Dedicated to the Other Tolerator

So, it has been going on for years. I have watched as others have been sucked in and I have stood by hoping not to see another person I know fall into the trap. He is like poison ivy...painful and makes you feel that constant urge to itch. When you do itch, it is like heaven, but it bleeds and leaves a scar.

I beg of you...don't fall prey to his spell!

I watched in disgust That 70's Show. Dude, Where's My Car was further proof of his heinousness.

Don't think I haven't had my weak moments, I have. Have you seen The Guardian? It's like he has acting skill. And then there was What Happens in Vegas...

Oh, I have been weak. But I know better now. I can barely stand the guy.

He sneaks up on you, in those Nikon commercials between Glee and Friday Night Lights, trying to be all nice guy and stuff. And he has this twitter account where he talks all about world peace. Trying to reel you in.

Don't forget the scars that itching can leave!

And don't, under any circumstances, go see his new movie, Killers. Don't. That will be one itch that will leave a scar. A big one.

Picnic Lunch

I had lunch at the park with my dear friend Liz and her two adorable kids today. I love them to death. Liz still puts me at ease and I can complain or laugh or cry or chatter non stop and she takes it all in and tell me what she thinks. Everyone needs a friend like that. She takes my side on things when I need it and sometimes tells me I am being a nerd when I am.

I am also donning a bit of a sunburn as well. Maybe it was because I was wearing new shorts that I bought a month ago, two sizes to small and they fit already! wahoo! and a new shirt that has a tag that says large. Oh and shoes that are only a size 7 1/2. Not a big deal to many people, but friends, big deal to me! To look at myself in the mirror and know I have a ways to go yet, but that I also already look amazing, yipppeee!

If only I could manage to find some jeans that fit half as well as these shorts I would be happy.

5 Year Ago

I am so grateful today for my amazing friend Liz.

We were roommate in college and while we were both a little crazy at the time over the years our relationship has developed into more than just crazy roommates. Our lives took very different paths and yet, that hasn't stopped us at all. She is always a listening ear, an impartial judge and a great encouragement to me. She believes in me when I doubt.

I see her struggle with the bits and pieces of her life and at the same time I see her push for what she wants and strive to be the best mom she can be. She inspires me to be more and want more.

5 years ago I may not have believed it if someone told me that we would still be such good friends, but we are. And everyday, I am grateful.

Endless Christmas

So my Christmas keeps coming and coming. I love it.

Today's gift was from my dear friend Liz. In an engraved case she gave me chopsticks engraved with my name (on the box and on the chopsticks themselves!)! I know it seems cheesy, but we have lunch once a week and one of the places we like to eat is a Chinese place. I complain about not getting chop sticks or the quality all the time. So, my dear friend gave me my own set and I love them!

I got this cute blanket from my kids, Livy, Kiki and Milo all helped make it, isn't it sweet? I love it, because it is from them.

Christmas keeps coming and coming. I am so blessed. Over and over again.

A Day in the Life

I have been so busy in the last week or two that I haven't had time to update! Here is what I did today...

Off to work bright and early and enjoyed a morning of some interesting discussions with kids. Apparently Santa is bringing me shoes and diamonds and lots of money. Haha! I wish he was bringing that.

Today I apparently made plans to have lunch with two people...opps! I couldn't be in two places at once so I had lunch with Liz at 12:30 at Chili's and enjoyed our weekly session of venting and giggles. It was a blast, as always. Then at 2pm I met Logan at Patricia's. We chatted and enjoyed our monthly gab session. I am so lucky that he has such an amazing wife that let's him still hang out with me. Needless to say I was really full. I ate with Liz, nibbled a salad with Logan and brought it home to eat for dinner.

Then a run to the dollar store to pick up thank you cards for those who participated in the Angel Tree we did at work and a few bits and pieces for tomorrows Christmas festivities.

I ran home to change, feed the cats, check the mail, vacuum the house and mop the kitchen/dining rooms.

