Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Advice

Here are a couple of the most sensible pieces of advice I have ever received:


From my mom as I was leaving home for my first year of college:

"Now, Holly, I know money is going to be tight while you are away, but you must remember to keep up with getting your roots done, nails done, gym membership, and any other "maintenance" things that you like to have done. You have to be determined to make a way to work these things into your meager budget because you will more than likely meet your husband at college, you know. And trust me, if you are keeping up with these things when you meet and date your husband, he will assume that these "maintenance fees" are part of "the package." He will realize they are necessities and they come with the deal.. If he likes the package when you are dating...then when you're married, he will find a way to work these "necessities" into your meager newlywed budget. If you let them go before you meet your husband or while you are dating, you may never get them back. Just trust me... it has taken me a long time to get some of those things back."


She was right.. that was great advice. I only wish I would have hired someone to clean my dorm room for me, so it wouldn't be like pulling teeth to try and work a house keeper into the budget now :). Oh, and please don't tell me this is manipulation--I saw it as a creative investment into my future :). Mom, you are a wise woman...thank you for the advice. (Chris thanks you too!)


From my Grandma one night when I was spending the night with her as a little girl and she was tucking me into bed:

"OK, Holly, you are all set-- sleep tight." (she turns to walk out the door and then turns around and says), "Now, if you have feel like you have to pee during the night, just get up and go. Don't even think about it--just get up and go the first time it crosses your mind. Otherwise you will spend the rest of the night trying to decide whether you should get up and pee or just wait until the morning. You will loose a good nights' rest just thinking about peeing-- so just get up and go and get it over with."


This one still cracks me up, but I swear I live by it every night. No Contemplating-- Just go the first time you think about it. ---Although, this just about killed me when I was pregnant!


What is one piece of practical advice that has always stuck with you?

14 comments:

{darlene} said...

hahaha. I love this post. I was wanting more! I will have to think if I have ever gotten any advice this perfectly practical!
Darlene

Tiffany Cooper said...

I have a feeling you have a family full of slightly crazy yet hilarious women. Everytime you write about them or some thing they said I find myself laughing outloud. This is great! The best part is it makes perfect sense. I love it!

paige said...

HILARIOUS!!! The pee-advice is totally one I learned in college from my Outdoor Activities professor (yes, I actually got a college credit for camping!)!!!!!

I seriously think about that advice all the time!!!!!! I'M CRACKING UP!!!!!!

Melanie said...

I can't believe that you put that on there. I have some advice from Grandma too... Always keep your shoes on throughout the day. Otherwise, it gets too easy to be lazy.

Faith said...

I COMPLETELY agree with the second one! This was fun!

Holly said...

Darlene-- Here's one more: My grandma always told me Never, under any circumstances, hang curtains with your husband...It will cause the worst arguement you have ever been in :) Thanks for commenting!
Tiffany-- you right..except I think we are slightly hilarious yet very crazy.. Oh well, we get a lot of stares when we are all together in public :)
Paige--What college did you go to? Are you sure your degree is legit (sp?)?
Mel--Oh yeah, grandma taught me that too..I never take my shoes off until bedtime. You know, Katie took the cake on following mom's advice the most-- Poor Tim :)
Faith-- I know your mom must have given you some good ones too! Let me know if you think of one :)

Tiffany Cooper said...

Your sister's comment about your grandma is so funny...she would be a funny one to talk to.

Kent D. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kent D. said...

Holly,
The best advice I ever got would have to be from ol' Dad himself. one day while we were in the car he told me this: "Kent, if it is at all possible avoid arguments over little things with you mom and you your sisters at any cost. Because if you do argue with one of them eventually the will probably gang up on you and it will be five on one... you might be wondering why it wouldnt be five on two and the reason is this... I'm not stupid son." And he was right!

Anonymous said...

Wow, that was too funny! These ppl at work think i'm crazy. I just bust out laughin. The peeing thing is totally true! I learned that one the hard way and so happen when I was pregnant with Jr. Grandmas are funny!

paige said...

I read this one today on a facebook status:
"Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes."

paige said...

here's another:

"Never test the depth of the water with both feet."

paige said...

If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is probably not for you.

Anonymous said...

Holly,
I can't believe I told you that. Here I am out in the sticks with my own short, chewed nails, Roots out of control, pedicure long gone, and I love it. Being low maintenance isn't so bad either.
Mom