Dress: Last Call [runs large!] | Shoes: Nordstrom | Bag: YSL | Sunglasses: Chloe [shade: Peach] | Choker, Moon, Pendant [c/o] | Bracelet: Julie Vos [c/o] | Lipstick: MAC Snob
Photography by: Angie Garcia
Strengths and weaknesses. Ahh! The ultimate interview question we all prepare for, then we leave the interview and they never asked that question at all. This is one of my favorite topics to discuss with Paul because the inner PR gal in me is all about personal awareness.
So let’s chat about them on this Monday morning! I’ll share a few of mine if you share yours!
Strengths
- I’m a loyal little dog. During my sister’s maid of honor speech at our wedding she called me a golden retriever. The words every bride wants to hear! 😉 In fact, one time my sister called me crying in a bathroom when she was in high school. I faked illness at work [oops!], left Dallas, drove to Fort Worth and picked her up from class so we could make her day better. If I love you, I apologize because you are stuck with me for life!
- I’m all about family. I live for my mama, I admire my daddy, I adore my sister, I have the best brother-in-law and sister-in-law in the WORLD and we already know how obsessed I am with my husband and daughter. I label this as a strength because I truly believe my family is the very best part of me. Each of their hearts and characteristics define mine and I feel so incredibly blessed by them daily.
- I don’t take myself too seriously. Hello, it’s called Chronicles of Frivolity for a reason! This is all frivolous and most of life is all frivolous. I walked into a pole the other day at Nordstrom because I was checking an e-mail. The entire store laughed and I just had to laugh too. I’m happy that I don’t take myself too seriously because we all know in 15 years I’m going to be like, “Oh please excuse the 89837 photos of myself online in dated clothing! Blogging was a thing back then!” haha!
Weaknesses
- I’m a people pleaser and it is a weakness. 100%. I had someone tell me once that she liked that I was a people pleaser and I thought, “HOLD THA PHONE GIRLFRIEND, THIS IS A BAD THING! A VERY BAD THING!” You see, people pleasing on the surface is great. You are viewed as “kind,” but people pleasing isn’t a catalyst it is a reaction. What is the source of people pleasing? For many people it is acceptance, for some it is sensitivity and for others it is perfectionism. I don’t know the source of mine [maybe it’s a combination of many things!] but I know that my people pleasing hurts the ones I love most. I refuse to bail out of plans, even if someone truly needs me to because I fear hurting the person I have plans with. I’ll stay up for hours [even when I should be watching a movie with my husband] getting something finished because I promised someone [even a stranger] I would finish it. You get the idea. For me as a Christian, I believe that if I know I am loved by Christ I don’t need that acceptance from others. So for me, this is a huge weakness of mine that I am working on every single day!
- I’m sensitive. Overly so. If someone texts me without an emoji it’s as if the sky fell and they hate me and told me our friendship is over. [Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating but you get the idea!] Then, I rack my brain thinking of anything I could have done to offend them and an hour and a half later I realize I’m just nuts. I’m constantly telling myself to put my big girl panties on and deal! I want to teach Maxi to be soft and kind, but not sensitive. I think those are two very different things and I want to be her example. I need to get it together!
- I don’t sleep. That’s not quite the last weakness you expected to hear, right? But as I get older and emphasize healthy habits more, I realize I don’t sleep. I go to sleep at midnight. I get up with my baby. I wake up for the day at 5. That’s all good and well for now but it’s not great for long-term health. I admire my girlfriends that are in bed by 9. I need to be that way! Does anyone have tricks?! I would blame it on motherhood but Maxi is down by 8 and I’ve always been this way.
These might seem like surface-level assumptions on my part, but I always like listing them out because it leads to more awareness. For example, I’ll think about how I’m loyal and then I start to see where it stems from. Or if I am concerned about how sensitive I am, I’ll start to think of how that can affect others and not benefit them. So what are a few strengths and weaknesses of yours?!
I hope you have a happy Monday!
If not sleeping is a weakness, it’s mine too. I’m a very light sleeper and I find myself sleeping at 6AM until 11AM most days… yes, it’s NOT a good time schedule, but my body is so used to it. I really need to tune it!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
My biggest weakness is that I over think EVERYTHING!! For example, I am finishing up a shift at work right now and from the time I clocked on 10 hours ago, all I’ve been thinking about is a conversation I had with my boyfriend earlier in the day. It wasn’t even a serious conversation & i’m totally turning it into something it’s not!! Good thing my boyfriend is patient and understanding 😉
What a great post gal! So amazing of you to share these strengths and weaknesses. The getting sleep one is definitely tough. I suggest just trying to take it one 30 minute increment at a time. Make sure your phone is put away and out of reach and lights are off. You’ll start to get use to going to bed a bit earlier!
xo Laura Leigh
http://www.louellareese.com
Thank you so much!! I will definitely try that tonight! 🙂 xo
Good morning! I loved this post! I think one of my weaknesses is also being overly sensitive. That is one reason I admire you and bloggers so much because there can be so much negativity on the Internet. I also hope someone leaves a suggestion on getting to bed earlier too 🙂
Hi Liz! Thank you so much for reading, you are so so sweet!! xoxo
Hi Katey – I just started following your blog a few weeks ago. I LOVE it! Your family is precious and your style is lovely. I thank you for this post, because I just had some of these “weakness” moments over the weekend. I’m proud of you for plainly stating, on social media, that you’re a Christian! How refreshing! Your comment, “I believe that if I know I am loved by Christ I don’t need that acceptance from others.” is just the reminder I needed today! Thank you! : )
Blessings!
