Twenty Three.

I feel old. 

23? I mean, how did that happen so quickly. I was just celebrating my twenty-first.  

I'm not bummed about turning 23 however, I can't help but feel like there is so much I still need to accomplish. I feel like now that I'm getting older I actually have to be a "grown up". 

That sounds less than fun. 

Which brings up something I read by Ryan O'Connell that I can really relate to. 

He says:

"I think the reason why twentysomethings are so fixated on age is because we feel a pressure to be a certain way at 23, at 25, at 29. There are all of these invisible deadlines with our careers and with love and drinking and drugs. I can’t do coke at 25. I need to be in a LTR at 27. I can’t vomit from drinking at 26. I just can’t! We feel so much guilt for essentially acting our age and making mistakes. We’re obsessed with this idea of being domesticated and having our shit together. It’s kind of sad actually because I don’t think we ever fully get a chance to enjoy our youth. We’re so concerned about doing things “the right way” that we lose any sense of pleasure in doing things the wrong way. Youth may be truly wasted on the young."

 I have to agree. I feel forced to "grow up" and to be this refined woman by a certain age even though I'm still young. I'm still learning and growing. 

I have so much to experience. 

I think I would rather focus my energy on that rather than becoming a cultivated, elegant, boring adult.  

Anyways, how I decided to celebrate another year of youth was by taking a mini vaca. Jon and I went to YouTah for my birthday. It was really great meeting some of his friends and being able to hang out with the family, while having downtime. 
I think I really needed that. 

Not to mention I got my baby fix. Since I haven't been a nanny for quite some time I realized how much I was starting to miss the little things that come with babies. The cute yawns, the laughs, smilies... everything. 

I'm so thankful Nan and Nate let us stay with them.

Now, instead of boring you all with the goals I want to achieve in the next year I think I'll post some picture of our trip. Enjoy.

Eleven Questions:

As promised:

1. What is your idea of a perfect date? 
A full day at Disneyland. We would go to that ice cream parlor on main. Walk around holding hands and smoochin. Get as many fast passes as available. Head into downtown disney for some dinner. Grab some hot cocoa and watch the fireworks for the finale. 
However, if we're thinking less extravagantly I would love to go for a long hike and grab some good food after :)

2. If you had to pick one thing to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Chips and salsa. Hands down.
Anything spicy for that matter.
  

3. What is your favorite memory from high school?
Probably football games.
Getting ready, tailgating, being with the crazies and going out after. 

4. What is your favorite day of the week? And why?
I really love Thursdays. I think it might be because it's right in the middle of the week. 
Even before this was one of my days off I've always loved it. Somehow, getting to lounge around with no agenda makes it that much better. 


5. If you could keep any wild animal as a pet what would it be?
A Wolf. Without a doubt in my mind. 
They are my favorite animal and I would love to have their big, furry selves all to myself. 


6. What is your favorite season and why?
I really love fall. I think I love it because there is so much warmth that goes with that season. The colors and smells. I love it all.


7. What word best describes your personality?
Uhh... Unique? I don't know, I'm goofy and nerdy and fun?
I like to think I have every kind of characteristic floating around in me. 

8. What's one food will you NOT eat?
Rocky Mountain Oysters. Everything about that is wrong.

9. Where is your favorite place to be?
In the mountains. Snow, peace and calm.


10.What do you think makes a person balanced?
I think that someone who puts their family first, has a great work ethic, cares about their health, can laugh a lot but also be serious, has an education, religious beliefs and a positive outlook on life. To me that represents a balanced person.


11. Where do you see yourself in 3 years. 
I want to be done with school forever. Have a job/ career doing something I love. I want to be married and talking about a future, Surrounded with amazing people. 






& That's a wrap. Happy Wednesday, folks. 
xo, S

TwentyFive Randoms

I was tagged to do this post and thought it seemed fun, so I'm participating :)
Here are the rules:

1. Post these rules. 
2. Post a photo of yourself and 25 random things. 
3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post. 

25 Random things:

1. I love disney movies. Well any kid movie for that matter. I know it's weird, people tell me all the time.

2. I try to be a pretty simple person. I'm not a big fan of complications. But I'll be the first to admit that I can be pretty complicated sometimes. I blame it on the duplicated X chromosomes.

3. I am so lucky for the people in my life. Even if I don't tell them as much as I should.

4. I believe in giving people second chances; but I find it really difficult to give any more than that. So if you're one of the lucky ones, feel blessed.

