a little long thought

life's happiness can easily be altered by the world around us.

you may feel as i do sometimes, 

living with racing thoughts flourishing your mind of things you must accomplish and become.

i'm grateful for the world we live in today

 it's a modern marvel that we live with such technology developments and continuing discoveries.

rapid forms of communication connect us with loved ones and new acquaintances.

those dreams you had of traveling afar become a reality.

answers to nearly any question are given, making life simple in one way or another.

creative outlets provide ideas for your home, a party, your hair, clothing, children, church, the list goes on.

each day and every day.

it's a blessing, yet there is an opposing downside.

we expect people to answer phone calls immeadetly, 

respond to texts and email in the timeliest manner, 

and give no excuse to being late due to taking a wrong turn.

everything we create has an expected level of creativity and originality.

we have the answers at our fingertips, literally.

becoming more concerned about what is going on in others lives

  (those you may not even know) 

then the life you call your own, 

leaving thoughts of comparisons and sometimes criticism.

it can be overwhelming to think you aren't:

creative enough nor do you dress the part, 

your meals aren't magazine cover worthy

your body doesn't look ready for summer,

and you don't have time to do the two hours worth of exercise you just discovered.

your home doesn't smell like fresh laundry,

your fridge is stocked with foods less then worthy of healthy

family night does not consist of cut outs and brownies

nor does your sunday lesson have a tablecloth and flowers.

although all of these would be nice,

it's not a reality for us to become everything we merely see around us.

there is only so much that can be said with out actually being done.

and what you do, is who you become. 

lucky for us, we live in a time where chasing after your dreams,

and aspiring to what you ultimately want to become is accepted. 

the options are endless, there are not limitations. 

and even with the wild obsessions and crazy expectations

of daily life around us:

today you are you.

and no one alive is youer then you. 

the darndest things

kids say them, they do. i've been playing mom this week after work, i wasn't thinking right when i agreed but i can't say no because i miss my nannying days. being a grown up is fun, it is but some days it's just happiness to not take life so seriously and play like kids do. 

kids play, and they know how to play hard. i had to call husband to bring me a change of clothes because a dress just wasn't cutting it for chalking and water fights. i found myself giggling when i saw baby dallin with a fistful of dirt in is mouth, only to hear older brother tell me i was crazy for laughing. or how about when he looked at me appalled that i would think it was ok to not take shoes to the park, again called me crazy and i laughed, again. 

what would you do to go back to age five? or even eleven? what would you tell yourself? i would tell myself that everything works out and that it's ok to slow down and not try to grow up so fast, that forgetting to brush your hair and having stains on your clothes isn't a bad thing, and being barefoot in the summertime is really best, and that the boy who is being mean to you in mrs. lewis' class won't always be mean, he will turn out to be your very best friend and you will marry him one day. 

but ironically those aren't bad words of wisdom for any age. everything does work out, and it's silly to try to grow up faster then needed, and we can still let loose for a moment, and the boy from mrs. lewis' class loves that girl more then anything even when there are bad days, because let's face it we all have them. 

here goes nothin

i'm low on photos can you tell? but i do love this photo of husband and my mom from the weekend

the mr. has been wearing my socks the past two days, unmatched
what is he thinking? i love my crazy socks, a lot.
and his feet are much bigger then mine
good thing i love the man

he is also away at the library
so i probably won't get to see him tonight
kind of ok because i need to get things done
and with him around it's quite impossible

except lucy has promised to follow me around all day every day
with a toy most likely a ball
or a bone, or a shoe, or whatever she may find
maybe that is why she is my best friend and my house looks the way it does

i've decided i still don't know what i was thinking when i decided we should just go look at puppies
she stole my heart but i'm quite alright with it, because she is pretty fun

this is why i am in love...

last night, husband taught me about the economy and the stock market.
something (in my personal opinion) which could compete to be the most boring topic, ever.
but nothing was more darling then watching my cute husband teach me about hedge funds and stocks.
because of course a girl like me should really know her terminology

i'm still so confused, and i don't know if i ever will not be
but while i was ever so bored listening to him tell me about earning reports
i couldn't help but to smile because i loved that he thought it would be important for me to know
so while he talked my ear off i realized that

i am in love....
with a hedge fund, stock loving, economy fascinated man who wants to be a dentist
yes, yes i am.

