tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34893504402427967002024-03-05T14:29:10.147-08:00'sessionsA collection of obsessions. All mine.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-67271440323980439692013-11-14T19:35:00.001-08:002013-11-14T19:35:36.980-08:00Tableau My Mind!Over a year ago a very enthusiastic stats professor introduced me to <a href="http://www.tableausoftware.com/">Tableau Software</a>. We were forced to learn the software at first but then I became a little obsessed with how awesome this stuff was...<br />
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I started following the company.<br />
Reading their blog.<br />
Politely stalking my friends who work there.<br />
Celebrated silently when they went IPO.<br />
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I don't typically classify myself as a nerd but when I am knee deep in data and surrounded by creative options and lots of colors, I transform. Tableau makes boring data and spreadsheets come to life and MEAN something. There are all kinds of professional and personal applications, all you need is DATA. It's what it's all about. Real-world applications that I plan on trying out include...<br />
<br />
Expenses and finances<br />
Homework galore<br />
Revenue and sales tracking<br />
Resume building! (See below...)<br />
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And. That. Is. Cool.<br />
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So, I got carried away. So what? Here is my very first Tableau Public "viz" (viz = visualization) and it happens to be <a href="http://public.tableausoftware.com/views/SaraHyerResume/SaraHyerResume?:embed=y&:display_count=no#1">my Tableau-Style Resume</a>. I should point out I have some prodding to get this done, and also help from online sources my "Tableau-Pro" friends. This is only the beginning...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-66962265949472497332013-07-14T23:19:00.002-07:002013-07-14T23:19:58.870-07:00What I've learned in Grad School...As the frequency of my blog posts suggests, I have been extremely busy with balancing my life including full-time work, full-time school, and an attempted social life. Life has been challenging but fulfilling at the same time over the last year. There have been several instances when I have a hard time remembering why exactly I chose this route with the accompanying schedule. Eventually it comes back to me and I don't regret my decision one bit. This is a very special time in my life and I know I am very blessed to be at this point.<br />
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Aside from the many subjects I have learned about in my first year as a MBA student, I have learned a lot about myself and a lot from my fellow classmates. Although I am not perfect at any of these things a few of the key life lessons I'm learning are listed below:<br />
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1) <b>Time Management is key</b> - study, group study, meals, "me" time, social time (only on weekends on a good week), sleep, more study time, networking, family... all of these things are important but also take time. Calendaring, planning, and self-discipline especially help with conquering this one.<br />
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2) <b>Energy Management is even more important </b>- I have to pick what activities are worth the energy expenditure. Sounds pretty sad but ever so true especially for a girl who requires 8 hours of sleep to be a nice person.<br />
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3)<b> Roommates are good to have </b>- Stressed Sara isn't a pretty sight but my roommates are really great to provide me with patience, love and kindness, even dinner sometimes. Without these girls I would have no social life which is important for me being a social butterfly in my glory days (pre grad-school). Really grateful for the girls I've lived with on my grad school journey.<br />
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4) <b>Service makes things easier especially when you have no time to do it</b> - That statement doesn't make sense until you actually live it. Service never comes at a convenient time usually but it is true what they say, you are blessed when you are reaching out and trying to help others. I attribute a lot of my success in surviving school for service efforts. It is amazing how stepping out of your world and into another's makes you do and feel so much better. This is a concept I have to remind myself of every couple of weeks, I need to remember it more often.<br />
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5)<b> All things are possible with some help from above </b>- There have been tests and projects that I have looked at not knowing how I would ever finish them and come out on top. But then a miracle happens and I am so grateful for the help received.<br />
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Though grad school seems to consume my mind and time lately, I still fit in the following:<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Getting a new job</b> - I am now a Marketing Manager and learning a whole lot there too. This new job is giving me a whole lot to apply to my grad program and vice-versa. Another great and guided decision.</li>
<li><b>Family time</b> - San Juan Islands trip(s), new nephew coming soon, upcoming Carribean Cruise</li>
<li><b>CrossFit </b>- still doing it although not as frequently as my pants size wish</li>
<li><b>Making big plans for the future post-grad school</b>... More on this later.</li>
</ol>
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In conclusion, my obsession for this particular post is probably life balance in general. One more year and hopefully I will have it mastered just in time to move on to a new chapter.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-12779396817269902522013-01-29T12:43:00.000-08:002013-01-29T12:43:35.843-08:00Heartthrob, new watch & Grad SchoolThe latest obsession worth mentioning is Tegan & Sara's latest album <i>Heartthrob</i>. I saw them live a few months ago and got to hear all of this life changing music only to never listen to it again because it was unreleased... until today! Reasons why you should GET IT TOO or at least Spotify it...<br />
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1) They are twin sisters, family oriented. Wholesome.<br />
2) They have evolved from their punk rock/indie roots. Canadians got talent.<br />
3) "Now I'm All Messed Up" (#9). Wow.<br />
4) Quote from coworker now in love with the <i>Heartthrob</i> "Great Friday music!"<br />
5) Deluxe album version only includes " Guilty as Charged". Replay.<br />
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You can listen to the full album (excluding Deluxe songs) <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tegan-and-sara-continue-pop-evolution-on-heartthrob-album-premiere-20130124">here</a>. You're welcome.<br />
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Also, I am officially a MBA student at UW. So I decided I needed a watch. It's from Anthropologie and is not set for the correct time. It's ok, it's just for show anyway.<br />
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In other news, I was able to visit a bestie in Atlanta over the summer. We conquered the Muddy Buddy 5K. Best day ever. Loved ATL. Also, learned how to surf in Mexico. Can't even say enough good things about that trip. Life is really busy and good and busy again.<br />
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This weekend I'm off to see another bestie in... New York City! More pictures to come.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-92178415172242828222012-05-09T10:25:00.000-07:002013-01-21T11:14:24.942-08:00AliveWell I'm back and thriving. The other blog is alive and well too at <a href="http://sessionsofsara.blogspot.com/">sessionsofsara.blogspot.com</a>. I really am doing very well and staying very busier than ever. Here is the breakdown.<br />
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Work<br />
