Spring Training

Fair well for the week my friends. I'm off to Spring Training in Arizona with my Dad and little brother. I'm leaving you with a lovely song.

Also, Can you believe my darling niece is turning two!!! Yikes. I feel like she was just born.Last year's birthday.

Hunger Games

Ok guys. It was amazing.

I know there are a lot of people out there who choose to skip the book and just see the movie, but I have to say the books are so enjoyable that you really should read them. I read the whole series in less than a week. I'm also a freak.

To anyone who feels they are above reading modern best sellers, and pop culture book series... Don's be a book snob about this one. It's totally worth it.

They did a great job with the film.

I spy

So what if it makes me a little uncomfortable? It's also awesome!
Mikhael Paskalev - I spy from André Chocron on Vimeo.

Springing Foward and Other Uncomfortable Things

Someone asked me if I prefer to Spring Forward or to Fall Back. My gut reaction immediately jumped to, another hour of sleep... Fall Back! But before I spoke my answer aloud I realized that I actually prefer to Spring Forward.

Sure, it's uncomfortable for a few days while my body adjusts, but the benefits are amazing. I gain so much more by adjusting to a different schedule.

Perhaps I'm feeling a little deep this morning, but I feel like this relates to life. We often stick to what is most comfortable and easy rather than feel uncomfortable for a little while and then reap the rewards soon thereafter.

So... that being said, my goal for the week is to embrace the uncomfortable to seek for the greater reward.

Funk

I've been in a bit of a Funk for the last week or so. I don't like it. I don't like it one bit. Whenever this happens I have a tendency to be as proactive against it. Which creates angst within me because I want so badly to fix what I'm feeling and replace it.

So here are a few of my thoughts (and I would just like to say that this is quite possibly the most honest thing I have ever written on my blog and a side of myself that I rarely expose to people, for some reason I feel like opening myself up and being vulnerable might help).

Sometimes it is important to experience these things. Why is it so wrong to not feel perfect all the time? This is an emotion and I need to honor the way I'm feeling and the reasons why, process them and deal with the causes otherwise I'll probably just fall back into the feelings again. At least until the cause is resolved.

Happiness is a conscience choice, as is creating happiness. The world won't automatically give it to you all the time, if you want to be happy then choose it. Fight for it. Defend it. Don't let anyone make you feel like you don't deserve it.

You will not experience happiness if you have unkind feelings in your heart. Now, I'm not saying that you have to love everyone all the time, but if you're carrying around terrible feelings in  your heart eventually it will eat away at you. Resolve these issues and release these emotions. Sometimes, grace might be the only thing that can take these feelings away from you. In those instances allow it to.

Love lists. This might seem a little silly, but this morning I started some love lists on my phone. The first one is a list of things that bring me happiness and the second is a list of things that I love about myself.

Elimination, if there is something that is making you unhappy, or perhaps someone, get rid of it.

I've heard a lot of people say that happiness comes from knowing who you are, your divinity, and making choices that coincide with that knowledge. I'll be completely honest that whatever I'm experiencing right now has nothing to do with this.  I'm not sure how to reconcile this.

I really don't like being told what to do, which is why I don't really open up this side of myself. I love advice when it's coming from a loving place and it is someone who really knows me, but I don't need people to tell me what to do. This is my issue, not others, but I don't know why people think they can understand what I'm feeling and what the solution is. If I want specific advice I'll ask for it. Otherwise support and love is encouraged and then just keep your mouth shut.I don't mean to be harsh here, for instance if there was super destructive behavior going on I would hope that my friends and family would step in, but if I'm just in a funk and going through something just let me. I'll get through it.

With all this being said, I'm doing just fine. I'm just dealing with some weird feelings right now. Perhaps it's my dissatisfaction with my job. Maybe it's my high expectations for myself. Maybe it's hormones. I don't know. But I'll be ok. Hopefully by Monday I'll be back to my chipper ways, because this is what I'm going to spend my time focusing on.

A Giant Realization

Guys, I had a huge realization today. Is it going to change my life, no. Is it going to change your life, no. So maybe by saying "giant" I am being a bit dramatic (truth).

Anyway. I realized today that I am a t shirt and jeans kind of girl. Wow. crazy.

I'd say I rock a certain Tom Boy Style... but in an effort to simplify my life I realized that I feel most comfortable in a good fitting pair of jeans and a tee. I like variation, for instance sometimes the button down or a cardi but this is me. My simplicity has crossed over to my wardrobe.

So to answer your burning questions about this relvelation...

Does it mean that I care less about clothing?

Yes. I do. I realized this when a few of my friend were talking about anthro and nordstrom and I was hearing the absurd  amounts of money they spent on their shirts. I realized I didn't care to spend that much on my clothes.

Do I still love clothes?

Yes. They are a love of mine. But they aren't a major priority.

Do I care about what my outfit says?

You betcha. Which might just be a reflection of the changes I have made recently. I want to look put together. I want to look cute, but I want to look sensible, athletic, down-to-earth and pulled together.

This might be an effect of constantly wearing work out clothes. 

What about makeup?

Yep, my makeup style has completely changed as well. More simple. As in concealer and mascara. Sometimes eyeliner but last night I wore eyeliner to the Nuggets game and I felt weird. I felt like it wasn't me. Eyeliner and a BYU pullover. Weird. Sidenote though, the less makeup I've been wearing the more compliments I've been getting.

Does this matter at all?

No. Just thought I'd share.

A Few Notes

I haven't been able to put down in word the thoughts that have been running through my mind.

Life feels a bit mundane lately. I'm incredibly busy, but not much changes these days. I would call what I am experiencing a bit of a funk.

So, here's a list of random things that make me happy.

1. Exercise - I can't imagine my life without it. Whenever I'm burdened by something I can get all the stress out at the gym.

2. Shopping - it's a bit weird but I hadn't been shopping in ages. I'm so methodical about my purchases that it takes me forever to buy something, but I enjoy going from store to store and trying items on. Imagining outfits and ways to change my wardrobe.

3. Spring Training y'all... Spring Training. My presence will grace the stadiums in Arizona here in about three weeks and I cannot wait. Bonding with the pops and the little bro, yes please!

4. Friends and Family - always there to give me a bit of a reality check.

5. Faith - don't know where I'd be without it. Keeps me grounded, while inspiring me to be better, to stand taller.