.Day 23.

.Day 22.

.Day 21.

Natural light is proving the best for iPad pictures. haha.

.Day 20.

.Day 19.

I am grateful for sleeping in, Shrek movies, and having the refrigerator fixed at work!

.Day 18.

Today I am grateful for air conditioning, electricity, and pizza rolls.

.Day 17.

.Day 16.

3minutes.... Friends, relief society, and pet stores. Whew!

.Day 15.

I'm not feeling so great today, but still so happy-it's the strangest thing. I am completely content to be sitting here on my couch, drinking my lemon water, enjoying my rest time. I'm glad I don't have to work today and that I have a new book to keep me occupied.
Also, the Bachelorette started last night...I enjoyed the show back in my single days when I didn't know what real love was really like, but now I just feel sorry for them all; so desperate and willing to humiliate themselves in the name of love. Tragic. However, there is this blog I follow and she does hilarious commentary on all the episodes. When I do watch, I have my laptop/iPad at the ready to read along as I watch. Here is the link to her first Bachelorette post for those of you interested.
Chris is still dead asleep, in case you are wondering. I will let him sleep, though. His job is very physically demanding.

Have a great day!

.Day 14.

.Day 13.

I would be crazy not to post about how grateful I am for my amazing mother. I can't express how much I love her and admire her. She is so many things I wish I was...maybe some day.

1. I am grateful for my mom's never ending supply of love and support, no matter what it is; whether its going to a private (expensive) liberal arts college or getting married at 19- she's there.
2. I am grateful for my mom's example of setting and achieving goals. She is constantly improving herself in all aspects of life. If I could have just one ounce of her motivation- I'd be set!
3. I am grateful to have a mother who raised me in the gospel. Not only did she teach me to live it- she showed me by living it herself. She is so diligent in all of her callings, and is always giving service.

I love you, mom! I hope you had a great mothers day!

I love old photos.

.Day 12.

I am grateful for....sitting, dessert, and kisses from my husband. Short, sweet and to the point. :)

Dance Dares

I love the Ellen show. If you don't know about Dance Dares, you're missing out on a lot of laughs. Here's my new favorite. 

 

PREGNANT dance dares. This is definitely going on my pregnancy bucket list! ;)

On another note...isn't she TERRIBLE live?

 

.Day 11.

Haha, I know I spelled convenient wrong...

obvious?

My head is swimming; I have a lot of thoughts jumbled together.

I want to be better. I want to be a better wife. I want to be better at taking care of my body. I want to be a better church member. Overall, just a better person. I feel like I've gotten so lazy, almost addicted to being lazy. I go to work--I come home--I veg in front of the computer or TV--I go to sleep. Repeat. My prayers are insincere. My scripture study is becoming alarmingly absent. This is, in no way, the person I want to be; letting life pass me by while I waste my time in front of a screen.  I had (have) big dreams and I'm on my way to not accomplishing any of them. Scarier--I can feel myself digressing as a person.

I miss singing. I miss that part of my identity. Its weird to me that some people that I've recently met don't know about my passion...

How am I supposed to do it all? Fulfill my music dream and still be practical? Fight the laziness and become stronger?

As you can see...I am at war with myself and I don't know where to start. I want peace and confirmation that I'm doing the right thing. Am I supposed to be a Social Work major? Am I completely going to loose my voice due to neglect?

The obvious answers come to mind. Pray. Go to the temple. Read the scriptures.... I know what I'm supposed to do, I'm just scared of the answers.

.Day 10.

.Day 9.

.Day 7 & 8.

.Day 7.

Today has been a great day. Here are 3 things I am grateful for

-I am grateful that I got to spend some quality time with my hubby. Even when we're running errands and cleaning the apartment its a good time.
-I am grateful for myfitnesspal. It is such a blessing and a help to me; I would have had no idea that a doughnut has 420 calories. Good thing I only ate one. ;)
-I am grateful for good hair days; makes life a whole lot easier!

"In Love & Loss"

.Day 5 & 6.

.Day 5.

I'm too exhausted and too lazy to write in my journal tonight...but I am determined to make it all 31 days!

I am grateful for...
-The warm, fuzzy feeling I got when I helped the sweetest girl on the planet find a new bra (in the right size).
-The view I get of the temple on my way home from work; too gorgeous for words.
-My sweet husband...who tried especially hard to make me happy today, even though I didn't deserve it.

.Day 4.

Today, I just noticed that I am happy....for no apparent reason. I remember having a lesson (sometime, somewhere) that talked about gratitude. Some scientists did a study and found that people who wrote down 3 things they were grateful every day experienced exponential increases in happiness. Participant's overall happiness level doubled in a period of three months.

I know this is hard to measure...but I believe that it is true. I wish I had the credits on the study so ya'all could look it up....but I guess you'll just have to take my word for it. ;)

.Day 3.

.Day 2.

Day 2/31 Days of Gratitude

.Proof.

12[in]2012: Getting Back on the Horse

Well, April was such a crazy month- I have to be honest, my goals completely fell by the wayside. Between finishing up my semester at school, juggling 3 different jobs, trying to exercise and eat healthy...I was just swamped. My April goal was to find more time to read...which I actually semi-accomplished. I read books #2 & 3 of the Hunger Games series. :)

Anyway, I am starting afresh this month with my May goal.

I am so excited to get going with this. I used to be so good at this. I would write in my journal every day. When I got married and was all caught up with the wedding, moving, and learning to live with a boy...I got out of the habit.

Being aware of all of the great things going on in life is a great way to make your own happiness; which is a great lesson I learned about this morning. The funny thing, I didn't remember what May goal was this morning. I think that this is a sign.

Happy May!

I read an article this morning from an amazing blog.

(If you don't want to read it, just know its all about not comparing your 

marriage (or your life) to other people or their relationship.)

It really hit home for me. I think as women, we all constantly do this with each other...but then we tend to take it one step further; comparing our husbands to other people's husbands. Which, if you think about it, isn't fair at all.

One thing I think we forget is we see (most) people at their best, while you and your spouse share the best and the worst. Why compare your "behind the scenes" with someones highlights?

Why base your happiness in something you can't control? If your wishing your husband/friends/family were a certain way, and you're not happy because of it- you aren't in control and you will never be happy. It's not your place to change people when you are imperfect yourself.

In summary, this is what I've learned and what I am going to work on: Focus on yourself. Learn from those you look up to and become better. Love the people in your life for who they are.

Does anybody have any thoughts?