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I love my job. Over the last 7 months my position has morphed into something even more amazing and perfect for me than it was when it first fell into my lap. I plan and organize and travel and meet with important people and have a great time. I love that the company I work for really places relationships with people as top priority. Ever since I graduated I have always felt like one of my greatest strengths is relationships (not the romantic kind obviously) and that turned out to really help me in building my career. I also get to work with amazing people including the leaders of the company who I want to hug every time I see. I don't but that is how much I adore them. These people are great influences on me and make me want to be a better person and not just professionally. I'm inspired every day and I feel so blessed.<br />
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Education<br />
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The rumors are true. I am attempting to expand my horizons and go back to school and not because I don't love my job because obviously I do (see above paragraph). The confidence I have gained in my current role has inspired me to further my education and pursue an MBA degree. I want one and I know this is something I need to be working towards. My hope is too get accepted into an awesome program here and complete the program while working full-time in my current role. Now I just have to get into school. This could take me another year but it will be quite an accomplishment and I'm pretty sure I am going to make it happen sooner or later. Getting my degree would open up lots of doors for me and would overall make me very happy. I'm doing this.<br />
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Travel<br />
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My work travel schedule is pretty awesome although I am making time for extra trips too. I have already been to San Francisco, San Diego, Portland, Whistler, Park City this year. Within the next few months I have plans to go to Atlanta, Phoenix, Idaho, San Juan Islands. Hoping to add Vegas and New York by the end of the year as well. This is the year of the US trips. 2013 will bring in some international trips keeping my fingers crossed. If there is one thing I am good at, it is how to have fun. Thanks Dad for that life lesson. <br />
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Love<br />
<br />
I have a lot of this stuff for my family, friends, shopping, and men soccer players. I have been having a great last couple of months and am making time for only the people that deserve it. I am so blessed to have the people I do in my life and I hope I can bless their lives as much as they have blessed mine. Also, I should mention two important men in my life. New nephew who I adore and my one and only little brother who will be home from his mission in 3 months. He is all grown up. We are excited to have him home with his Mexican accent and all!<br />
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<br />
Etc...<br />
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I crossfit now. It is pretty awesome. Pretty intense but I like intense. Turns out I am pretty freaking strong and am getting stronger. I have determined in my 26 years that we are all stronger than we think, and not just physically if you know what I mean. Other cool things coming up include that I will be learning to surf this year and plan to shred it up wake boarding all summer long.<br />
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Now this is forever long and I apologize if you actually read all the way through this. Life is so good and I couldn't be more blessed. Thanks for reading.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-2603245793754632392012-05-09T09:50:00.000-07:002012-05-09T09:50:09.298-07:00Shred<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVuMGvdPbRGSlVhdMZhIBC_Q1JxyB0ERhX4xJ78q19YOUQ4no5eNT3JTylymS5gcGZnYWiu08oDkwc4EC2VpHlzJEaDrc908LJVZ7Q_Y_Xtvy1og97PzpH94ZZTltqcRw67mUmsmshYU/s1600/41355.Size.LengthCM_134_Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVuMGvdPbRGSlVhdMZhIBC_Q1JxyB0ERhX4xJ78q19YOUQ4no5eNT3JTylymS5gcGZnYWiu08oDkwc4EC2VpHlzJEaDrc908LJVZ7Q_Y_Xtvy1og97PzpH94ZZTltqcRw67mUmsmshYU/s320/41355.Size.LengthCM_134_Image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I own this. Yes it is animal print. Summer time is on it's way and I am now 100% ready. I plan to improve my wake boarding skills, get my tan on, and make the summer of 2012 a memorable one. This baby will help me achieve all of the above.<div>
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Now excuse me while I prep for my weekend of shredding.<div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-82886572183060727052012-01-08T01:00:00.000-08:002013-01-21T11:14:38.177-08:00i blogged.Read on and follow the new one. Pretty sure I will soon be deactivating this baby.<br />
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<a href="http://sessionsofsara.blogspot.com/">sessionsofsara.blogspot.com</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-5212292763110196582012-01-08T00:55:00.000-08:002012-01-08T00:55:17.816-08:00SnowLatest obsession: SNOW. I can't get enough of it. It's all I think about.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWp3VacOqRCgYSmRZ_bNePK-wPn2EV18oQtZQYBZXJb-kDtVkRFyYgmem54CJydz3lBX3UoD5kzlWCFJjJ3AClcS-EPLQONFjt4vHgLHh-70wEq6_dcDOYBSzgq2EA2mYX10kYOiab4ko/s1600/photo+%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWp3VacOqRCgYSmRZ_bNePK-wPn2EV18oQtZQYBZXJb-kDtVkRFyYgmem54CJydz3lBX3UoD5kzlWCFJjJ3AClcS-EPLQONFjt4vHgLHh-70wEq6_dcDOYBSzgq2EA2mYX10kYOiab4ko/s400/photo+%25288%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mission Ridge - Washington</td></tr>
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I discovered something in 2011. That my perception of myself as the dancer/singer I am, actually has some real athletic abilities. Snowboarding included. With this new found confidence and after an embarrassing number of years of practice, I can finally keep up with my snowboarding friends, who really know how to snowboard. I haven't had any tears, somersaults, or ski patrol rescues for at least 4 years now :) I think it is safe to say I am a real life snowboarder!<br />
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With my new found realization that I CAN do athetlic things, I have been so anxious to be on the mountain as much as possible. It is quite addicting. Today the plan was to go up with a few friends to a local mountain near Seattle. Somehow everyone bailed, I guess no one loves it as much as I do? So I headed up by myself. First time going alone and I must say it was sweet! I had so much fun I forgot to eat and was totally wasted by the end of the day. I had great weather and decent snow (for Washington). I will definitely be back soon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSz82NqMzBJN5MASO2kdcJfjSpdwf-xC0pWM-pmhcM0-QqXyLy_OwGWYuLji-TRWmThltTEvvEKm3TEndF4nI1Oa3Uqc6Qoldc4PxWKb8_swEGQIH07rSynGqEZ8ONqjCR_AzScS3vII/s1600/stevens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSz82NqMzBJN5MASO2kdcJfjSpdwf-xC0pWM-pmhcM0-QqXyLy_OwGWYuLji-TRWmThltTEvvEKm3TEndF4nI1Oa3Uqc6Qoldc4PxWKb8_swEGQIH07rSynGqEZ8ONqjCR_AzScS3vII/s400/stevens.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backside of Stevens</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFAzU6-rGzjCMueQUXLCBk6gnhspHGbIJkvrOEqN9Ds_2GwmDaLxK-IayVSDcT_0-ZcrcpF_IuGh3HEogv4uzv6ORbV1cpouAEQGKGFtFGdIzSn2JxAC1-feA3oDfFa706q5zQKU6JG3k/s1600/power+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFAzU6-rGzjCMueQUXLCBk6gnhspHGbIJkvrOEqN9Ds_2GwmDaLxK-IayVSDcT_0-ZcrcpF_IuGh3HEogv4uzv6ORbV1cpouAEQGKGFtFGdIzSn2JxAC1-feA3oDfFa706q5zQKU6JG3k/s400/power+line.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beauty</td></tr>
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I highly recommend snowboarding...although if you are a new comer you have to go more than once to enjoy it. BUT believe me. It is so incredibly worth it. See below for the top 5 reasons why I love snowboarding.<br />
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1. The fresh air, the gorgeous scenery, the opportunity to explore some of God's greatest creations, duh!<br />
2. Snowboard dudes are usually athetlic, chill, and sometimes greasey looking. All things I typically look for in a guy. Plus, the whole "mountain" crowd is pretty friendly and happy.<br />
3. Shaun White is a snowboarder and I met him once. We had quite the encounter. Ask me about it sometime.<br />
4. Snowboarding is fabulous exercise.<br />
