Can't Help but Smile

This song is so happy. You can't help but smile.

Love.

I’m grateful for the friendships and relationships that have endured the test of time. That my most dear friends will always seem dear to me, despite thousands of miles and oceans that separate us.

I strongly feel like there are reasons that people are brought into our lives during different times and why we remain close to them.

I have the best friends. The people I see on an almost daily basis, the people that I talk to just a couple of times a year and everyone in between.

My life has been shaped by their influence and by their love.

I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about love, romantic, platonic and charitable love. I want to live a life where the people that I love never have to question that I love them. And I want my love to be a pure unconditional love like that of the Savior.

There will never be too much love in this world. I want to spend my life wrapped up in the love of people around me, and trying to share that love with them.

Life.

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Do you ever have those glorious moments, after taking account of your life, that you can’t help but be happy? Perhaps it is the consequence of actually getting eight hours of sleep for once, but I feeling pretty grateful for my life right now.

My life it nowhere near perfect, trial or drama free. I wish I had more time, more money, more clothes, a whole lot more of everything, but all in all I’m really blessed and really happy.

I’ve got it pretty good.

It’s moments like today that I need to give me some perspective when it feels like my life is crumbling down around me.


For your enjoyment (I've been listening to this all morning):

Be of Good Cheer

I listened to this conversation at work. I was so engrossed by the thoughts of these three great leaders that I neglected my work a bit. Take the time to listen to this because it's fantastic.

"There was one commandment that we may unwittingly violate almost more than any other commandment that the Savior gave and that is the commandment to ‘be of good cheer’. We’re supposed to hope. We’re supposed to be believing. We’re supposed to know it will get better. It will get better. It does get better. He said ‘These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace. In the world, ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.’ "

Mormon Conversations - Elder and Sister Holland


Want to learn more about my religious beliefs?

Barre

My lovely roommate Stephanie is a yoga instructor at Core Power Yoga. She's crazy good at it.

The studios she works at recently decided to add Barre classes to the mix and Stephanie was one of the first teachers certified to teach. Woo Hoo!!!

I wanted to accompany her to one of the classes, so we went to a Barre class over the weekend that was taught by the instructor who runs the Barre program at many Core Power Yoga's.

First of all, she was intense. Like, boot camp intense. I once went to boot camp at 24 Hour Fitness and this crazy lady named Lindsay taught it (at 5:30 a.m. btw...) and I am too afraid of her to go back. That is exactly how I'm feeling toward Stacy right now. The only incentive to go back is in the fact that I somehow feel that by participating in her Barre class I might end up looking like her, never mind the 30 years of dancing that went into her body...

Anyway, my calves are sore. I've never been so sore in one muscle in my whole life and I've been sore before. I move painfully slow, which is quite entertaining to my other roommate Jen.

This morning it took about 10 minutes (including a steaming hot shower) to be able to straighten my legs out all the way. I wish someone would have been in the work parking lot with me to watch me get out of my car.

Good thing my desk chair has wheels... Do you think people would notice if I wheeled myself everywhere today?

Barre description via Core Power: In CorePower Barre we merge the best of Yoga, Pilates and the Lotte Berk (ballet) barre method in an invigorating, intense and fun class that will compliment a regular yoga practice and/or fitness routine. On the mat and at the barre, simple and precise movements will build elegant, lean muscles and allow students to develop strength in muscles that are often under utilized. The optional use of weights, resistance bands and fitness balls provide opportunity to intensify the workout.

Disappointment

I was so excited about the start of football season. BYU scraped out a win for its first game, in the SEC too! The anticipation was building for the start of the NFL season. My fantasy team had been drafted, the Broncos were hosting the Raiders on Monday Night Football, in the stadium that my employer just bought.

Then BYU lost on Saturday. Then my fantasy team got killed. Then I watched the Broncos offense.

I can't even describe how awful it was, 38 rushing yards about sums it up.

At least there was a very nice tribute prior to the game. The whole stadium sang the National Anthem a capella.
It was beautiful.

Hair Color

***Click here for a post with some tips for growing out a pixie.
 
Remember when I wanted to grow my hair out? Remember how that didn't last very long?

I decided that I'm committing to growing it out. I have the phases planned.


Before growing it out I decided to have a lot of fun with the color. I found what my favorite style is...

It's a gray with a purple tone and a very dark brown in the back. It's so fun! The purple washed out so it's more gray and it only looks purple in really low light.

Don't worry, it'll be brown pretty soon. In time for my brother's wedding.

Fitness and weight loss confessional

If you do not like reading about fitness and weight loss go ahead and leave this page immediately. I know I write about a variety of topics that appeal to all different kinds of people, so I just wanted to warn those who are expecting something about sports that you will not find it on this post.

I love working out. Most people reading this already know that about me. It's a huge priority in my life. Right now it all of my close friends are on a fitness and weight loss kick. I would just like say it is so much easier to achieve fitness and weight loss goals with the support of those around you.

Anyway, I thought I'd throw that out there because I feel like this topic is something that most people don't really talk about openly.

I recently did Weight watchers for almost three months and I lost 15 lbs.  It was effective, however when I was on the program I didn't feel like I was treating my body very well. I was more concerned with keeping my points down that I cared less about what I was putting into my body.

Right now, I'm making sure I am taking better care of my body with what I'm putting into it and what I'm choosing to eat. I want to make sure I'm getting the protein (despite my lack of meat eating, I do eat it occasionally but not typically) my body needs to fuel my workouts.

I just want to say that I feel great. I was eating my usual snack of carrots and hummus and I was so happy. It tastes amazing and it is great for my body. I'm trying to cut back on processed foods and I can feel the difference.

I'm looking forward to making more delicious meals for my body.


So I want to leave you with my current favorite resource for delicious healthy recipes The Edible Perspective and The Fitnessista. 

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