Tuesday, April 10, 2012

New Found Passions

     Spring is here! And with spring comes a new found passion for life. The warmer weather seems to bring out the best in life. Recently, I've discovered a few new things that I absolutely LOVE, and I just wanted to share a few of them with you :)

-Feeding ducks! I love love love going to a lake or park and feeding the cute duckies all the bread I can spare! They are just so cute and funny, with their waggly butts and adorable quacks. I wish I could understand what they are saying, because I'm sure that would be just as adorable. New favorite hobby? I think yes.

-Stronger, by Kelly Clarkson. Definitely my new anthem for the foreseeable future. I love the rocking beats and the uplifting girl power lyrics. I totally got caught dancing to this song in my car in the middle of an intersection the other day... don't regret a thing!

-Working out. I never used to work out, but I started about 2 weeks ago and I'm really enjoying it! Except for the days when I feel like I've been in a really bad bar fight, but that was pretty much just the first week lol. I still get sore, but it's just that building muscle soreness that you know is good for you. It usually is only bad for maybe a day. Definitely worth the bikini body that I'll have for summer!

-Driving around, windows down, music up. Ok, this isn't exactly something I've just discovered, but I haven't been able to do it for so long that it sure feels like it! It's one of the simple joys in life.

-Sports bras. How did I live without theses things?!?!

-Reading Vet. student blogs. So interesting! I love reading a first hand perspective about students in vet school. I think it's really upped my motivation for school, which is definitely a good thing. It gives me hope that someday I will be in vet school too!

     Sincerely,
          Me

p.s. I was hoping to add some pics to this post, but my phone is just not cooperating with me. The last time I went to visit my duck friends I took a few really cute pictures! They got so close! Maybe I will add them in eventually...

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Conference Weekend

     Last weekend was conference weekend, aka "wear pajamas and do nothing" weekend. Needless to say, I loved it :) It was so nice just to take a break from all the stress of everyday life and listen to the words of the prophets. On Saturday I even had a pretty cool opportunity to invite a friend over to watch the afternoon session with me. I don't know how much he really took in, but I hope he was able to feel the calm and peace that I always feel during conference. The only draw back was that I was in Logan instead of home with my family. This isn't the first time I haven't been home for conference, but for some reason it kindof hit me hard this time. Don't tell anyone, but sometimes I get a little homesick, even though I try to put on a brave face ;) I do think I pay attention better when I'm not at home though, so maybe it was for the best! I do want to share a few of my favorite talks and some of my thoughts with you and I hope you enjoy my insights :)

     The very first talk was President Thomas S. Monson. It was really short, but it made such an impact on me. Almost from the moment he opened his mouth I felt the spirit so strongly that I cried (a rare occurance for me). He was basically just opening up the conference, but I just really felt so close to the spirit and I felt encouraged to make changes in my life.

     Later in the session, Paul E Koelliker gave a talk about the "murmuring" that goes on in the Book Of Mormon. I had never equated this problem with me, but he brought up the point that "they murmured because they did not know the dealings of our heavenly father." This really brought it into perspective for me. It made me realize that this has been part of my problem of late. I have grumbled and been unhappy with some things in my life because they didn't go the way I wanted them to. My problem was that I wasn't thinking about what heavenly father has planned for me and I wasn't fully trusting him to get me to my goals. This talk really helped me change my way of thinking.

     David S. Baxter spoke Saturday afternoon. His talk was very reassuring to me. It was all about how the lord is with us during our trials. If we just do our best, we will find the help we need to get through the hard times. Plus, He had a really cool accent, so he was really fun to listen to ;)

     There are more talks that made an impact on me, but for the sake of not having a mile long post, I only wanted to share my absolute favs. I hope that you enjoyed conference as much as I did!

     Sincerely,
          Me

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Letters to the boys

     So I saw this on a friend's blog and decided to steal it. The idea is that you write a letter/note to all the boys who have made an impact on your life, whether you went out with them or merely admired them from afar. Sounds like fun! I figured this would be a good way to get a few things off my chest :)

p.s. sorry for the language... but it was well deserved.

