Jackson, WY 2013

My parents and my sister, Kim, both have a time share condo the week before Memorial Day in Jackson Hole. It's located in Wilson which is just about 10 minutes Northwest of Jackson.  We have been going just about every year since I was a little girl and I LOVE it!  It is always such a nice relaxing trip!  Here is a summary:

Wednesday:
Drive, drive, drive 5 hours.  Mabel did pretty great!  It helps to have a portable DVD player.  Arrived at 8 PM, went to the park behind the condo.  Got ready for bed and watched Star Trek with my parents.  We got the upstairs bedroom and our own bathroom till Shannon and Matt came up on Friday.

Thursday:
Got up with my sister and my mom and we walked a bit (I didn't do much because I have an IT band injury) then we went to the gym and I did some physical therapy for my IT band and some upper body weights.  Eric lifted over 500lbs on the leg press.  3 sets of 10 reps.  He couldn't walk very well the rest of the trip. :)   Then we went to town!  Literally.  We went to eat at the Merry Piglets restaurant in Jackson and then shopping a bit.   I also got Mabel a cute Jackson T-Shirt to pass on the T-shirt tradition.  I didn't get myself a hoodie or T-shirt this year because I just have so many! 

Then we went back to the condo and I did a puzzle for the first time in years!  It was 500 pieces and not easy but I really enjoyed it.  Mabel helped too.  The night ended with some time the hot tub.  Thanks to my parents for watching Mabel so we could both enjoy it!


Friday:

Foam rolled my poor legs and then we went to the park again for Mabel.  That girl loves to be outside!  We waited for Matt, Shannon and Paul then we all (Mom and Dad, Paul, Kim and Adam and their 5 kids, Shannon, Matt, Eric, Mabel and I) drove to Teton National Park to Jenny Lake.  We took a 5 minute ferry across the lake and then hiked up to a water fall and then hiked back to the car.  It was about 3 miles but took us about 3 hours.  It was a challenge with Mabel and my injury but it sure was fun!   I love being outside and with my family.



Trail around Jenny Lake and up to Cascade Water Fall.  (Yes, I have starbursts in my pocket.)

 Friday night, we went to the Bar J Wranglers chuck wagon show.  That is always so fun!  It's a little cheesy but some of the talent is amazing.  My favorite act was "Rawhide."  It kind of reminds me of the possum place they stop at in A Goofy Movie.

Saturday: 

I went on a jog with my mom, dad, Shannon and Matt.   I hated not being able to go with the furthest group but I don't want to risk further injury.  Then we got back, had a yummy breakfast of bacon and eggs, played Settlers of Catan and then played tennis!  We love tennis but we are not super good at it.  We played doubles and switched up hitting it with my mom and watching Mabel.   Lunch/Dinner was in the Grand Teton National Park on Jackson Lake at the Signal Mountain Lodge.  Mabel missed that.  She was asleep on two chairs, but I did get her a book for a souvenir.  I was just thrilled she took a good nap!  Then back to town where I got $20 of candy including a chocolate frog and fudge.

 

I also got a new watch.  So excited about this watch!  We ended the night up in our room watching America's Funniest Home videos and laughing till we cried.



Sunday found us back on the road home.  We made some great memories!

"A bit of a challenge, just a bit" -Jillian

Hello, hello!  So I always have lofty health and fitness goals that I never reach for various reasons but I stumbled across this website on My Fitness Pal about people who do the 30 Day Shred workout DVD by Jillian Michaels. I have this DVD and I've used it a few times but I've never been super consistent. Anyway, this website at www.30dsresults.com has before and after pictures submitted by people who have actually done it consistently for 30 days.  I have decided I'm going to be one of those people! 

So how to stick to this goal?  Well, I'm going to get a sticker chart make a chart where I can cross of the numbers and it will be super cute functional and get me motivated!  I love checking things off.  :)Also, I'm posting this here so all of my 5 readers can help me stay on track. Or, at least I will be embarrassed if I don't do it.

Cute, huh?  Days 10 and 20 are blue because those are the days I move on to the next level.

I will also be doing other workouts and continuing my core and lower body training exercises to help my running.  I will be tracking my food and cutting out almost all processed foods and staying under 1400 net calories a day.   It's going to take me 5 weeks because I will be taking Sundays off.  Stay tuned for my before and after pics!

Running Tips Learned the Annoying Way

I went on a jog while on vacation in Jackson Hole last week (post on that coming soon) and it reminded me of the list I've been meaning to make.   

Ahem.