5. I now have "sunshine" colored snowboard pants. Yeah check it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodkcNMSjj9F4a050b0XD81OIOsBG0u1W7-hoEJH0xHKszKIde-aKQMgfkZGarVtKuRPJ2k2FyQHLDd3ETCZDfm7fQUjflfKFU4tdi8BRXOmBE9bNcsj0MbP8zCjIr78CNbn2nTQhT_3Q/s1600/whistler+top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodkcNMSjj9F4a050b0XD81OIOsBG0u1W7-hoEJH0xHKszKIde-aKQMgfkZGarVtKuRPJ2k2FyQHLDd3ETCZDfm7fQUjflfKFU4tdi8BRXOmBE9bNcsj0MbP8zCjIr78CNbn2nTQhT_3Q/s400/whistler+top.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />
The pictures are from a few of my boarding explorations this year. I had a feeling this season is going to be a good one and it is just getting started. Oh and the last picture is from a recent trip to Whistler. I included it mostly because Justin is in it and I needed a pretty face for my blog. Also, notice the new TNA hoodie. I love Canada.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aE-th6Sa-xJUtL3E-Dq29U3lb-lcQgHeeMCzdfoQ3ryEE_BRuOqE-6aqJYkGXH_x5jxeT5o4qEtNMGK0etBszkeS7aAwIQ4agsZgkVcR_AOpCRtDW8usfgnQrtsyN8nhuxONqoA_39E/s1600/justin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aE-th6Sa-xJUtL3E-Dq29U3lb-lcQgHeeMCzdfoQ3ryEE_BRuOqE-6aqJYkGXH_x5jxeT5o4qEtNMGK0etBszkeS7aAwIQ4agsZgkVcR_AOpCRtDW8usfgnQrtsyN8nhuxONqoA_39E/s400/justin.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olympic luge track at Whistler - BC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-81065650475541884072011-11-30T14:29:00.000-08:002011-11-30T14:29:55.599-08:00bangs n' bootsLoving the bang trend going on. Oh yes. It is still happening. I decided to join in on the fun. The bangs of 2009 don't compare with the upgraded 2011 version thanks to my stylist Joanne St Onge.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> 2009 and 2011</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoU0XGVD8aI20WxpRJrnFN4YpeB0p3Amm5XspR4_7Jcvthc09EfMZ7gqaUhNw6BID_KcntGIpvZ62FOhdZQyT-Gbw9yTlMmic0ijC7Z0QjQ_LQEa9e00zY5WQ-vbwAeEeUM-XhYOFeTvM/s1600/Picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoU0XGVD8aI20WxpRJrnFN4YpeB0p3Amm5XspR4_7Jcvthc09EfMZ7gqaUhNw6BID_KcntGIpvZ62FOhdZQyT-Gbw9yTlMmic0ijC7Z0QjQ_LQEa9e00zY5WQ-vbwAeEeUM-XhYOFeTvM/s320/Picture1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So I used a little color enhancement on 2011 but you get the idea. Glad to see I am improving on my make-up skills.<br />
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With the seasons changing and the temperature dropping I have been really into boots lately. Boots of all kinds...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIl7OfDuH5XvR788TAWTwelTVYbOq5XKSYQOHY8BwI0CJOQVORsNnakeHMh-gYUDABzQO76dlG6KDHD-HGi7Hj9GiwqtEkUtjGXxiZCT0kPX-x4cGT4C5CJSE8nmWY1pD4Xccn9V3iQE/s1600/allmyboots.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIl7OfDuH5XvR788TAWTwelTVYbOq5XKSYQOHY8BwI0CJOQVORsNnakeHMh-gYUDABzQO76dlG6KDHD-HGi7Hj9GiwqtEkUtjGXxiZCT0kPX-x4cGT4C5CJSE8nmWY1pD4Xccn9V3iQE/s320/allmyboots.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>The snowboard boots are similar to the ones I own except mine are accented with purple of course. The other two were found at Nordstrom.com this season. I am a fan of real leather and real lamb's wool from Australia. I am going to have some fabulously warm feet this Winter.<br />
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Time to hit the slopes!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-14407173144145435382011-11-14T16:01:00.000-08:002011-11-14T16:01:35.220-08:00The Civil WarsI have fallen in love with this music. You should too. I am going to see <i>The Civil Wars </i>tonight and thought it was definitely blog worthy. Feel free to discover what you are missing out on. The dynamic duo sings with so much emotion it makes you want to cry. Powerful stuff. Pretty awesome. Thank heavens for music. I plan to dance to this song at my wedding someday.<br />
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Up next... deets on my recent makeover...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-14453217191950470802011-09-08T13:44:00.001-07:002011-09-08T13:44:56.227-07:00Holstee Manifesto<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://2.gvt0.com/vi/qQAzi8q_2LY/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qQAzi8q_2LY&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qQAzi8q_2LY&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />
A very special coworker of mine found this and said it reminder her of me. I was flattered because it is pretty freaking amazing. So I ordered a poster for my office and would love for you to enjoy the vid. Apparently Holstee is company that sells some random stuff and apparently has some pretty inspired marketing writers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtoOsWxNumeYMuRfJA9W5l9ZJHWQhY5NSuLnJXfrtQp0jlLEjfKaXakgr52MjkdKD1414qOMuEWkHFdOse9EHfQi3FgYwJ1SCabB27GrGcuot6bbZcm1VmBS2bQZwUgr8Epgr1_q_YWo/s1600/the-holstee-manifesto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtoOsWxNumeYMuRfJA9W5l9ZJHWQhY5NSuLnJXfrtQp0jlLEjfKaXakgr52MjkdKD1414qOMuEWkHFdOse9EHfQi3FgYwJ1SCabB27GrGcuot6bbZcm1VmBS2bQZwUgr8Epgr1_q_YWo/s320/the-holstee-manifesto.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-47265483017828774352011-09-08T13:37:00.000-07:002011-09-08T13:37:21.279-07:00Adele 21<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWF67Jw5Qb_6aTe8xUcPiVSVUYGxFHNbRStYxm7xyTMjwYS9ZnTNPrKwlxlmNZ_-Htm2l0jSzavwGgLoBwzka2gj3RIv4hX780IxxlxZ37yuw5sVh9eJb3RlSW04IybwaCyR6ldH4KfR4/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWF67Jw5Qb_6aTe8xUcPiVSVUYGxFHNbRStYxm7xyTMjwYS9ZnTNPrKwlxlmNZ_-Htm2l0jSzavwGgLoBwzka2gj3RIv4hX780IxxlxZ37yuw5sVh9eJb3RlSW04IybwaCyR6ldH4KfR4/s320/10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">First of all... Thank you to Laura for the birthday present!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This album is amazing. I have always been a sucker for emotional music especially coming from power singers like Adele. I have had the album for 6 months now and continue to be obsessed. The album is inspired by one of Adele's relationships that happened to be a very difficult one that ended pretty badly. According to Wikipedia this is what Adele says about the dude she was with:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i>He was my soul mate. We had everything—on every level we were totally right. We’d finish each other’s sentences, and he could just pick up how I was feeling by the look in my eye, down to a T, and we loved the same things, and hated the same things, and we were brave when the other was brave and weak when the other one was weak...and I think that’s rare when you find the full circle in one person, and I think that’s what I’ll always be looking for in other men.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I feel for Adele but am grateful for artists like her who bare their souls through their music. Those artists make the best music that can really affect the lives of it's listeners. I used to have a cheesy sign in my room that read "Music is what feelings sound like." I said it was cheesy! But I love it and it's true. And one more thing, emotions sometimes get a bad rap but even the pain we feel is a beautiful thing. Embrace your emotions, we have them for a reason, and don't forget the Kleenex when you listen to this album. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My fav songs are "One and Only" and "Someone Like You". </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-15962911079911849352011-08-12T15:41:00.000-07:002013-01-21T11:15:51.290-08:00The Burberry Boots... a short story by Tanya RobinsonIf you are up for some light reading check this out... <a href="http://sessionsofsara.blogspot.com/">http://sessionsofsara.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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She's good right?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-88114375789382209472011-08-12T15:40:00.000-07:002011-08-12T15:40:00.597-07:00The Burberry Boots... a short story by Tanya Robinson<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">I have this friend. You may have heard of her. She is extremely talented in many different ways and happens to be fantastic at being a friend as well. I love her so, enjoy.</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Calibri;"><b>The Burberry Boots... a short story by Tanya Robinson</b></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">I don’t know how we met.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Not really, anyway.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>It was one of those mysteries of the universe when a normal girl meets someone like him.