Whenever I need a smile.... I watch this video. It ALWAYS makes me smile.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
Flashback Friday 159
Me in my Jr High days. I think we had just gotten done swimming at the beach for a young women's activity. Oh how I miss beach activities. I was blessed with such great friends all growing up.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Confessions of a Brunette on the Internet 212
It has been another beautiful week.... except for Monday when the wind blew over our back fence and MacKenzie and I had to put it back together and fix it. We handled it though. Wednesday though, it was so nice out that John and I decided to meet at the park by my house for my lunch break and just lay out on a blanket. It was so nice. I am just trying to soak up as much sun as I can. My skin is so pasty! I really just want to get a little bit of color. So excited for Spring and Summer. Even though it is not officially Spring yet, we already marked off one item on our Spring bucket list (Go to Zion's).
Speaking of Zion's, my legs are just now feeling normal. They were quite sore from hiking Angels Landing. I was so thankful that I had a massage scheduled yesterday. It was awesome and helped me out a lot.
I finished "How to Win Friends and Influence People". It was pretty good. Good people skills. I felt like they didn't really tell me anything I didn't know though. Now I am reading "A Single Voice" by Sister Oaks. I think this is going to be a good read for me. I am only a few chapters in, but I already feel like I relate 100% and it is so nice to feel understood and recognized for how hard these challenges are of being an "older single". I will report again when I am done reading it.
I started a new show. Warehouse 13. It has been in my list to watch on Netflix for a while, recommended by my sister Kristy and my mom. I'm half way done with it. I think it's ok... it's a little cheesy for me and one of the younger girls really bugs me, but it is interesting and I am committed to it, so I will finish it out. I will finish it pretty quick though. Only 3 seasons.
Sometimes I bring my laptop to work. If I think it is going to be a slow day and I have blogging to do or movies to make or pictures to edit, I just bring it in. I do this at the same time as any work that comes in and while watching Netflix and checking facebook and Pinterest and talking with my friends on gchat. I know... it takes talent to be a multi-tasker.
Our internet has been having problems lately. It is just in and out. When the Network doesn't connect automatically, all the surrounding Networks show up. Sometimes what other people name their Wifi makes me laugh. This one "Drop it like it's hotspot" ranks right up there with "Pretty fly for a Wifi".
Me, Allison and Quinette got together on Tuesday night and we did some ab ripper workout and yoga. We hopefully are going to continue this on a regular basis. I need it. All the extra motivation I can get. I actually bought some weights so that I can start doing stuff while I listen to music or watching tv down in my basement. I did a little workout on my own today. I just need to keep that up... like everyday.
I went to John's last Soccer game on Monday. Sadly they lost. It started out positive, but they just got beat down in the second half. Dang it. At least I had someone to sit with this time, his dad and nephew came.
I am trying out book binding. It is harder and more time consuming than you would think. I'm glad I am trying it out though, I have always wanted to. I'm making two at a time, I'm glad because I'm not sure if I will make another one again unless I can find an easier way to do it. I think my books will end up having.... a lot of character. ha ha.
Annoying text convo of the week:
Boy: "Hey! Are you around tonight?"
Me: "I am. Just chillin at home"
Boy: " I see, I'm just at Institute"
Me: "Cool"
I'm thinking.... and? What do you want? If you want to hang out with me just freaking say it already. If not, why do you care if I'm around or not? If that is the case just ask me what I'm doing. Ugh.
I went to PetSmart to pick up something for my tank. I had been in once before for a tank item and talked to a guy for a minute to see if he knew anything that could help me. Anyway, it was the same guy when I checked out this time weeks later. He was like... OH HEY! How's the salt water tank going? Has your cousin been helping you out? Ha ha... I was surprised he remembered me and remembered everything that I had said. It took me by surprise. Nice guy.
I met a fish nerd (as my cousin who is the king of fish nerds calls them). I told him the state of my tank and that I didn't know what to do and that my shrimp died and so on and so forth. He told me to buy a test kit (which I didn't know I needed to do) and that he would come over and help me test the water and diagnose the problem. After he told me he would do that for me, I started calling him the fish Dr. Anyway... I bought the kit and he came over. It was like a science experiment, but we figured out the problem. Nitrate is in the Danger zone. I had no idea. So we did another water change that night and he told me I need to continue to do them everyday (it might end up being every other day) until Nitrate is under control. THEN I can get shrimp and they will survive and they will eat the Aiptasia and once the aiptasia is gone THEN I can get coral from cousin Dave and my salt water tank will look pimped out. I will also get some snails and crabs to help clean the tank. Man... I had a lot to learn. Thank goodness for the Fish Dr.! He was so nice to come over just to help a new reefer that he had never met before. He is passionate about it. I told him when I go to my cousin's house next that he could come and pick his brain and check out his awesome tank. He was so excited about this. Anyway.... Hopefully I will get this reef down. I still haven't killed any of the fish or anemone's. Got to look on the bright side.
