well, I think I've told you enough for now.
I look forward to writing again...this is so fun already!!! :)
Ok, I'm off to change the world.