Dear Kindergarten Sweetheart,
     My first "boyfriend". We had great times playing at daycare and kissing in the big tires. I don't remember your name, but I remember how nice you were to me. I still have the pearl necklace you gave me! I hope you've had a great life since our times in kindergarten <3

Dear High School Crush,
     You were the first boy I thought I loved. We were best friends all through high school and we made some great memories. I'm sorry I messed things up there at the end, I guess I was just scared. Thanks for being one of my very best friends. I know we've both changed a lot since those days, but I hope that someday we will be able to share some good times again. I'll always care about you, even if you're gay now...

Dear Boy Next Door,
     I had the biggest crush on you my entire freshman year of college. I just thought you were the cutest, funniest, sweetest guy I'd ever met. Alas, you liked my roommate. I'm over it though, we never would have been good together anyways.

Dear My First,
     First kiss, first boyfriend, first love, first everything. I had no idea the impact you would have on my life. You taught me so much and I grew so much while we were dating, but you also took so much from me. I didn't know that someone I loved so much could hurt me like you did. But after everything, I must thank you for helping me learn what a good relationship should be. Thanks for teaching me to let go.

Dear Rebound,
     I'm sorry I used you, but I still don't believe you wanted a relationship with me. Thanks for the good times, you were there for me when I needed you. I hope you learn how to kiss.

Dear Muscles,
     You are a douche. I trusted you and you played with my feelings. I hope karma makes you her bitch someday. You need to learn that you can't just go around treating girls like crap. And you look like a fish when you kiss.

Dear Brace Face,
     I'm glad I never kissed you, my tongue would have been shredded to pieces. I'm glad I kicked you to the curb when I did. I can't believe you stuck your hand up my shirt. Grow up and learn some boundaries.

Dear Coffee Shop Boy,
     I still miss you. But I hate that I miss you. Sometimes I want to throw eggs at your car. I still don't really know why you broke up with me. I wish you would have said something before that night. Even though it didn't work out between us, I'm still glad I took the chance. Thanks for getting me to open my heart to love again. I hope you find everything you're looking for. Don't be afraid to fall in love babe, you deserve to be happy.

     Sincerely,
               Me

Monday, March 5, 2012

Hope

Hope does not always burn brightly or shine fiercely like the sun, but glows softly like the stars. Hope is the tiny spark in your heart that urges you to move forward, even in the blackest of nights. Hope is what keeps you going, even when it seems there is nothing left to live for. Especially when it seems there is nothing left to live for. Hope is found in a new tree bud after a winter storm. Hope is found in the quacks and waddles of ducks looking for food in a frosty pond. Hope is found in a heartbeat, in a laugh, in a smile. Hope gives your heart wings to fly you away from you troubles and to a place of green grass and butterfly wings. Hope is a tiny ray of sunshine that you carry in your soul. Finding hope is like finding a jewel in a mud pile. Once we find that tiny sparkle of hope, we must cherish it. For one grain of hope brings more, like moths to a flame. Soon, we will have gathered enough hope to pick us up off the floor and conquer our trials. Search for hope, for if you search you will find. It only takes one glimmer of hope to change the seasons and bring your heart to summer.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Longing

Would it be okay to tell you
that I miss you?
I know I probably shouldn't,
but my heart is screaming at me
to tell you how I feel.


Can you see how hard it is for me?
Maybe I'm a better liar than I thought.
It seems like you're doing just fine.
I shouldn't bother your peace
with the longings of a silly girl.


I know I should let you go,
that this is what you wanted.
But I keep thinking just maybe,
if I stopped pretending to be okay, just for a moment,
you would tell me you miss me too.


I can't describe how losing you has felt.
I never expected it to be this hard.
You're in my every thought
and when I hear my heart beating
I'm surprised it's working at all.