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Sweet, and funny, and oh so attractive, I’ve come to know him as a normal guy, but with a name that people shout at us on the streets sometimes.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Sometimes they’ll shout out the names of characters he’s played, and that always makes me laugh.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>I would never have shouted at him.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>I would have played it much too cool, and probably never met him, until the accident where the universe throws you on someone.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Literally, throws you on them.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>And that’s how I, a regular girl, met him, a regular guy.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">On a far too-humid day for my liking, in September, almost a full year ago, I tripped on what I swear must have been a crack in the concrete. He swears whenever we tell the story that it was only my feet and my imagination.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>I landed, Jennifer-Lopez-movie-style, squarely on top of his impeccably casually dressed self.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Me and a giant laundry bag, smothering him.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>As we’ve come to grow more serious, he’s seen me trip many times on my imagination, so he was probably right, which I’ll never admit.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Some things in a relationship are meant to be secrets, like that you watch him sleep sometimes.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>That is far too creepy to admit. In any case, we’ve been together nearly a year, I’ve met his parents and tried to act normal, he’s met mine, and pretended not to notice their inability to act normal.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Thankfully, no one asked for an autograph.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Or at least not to his face.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>My cousin did ask me if I could ask him to post something on her facebook wall though.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>He laughed when I told him, and posted “can’t wait to see you again,” on her wall.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>She is now the most popular girl in school.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">Tonight is my birthday, so we’re going to a fancy restaurant that we never go to, and dressing up like adults.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>I’m wearing my most expensive dress, which is way less expensive than the suit he’ll no doubt show up in, and I’ll do my best not to drool.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>That’s the key to dating someone with far more money than you have, pretend that you don’t notice.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>It’s not like he’s flashy that way, or that he is overly frugal either.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>He does, more often than not, pay for our dates, but I like to believe that’s just because he’s a gentleman. Actually, really, the key is, to get to know them and find out if they’re a normal guy, and then a decent guy, and focus on that.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">He shows up at my door, and greets me like always, “Hey there,” and a kiss, but this time he is also carrying a big Barneys bag.</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“Hey yourself.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Look at how sharp you look.”<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>He didn’t just look sharp. Sharp was me trying to play it cool, which I still do sometimes.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>If I didn’t, I’d always walk around with my jaw on the floor, drool coming from the corners of my mouth, stuttering.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>That is not good for anyone, so I play it cool when he comes over to my tiny apartment in a perfectly tailored suit looking so dapper I’m almost at a loss for words.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>I should also mention, that one of the things that I really like about him is that his apartment isn’t much nicer than mine.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>He has better electronics, but I think that you’d find that in most guys’ apartments.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Our homes feel even, which kind of balances out the great disparity in notoriety.</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“I know, I had a date before this.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>I hope you don’t mind, I didn’t have a chance to change first,” this is our joke, because one time I lost my ability to play cool, and had a meltdown about the women ogling him on the street.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>I’m not usually one of those whimpering women, but I’m still not sure I can really compete with a Victoria Secret model.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>So I made him promise that if he ever wanted to date someone else, he would tell me.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Which, of course, is the most ridiculous agreement ever, but somehow it made me feel better, and so far, there has only been fictitious other women.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Occasionally I’ll have fictitious other men in my life too, just to spice things up.</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“No problem.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Another woman’s hand-me-downs are my good fortune.” Do you ever smile at someone, namely a guy, and hope that your smile isn’t as goofy as it feels on your face.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>That is what happened here.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>I froze in my entry way, and by entry way, I mean the space right before my living room, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Something about him is like if you put one of those exercise bands around two people, and they can only pull apart three feet or so, when he’s around I can’t seem to move more than a few feet away.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Probably hugely unhealthy.</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">He hugs me and kisses my forehead, “I got you a gift” he says, raising the Barney’s bag in a retail version of a Bicep curl.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“Oooh, really? I thought it was for the other woman.” For the first time tonight I take my doe-y eyes off of him, and notice the bag.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Nice sized.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Not really sure what it could be though.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>I haven’t dropped any hints, and quite frankly, am just happy he remembered and arranged this whole evening.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Even though we’ve been together almost a year, the first birthday with someone can be a little touch-and-go, ‘will he remember, how will it go, will he think I’m too needy, will he get me something hideous that will prove that we have no business being together and he doesn’t know me at all?’<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>All of these thoughts had zoomed through my head in the last month.</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“No her birthday isn’t until next month,” he teases and half smiles before plopping down on my sofa.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>He sets the gift next to him on my beat up couch.</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“Should we open now, or after dinner? Do we have time?” I look at my wrist, but I haven’t worn a watch in years.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Still a habit though.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Most of the time he teases me good-naturedly about this habit too, but not tonight, it’s my birthday.</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“You know you want it now,” he says as he pats the couch next to him, and I tried not to be nervous. ‘Please don’t let it be something awful.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Please give me the strength to say thank you even if I don’t like it, and please let there be a gift receipt.’