Things to remember for running:

1.  If you are dehydrated, you will get a side ache.  Always drink lots of water.
2.  You need to eat a little something before you go.  String cheese is good or a small glass of almond milk works for me.
3.  Go potty first.  Seriously.  Even if you don't think you need to.
4.  Make sure you strength train and stretch your lower body (warm) to avoid IT band injury. *curse*
5.  It's more fun to run with a buddy.  Someone slower if you want to feel good about yourself and someone faster if you want a challenge and to feel bad about slowing them down.
6.  Charge your iPod.  Running with out one and alone is so B.O.R.I.N.G.
7.  If you are going to explore new areas, you are going to get lost and it takes 20 minutes longer to get home.   "I will just go this way and I can just cut back on the next street over."  Nope, nothing comes back this way for about a mile. 
8.  It's okay to walk.  Nobody is judging you for walking.  And if they are, they are mean and not your problem so walk if you need to. 
9. Don't forget your sunglasses.  Oh it's cloudy, I won't need them. The sun will come out and it will be blinding and annoying.  Unless it's 9PM, bring your sunglasses
10.  Pin your hair back securely. Nothing is a frustrating as sucking in your hair or  having bangs in your eyes the whole time.
11.  Wear sunblock unless it's 9 PM.  You don't want wrinkles or sunburns!
12.  If you eat crap, you will feel like crap. 
13.  Running wherever you want is so liberating.  Do it more often!


*disclaimer: these are not expert recommendations, only my own lessons I've learned the hard/annoying way.

You got any of your own suggests for me?

Make the Most of it

Yesterday, I was at my friend Brittany's house.  We were just visiting and refereeing our kids when she talked about her camping trip she was going on with her family to the sand dunes that evening.  I looked at her and said "That is bad timing.  It's supposed to rain."  She grimaced and then said "well, at least it won't be dusty."  To which I replied "just muddy." 
Then she said something that surprised me (though, knowing her, it shouldn't have), she said "Well, we'll make the most of it."  I'm sure she did and I'm sure she had lots of fun.  She gives everything she has in every situation and then rolls with it.
I keep thinking about that little, common phrase.  It was like a revelation to me.  "We'll make the most of it."  Just because something doesn't go completely as planned, we can still adjust and have a good time.  It's all about attitude.  I never thought of my self as someone with a bad attitude but I think when I get disappointed about something I had high hopes for, I take it badly. 
Like last night, I had tickets from work to see Star Trek: Into Darkness and we got a babysitter and everything so Eric and I could have a real date.  I took a nap before hand so I wouldn't be tired and when I woke up, the movie had started 10 minutes ago.  I ran into the office yelling at Eric that we were late and "why didn't you wake me up???"  Turns out, Mabel had switched his time on his computer so he was on Pacific instead of Mountain and he had no idea.
The whole way to the movie I was irrational and angry.  Eric took my hand and asked if we wanted to do or see something else so we would still have a good date night.  I took my hand away and seethed.  I wanted to see that movie and I would!  We missed a lot of it but we were still able to understand most (GREAT MOVIE!) and ended up having a good time because my husband was so great.  We did work it out after the movie was over and I apologized. 
I share my nasty flaw only to illustrate my point. After we worked it out, Brit's words came back to me.  "We'll make the most of it."   I completely missed an opportunity to laugh about it and enjoy the time with my husband regardless.   Dates are not something we get to do a lot and I ruined a lot of it for both of us.

I really hope I can learn from the simple phrase and take it to heart in all of my endeavors and relationships.  I want to make the most of my job, marriage, motherhood, vacations, evenings, days when I don't get enough sleep, I don't have as much time to plan as I was hoping, or things don't go as planned.  Life happens and things change.  If we can't adapt and have a good time regardless, we are going to miss too much. 

To the future!

At Neptune Park in SS. Giant rope jungle gym!

 

The picture has nothing to do with this post but isn't she so cute??  This morning Mabel woke up at 4 AM.  This is a problem.   Eric was still awake at 4 AM and I was getting up for work so she thought it must be time to get up!  Eric then fell asleep and I left the house.  Before I left I got Mabel some milk and turned on Kung Fu Panda with a blanket.  Hopefully she went back to sleep. 

I'm getting so tired of our work schedules being exactly opposite from each other but I am grateful that Mabel doesn't have to go to day care.  Sometimes I wonder if it would be better if she was at day care for a few hours in the morning so Eric could get some sleep and Mabel could have more attention in the mornings.  I just don't know if i want to pay for it and I've worked at a day care so I know what goes on... 

Eric and I have been brainstorming ways that I could be stay-at-home.  It usually just comes home to paying off debt or Eric finding a job that pays more.  We are so hesitant to have Eric leave Datawise though because they treat us so well!  Eric is worried that he might not be able to progress much more and it might be smarter to get a job with a company where there is more room to move up.  He is so great at his job so we are leaning more towards me moving up and making more to pay off debt faster. 

I'm now a back up receptionist so I'm hoping I can become a full time receptionist or what I really want to do is become an Admistrative Assitant (big wig assistant or department assistant).  I've found out I'm really good at it and I enjoy it.  I know it's strange to asspire to be a receptionist in the world of careers but I think it would be perfect for me and it is not as easy as you would think! 

I'm also hoping to finish my bachlor's degree with BYU.  They have on online program for people like me to finish their bachlor's in generals online so I could do it at home.  I would just have to pass statstics.  I've failed that class TWICE so I'm scared.  But, I can be reimbursed tution from Wellpoint now that they have bought 1800CONTACTS. 