5. I get extremely grossed out when people cough in their hands, I'm obsessive about germs. Please carry hand sanitizer. 

6. Bob Marley once said "One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain." I am convinced that music heals the soul.

7. I think horoscopes in terms of personality traits can be dead on. I'm, without a doubt, an Aries.

8. I like to keep in mind that "if you're not laughing, you're not living."

9. I'm scared of the future & I'm scared of failing but no matter how far I fall, I will always pick myself up, dust myself off and keep going.

10. I would give my last penny to someone in need.

11. Animals keep me sane. They bring so much joy to my life and most of the time I prefer them over people.

12. Kids are my favorite & that's putting it lightly. 

13. I took Spanish AP from 7th to 12th grade and now can only understand bits and pieces. Which is embarrassing when speaking to my boyfriend, whom is fluent. 

14. I have a thing for veins. Don't ask because I don't know why either.

15. Sometimes I use the wrong word when I'm speaking. Okay, more than sometimes. Frequently. 

16. Feet bug the heck out of me. If you ever decide it's a good idea to touch me with those nasty things, I would reconsider that thought. 

17. I live off mexican food. I could eat it for every single meal, the spicier the better.

18. I abslutely love buying gifts for people.

19. I have a total of four tattoos. All of them have deep meanings to me. I don't believe people should have something on their bodies that have no significance. That's just pointless & you won't want it in 2 years.

20. I'm not a fan of meat, but steak is my weakness.

21. I love working out. It's my guaranteed peace and calm in this chaotic world.

22. I can't stand when people spell words wrong. Their, there and they're all have different meanings.

23. I hope someday I can be completely selfless.

24. I don't think people should live their life with regrets. It's takes too much energy to focus on the past rather than to live in the moment.

25. I absolutely love passionate people. Life is nothing without passion


& That's me.
Stay tuned, Tomorrow I'll answer the 11 questions :)

Home sweet home

I've been such a busy person lately, I'm surprised I still have time to eat.
I guess it's time to catch y'all up on what's going on in my world.
Well for starters, moving was one difficult task but it actually came together pretty fast. I was able to spend two days on it and get everything organized before I went back to work so that was a plus.
Though, I'll be the first to admit it was a challenge.
I have so much stuff and to my dismay I still have a ton of room to fill.
Not to mention the busted lip I achieved while in the moving process.
It doesn't look too bad here but let's be honest, I'm surprised Jonathan wanted to kiss me at all.

Anyways, here is a before and after shot of the downstairs, not too shabby huh?
 I absolutely love it.

Now, I would be lying if I said that I wasn't scared. The truth is I am.
I'm scared that me working from home and going to school from home might decrease my chances of making friends. However, I have to remind myself of the positives.
I've already met some great people and it really is so inviting and beautiful.

This year I celebrated St. Valentines day a little less traditionally.
Jon and I both had made prior plans for that day so we had to postpone it until Friday. Especially with the move and everything. But can I just say it was one of the most amazing Vdays I have ever had.
We gorged ourselves on cheese and chocolate and some chick flicks.
He also got me the prettiest orchid for a housewarming/ Vday gift.
He really is the best.
How'd I get so lucky? :)
I must say I did work pretty hard on this spiffy card though so I'm glad he liked it.
Here are some pictures from our fabulous night. Enjoy!

Hope you all had a great lovers day. Happy Monday. :)
xo, me.

Grateful.

Today I am so grateful.
I am grateful specifically for the people I have surrounding me in my life.
Sometimes It's so easy to look past all of the good things that they do because you get caught up in what they're not doing.  This past week, especially yesterday, has taught me to always find the good.
When we get caught up in the negative we don't appreciate all of the good that is around us.
For instance, sometimes I pick fights with my family to get a certain reaction because they didn't fulfill my expectations of them. How fair is that? I'm practically setting someone up for failure because I have placed an unrealistic expectation upon them.
When in turn I've noticed that if I accept them as they are, they're not only meeting my expectations but they are exceeding them.
Funny how that works.
Today I have decided to appreciate all of those in my life for who they are.
Without judgement or expectations.
Should be easy right? All I have to do is love and accept them for who they are? ;) Piece of cake.

In reality, it is going to be difficult because if we're being honest, sometimes it's hard not to get my hopes up.
 I want more because I would be willing to give more. But people are people. They aren't mind readers. They can not predict what we want and when we want it.
It has become apparent that I need to give people a break.
And that is exactly what I am going to do. That way I can love them for who they are, unconditionally.
By ridding myself of those pesky thoughts I can open my heart up a little more, which is never a bad thing.
So, bring it on.
:)
Happy Monday y'all.