</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“Yes please.”<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>I plopped down on the other side of the Barney’s bag. Why is it that sometimes in relationships little things become so heavily weighted.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>If this gift is something that I would never in a million years want, then it becomes a symbol of how well he knows me.</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“you know what I like about you?”</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“What’s that?”</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“You didn’t do that pretend, I don’t want anything for my birthday.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Don’t even worry about it...” he raised his voice unnaturally high, and did his best jersey girl impression.</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“Well, I didn’t want anything, but if you happen to give me a gift, I’m certainly not going to turn it down.”</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“uh huh.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Sure.”</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“How was your day?<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>You had Letterman today, right?”<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>I don’t know why, but I was still not ready to open it.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>What if it’s awful.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>It probably won’t be, he has great taste.</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“yeah.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>It was good. Letterman makes me nervous though.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>I hope I didn’t make a fool of myself. Open it!”</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“I’m sure you were great.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>I have the tivo set.”</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“Will you open your gift already? And, I’m not watching that tonight with you.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Are you kidding me?”<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>He kicks off his shoes and puts his feet on the coffee table.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>His socks are striped.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Something I find incredibly endearing.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">I pulled a box out of the bag, “you wrapped it too?”</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“of course I wrapped it,” he smiles at me, and conveys another, are you kidding me.</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“I’m impressed.”<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Now or never.</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">I tore open the wrapping paper and inside was a big, beautiful Burberry box.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>I’m not the typical girl who goes ga ga over the Burberry plaid, but I have to say that I do love their classic design aesthetic.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Also, it’s fun to open a designer box, it’s like when you see that Tiffany blue, which of course we’re not there quite yet, but it’s fun.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>“What is it?”</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“Open it,” he was full on grinning now.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>I can tell even though his mouth is hidden by his hand because his smile is the kind that doesn’t just stay on his mouth, it spreads across his whole face and crinkles his eyes in a way that turns me to jello.</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">When I pulled the box open, there I saw the most gorgeous boots.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>I’ve been drooling over them for so long, but at nearly a thousand dollars I couldn’t ever buy them. They are black and look like they have been loved for years, with straps and buckles in exactly the right place.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>I pull them out and clutch them to my chest.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>When I look up at him to thank him, my eyes fill with water.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>“These are too much.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>I love them so much, but too much.”</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“Do you like them?”</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">“I love them, are you kidding me, but-”</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">He interrupts my protest by pulling me to him again and kisses the top of my head.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>“Happy Birthday,” he says.</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>“Thank you so much,” at this point I am crying like he had just given me a kidney or something.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>I’m not quite sure what my problem is, but I’m sure that this is the most generous birthday present ever. Not just because of the monetary value, but because I have no idea how he knew.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>“How did you know?” I ask as I try to make myself look like the cute girlfriend he saw when he walked in the door, but I’m sure I’m not. I’m a mess.</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>He shakes his head, and laughs, and then kisses me, his sobbing mess of a normal girl girlfriend, who is still clutching her Burberry boots.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>We ended up twenty minutes late for dinner, and I may have had some strange looks because the boots most definitely did not go with my dress.<span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>Or maybe it was because I was with the guy they all wished they were with.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Calibri;"><br />
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***<i>Check out the boots <a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/burberry-buckled-leather-boot/3172575?origin=category&resultback=842">here.</a></i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-32841819071188933292011-08-09T14:40:00.000-07:002011-08-09T14:40:33.827-07:00A NYC MustLately a certain friend of mine and I have been dreaming about an upcoming trip to NYC we will be taking in October. We dream of running into John Mayer, eating various delicious street foods, and of the wardrobe we must acquire before our trip, so we look hip in all of our Big Apple pics of course! This item is on the top of my list. The Stephanie Air Chukka shoes. Compliments of Colehaan.com.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10935k_WY3iaRR_gkvyFMO5xkuv50LMxqzmr6ub_lR7LbKuzw2xFYrvpOMQzVqnJ94tEHMDZWleH2GLq7dTVhQNm_n5LI9onj1IECiZb_3zeLXo0gzPVdJ-B_8H8wgBrMGq0eYSF9Pnw/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10935k_WY3iaRR_gkvyFMO5xkuv50LMxqzmr6ub_lR7LbKuzw2xFYrvpOMQzVqnJ94tEHMDZWleH2GLq7dTVhQNm_n5LI9onj1IECiZb_3zeLXo0gzPVdJ-B_8H8wgBrMGq0eYSF9Pnw/s320/Capture.PNG" width="313" /></a></div><br />
The thing is I refuse to buy these shoes at full price, so I will be impatiently waiting for them to go on sale. They really are lovely and would go with pretty much anything, like a skirt, leggings, the streets of NYC, a new pair of pants, a new yellow coat (still searching), oh wow... this trip could get expensive.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-90823276336780628892011-07-28T09:36:00.000-07:002011-07-28T09:38:32.824-07:00asosI've never been into politics but fashion yes. This blog post happens to involve both. Our First Lady, Michelle Obama and I happen to have something in common. We both have an eye for affordable fashion. Thanks to her example I have stumbled across <b>asos.com. </b>See her modeling the stylish yet decently priced dress below:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnT-9na_432M4IkwR33nT29PlqHxNfIYB-cTOyBPmjPQF5dRbxNPl0qY3-HVmH36a-tHpJ-cPBF5E1O04YgTwWbEH_0HyrsrWwQVg8zK5WSOiARraZWttiVL878Zh4sTUuqZOYKNbu8Oc/s1600/michelle-obama-asos-midi-dress-check-print.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnT-9na_432M4IkwR33nT29PlqHxNfIYB-cTOyBPmjPQF5dRbxNPl0qY3-HVmH36a-tHpJ-cPBF5E1O04YgTwWbEH_0HyrsrWwQVg8zK5WSOiARraZWttiVL878Zh4sTUuqZOYKNbu8Oc/s320/michelle-obama-asos-midi-dress-check-print.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Ever since I moved to Seattle I have been exposed to all sorts of styles and fashions I never dreamed of in Eastern Washington or Idaho. I am in love with solid colors, mixing brown and black, and pieces you can wear several different ways. I have discovered a few Canadian brands that have European influence which I love, however these stores are usually pretty pricey. After finding <b>asos </b>I won't have to wait around for the sporadic sales! <b>asos </b> is completely affordable. Here are several reasons why this is a great place to shop and why you should check it out:</div><div><ul><li>Huge selection of international styles</li>