little random ramblings

on a wednesday, a rainy wednesday. 

i've decided that making dinner is so overrated. going out is the perfect solution for a one- lazy wife, two- hungry husband, and three- stress, free, clean free, delicious dinner in my book. happy husband, not happy for our wallets or waistlines.

the corner of my work office is the central location for dancing advertisers. on my way to and from work i see the dancing pizza man, mr. lady liberty, and the random man who waves a cell phone sign wearing whatever he chooses on that particular day. today he wore a nifty umbrella hat. pretty sure i'm their bff, considering i'm the only person who waves and my umbrella man gets overly excited when he sees me at the light because he knows he will get a wave from me. 

the mr. has his second check up for his knee today. i'm crossing my fingers ever so tightly that he passes his range of motion test. if he doesn't he will be going back under, yes back again so that they can basically smash his knee to bend because it doesn't want to do it by itself as of now. and that just sounds terribbly-awful-unneccesary-painful, and none of us ever should have to do that, ever.  

the olympics are in 100 days. i watched the whole special this morning on the today show, i love the olympics. nothing could be better then pairing really my two favorites: the olympics and london. i really have an obsession over both. especially the olympics. dream job one day, one day far far away. 

the mud can go, really though i'm done with mud. mud on my bed, mud on my clothes, on my carpet, countertops, muddy paw prints all over my house can go. i feel like i'm living in beethoven (the movie). every time it rains and i see lucy come in the house i'm fearful to where she is going to decide to "shake." it's gotta go. 

spinning

my mind is spinning. 

do you ever have nights where your mind won't stop thinking, 

turning and turning?

that was me last night, lots of new ideas over here.

 little ideas, exciting plans, secrets, wishes, and dreams taking place.

sometimes when my mind is spinning i'd rather dream real dreams then have a "sleeping dream"

and these are real dreams

that i hope come to life!

often these important times create the greatest outcomes in my opinion.

when i tell husband i can't sleep his automatic reply is, 

"stop thinking"

he knows me too well.

it is true

a little story for you today. 

yesterday i lost lucy. i arrived home to see our gate wide eyed open. my heart stopped and i got that uncomfortable lump in my throat, the one where you know you are on the verge of tears. i know this may seem silly, she is a dog but all of a sudden i felt like a mother bear who lost her cub. frantically i searched with fear of never finding her or seeing her be hit by a car. she has no fear or apprehension towards anything. but then, ta da i found her across the street a few houses up. you should have heard the noises that came out of my mouth. i think i squealed and then i got so excited i could barely talk. i tell you it was like homeward bound in real life when i spotted her.

she was a mess and she smelled, like she had bathed with the pigs in the pig stye. i'm still confused trying to find out where she had been. but i've never been so relieved. i blame this partially on my moody-girl-emotional-time of the month but here is the moral of my story:

i realized yesterday what a wreck of a mother i'm going to be. it's true. i don't even know how i could love something more then this silly puppy but i know i will. what will become of me? i hope i'm not crazy and i hope i can get it together by then. the end.

p.s. i thought of posting a picture of my own but this one is so much better. i paaaahromise myself i'm going to be better at it. 

it's true

girls will be girls. 

they will.

and i love everything about being a girl. 

(ok well maybe not everything but most things) 

i love that i get to get all dolled up for fancy schmancy events, 

or even the not so fancy events. 

i also love to be doted on by my husband at times. 

that i can cry in movies and it's ok. 

or that i can have excuses to play with friends, like lunch dates and book club. 

i love bows and braids, painted nails and lips. 

oh and jewels don't get me started.

so lately i've been making myself extra girly. 

i was telling husband i think this happens every spring. 

he said he already knew that about me. 

you did? 

 i like to treat myself to new lip glosses, beauty tricks, and flouncy dresses. 

i may or may not have gotten fake eyelashes again. 