Speaking of Zion's, my legs are just now feeling normal. They were quite sore from hiking Angels Landing. I was so thankful that I had a massage scheduled yesterday. It was awesome and helped me out a lot.
I finished "How to Win Friends and Influence People". It was pretty good. Good people skills. I felt like they didn't really tell me anything I didn't know though. Now I am reading "A Single Voice" by Sister Oaks. I think this is going to be a good read for me. I am only a few chapters in, but I already feel like I relate 100% and it is so nice to feel understood and recognized for how hard these challenges are of being an "older single". I will report again when I am done reading it.
I started a new show. Warehouse 13. It has been in my list to watch on Netflix for a while, recommended by my sister Kristy and my mom. I'm half way done with it. I think it's ok... it's a little cheesy for me and one of the younger girls really bugs me, but it is interesting and I am committed to it, so I will finish it out. I will finish it pretty quick though. Only 3 seasons.
Sometimes I bring my laptop to work. If I think it is going to be a slow day and I have blogging to do or movies to make or pictures to edit, I just bring it in. I do this at the same time as any work that comes in and while watching Netflix and checking facebook and Pinterest and talking with my friends on gchat. I know... it takes talent to be a multi-tasker.
Our internet has been having problems lately. It is just in and out. When the Network doesn't connect automatically, all the surrounding Networks show up. Sometimes what other people name their Wifi makes me laugh. This one "Drop it like it's hotspot" ranks right up there with "Pretty fly for a Wifi".
Me, Allison and Quinette got together on Tuesday night and we did some ab ripper workout and yoga. We hopefully are going to continue this on a regular basis. I need it. All the extra motivation I can get. I actually bought some weights so that I can start doing stuff while I listen to music or watching tv down in my basement. I did a little workout on my own today. I just need to keep that up... like everyday.
I went to John's last Soccer game on Monday. Sadly they lost. It started out positive, but they just got beat down in the second half. Dang it. At least I had someone to sit with this time, his dad and nephew came.
I am trying out book binding. It is harder and more time consuming than you would think. I'm glad I am trying it out though, I have always wanted to. I'm making two at a time, I'm glad because I'm not sure if I will make another one again unless I can find an easier way to do it. I think my books will end up having.... a lot of character. ha ha.
Annoying text convo of the week:
Boy: "Hey! Are you around tonight?"
Me: "I am. Just chillin at home"
Boy: " I see, I'm just at Institute"
Me: "Cool"
I'm thinking.... and? What do you want? If you want to hang out with me just freaking say it already. If not, why do you care if I'm around or not? If that is the case just ask me what I'm doing. Ugh.
I went to PetSmart to pick up something for my tank. I had been in once before for a tank item and talked to a guy for a minute to see if he knew anything that could help me. Anyway, it was the same guy when I checked out this time weeks later. He was like... OH HEY! How's the salt water tank going? Has your cousin been helping you out? Ha ha... I was surprised he remembered me and remembered everything that I had said. It took me by surprise. Nice guy.
I met a fish nerd (as my cousin who is the king of fish nerds calls them). I told him the state of my tank and that I didn't know what to do and that my shrimp died and so on and so forth. He told me to buy a test kit (which I didn't know I needed to do) and that he would come over and help me test the water and diagnose the problem. After he told me he would do that for me, I started calling him the fish Dr. Anyway... I bought the kit and he came over. It was like a science experiment, but we figured out the problem. Nitrate is in the Danger zone. I had no idea. So we did another water change that night and he told me I need to continue to do them everyday (it might end up being every other day) until Nitrate is under control. THEN I can get shrimp and they will survive and they will eat the Aiptasia and once the aiptasia is gone THEN I can get coral from cousin Dave and my salt water tank will look pimped out. I will also get some snails and crabs to help clean the tank. Man... I had a lot to learn. Thank goodness for the Fish Dr.! He was so nice to come over just to help a new reefer that he had never met before. He is passionate about it. I told him when I go to my cousin's house next that he could come and pick his brain and check out his awesome tank. He was so excited about this. Anyway.... Hopefully I will get this reef down. I still haven't killed any of the fish or anemone's. Got to look on the bright side.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Photo of the Week 210
I took this picture while hiking in Zion's on Saturday. What a beautiful place.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Angels Landing
Out of all the hikes in Zion's National Park, Angles Landing is probably the most popular one, and one of the hardest. You literally climb a mountain. My friends did it last year, but I had to leave early because I was meeting up with Lolly in Vegas for a concert that we already had planned. In a way, I was kind of relieved to have an excuse to get out of it. The hike would have been even harder for me last year being 55 pounds heavier and well... there is the heights. I had heard many say "If you are afraid of heights, you shouldn't do it". Well, I'm very much afraid of heights.