<li>Completely affordable - designer styles for a third of the cost</li>
<li>Sizing is specific - so no worrying about ordering the wrong size</li>
<li>They have petite sizes! Amazing for short people like me.</li>
<li>Shipping is always free, ANYWHERE in the world!</li>
<li>Men and women can shop here! - Pick up your bf a new t while you are buying that new dress!</li>
<li>Online shopping is perfect for those who are lazy aka don't like to shop</li>
<li>Why not buy unique and intriguing pieces that no one else has?</li>
</ul><div>Check out the below screenshot of the overwhelming amount of fashion forward, affordable dresses... my heart almost stopped when I saw this page...</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDS15bttdJ0QB1jBsPWxh9VnOmm89WYQOEKQyl3LQjx7NjGOHK0mgR2cN7i5HChf1GuWg6hzzDGJGmR3eH4CKq0yYpoiezMIimqlMyKHjjpAkG2VGpEh9P_yAIbLJ9EfIFyxoaQUcQjM/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDS15bttdJ0QB1jBsPWxh9VnOmm89WYQOEKQyl3LQjx7NjGOHK0mgR2cN7i5HChf1GuWg6hzzDGJGmR3eH4CKq0yYpoiezMIimqlMyKHjjpAkG2VGpEh9P_yAIbLJ9EfIFyxoaQUcQjM/s320/Capture.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>So far I have purchase one item from the site and have been VERY happy. It is safe to say I have found a new favorite place to shop. Trust me. Follow my lead, Mrs. Obama has got it figured out, well fashion anyway. </div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div><b>asos.com</b> is my latest and greatest discovery. Now go buy yourself something pretty.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-41214436536927638782011-06-29T11:50:00.000-07:002011-06-29T12:11:49.419-07:00Pure Barre is Pure Genius<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">As a former dancer it has been a hard journey learning how to work out like normal people. I had to learn how to lift weights, use big machinery with lots of buttons, and how to wear shoes when exercising. It's been tough. I love working out and trying new things though, so when I discovered Pure Barre I was really intrigued because it is said to be inspired by ballet movements. Mostly I fell in love with the idea of regaining my long lost flexibility I used to have as a competitive dancer back in my "glory days". </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Check out Pure Barre at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://purebarre.com/">http://purebarre.com/</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7SD2xSfTIufqY7bRdWAa2y5grIYsq1fxl_qonEfM0rn6holF_baIdFHvWUxRHO0Sk0WYxLypj0WvHYoHKb51GbGAUziNmI3rWfH0nbhboRMICpgPqggwV6oEiSFbcIZ8JS4utz9k6HE/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7SD2xSfTIufqY7bRdWAa2y5grIYsq1fxl_qonEfM0rn6holF_baIdFHvWUxRHO0Sk0WYxLypj0WvHYoHKb51GbGAUziNmI3rWfH0nbhboRMICpgPqggwV6oEiSFbcIZ8JS4utz9k6HE/s400/Capture.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 14px;"> results in just 10 classes.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">My triathlete training and hot yoga didn't prepare me for Pure Barre but I do feel right at home in the mirrored room and ballet bars. After the first class I was really sore and had a hard time sitting for a few days after. This week I have done back-to-back classes drinking lots of water, eating lots of protein, and taking baths if I'm sore. I am definitely sore enough to know it is working but </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">sitting quite comfortably now. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I was really surprised at just how hard it was with the small controlled movements over and over again. It completely exhausts your muscles. But hey <i>"...by small and simple things things are great things brought to pass..."</i> (Alma 37:6). Yeah my backside feels pretty great right now. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I recommend the Bellevue studio for sure. Sami is my favorite instructor so far. It is just a coincidence that Pure Barre in the Seattle area happens to be one of my clients at work. By the way if you have a PRIME card you get a discount, which you will need cause it's spendy. But really can you put a price on being healthy and looking hot? I think not.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Next... Tahitian hula please. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-66966410967969853662011-06-29T10:56:00.000-07:002011-06-29T10:59:07.860-07:00I love it. I want it. I have to have it.Yes I am aware that the title of this blog post makes me sound nothing less of a complete brat. Really though, "<b><i>I love it. I want it. I have to have it</i></b>," is exactly what runs through my head when I discover something that has "it". "It" meaning awesome, amazing, beautiful, fun, and something I definitely want everyone else to love too.<br />
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I have a big heart and I love lots of things very easily. For some reason I get really excited and maybe slightly obsessed when I discover something that I adore. So this blog is all about my obsessions or <b><i>'sessions</i></b> (per blog title). Yes my excitement might exceed that of the average person, and yes, my obsessions can fade as fast as they are discovered, but that is only because I find something new to be excited about! Trust me it is a great way to live. You should try it!<br />
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The purpose of this blog is to share some of the obsessive love I have for the little things in life. If it brings you a smile, tear of joy, laugh, or some sort of positive energy then mission accomplished.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-72629993573935842192011-06-29T10:34:00.000-07:002013-01-21T11:15:02.888-08:00Why blog?So I must say that I believe I have failed at blogging. I think it might have to do with the fact that I don't have pictures of adorable children to post. Who knows. I am considering closing down this bad boy just because I don't want my blog to become a journal or get to deep on the 5 people that read it. I definitely don't think my life is boring, I just feel the need to blog with a purpose in mind. So I am going to follow my pro blogging friends examples and start a new blog with a focus. I'm about to blog for a purpose!<br />
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My new blog is solely dedicated to my obsessions. It is called <b>'sessions </b>and can be found at <b>sessionsofsara.blogspot.com</b><br />
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I have the tendency to become obsessed with things very quickly and suddenly. You better believe I switch obsessions just as fast as I find new ones, so documenting it will be fun for me! My memory also seems to fade fast so why not create a collection and documentation of things I love? This could include a range of items such as delicious and/or healthy treats, new found forms of exercises, travel experiences, attractive soccer players, magical lip gloss, emotional music, and more. It should be a lot more fun... at least for me.<br />