Off to a training session, where I got my butt kicked. I wonder why I do it sometimes, because I hate feeling like I am absolutely done and exhausted. My muscles don't work by the end and I push like crazy just to finish sometimes. I work hard and I always am glad I did it, but man does it hurt some days.

Then off to cover a shift for someone.

I came home to eat a wonderful dinner of cereal. I finished up the last of the Christmas projects for tomorrow and decided I had to update. Ah, a day in the life of me! I am grateful for the chance to have a few down days coming, not just for the joy of Christmas, but for the chance to just nap and not have to go and do anything!

Enjoy the last days before Christmas.

Real Love

Today I spent my afternoon making snowmen, doing yoga and singing Christmas songs. I got a million hugs today. I had three people tell me that I looked great, and found out that out of everyone in the gym, I lost the most weight out of everyone in six months. That includes all members and employees.

I tried on things that had been sitting in my closet for years, that haven't fit and was happy to find some that hadn't fit in 5 years fit and some that I just missed and now are too big all together.

Today I had two people ask me to spend the holidays with them.

I had dinner with my dear friend Tricia, got a message from Liz J., heard from a ton of my old school Prescott friends including my best friends from High School, Beverly, Jason and Alicia.

Today, I remembered what it is like to be really loved. Unconditionally, faults and all loved. That is what the season is about. It is about remembering what is important and why. It is feeling close the ones you love and knowing that no matter what, they love you back. Thank you my dear friends, for reminding me.

Only Ten Things...

I just wanted to pop in and say how blessed I am. I truly am. Why? Let me share.

1. I have a job (or three!)
2. I have a library cards and can check out all the books I want.
3. I have a great phone.
4. I get to enjoy Lunch with Liz once a week.
5. Lunch with Logan is coming again soon.
6. Online classes rock...Ican do them in my jammies at midnight.
7. I have tickets to conference.
8. I have to go shopping, cause my clothes are too big...and falling off!
9. I have the gospel in my life.
10. I have the greatest friends...and I am so lucky to have them when I need them.

Ok, enough of my blessings. I have a million more but I need sleep. Lots of sleep.

Good Night/Good Morning!

Love It

The things I love:

* Rainy Days- I love the jolt of humidity (since we have so little) for just a day or two and then back to the blessed dryness.

* New challenges- I love when you first make a choice, decision or have a project given to you and you have to figure out how to get to your desired end result. I love that initial jumble of ideas and thoughts and making plans. I love making plans.

* E-books- I love them. I love having one at my fingertips at any moment without having to add the bulk of a sometimes un-needed book, since I only like to read long ones apparently. I love that I can whip out a favorite quickly and enjoy it.

* Un-expected Hugs- mostly from kids, because lets face it an unexpected hug from some random strange guy is not really as appealing as it is scary. But I love little arms that wrap around and the moments of happiness that come. There is nothing like it.

* Spoiling nieces and nephews- I freely admit I don't get to do it as much as I would like, since I don't have many close to me, but you just ask my sister Robin and she will tell you I have stuff for Caius every time I see him. In fact, I have a bag full of stuff for Caius and the new baby that is months away. It will be like Christmas morning the next time I see them. If I had more nieces and nephews around I would spoil them as much. I spoil the other kids in my life just as much.

* Personal Training with Zach- I wish you guys could spend one session with Zach. I wish you could see the things he has me do! I wish you could see what a change in my muscles has happened in the last few months with the guidance of Zach. He is big and scary looking but can't raise his voice to save his life! It is great to push to the point of dripping sweat and muscles giving out and him pushing just that much further and you realizing you just barely had it in you. And the next time, do almost twice as much as the time before, and smiling through the pain. Nothing better.

* New deodorant- Not something you think of, but I hate to buy I just complain to myself that if I didn't stink I wouldn't need it and what a load of pumpernickel it is to spend $7-$8 dollars on the stuff. So new means I don't have to buy it for a while and that makes me happy.