I miss you, my dear.
I dream about being in your arms again,
of kissing your lips even one last time.
I promise I'm trying to let you go,
to let you live your life without me holding you back.


But I miss you.


    That, my dear friends, is my attempt at poetry. I don't often write poetry, but sometimes when I'm having a hard time with something it really helps to get my feelings out and put them on paper. I've had that first line running through my head for weeks. Tonight I finally had enough inspiration to write it down and the whole thing just kindof fell together. It's a wonderful feeling, being able to pour out your thought onto the page and it's always rewarding for me when I read through it and realize I created something beautiful. Beauty from pain.

     If you hadn't guessed already, me and my boyfriend broke up about a month ago. Well, really he dumped me. The details are all muddled and only he knows the real reasons behind it. I can only guess and try to interpret what little he told me. Needless to say, I haven't been dealing with the whole situation as well as I would like to. I'm trying to be strong and get over it, but most days all I want to do is stay in bed and sleep and cry. Of course, I can't do that. So I put on my brave face and do the best I can. Hopefully it will get easier.

Echo, my newest friend :)
     There are some good things about my life though! I don't want you to think that my life lately has just been one big cry fest. Number one is that I got a fish!!! I went home last weekend and I mentioned to my dad that I've been wanting a fish for a while. He surprised me by offering to buy me a fish! So we took a trip to the pet store and picked out the prettiest betta there :) His name is echo, and he has settled into his new home quite nicely, Even though it's just a little fish, I've really enjoyed taking care of him. It's nice to be responsible for another living thing.

     I've also been making an effort to improve my eating habits. Nothing drastic, no goals of losing weight or anything. I've just been trying to eat healthier and pay attention to what I'm putting into my mouth. I'm also trying to reduce my meat intake. After a really horrible dream that I won't even describe, I decided to cut back on meat. I have no false ideas of being able to go vegetarian as I do not eat nearly enough fruits and veggies to get a balanced diet without meat, but I have cut back. My approach is fresh fruits and veggies, more whole grains, less boxed and processed foods, more water, more alternative proteins, and limit my sweets, soda, and meat to once a day. It's been going pretty well so far, and I've been pleased with how good my body feels when I'm eating healthy meals. A big part of it is just paying attention to what I put in my mouth and actually thinking about what I'm going to eat for the day. It's been fun to experiment with different foods. Last night I made some delicious green beans and today I made some lovely roasted red potatoes. Yum!

    Another positive thing in my life recently is exercise. If you know me, you know I don't exercise very much. Hardly at all. Usually, the most I can claim is my once a week horseback riding. I decided that was something that needed to be changed, mostly for the endorphins. Again, I don't really have goals of losing weight, that's never really been a focus of mine. Exercise relieves stress and calms you down, and that's definitely something I need in my life right now. I took a zumba class today and I had a blast! It felt so good to be sweaty and happy. I'll also be doing some yoga classes, which is something I've really enjoyed in the past. Hopefully this will help me have a more positive outlook on life.
   
      Also, spring is just around the corner! What great hope good weather can bring :) Stay sweet, my friends.

     Sincerely,
          Me

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

So many things to be thankful for...

     This Sunday in church, there were a few talks about Thanksgiving and I felt impressed to make a list of the things that I am most thankful for. So I'll share my list with you :) and I encourage you to make your own little thanksgiving list, it can really change your perspective on life.