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For those of you who are interested in my life, I will update this one occasionally but you can keep up with me via Facebook where I post most of my pics anyway.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-36851183469087732972011-06-22T11:48:00.001-07:002013-01-21T11:15:45.893-08:00My Jam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's true. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-69226937640367274372011-06-22T11:48:00.000-07:002013-01-21T11:16:12.344-08:00My Jam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/7V2GzYcRK9E?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's true. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-71247791900879362692011-06-16T09:42:00.000-07:002013-01-21T11:16:12.346-08:00StrengthI think lately I have learned a lot about strength and just how much of it I have. You always hear that the Lord will never give you things you can't handle. I know that is the truth. But really our tendency as imperfect humans is to underestimate ourselves. Why is that? I am 25 years old and just really learning just how strong I am emotionally, spiritually, and physically. It is a fantastic feeling to accomplish and live through things you for whatever reason never thought you could.<br /><br />For example. My second triathlon ever and first triathlon this year came and I did great. I trained, I put the work in, and it totally paid off. I remember while I was swimming last year thinking, "can I really do this? I feel like I'm going to drown!" but this year my thoughts were "This should be hard, but it isn't... I am so much stronger than I have ever been... I can finish this and finish strong!" So that's exactly what I did. I finished in 1 hr and 38 minutes beating my last years time by 7 minutes or so and placing 2nd in my age group. I have made amazing strides in my athletic abilities especially since I didn't know I even had any until last year.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0m8_kzpKpzrP_VGZiU4o6zK0tHMDN7r7HOJsT5VYTZGK_tfkljxC57OJtyId1TdS7IA2hVcE8kb_c7UzVCspXJ25J0mspHx5p16EaIcDClXeY9VdZuscIqOaj6uMV4jv-v2-6CSlJ74/s1600/254405_726452498144_193302617_36380255_208462_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0m8_kzpKpzrP_VGZiU4o6zK0tHMDN7r7HOJsT5VYTZGK_tfkljxC57OJtyId1TdS7IA2hVcE8kb_c7UzVCspXJ25J0mspHx5p16EaIcDClXeY9VdZuscIqOaj6uMV4jv-v2-6CSlJ74/s320/254405_726452498144_193302617_36380255_208462_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I am so grateful for my Aunt Debbie for doing the tri with me. She is an inspiration and I am so lucky to have her. I pretty much volunteer her to do this with me every year, send her the training schedule and she still kicks my butt every year. Anyway she is amazing, maybe I will beat her one of these days.<br /><br />We have a sweet new baby in our family. Jace was born two weeks ago, a few weeks early but healthy. Then a few days after being home he was back in the hospital for a transfusion. It was pretty scary and I felt pretty helpless being in Washington, they were in Idaho. I haven't really had a lot of experience with babies in hospitals or any kind of risk of my close family members being ill. It was really scary and hit me really hard. I kept going though. You keep moving, you pray a lot and you keep living your life. Baby Jace is now back at home and is doing so much better. He is strong, even for a little new born. The whole thing made me grateful for my family and our close relationship. I don't know what I would do without my family. They make me who I am. I get to go down to Idaho in July for the baby blessing, so I am really looking forward to meeting the new addition then. Skype just isn't enough.<br /><br />I'm not sure why but the last few months I have been pretty brave. It's like Andrew's daredevil skills have transferred to me since he is on his mission and unable to use his. This year I have jumped and landed on a snowboard (definitely have fallen a lot), I have drove a four wheeler of a ramp and landed, got about an foot of air, oh yeah! I have learned how to long board which is huge because falling on the cement hurts! And I can wakeboard better than ever including a few jumps here and there. It is crazy! Things I thought I was too wimpy to even attempt are happening. It may seem like a simple thing but it is so empowering and I feel like I can do anything. I love my life right now.<br /><br />So now for the spiritual connection. The more you understand just how much potential you have, you begin to see yourself as our Father in Heaven sees you. Pretty cool huh? And you begin to recognize the potential in others because from your own experience you have overcome great things and you know others have the same potential. So your job is to instill that power and strength in others. You feel the love from our Father in Heaven and naturally you want to share that with others. Life is definitely about loving and serving others but before you can really understand the importance of that, you have to understand who YOU are. Hope that makes sense. So the moral of this post is... You are always stronger than you think you are. You can always do more. You have so much more to give than you even realize. And you really can make a difference in the lives of others because you are so much better than you even know.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-89292852592717040162011-05-09T15:25:00.000-07:002013-01-21T11:16:12.350-08:00Sun & ShineI can't complain. The last few weeks have been pretty amazing. I have been training like crazy for my upcoming Triathlon. I swim. I run. I bike. I hot yoga it up. I was about to hit the burn-out stage but then I bought new shoes which changed everything. Funny how pretty feet can make such a difference. Soon this will be me... yeah the girl in the front!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KG8tYvbVhwDY5-yl6kR4WbBtSsIi91ZrT-FWSTwf5Z0m3Co29Fwhy6owQkqILaoABo54og8jF1R8wfim1-mMwFIQO56QKyQ6qiIwr7F_9ER1qHFEH09iaEv5yV3F1s4RE2O1s40BAmY/s1600/triathlon_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KG8tYvbVhwDY5-yl6kR4WbBtSsIi91ZrT-FWSTwf5Z0m3Co29Fwhy6owQkqILaoABo54og8jF1R8wfim1-mMwFIQO56QKyQ6qiIwr7F_9ER1qHFEH09iaEv5yV3F1s4RE2O1s40BAmY/s320/triathlon_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;">ppliances, delivered right to your door.</span><br />After this first one in Moses, I plan to do another in Seattle and call it good for the summer. In the next couple weeks my 2nd 5K I have volunteered at for Girls on the Run is going down. It has been a real blessing volunteering for this organization... even when it feels like a second church calling, I really love it. The website is here...girlsrun.org. You can still sign up and run the race! Those girls amaze me. I wish I would have been inspired enough to run a race that young!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtGGuboIIGR9lgYAHLXH27LDa0HPMLLJgClRuvq3Ez11ssasWjT7jRuvkcQpzUidYH9A75aKB9WC3wxWqmjeBHH1CZceajd-cUY-zwUUm6OaXtuOGSwlr5xlWZdbEMhRl7LyDTcYSmKo/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="79" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtGGuboIIGR9lgYAHLXH27LDa0HPMLLJgClRuvq3Ez11ssasWjT7jRuvkcQpzUidYH9A75aKB9WC3wxWqmjeBHH1CZceajd-cUY-zwUUm6OaXtuOGSwlr5xlWZdbEMhRl7LyDTcYSmKo/s320/Capture.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br />So spring still hates Seattle and hasn't arrived yet but I just happened to make a quick trip to New Mexico last week for work and I enjoyed some sunshine, Mexican food, and some other great things. I wish I could have stayed longer, I really miss the desert. Luckily, work is sending me back down there this week to Arizona. I have already penciled in some time by the pool.<br /><br />Things are picking up, as they do during this time of year. Saturday soccer has started and so far no black eye but I'm not making any promises... I need to start working in our yard, I plan on spending as much time as possible outside this year with lots of BBQ's and bonfires. This is most likely the last summer in our super amazing house which makes me so sad. I have loooved living here. Also some more exciting news, Nic's baby is on it's way and I already have a trip planned to go down to see the new little guy as well as a brand new litter of baby bunnies. Yes I still want one!<br /><br />One more thing... spoke to Elder Hyer last night. I love him. It really is such a blessing to have such a positive, happy brother out serving the Lord. Maybe he keeps the bad stuff from us but I'm real proud of him. He was robbed the other day and apparently was mad about it at one time but totally laughs it off now. He has a great Mexican accent and trouble speaking English already. I love it. I always remember people saying how much of a blessing it was for their family to have a missionary serving and I never knew what exactly that meant until now. It's kinda a big deal. Family is great and I'm lucky to have mine.