I figured I should do the hike at some point. But I had lots of time for that in the future, no need to do it this weekend. In fact we weren't planning on it. We were going to do a bunch of smaller hikes. Well, when we met up with RJ, he had invited some friends that insisted that we do this hike. Everyone agreed on it (except for me) and we were on our way. I then got silent and started having a little bit of anxiety about it. I was nervous. Real nervous. RJ is also afraid of heights, so I knew at least I wasn't alone.
So we started on our hike. (I'm going to use pictures from the internet to show you the hike because I didn't take many pictures along the way because I was so nervous, and it was annoying to continue to get my camera out of my backpack) I had many people giving me pep talks along the way... telling me I could do it. For the most part I actually stayed up front in the hike line. I did a lot better than I thought I would. I'm usually a slow hiker. So far so good. I mean, it's all up hill, but we are chatting and having a good time and enjoying the scenery.
Then we get to this point. Ok... little harder. I'm still doing ok and trucking a long.
After that, you are at the top. The view is amazing. You feel proud of yourself for climbing the mountain. Then you realize you are not done. This isn't the end of the hike. You still have a half mile left.... and it is the scariest part of the hike. This is where I froze.... I wasn't sure if I could go to the end. Could I? This is what the last half mile looks like.
I got a few pep talks from strangers... and all my friends were going. So RJ and I (the scared ones) stuck together and joked our way through our fears and started the rest of the hike... one step at a time. I didn't look down or to the side of me... I would get too scared of how high I was. I just kept looking at wear to step (or climb) next. It was scary for me... but thank goodness for all of the chain there is to hold on to.... I held on for dear life. Anytime there was no chain I would have another mini panic attack. Here are some pictures of what some of that last half mile of the hike contained.
Then.... I made it to the top! It was a good feeling, and you really feel like you are on top of the world. In fact, we got great reception up there and someone played "On Top of the World" by Imagine Dragons. It was amazing to just sit up there and relax and enjoy the view and think how awesome it was that I just climbed up there. People have died doing this hike... lots of people actually... and I made it! Here is the view from the top of Angles Landing.
RJ and I faced our fears and came out on top! He kept saying it was all for the Instagram. ha ha. He is a funny guy.
I will add more pictures once I get them from RJ, but until now, here I am with my girl Quinette that did the hike with me and helped talk me through. She is awesome.
Bill and I. We walked up the first bit of the hike together. He also encouraged me and cheered me on throughout the hike.
And me on the top of a 1500 ft rock! It took us all 4 hours or so, but we did it. Hooray!
I figured I should do the hike at some point. But I had lots of time for that in the future, no need to do it this weekend. In fact we weren't planning on it. We were going to do a bunch of smaller hikes. Well, when we met up with RJ, he had invited some friends that insisted that we do this hike. Everyone agreed on it (except for me) and we were on our way. I then got silent and started having a little bit of anxiety about it. I was nervous. Real nervous. RJ is also afraid of heights, so I knew at least I wasn't alone.
So we started on our hike. (I'm going to use pictures from the internet to show you the hike because I didn't take many pictures along the way because I was so nervous, and it was annoying to continue to get my camera out of my backpack) I had many people giving me pep talks along the way... telling me I could do it. For the most part I actually stayed up front in the hike line. I did a lot better than I thought I would. I'm usually a slow hiker. So far so good. I mean, it's all up hill, but we are chatting and having a good time and enjoying the scenery.
Then we get to this point. Ok... little harder. I'm still doing ok and trucking a long.
After that, you are at the top. The view is amazing. You feel proud of yourself for climbing the mountain. Then you realize you are not done. This isn't the end of the hike. You still have a half mile left.... and it is the scariest part of the hike. This is where I froze.... I wasn't sure if I could go to the end. Could I? This is what the last half mile looks like.