  • Family
  • My "Logan" friends, specifically Audriana Marler and Samantha Reeves
  • My wonderful boyfriend :)
  • School
  • Work
  • Animals
  • My dogs
  • Prayer
  • Church and the strength I receive when I go
  • heaters
  • boots
  • an open heart
  • those who listen and love
  • good examples
  • music
  • having not just a house, but a home
  • safety while driving
  • the things I don't struggle with
  • good hair days
  • hope
  • future plans
  • the spark of faith that keeps me holding on
  • coworkers that turn into family
  • those who forgive
  • being able to move on
  • the strengths of others
  • trendy clothes
  • the courage to ride horses
  • confidence in myself
  • smiles
  • unconditional love
  • hot chocolate
  • comfort food, like pine nuts
  • my parents
  • sore muscles
  • tender mercies of the Lord
  • challenges that help me grow
  • sacrifices people make for the gospel
  • righteous temple marriages
  • sweaters
  • sunshine and sunrises
  • those who share their tough experiences
  • good poetry
  • cute shoes
  • the sweet spirit of children
  • pictures with friends
  • happy memories
  • cozy blankets
  • funny jokes
  • laughing until your stomach hurts
  • good study days
  • catching up with friends
  • game nights
  • pretty jewelry
  • hymns, especially #100
  • songs that get you through hard times
  • letters to/from missionaries
  • complements
  • loving words from friends
  • long talks with good friends
  • dancing
  • my favorite scripture, 2 Nephi:4
  • seeing the light of Christ in others and feeling God's love for them
  • cheesy movies
  • the atonement of Jesus Christ
  • personal revelation
  • family vacations
  • Christmas time
  • quiet mornings
  • hugs from loved ones
  • kisses
     Sorry, I know it's a little long, but what can I say, I have a lot to be thankful for! Happy Thanksgiving everybody :)

     Sincerely,
          Me

Friday, October 28, 2011

Things change...

     The only thing that stays the same in life is the fact that it is always changing. Change can sometimes be a hard thing, but it's something we all have to come to terms with. Things change, and we just have to learn to make the best of it. There are a lot of things in my life that are changing right now, but I am thankful to say that I'm pretty happy with all of them :) Life is good when you can welcome change with an open heart!

     First of all, one of my bestest friends in the whole wide world and roommate for three years is getting married. Yep, married! I am so happy for her. Her boyfriend, soon to be fiance, is an absolutely amazing guy and he is everything she has ever wanted in an eternal companion. I always thought she would be the first to get married, but now that that time is here I find myself thinking "whoa wait, already?!" which is silly because this is our fourth year of college. There is no doubt in my mind that this is right and that she is ready for this next step in her life. Honestly, it is a little weird to me, just because I am nowhere near ready to be married yet. At least, I don't think so. There are just way too many things going on in my life right now. I'm having a hard time figuring out if I am ready for a relationship, let alone marriage! Anyways, moral of the story is that I am so excited for my best friend and I am so happy that she has found the person she is going to spend the rest of her life with :)

     Speaking of relationships... there's a boy in my life! Yep, you heard right, a boy ;) I will try to avoid going into too much detail, but basically he is amazing :) We are really similar in a lot of areas and we think the same about most stuff. I've had a crush on this boy for a while now, so it's pretty fantastic that things are finally starting to work out! I don't think I have ever meshed so well with anyone outside of my family and above-mentioned best friend. I catch myself daydreaming about him constantly, which probably isn't a very good thing when it happens during my classes lol. Anyways, I'll stop gushing... :) I will admit though, I am kindof apprehensive about where things are going. I really like this boy and I really want things to work out. I just hope that getting involved with him is a good thing, because at this point I don't think my heart will let me not get involved :)

     Losing friends is generally a hard change to cope with, but sometimes it is just necessary to move on in life. Someone very close to me recently told me he didn't want to be in my life anymore. It really is sad to me because I've known him for going on four years, and I feel like we have been through a lot together. Being friends definitely wasn't easy, but I've always felt that it was worth it. Apparently, he didn't feel the same way. Even though I'm sad that our friendship is over, I think it's probably for the best. By keeping our friendship going, I've also been carrying around a lot of baggage. I'm hoping that I'll be able to let all of the junk from my past go so I can move on to better things in my life (see above paragraph ;) ).

     Along with all this, school is as hard as ever (if not harder) and I feel like I am always busy. BUT, all things considered, I definitely think my life is on the plus side right now :)

     Sincerely,
               Me