Last night Eric gave our FHE lesson and we read about the brother of Jared.  They (the Jaredites) sat on the beach for 4 years before he prayed to find out what to do.  Then God chastised him for 3 hours for not praying to him sooner to find out what they should do next before telling him to constuct the boats.  That would be pretty humbling!  So we are going to learn from the brother of Jared and pray our guts out so we can figure out how to proceed.  That is something we haven't been as good with in our marriage that we want to change. 

Side note: Eric loves learning about the brother of Jared because he is the brother of A Jared and he is also "a large and mighty man."  I think it's pretty cute. :)

So we will keep on keeping on and "cry unto the lord" for future direction!

What with all the shanagins and goings on...

Hello Hello!  If you can name the movie I quoted I will send you a post card.  Drawn by myself.

See, I knew it would take a while to post any pictures of my hair, condo and the wedding.  Also, I didn't take one picture of Easter.  I know, I know.  I do feel bad that I missed out because she was pretty stinkin' cute hunting for Easter eggs. 
Here is my hair:

Basically, we shortened the back and added some blond with the red to make it more "rich and dynamic."  Kim did a great job!  Please also note that I'm dressing my truth, sans the cardigan I wore with this outfit to make it more pulled together.

Mabel in her big girl bed:

She is too little for that bed! I just love it though. Nice and girly. :)

Jared's wedding day:

Wedding days are always exhausting but ALWAYS wonderful! We love Adree and they are so happy together. :)  It was fun to have everyone out and lots of people at our condo!

I still haven't taken pictures of our new place.  I never remember to take pictures when it's clean...  so still to come.

I've also decided that I'm going to try lifting weight more seriously.  I was motivated by this article about a girl who did it the wrong way first, then figured out the right way.  I'm not necessarily going to follow the Paleo diet but I think clean eating is good.  Also, I just love the blogs Peanut Butter Fingers and Nerd Fitness.  You're welcome.
 

Updates!

So you've probably noticed I don't blog too often.  I feel like I need tons of pictures or it won't be interesting.  This is probably true but I'm going to blog anyway because I am getting too far behind.  Then, if I think about it, I will add pictures later.

Several things have changed for us in the past few months!  We moved to a bigger place in Saratoga Springs, I have completely remade my wardrobe, I made a renewed effort to be healthy, Jared (Eric's brother) got married, Eric's family stayed with us for a week just after moved, Aziz (Eric's sister's boyfriend) was baptized by Eric and we bought Mabel a princess potty. 

I probably won't put this all in one post but let's start at the top, shall we?  Our move!  Well, it was quite the adventure!  The Saturday we moved was a total blizzard!  It was horrible and I felt so bad asking people to come help us but help us they did!  We are so blessed to have so many friends and family willing to give up 4 hours of their Saturday to help us move in that weather!  The move went smoothly and nothing got broken except my floor lamp.  That was totally my fault and I was pretty upset but what can you do? 

Our new place is 3 bedrooms (instead of 1), hallelujah!!  Mabel has her own room with a big girl bed and her toys contained. Eric has an office with a futon (his dream come true.)  I am just thrilled about the closet and cupboard space I have and a laundry room!  I know, I know, this is pretty standard for most everyone I know but this is HUGE for me.  And I'm enjoying every moment. :)  It's a very nice place but it is on the 3rd floor.  I suppose this is a pro and a con but I could use the exercise.  Someday I will have a yard but this is a fantastic upgrade regardless.  

Pictures to come of our new place.

As for my make over, most of you know that I bought the Dressing Your Truth program by Carol Tuttle.  My sister, Kim found it and introduced it to our family.  My other sister Shannon also got the program and so did my mom.  It's basically a type of personality assessment but it's the best I've ever done.  There are 4 types and you have all 4 in you but the point is to find out which is your dominant energy and then dress to match it.  By dressing your truth, people look at you and understand a bit of you who are and I know I look best when I'm dressing my truth.  I'm the most comfortable in my type of clothes and I love that now everything I have coordinates!  I used to buy clothes that I would never wear and getting dressed was a bit of a challenge every day.  It was so nice to do it all with my family because we were able to swap clothes instead of having to buy a bunch of new ones. 

I have to say that the best thing about this program is that it gives you permission to be who you really are.  Having an amazing wardrobe is just an excellent benefit.  I cried when I realized that it's okay to be me.  All my life I have shamed myself for not being who I thought I should be.  Now I realize that my nature to be forceful and get things done is actually a strength!  I just need to be sure to balance my types and be mindful of who I am working with.  I'm so much happier being swift and strong with out feeling like I'm being too masculine.  I can be a hot, sexy, wife and a caring compassionate person while still being true to who I am!  This was so very liberating for me and it's helped me in all of my relationships.

I will post my before and after pictures once I get my hair done on Friday!  I think I will stop there for now.   Be back later today or tomorrow.  I hope. :)