(and i love them, it takes so much time out of my morning routine.

so worth it)

bought this new gloss in poppy.

found this steal for mint jeans, you know i love mint. 

and i'm got my hair did. 

this time i mean it

i always say i'm never going back.

back to the dentist that is. 

but i really wish i could mean it this time. 

sadly, my uncle kyle he is my dentist. 

so of course there is somewhat of a love hate relationship there. 

i mean really, who does love the dentist? 

this mornings visit was different then your reg check up. 

oh yes, i got it all. 

by all i mean: separating tape (yes on my teeth), clamps that i swear permanently stretch your mouth out, teeth filing, chiseling saw, beeping lights, all of the noises you don't want to hear near your mouth. 

don't forget the "tasty" sour numbing cream. seriously?

perhaps i could go into a career in creating dental products that actually taste appealing. 

i'm a pill when it comes to the dentist as it is, so being there for two hours...

not quite my cup of tea. 

but it's over, hallelujah and mr. 7 and mrs. 10 look great 

(those would be my two teeth they worked on) 

now i'll spend the remainder of my day getting used to this grainy feeling, 

trying to remember what it feels like to use my tongue,

and remembering to never go back. 

i mean it. 

some days

require a little: 

this 

and this

today was one of those days.
(but oh my goodness, if you live in utah you must go to nielsens and promise me you will get the peppermint custard. it is uh.maz.ing.)

to try tuesday's

some inspiration to try new things. here are some of my hopefuls for this week. 

 images:

1. matte polish: you don't know jacques matte opi 

2. twisted pony:via here 

3. colored denim: find yours here 

4. leather, black, and burberry

images:

1. diy burlap banner: pics to come of mine for thanksgiving 

2. darling printable: i love you because here 

3. rosemary olive bread: to die for here 

4. pumpkin spice doughnut holes: here

 
what are yours?

this weekend:

she: organized her closet.

baked tasty treats.

visited with best friends.

he: studied (not so new!)

went to priesthood with dad and brother.

played in a flag football game.

we:went to a utah game.

cheered the little brothers on at east.

had family movie night.

enjoyed a wonderful breakfast thanks to these good friends.

watched a weekend of conference

and went on a little hike with the pup.

cinnamon pumpkin pull.a.parts

i made this tasty treat on sunday morning.

i would highly recommend it to all of you cinnamon and pumpkin lovers like me.

hence the name.

they are well worth it.

found on interest (where else?)

recipe here

thursday thoughts

do you:

ever have those days where your mind is just spinning with thoughts?

i do.

usually on thursdays, when the week has just about passed and i'm letting myself think of the weekend.

this weekend in particular.

here are some of my thoughts today:

there are 2 weekends a year where we get to stay at home and listen to inspired words and actually be in our "comfy's" all day sunday and not need an excuse.

ohh conference weekend. i love.

(to find more about what we believe go here)

1. thinking about my love for tights, colored tights in particular. you must try them this fall.

i also love.

(did you know we are still in the high 80's in sl? i never thought i'd be asking but i am, bring on the cold!)

2. stacked rings. i loove rings.

3. this recipe is a nutella/greek yogurt fruit dip yum.

(go here)

4. and this recipe which i've been missing and stumbled across. it is divine. try it!

(go here)

lake powell in just 8 more days.

thats enough to distract me all day.

some other thoughts:

i really love my job, and i'm learning more then i ever imagined.

i am so grateful for salt lake, didn't think i would ever come to say that.

i miss friends who live far away.

i'm so happy to have technology to talk to friends who are far away.

and just a little reminder for myself and anyone else:

dear: luck

lately i've been trying to tell myself patience is a virtue. well my friends, it paid off.

you know how i said last week to cross your fingers for me because i had some potential job opportunities in the air? well....

i got a job! not only a job but the job.

really it couldn't be more perfect for me. all the time and waiting was worth it and definitely meant to be. never have i ever felt more lucky and blessed. i wish i could divulge all the details now but that will have to wait for a later time.

Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.

the one and only miss oprah winfrey

all i know is your going to be hearing this phrase a lot:

i love my job i love it i love it i love it.

resolution. it's only february 4th

i am a resolute. it's what i do. goals, list, plan, check off, completed, begin again.

do it perfectly. don't set a goal expected to fail. here are the resolutions i began in january and have decided that they have made the list!

my new middle name: "cardio" it will be done, whether i like it or not.

i will learn to love the three letter word. RUN

write letters, often (lovers letters too)

write in journal more often. a lost art that has kept me up at times and helps me to remember my fondest memories.

i will also wallpaper a room in the house.

dream by the beach whenever possible. and read the book of mormon at least once.

have i done any good in the world today?

smile. love. laugh. relax.

read.

things to l.O.v.E.

currently my mind has been dreaming.

dreaming of lots of things that i love and am currently loving.

here are some of my obsessions.

spring just around the corner, and sweet floral prints.

fresh bruschetta on a toasted baguette

sushi. need i say more?

beautifully adorned sugar cookies.

this simple quote.

loose waves and coral lips.

and...upcoming beach vacations.

(just so you know this is exactly where our honeymoon was, take me back now)

what are you loving?

dear: thoughts on my mind

eek i can already tell that i'm in for a real treat with this new challenge of mine. i could tell you everything that jake and i have done this week, and i could tell you everything that we are doing this weekend but i won't. rather, i'm going to tell you a few things i've been thinking of:

1. is there one significant hairstyle for a person? because if so, i have definitely not found mine. i cut straight bangs last week and they are so much cuter on others then myself. please grow fast.

2. i never really thought about how weddings would be after i had my own. i still enjoy them but all the fun in sampling ideas for myself are gone, sad realization. but i really do enjoy attending them for these reasons: a. dressing up, i rarely need to wear anything besides t-shirt and jeans these days b. i adore flowers too much and when they are pretty i am so satisfied c. good company, good food, and great dancing (which i think everyone should include to their day, just an opinion)

3. laundry is so time consuming. i love my husband, and appreciate that he likes to be fresh and clean at all times, but really three outfits a day?? its killing me.

4. the holidays are drawing near and i've already accumulated a great christmas playlist, lover is not too keen of the idea

5. looking forward to our triple/quadruple date tomorrow with besties and family (i will most definitely post pictures)but i'm not very graceful on skates and we have chosen ice skating as the activity. last time we went i crumbled to the ground and caused an earthquake of a noise, nbd.

6. the weather is cold, and i'm ready for snow.

7. hp comes out tonight and i'm not going, we aren't too big of fans we haven't read the books, and i don't know the last movie i saw so i would be lost if i attended. but i might take that up to be my next 30 day challenge: finish all hp books in 30 days? i say yes.


what's on your minds?

dear: little dreamer in me

over a year ago, 18 months to be exact, i created a list titled "my mt. ventoux" i stumbled across it and was pleasantly surprised to see that i've accomplished some since.

a famous historian once said: "today you can have the same view easily enough-there is a road and a restaurant at the peak-but that's not really the point. the point is to climb something you were afraid to climb and see something new. what is your mt. ventoux?"

i took this as a challenge to write down everything i one day wanted to achieve, whether it frightened me or just intrigued me. some are things i want to constantly achieve or be sure to do, others are once in a lifetime opportunities. it ended up becoming a bucket list of some sort but a little more meaningful. so here it is:

dress up and go to the symphony, ballet, and opera

go to libraries and old bookstores

read, often.

dance at the edge

dance at steps and broadway

act

tryout for a musical

take voice lessons again

sing often

talk for hours sincerely

never lose spontanaety

walk on university avenue

explore stanford university

take road trips

serve endlessly

love unconditionally

hold church callings

spend time in and at the ocean

take time to enjoy simplicity

be satisfied with only family

explore boston

live in NYC

drive PCH in a convertible from north to south

go to county fairs

perform

listen to byu devotionals

listen to conference talks

go to museums

visit galleries...local

go to town meetings

weekly farmers market

hike

visit quite places and write

walk through old towns

climb eiffel tower

spend time with children

become a homemaker

return to india

celebrate all holidays

create a picture book

run.

run.

run.

learn my camera better

take classes, always

explore different cultures

visit the temple, often

anonymously take care of others

make new friends

spend time with old friends

attend presidential inauguration

learn money management

swim

play golf with dad

achieve the sport of tennis

read the NYTimes and know current events

memorize great speeches

change someones life, for the better

picnics at the park

concerts at the park

take long drives to get small things like ice cream at bear lake

ski

oil paint

get pedicures and facials with mom

plan events

provide a clean home and good enviornment

write hand written letters

leave voicemails

give gifts, thoughtful ones listen to podcasts

attend messiah sing a long

homemade gifts for friends

know local artists and support them

read for story time

african safari

attend poetry readings

sail on a boat

curl up by the fire with someone special

find my someone special, and know he is the one

create my dream wedding

visit havana and dance the streets

pyramids at sunset

salmon run in alaska

road trip across u.s.a.