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnD7FXDA2Czg9pa6_6AxGUysrI3Jfy8H1eY8ApXQ0IVstK61MsWJ6p62GxDJ0ClLVWHrqNJtmV9r1h7ZPeUkEergYTV4Z0ChHhwax3v9Wx3lHH9cbgxO9wzvmAaUsOihw1s6lxIrbbFI/s1600/226297_10150293680024768_761924767_9630141_8134256_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnD7FXDA2Czg9pa6_6AxGUysrI3Jfy8H1eY8ApXQ0IVstK61MsWJ6p62GxDJ0ClLVWHrqNJtmV9r1h7ZPeUkEergYTV4Z0ChHhwax3v9Wx3lHH9cbgxO9wzvmAaUsOihw1s6lxIrbbFI/s320/226297_10150293680024768_761924767_9630141_8134256_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Life is so good. Here's to today.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-64693070455173788922011-04-26T09:32:00.000-07:002013-01-21T11:16:12.343-08:00Good Life<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jZhQOvvV45w" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br /><br />This is how I feel right now.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-71957885958130982982011-04-14T09:44:00.000-07:002013-01-21T11:16:12.347-08:00My Fav'<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't usually do this... but I feel it might be helpful to someone else so here we go... Sometimes it is hard to see the bigger picture, aka the Lord's plan for us. Life is full of disappointments OR opportunities for growth. It is your privilege to decide which it is. It's all about your attitude! We know that God has a plan for each and every one of us. We may not understand it now or anytime in the near future, but all we are asked to do is have faith in Him and pray that we will be able to align our plan for ourselves, with God's. He knows what's up, even when we don't. Which for me is 99% of the time. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">I loved D. Todd Christofferson's talk from this last General Conference...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a;">"</span>I would like to speak of one particular attitude and practice we need to adopt if we are to meet our Heavenly Father’s high expectations. It is this: willingly to accept and even seek correction. Correction is vital if we would conform our lives “unto a perfect man, [that is,] unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (<a class="scriptureRef" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/eph/4.13?lang=eng#12" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ephesians 4:13</a>). Paul said of divine correction or chastening, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth” (<a class="scriptureRef" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/heb/12.6?lang=eng#5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Hebrews 12:6</a>). Though it is often difficult to endure, truly we ought to rejoice that God considers us worth the time and trouble to correct. "</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">So I am grateful for this opportunity to grow and become more like my Savior. Do I know what is going to happen? No.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"> But I know that Heavenly Father has a plan, and He knows what He is doing. So I'm going with that. I also know that even though we may not understand everything, we are never alone. I truly believe that people have been placed in my life just at the right time. They probably don't even realize the influence they have, or how much they help others. I am also so grateful for the people in my life who make me a better person and serve as great examples to me. It's great to feel loved. Time to pay it forward.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489350440242796700.post-77366858924892119392011-03-29T11:12:00.000-07:002013-01-21T11:16:12.349-08:0025 and Alive.My 25th Birthday was a few weeks ago. It was a fantastic. My friends Tara and Monica did all the planning and my roommates Robyn, Katie, and Katie all helped with the delicious food. The theme was a surprise to me but I LOVED it. It was a "White" party, Diddy style. It ended up being a Mormon version of Diddy's famous White party he throws every year. The decorations were amazing and we had these fancy waffles I love and homemade oreos too. Thanks to my wonderful friends I felt loved, just as an b-day girl should feel on her special day.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7h5cwzazCpgQO81FM3TDIMTrZKjX_xnuRV78wS8oTkyJXzc9QBkTPFZF4uVQIuHS_G1wSTEPCmuEkqgB5HCKa8S7X0cp5MNrIP9pPxmVxYJUC9KQbxE-pBJRNlVxCRj0tjrh7vOy5MY/s1600/199372_663997688084_193302617_36020761_1316324_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7h5cwzazCpgQO81FM3TDIMTrZKjX_xnuRV78wS8oTkyJXzc9QBkTPFZF4uVQIuHS_G1wSTEPCmuEkqgB5HCKa8S7X0cp5MNrIP9pPxmVxYJUC9KQbxE-pBJRNlVxCRj0tjrh7vOy5MY/s400/199372_663997688084_193302617_36020761_1316324_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidubRYXeYqsn9tTRcBWUXohXyc47IwmZcb0NfOh5xi6PuPUa2C3WjUZ8aZkvtnYAxw5moUGe3ehx3M1k_c4i9BWLFKhTE5dCSX-UMJ-lUv3CvNjU7Wt8JwOGIZjKIG8dmbcWNUZQGOeS0/s1600/197186_663997643174_193302617_36020759_1277400_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidubRYXeYqsn9tTRcBWUXohXyc47IwmZcb0NfOh5xi6PuPUa2C3WjUZ8aZkvtnYAxw5moUGe3ehx3M1k_c4i9BWLFKhTE5dCSX-UMJ-lUv3CvNjU7Wt8JwOGIZjKIG8dmbcWNUZQGOeS0/s400/197186_663997643174_193302617_36020759_1277400_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuVSlqYtzZ2kq1rEni99o3xzoWBiWFHSuvCxY2lvsmWJAZpYUjD0u-Y1wigCu9HePtoiLVE68UDPd-QoDrw4BSj-ih6KnkdY1vK3iPsQtMKN4n6aUPssdIv47u0_uf8cBjFavvq0PIy0/s1600/198164_663998177104_193302617_36020783_5116513_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuVSlqYtzZ2kq1rEni99o3xzoWBiWFHSuvCxY2lvsmWJAZpYUjD0u-Y1wigCu9HePtoiLVE68UDPd-QoDrw4BSj-ih6KnkdY1vK3iPsQtMKN4n6aUPssdIv47u0_uf8cBjFavvq0PIy0/s400/198164_663998177104_193302617_36020783_5116513_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQOQP0SzDKR1AakdU0wgoOfW6exXs8oIlQrtG3Wog6SxlF3cflwYoThRW0H3c8zeJ3x2f1W4cPi8D2jBOPn94MrkYfPqMnEM6M_vqf9EQ1itNXQQGKeK4B9AW5xmfWLpsthLMrXEBRo0/s1600/190710_663998002454_193302617_36020773_2226189_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQOQP0SzDKR1AakdU0wgoOfW6exXs8oIlQrtG3Wog6SxlF3cflwYoThRW0H3c8zeJ3x2f1W4cPi8D2jBOPn94MrkYfPqMnEM6M_vqf9EQ1itNXQQGKeK4B9AW5xmfWLpsthLMrXEBRo0/s400/190710_663998002454_193302617_36020773_2226189_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjseLeL_OiinVbif9PV305BUj6YAhFIJkCZSSzPQW9_ipbMAe-AlBZs5VhTOxsh2XS36WYWC7lCgCwTTjkVTEvkqpfxiuwZ-jBsWztwcFP1OidTHz-ZKJo2cNbWhCv3iFNy6ft3yJwIM7o/s1600/199229_663998391674_193302617_36020791_568998_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjseLeL_OiinVbif9PV305BUj6YAhFIJkCZSSzPQW9_ipbMAe-AlBZs5VhTOxsh2XS36WYWC7lCgCwTTjkVTEvkqpfxiuwZ-jBsWztwcFP1OidTHz-ZKJo2cNbWhCv3iFNy6ft3yJwIM7o/s400/199229_663998391674_193302617_36020791_568998_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />My new job is fabulous. Thanks again Robyn! I am soooo happy to be working at Passport. I love that I am working for a successful and exciting company where I get to work with great people! I love that I get to travel and meet with clients and plan, plan plan! I have some fun events coming up for work where I will get to travel to Arizona and New Mexico. I hear there isn't much to do in New Mexico but I don't care, I am just excited to get to go somewhere!<br /><br />Also, speaking of Robyn. She got married! I was happy to be one of her bridesmaids. It was a beautiful day for a wedding and it was a really fun day! I am sad to lose her as a roommate, she has been awesome. I am so grateful for our friendship. It really hit me hard when I realized I would be losing her as a roommate. We have been through a lot together the last 2 1/2 years of living together but I know she is ready to be married and I am so happy for her. Luckily she will still live close so I will get to see her occasionally :)<br /><br />I also got a new calling in my ward keeping me busy. I plan all the FHE activities, which is a lot of fun. I am also volunteering for another Girls on the Run 5K event which will be coming up in May. And finally triathlon training begins THIS week. I get a free gym membership through my work, which includes pool access so I am anxious to start using that too.<br /><br />Life has been so busy the last month. So many changes and adjustments. It has been difficult for sure but change is good. Our trials are given to us to strengthen us. Changes and trials in our lives are opportunities for growth. I def keep reminding myself I will never be given a trial I cannot handle. I get a little bit stronger every day! And every time I do a Jillian Michael's workout vid she reminds me that "You are stronger than you think you are." Yes I'm still a huge JM fan haha. I have been so blessed and am so grateful for all the exciting things going on in my life... plus Spring has arrived in Seattle :) I love it here.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1