I got a few pep talks from strangers... and all my friends were going. So RJ and I (the scared ones) stuck together and joked our way through our fears and started the rest of the hike... one step at a time. I didn't look down or to the side of me... I would get too scared of how high I was. I just kept looking at wear to step (or climb) next. It was scary for me... but thank goodness for all of the chain there is to hold on to.... I held on for dear life. Anytime there was no chain I would have another mini panic attack. Here are some pictures of what some of that last half mile of the hike contained.
Then.... I made it to the top! It was a good feeling, and you really feel like you are on top of the world. In fact, we got great reception up there and someone played "On Top of the World" by Imagine Dragons. It was amazing to just sit up there and relax and enjoy the view and think how awesome it was that I just climbed up there. People have died doing this hike... lots of people actually... and I made it! Here is the view from the top of Angles Landing.
RJ and I faced our fears and came out on top! He kept saying it was all for the Instagram. ha ha. He is a funny guy.
I will add more pictures once I get them from RJ, but until now, here I am with my girl Quinette that did the hike with me and helped talk me through. She is awesome.
Bill and I. We walked up the first bit of the hike together. He also encouraged me and cheered me on throughout the hike.
And me on the top of a 1500 ft rock! It took us all 4 hours or so, but we did it. Hooray!
Monday, March 10, 2014
Bumbleberry Inn/ Zion's National Park
Our road trip took us to Springdale, Utah. Where is that you say? The city at the entrance of Zion's National Park. Originally we wanted to camp. however it is still a little too cold at night for that and so I booked a hotel room at the Bumbleberry Inn. Cute right? I thought the same thing.... until I saw the picture on our hotel building.
We still are not quite sure what a Bumbleberry is. Is it these little dwarf guys that collect blueberries? We aren't sure. The only thing we knew is that they were funny and a little creepy and we tried a bumbleberry muffin for breakfast the next morning and it was just blueberries. Also, it was good we stayed at a hotel because Allison ended up being pretty sick... from the pub we went to the night before? We aren't sure. I felt bad for her though. It was a crazy night. I didn't feel great either, but I was having different issues.
Despite how the night went... we met up with RJ and his cousin and their friends that they invited and we were ready to enjoy the beautiful day and do some hiking in Zion's.
We first hiked Angles Landing.... this was a big deal for me... therefore deserves it's own blog post. Stay tuned.
After Angles Landing, we decided to do another low key hike. Another hike after hiking for several hours? Yes. It was a little tiring, but it was good. Allison was feeling better enough to go with us on this one, so for that a lone it was worth it. We missed her at Angles Landing.
It was a nice little hike, but we were tired. So we hiked back and went out to dinner at Oscar's (which was way good) and then drove back to Provo.
It was a fun weekend adventure. I'm hoping to do an outdoor weekend adventure a month. Next month's is already planned and in the works. Can't wait!
We still are not quite sure what a Bumbleberry is. Is it these little dwarf guys that collect blueberries? We aren't sure. The only thing we knew is that they were funny and a little creepy and we tried a bumbleberry muffin for breakfast the next morning and it was just blueberries. Also, it was good we stayed at a hotel because Allison ended up being pretty sick... from the pub we went to the night before? We aren't sure. I felt bad for her though. It was a crazy night. I didn't feel great either, but I was having different issues.
Despite how the night went... we met up with RJ and his cousin and their friends that they invited and we were ready to enjoy the beautiful day and do some hiking in Zion's.
We first hiked Angles Landing.... this was a big deal for me... therefore deserves it's own blog post. Stay tuned.
After Angles Landing, we decided to do another low key hike. Another hike after hiking for several hours? Yes. It was a little tiring, but it was good. Allison was feeling better enough to go with us on this one, so for that a lone it was worth it. We missed her at Angles Landing.
It was a nice little hike, but we were tired. So we hiked back and went out to dinner at Oscar's (which was way good) and then drove back to Provo.
It was a fun weekend adventure. I'm hoping to do an outdoor weekend adventure a month. Next month's is already planned and in the works. Can't wait!
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Dinkey Creek Video
I know... this took me for forever. We went to Dinkey Creek in July. I wasn't super into making this video because I didn't feel like I got enough video to make a super interesting video. However... I'm ready and excited for summer and ran across these video's and don't like unfinished projects and thought I should finish this one so I can get started on Southeast Asia.
It's short and simple and all about the kids... and I only video taped a few different things, but it's still cute and fun. Enjoy!
)
It's short and simple and all about the kids... and I only video taped a few different things, but it's still cute and fun. Enjoy!
)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)