Portland!

Yesterday, I showed you T Money and I's road trip home from Portland video. 
As I was thinking about what to write from our last trip to Portland, I was overloaded with numerous photos, videos, and scenes from the vacation. And the last thing that I wanted to do was post every single one of this.
So, I made a video compiling the highlights of our week in Oregon. What a more fun, enjoyable way to document this trip!

Just so you're not confused, the scenes are as follows:

-Riding the Tram that goes up to OHSU in downtown Portland.
-My nephew, Dane (2 1/2) singing. Loud.
-Dane…let me remind you, who is 2 1/2, READING A BOOK with my sister. Yes, he's a freaking genius. Little nerd ;)
-My dad (Papa) playing with Dane.
-Me and T Money cuddling and loving my brand new niece, Wembley (2 weeks old).
-Brizban (5) giving kisses to her new baby sister.
-Brizban's Nike preschool graduation. The nicest graduation I have ever been to in my entire life (a blog post on that coming later). I was dying of laughter: all of the parents taking pictures, brizzy bouncing and singing incessantly, and the whole presentation was outrageous. Good times. Brizzy loved getting all of the attention and flowers.
-Helping in the Epic Relays race. 
-My mom and I taking a detour during Epic Relays to pick berries. Nothing better than berry picking in Oregon. Sigh.
-Reminiscing the following: The Portland Temple where I was married, bonding with my best friend, driving the green freeways in Oregon, reading old journals, etc.
-A video of my dad watching a hilarious movie and dying of laughter. What a contagious laugh.

Enjoy!
Music: Home-Ingrid Michaelson

Portland----->Salt Lake!

Like I stated in my Roadtrip Playlist post, Road trips are my THANG.

Seriously, guys. And if you follow me on twitter, you would know that I was lost in a daydream the entire time listening to "life story songs." Oh, you know, songs that pertain to your life perfectly. 

In the midst of this, I made a video of my road trip home from Portland to Salt Lake. 

Enjoy :) 

Note: Iphone Video. Not super high quality. Love me anyway. 

Music: Lake Michigan-Rogue Wave 

Things Not to Say to Someone with Depression.

As many of you know, my dear blogging friend Rachael (who I am guest posting over on today. Go take a look!) and  myself, and millions of others in America deal with Depression on a daily basis. I was diagnosed with depression when I was 14 years old so this is something that I am completely aware of. I have dealt with, lived with, suffered through for many years. It is not something that defines me or makes me less of a person. It is simply one of the trials in my life. And so it is with many other people. So often, when people hear about this "thing" that I have, they instantly go into panic mode. They don't know what to say or do or not say or not do. I have been told some pretty ugly and stupid things. But that's okay, because people can be ugly and stupid :) So I want to help you homies out of some things not to say to someone who has Depression. Because, well, let's face it, we all know someone who has struggled with it. 

1. "Well just snap out of it." 

Yea…believe me. I wish I could. You think I like feeling grumpy and tired and anxious and sad and apathetic at some points? No. I'm working on it. 

2. "Stop being so emotional."

This is something that my family, friends and people around have me said (maybe not exactly like that, but in some form or another). Emotions is where I struggle. I don't want to always be so emotional, but it is the way I process and get through things. 

3. "There’s always someone worse off than you are."

What to say instead: You're not alone in this. I am here for you. I can't imagine how hard this must be. People with depression understand logically that there is someone worse off than they are--but their brain doesn't work like that. 

4. "Well, life isn't fair." 

Oh, really? Wow. I didn't know that. 

Try saying this instead: You are important to me and I love you. 

5. "Stop feeling sorry for yourself." 

Try giving them a hug instead. 

6. "Oh, you're depressed. What's new." 

Try: "You are not going crazy This is just a low point. It will get better." 

7. "Stop being a victim."

What you should say: When this is all over and you get through this, I will be here for you.

8. "Believe me, I know how you feel. I was depressed once for several days."

Don't try to understand how they feel--that's not going to make them feel better about themselves. This is something they have been dealing with for many months, years, etc. A few days or a small increment of time is not going to help them feel empathy. 

9. "Think of someone else." 

People's minds with depression don't think like that. They are not trying to be self absorbed or selfish. 

10. "Well, have you prayed?"

Of course I have! But sometimes, even through prayer, you are going to have sad days. Knowing God is there is helpful, but asking them if they have prayed is just another reminder. 

I Was Going to Do An Amazing Blog Post Today.

But instead, I did the following: 

1. Woke up. Watched my puppy poop. Twice. Tried to scold her but it was hopeless. 

2. Ate a donut for breakfast. Whoops. Eh we all make mistakes. 

3. Went to Winco (always a win!) because we had NO food in our cute little apartment. 

4. Spent an hour trying to find healthy food for our pup because the food we have been feeding her has been giving her allergies.