* Notes from Old Friends- there is nothing like notes from people you knew best when you weren't your best self, not always your worst, but not as refined as you like to think you are now. That they like you enough to keep in contact or recontact and have things to say makes me smile. Not to mention the little things about them you remember and the memories that we associate with them. Always the obscure, but fun nonetheless.

* Free Bagel Day- I love bagels, I do. I always have. I do not buy bagels. I do not need the temptation because I would make bagel pizzas, bagel bites, sandwiches and all sorts of other bagel concoctions with them around. So I look forward to the once a month free bagel day at work. I get to indulge in one of my favorite things (and I do love cream cheese too...all kinds!) for free without having to fight the urge to have buy them I just think to myself, "its almost free bagel day!"

* Freshly colored hair- it doesn't matter the color, the method, it just matters that for at least a week I can look in the mirror and not see grey.

* Fall- it is almost here. I already have the decorations ready to put up, the apple cider ordered, planning thanksgiving dinner, Halloween parties, corn mazes and a bon-fire or two. I am pouring over new sweater purchases and allowing myself the chance to glance at the new coat selections. I am excited to try a couple of new soup recipes I have found this summer in the most yummy bread bowls. There is nothing better.

* Lunch with my friends/family- my friends are my family. Since I have a lack of family around, my best friends are family. I am so lucky to get to share lunch with my dear friend Liz regularly and of course Logan. It makes me pretty happy to know that a chance to spend some great quality time with them for an hour or so comes so regularly. I get to enjoy lunch with Logan today and Liz on Friday (maybe Thursday). I am pretty stinkin' blessed.

News?!

Dear Friends,

Logan, my wonderful best friend, is getting married. To a wonderful girl. I am so excited. While chatting away with the other night trying to get any detail out of him (mostly um's and uh's, BOYS!) we were laughing about the whole thing and he asked if I would dress up in a tux and be his best man. To which I laughed and quickly agreed. Well, maybe not the tux part and maybe not being the best man, but to dressing up and being a girl there, yes.

I am so happy for him. It is what he has wanted for a while and his family is so excited they are about to burst! Ah, all my friends are growing up...good for them!

While out the lunch with my friend Liz the other we were talking about growing up and I said it was funny to think she was married and had two kids (haha, I almost said three Liz! Get on that, k? haha!) and the only way I had changed is that I had two cars, and 13 roommates since we were roommates. It made us laugh.

A friend at work is pregnant and I am so excited for her!

A friend from work is moving to Oklahoma because her husband is starting medical school...how fun, and yet, how sad! I will miss her.

Seasons change in life and I am just so happy to see the seasons of my friends lives change. How blessed I am so see weddings, babies, new homes and jobs fill the lives of the ones I love so much. How blessed.

Excuse me as I wipe a tear. PMS can kill you you know...haha!

So ignore my hair in this picture the wind was blowing really hard and my hair was not liking it. But, this is my dear friend Liz J. She was a roommate years ago and we had so much fun back in the day. I really missed having her around but she has just moved back to the area and I have been so happy! It was so fun to enjoy a lunch of remembering and laughing like we used to. We have both grown up a lot since we were roommates, she got married and has two adorable kids! Crazy!

I love enjoying old friends. I can't wait for our next lunch. Maybe sometime we will have to enjoy chuck and the array of deserts...haha!

NEWS!

Ok, I was made an offer, I accepted. And now the fun begins! Lots of changes are about happen in my life. I'll blog about it more later today. Right now I am off to have lunch with the best roommate ever...LIZ! I haven't seen her in a while and I am so excited to see her. When I am done I will have time to write more. Just know that I am keeping you informed.

bits and pieces

Much of my life is currently consumed by the almost-here wedding of Melinda. She makes a beautiful bride, and I am LOVING the bridals we got. I love the composition of this picture, it just feels like contentment and peace to me.

Also, my dear friend Liz had her baby this week, congrats to the Jensen's! Issac is adorable and I can't wait to meet the little one.

I have also fallen in love with reusable shopping bags. I have been researching and pricing and falling in love with them for months now. I started with one and am slowly building up my collection. What a great way to do my part!