I feel like we are twins. Haha every post you share I’m like “yup, I can relate” or “oh girl, me too.” So know that you are not alone! I’ve been following your blog for awhile now and I just wanted to tell you how amazing I think you are. In a world full of such hatred and negativity thank you for posting content that is lighthearted and fun. You’re truly incredible and I pray many blessings over you and your family. Xoxo
Katey,
I love your blog! Thanks for sharing this. Strengths for me include being a really loyal friend (like you!). My husband always says I am really good at making friends! That comes in handy as an adult living in the suburbs of Chicago– definitely harder to make friends at 30. I am exactly like you with the overly sensitive-ness. If someone uses a period or — God forbid– no punctuation at the end of her text, I automatically think she’s mad at me! It’s so silly, but it is such an area of weakness for me. Ah! So funny about the walking into a pole at Nordies. haha!!
xxoo
Mary
http://www.BelleOnTrend.com
This post is literally like you’re describing me! I 100% can relate on the second weakness! I agonize for days over whether someone is mad at me just because of how they responded to a text and then when I see them in person, nothing is wrong! And I think to myself, “why did you let that bother you so much?!” In church recently we learned to pray over our reaction to a situation and not to change the situation as its God’s will. I know this has been really helpful for me and maybe it will be for you too!
-Morgan
How 2 Wear It [] http://how2wearit.com
Such a great post idea! I am definitely similar to you in that I like to be a people pleaser and can be very sensitive. I also over-think everything. Very bad habits! I can get paranoid over a text (darn technology!) because I may be viewing it differently and just comments in general I end up taking the wrong way. For the sleep thing–when I was in my 20s (I believe you still are in your 20s if I remember correctly) it was much easier to live on few hours of sleep. As I have gotten older (turned 34 in May) it is getting harder for me to get through the day on few hours. I work full time and do my blog so I get up between 5 and 530am for work and then come home and cook, clean, etc and most of the time don’t get to bed until 1130 sometimes 12. It’s very rough and sometimes I take a nap on my lunch break. Other times I try to do my blog on my lunch break so that I don’t have to stay up late. This past weekend was very busy with family stuff and doing a 5k (speed walk-this girl doesn’t run-lol), so I was definitely exhausted so my boyfriend is like you just need to go to bed early–I was in bed by 1030 Saturday and Sunday and even that extra hour felt nice! I agree with the other reader in trying to go to bed earlier gradually by a half hour. There’s just never enough time in the day to get everything done!! xoxo
Hi,
I used to be a people pleaser too. But I stopped. It was a progress and I put my wishes and will more on focus now. Have a beautiful week. Love, Esther
https://lifestyle-tale.com
I think I have the same weaknesses, you just put it all into better words!! As for not being able to sleep – chamomile tea, put away all electronics, and a pitch black room works perfect for me! Hope you find something that works for you 🙂
Always,
Allie
http://www.champagne-tuesdays.com
Love this post! Today I was thinking hmmm I wish I had more good mom blogs to follow like Lemon Stripes and Katey… any suggestions?? I love that your little girl is about a year ahead of mine – like a preview! I’m due in December 🙂
Hi Georgia! I LOVE Lemon Stripes she is the cutest. Can’t wait for her to give birth! I follow Barefoot Blonde! But those are the only other moms I know that are bloggers! 🙁 xo
Loved reading this! I’m with you on the text thing.. if someone uses exclamation marks then suddenly doesn’t I’ll re-read my message/s 19 times, ask my best friend her opinion 5 times, run it by my Mom, boyfriend, post man, anyone that will listen, etc. Haha. Exaggeration a little, but I’m like that, too! It normally always works out, so I need to remind myself of that so that I don’t get hyped up every time that happens!
xoxo brandi
http://www.BrandiSoileau.com
Gosh I loved this post. Also, how in the heck do you survive on such little sleep?! I am envious of people who do that. I can only do it for a couple of days and run on adrenaline but I need sleep.
My weakness is my big fat mouth. I am never intentionally confrontational or critical but it just flows out of me without thinking. Once I realize what I’ve done, I’m like “oh crap! I did it again.” Then my second weakness sets in: inability forgive myself for being human. I literally will sit there berating myself for hurting someone or speaking out.
My strengths are integrity and responsibility. I had a work first, play later attitude instilled in me by my parents. Although motherhood has made me more lax because if I work and don’t play during the free moments I have, I never will (because I need sleep).
Thanks for sharing!
I’m with you on the not sleeping. My husband constantly gets on me about this but I’ve never been a good sleeper. Ever. At least with having a little one, I’m finally exhausted enough to take a nap once every two weeks, lol! I usually can’t take naps either. Trying to do better on this one. I love being self aware. It gives you a way to warn people about yourself, ha!
Camille
http://www.thecocooners.com