Life Lately...

I came to a realization. When I eat crappy, I feel crappy.
Ground breaking, I know.
How did I come by this gem of knowledge? I've been living better in the last two months than I ever have in my life before, and I've been feeling it. I've felt GREAT! Then this weekend hit, yesterday especially and I (honest to goodness, swear this is the truth) ate about 6 servings of potato chips and a FOURTH of a custard and fruit cake. Disgusting, I know. The cake itself was divine, how I felt after, not so much. Solution? I worked my butt off today and had a nearly flawless eating day today (blasted salt water taffy, why do you have to tempt me so?), and I'm feeling better! I'm still not completely over my binge day yet, but I'm at least on my way. How so? I'm running a 5K on Saturday with my friend Morgan. This is more than I've run before...here's hoping I don't collapse or something. That would sure be embarrassing...

Best song in the universe? Possibly Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO. I seriously am in love. I can't help myself when that song comes on, I just HAVE to dance. I've tried not moving while it's playing...it's hopeless. "Every day I'm shufflin..." Hell yeah.

I'm also trying a new tactic with my life. I'm setting goals. Up to this point I've pretty much avoided that game plan at all costs, I don't love goals. But I think this may be a good thing for me. I'll let you know how it goes.

Also, the rumors you've heard are true, I AM in fact a Zions Bank star employee. It's official. It was in the company wide email and everything. This is a whole new high for my life so far. Thank you to all of the little people who made this possible.

AROHA!

I feel like I just HAVE to share my new discovery/obsession. Watermelon smoothies. Mmmmm....

Seriously though, I believe that everyone should try it.
Now.
Go.

Love, Love, Love...



 Love.



Rivers just scream summer to me. I love them. Too bad they're so dangerously full. Tubing and rafting will just have to wait another month or so :)



Longboarding. Need I say more?






Art! Any way you create it. It's inspiring.



Parfaits...Mmmmm...

Ask me if I've been to a game this season for either of these home town teams. No. But I am DYING to get to some!


AROHA

Poetry Is For When You're In Love...

L-onging to be with you
O-ne, that's what we are when we're together
N-ot a day goes by when I don't think of you
G-reat memories, that's what we create
B-est use of time I can imagine
O-nly thing I would risk injury for...you
A-mazing how in love we are
R-iding you...my favorite passtime (HAHAHAHAHA I crack myself up)
D-aring is how you make me feel
I-ncredible sensations are what you create for me
N-early perfect match, you and I
G-reastest love poem EVER...right here folks!!

AROHA

The Best Holiday of the Year...

Everybody knows that summer is the best season of the year, hands down. What makes it even better? The best holiday of the year.

The fourth of July.
I love it with my whole heart.
Everything about it.

I love BBQ's, fireworks, parades, America, camping, days off of work, socializing, live music, cotton candy, laying on blankets on the grass...you name it, I love it. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin. The Statue of Liberty, baseball games. Red, white and blue.

Our wonderful, amazing, brave, heroic troops. I love them a whole lot. Those that have made it back and those that paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

I was pretty worried about this July 4th being a dud, my family was all going to be out of town, and I've been in a rut as far as my social life goes. Turns out that it's been the best one I can remember!

It started Friday night when Jamie, Morgan, Kaitlyn, Jed, Andrew, Zach and I hiked up Spanish Fork Canyon at midnight to go to hot springs. Then there was longboarding to the Eaglewood firework show with Ben and Zach and meeting Morgan after for some good old In N Out happiness. Camping last night was a stroke of genius on Zach's part; everyone is apparently pretty excited about being able to legally do aerials, because from our vantage point on a ledge in the mountains we could see the area from North Salt Lake to Syracuse and the sky was COVERED with fireworks! The Kaysville parade this morning with Lindsay, Justin, Brynleigh, Andrew and Zach was incredibly fun, I had never been before! It was pretty excellent! I'm on my way to a BBQ with friends now and then MORE fireworks after.

Seriously, it's been the best. I needed this weekend.

God bless America, the land that I LOVE!!

Aroha

Sunday Rituals...

There's one day a week where I don't have to worry about work ever. Sunday. One day where I don't have to plan a social life. Sunday. Sundays are so great. I have developed some habits for Sundays that I look forward to the entire rest of the week. What are they?

Cleaning

Sunday mornings are my most productive time for cleaning, hands down. There's no better time to do it! Today I cleaned out the refrigerator in my house. I threw out 3 garbage bags FULL of old, expired food items. True story. Then I scrubbed it down and replaced everything. It looks amazing. Better yet? It makes me feel amazing every time I open the fridge door!

Relaxing

This one may seem like a given, but I used to fill my Sundays with so much stuff that it was just another day filled with a different kind of busy. I have recently discovered the art of enjoying relaxing. Today I spent 3 hours at the hospital with my grandma eating a bagel and strawberries, watching Mrs. Doubtfire and reading Instyle. It was so great.

Jogging

Sunday's are the one day of the week that I don't have the option of going to the gym (which I love with my whole heart). But I don't really love the idea of a day of rest from exercise, so I use these days as a day to reconnect with Mother Nature....or at least with the pavement. Nitro and Daisy love Sunday's too because I generally take them with me when I run.

Produce Shopping

I saved the best for last. I am truly addicted to buying produce. I live for it. I love the anticipation of going to the store. I love perusing the selection and deciding what I'm going to buy. I love how my shopping cart looks filled with completely healthy food. I love unloading and washing my loot. I love cutting it all up. I love snacking as I prep it. I love everything about it. I truly can't even put into words my feelings for this weekly ritual. I try and get one new thing every time I'm there. Today I got a red pepper. Did you know that they have more Vitamin C than an orange? True story.

To sum it all up, I love Sundays.
A lot.

Aroha

They Call Me Miss Productivity...

Today may have been the most productive day of my life. Seriously. I think it's because I caught just a glimpse of the sunrise. I BLITZED my house (it's easier to do this when every one's out of town, that way no one yells when I move their stuff.), I cleaned the kitchen, living room, bathroom and my room, I did my laundry, socialized with Jamie and Benjamin, hung out with Grandma, bought some produce at the store, painted my nails, chatted with my mama on the phone, uploaded pictures to Facebook, gave myself a mani/pedi, played with my pets (they are NOT used to only having one person in the house all day...I think it makes them un-easy, which in turn makes them needy), I'm posting on my blog AND I'm going to write a letter to Sara on her mission. I'm exhausted. If this is what catching a glimpse of the sunrise can do, imagine what I could do if I saw the ENTIRE thing. Oh man. The world is just not ready for that.

My nice, CLEAN room.

A sparkling clean bathroom.

Nitro was an excellent helper.

Daisy, not so much...

Gypsy is getting better at hiding from birds.

Yep, it was a pretty great day.
Aroha