ride camel in desert

kiss a stranger

live in italy

learn italian

sleep in an ice cave

visita a pub in ireland and kiss the blarney stone

little house by the sea

dance on beach of carribean sea

see ball drop in times square

spend semester at jerusalem center

cruise down the nile

see sunrise on the east and sunset on the west in the same day

run boston marathon

hike inca trail to machu pichu

visit the galapagos islands

scuba the great barrier reef

see the himalayas

ride in a hot air balloon

kiss at night at the eiffel tower

walk on the great wall of china

publish a book

surf in hawaii

love southern utah

hike the alps in switzerland

build a tree house with my kids

see a shuttle launch

ride bare back

dangle feet over monet's lilly pond

master excel haha

list 1001 things to be happy about

know isiah in the bible

memorize all the countries in the world

learn sign language

make my own time capsule

dance inaugural ball with the president elect

be part of a live t.v. show

become a beautiful interior decorator

identify constellations

know my family history

read all jane austin books

be famous for something

sit at the feet of the prophet

record a song i sing and write

fly international first class, how lovely

stay in a secluded cabin and write

spend all day in bed with husband on a rainy day

visit morocco casablanca style

visit stratford-upon-avon

hang glide

visit every temple

play all hymns, perfectly

make a quilt

throw a block party

PTA president

play director

give $100 to a beggar

wear an obnoxious hat to the kentucky derby

celebrate a perfect 4th of july

write thank you's to all my teachers

get my masters degree

own my own company

give something priceless and meaningful away

write a cookbook

become a beautiful cook

raise children righteously in the gospel

become an expert on etiquette

scuba dive in thailand

speak spanish, fluently

coach a team

sleep under a tin roof when pouring rain

learn to speed read

become a motivational speaker

join the u.n.

work for the olympics

swim with dolphins

shower under a waterfall

see a solar lunar eclipse

run to the top of the statue of liberty

make a hole in one

tell someone "i love you" and know they are the one

see a star shower

spend a week in the louvre

hear the "gloria" at st. peter's

heli ski

motorcycle trip

attend olympic opening ceremonies

fly in a private plane

eat a hot dog at coney island

attend world series game

sew

fly a plane

sit front row at a fashion show

attend grammy awards

attend oscars, or just the red carpet

be acknowledged on red carpet

sew my kids clothing

take a trip, buy the ticket at the gate

bowl over 100

homeschool kids for one year while living abroad

ride a donkey in santorini, greece

master cosmetics

whale watch in new zealand

try out for mormon tabernacle choir

take my family to india

spend a day at each museum in d.c.

see earth from space

see the 7 wonders :

see the aurora borealis (northern lights)

grand canyon, donkey trip and raft ride

petra, in jordan

ride bike on the golden gate bridge at sunset

the colosseum in rome

hike havasupi with curtis cousins

go skinny dipping at 12 am in the south of england

be an extra in a film

learn how to take a compliment

plant a tree

learn to ballroom dance

fall deeply in love-helplessly, unconditionally

sit on supreme court jury

go to walden pond and read thoreau while in a canoe

spend a whole day reading a novel

drive the autobahn

put name on bench in a park for something

grow a garden

build and design my own house

serve a mission

spend christmas in paris

thanksgiving in new york

buy a bulldog with husband

attend bcs bowl game

marry in the temple

be a president of an organization

save someones life

be a good friend

wear beautiful ensembles

attend ny fashion week, or be the head coordinator

graduate college

adopt a child, maybe two

to be continued...

some of these i may never see in this life, but it's always good to have that little push behind you to get you going...even if you are somewhat afraid. because it's all about climbing to see something new, or become someone better.

but for now, one step at a time. because it's all about the climb you go through to get there that makes the moment entirely worth it.

what is your mt. ventoux?