5. Got a massage from my friend Candace. Ah-may-zing. 

6. Unpacked from Portland. Cleaned my house. Did laundry. 

7. Cleaned my car. Took more than an hour because I asked the guy while vacuuming if he had '4 quarters' for my dollar. He looked at me like I was a homeless woman begging for money. Wow, sooooorry I bothered you. Sheesh. Rich Mormon guy in his escalade with his wife doing her makeup. Don't get me started. 

8. Took another hour sitting outside waiting for my dog to go to the bathroom. 

9. Watched the bachelorette. 

10. Breathed. 

So. This is what you get. 

It's weird, it's Almost like she's our child. We spend our day trying to get her to poop, getting her the right food. Yikes. Ain't nobody got time for this, I feel like. Except me, apparently. Welp, looks like I need more friends. Yes, I know. We need to have our own television series. 'Our pet is our child.' 

At least my puppy is freaking adorable right? 

Photo via Instagram- @sainge_worth 

Summer 2014 Road Trip Playlist

Well, it is officially summer time. Which, in my case, means Road Trip time!
T and I have already driven to Portland and are currently enjoying the beautiful greenery! I was raised here in Portland, so every time we return, a floodgate of memories and emotions return.
Many more road trips are happening throughout this summer! And I am so excited.
For me, there is something so nostalgic and therapeutic about driving. Don't get me wrong, I would love to get on a plane and fly, too. However, road trips are one of those little things in life that make me happy. I get my Dr. Pepper in hand, my music going and I am totally content.

I have compiled a list of some current songs that I am loving.
I am a little bit obsessed with music. No, I think I might have a problem. But I could turn on a playlist and just get it go for hours and be completely content.
This playlist is a mixture of three different types of music: Alternative, Pop, and Country. Those are three types of music that I listen to on a regular basis, especially in my car. I don't listen to that much pop anymore--just a few songs here and there. But sometimes you just need some good dancing music, am I right? I don't love just all upbeat music when I am driving. I like some slower songs that make me think as well. It gives me a minute to catch my breath from dancing ;) hahaha
I listed the songs down below the playlist for your convenience. Click on the playlist to hear the songs. And do yourself a favor and download some of these bad boys!




Meanwhile Back at Mama's-Tim Mcgraw (feat. Faith Hill)
Dangerous-Big Data
Do I Wanna Know-Arctic Monkeys
We Are Tonight-Billy Currington
Tee Shirt-Birdy 
I Wanna Get Better-Bleachers 
Beat of the Music-Brett Eldredge
A Sky Full of Stars-Coldplay
The Walker-Fitz & the Tantrums
Helluva Life-Frankie Ballard
Fancy-Iggy Azalea
On Top of the World-Imagine Dragons
Time Machine-Ingrid Michaelson
Bloodstream-Ed Sheeran
Talk Dirty-Jason Derulo 
All of Me-John Legend
All I Want-Kodaline
Come With Me Now-Kongos
Drink a Beer-Luke Bryan
Play it Again-Luke Bryan
Love Never Felt So Good-Michael Jackson & Justin Timberlake
Automatic-Miranda Lambert
Ain't it Fun-Paramore
Stay with Me-Sam Smith
I Choose You-Sara Bareilles
Riptide-Vance Joy
Bad Blood-Bastille 


Are there any other current songs you would include? 
What are some of your favorites right now? 

On Making Blogging Friends & Flowers with #BouqLove

Friends! I have such a treat for you today. My dear blogging friend, Mindy is here today to talk to you guys about how much blogging has been such a support system for her in her life. 

--



Hello, Oh, Just Living the Dream readers!



My name is Mindy and I blog over at Best.Day.Ever.




It's pretty much a blog where I write about the best days, the worst days and ever day in between! I like it. Mostly. Sometimes, I don't. Can a blogger admit that? Admit that sometimes they don't like blogging?



My bestie and her family showed up last night for a visit out of state. At some point they started talking about my blog. Talk about awkward. Talking about my blog in real life is sometimes really ... weird. At one point, my bestie's husband said, "Sometimes I just want to erase myself from the internet."



I immediately agreed, which he was surprised by. He said, "Even with all you do with it?"



I told him yes. As an extremely private person {almost unbelievable, right?}, sometimes it would be nice to reclaim that privacy from the world wide web. But I don't. And we don't. Because we know there is so much more to blogging that what meets the eye.





Sometimes I don't like the word blogging or blogger because it seems so superficial. In all honesty, doesn't it feel more like we are connecting? Connecting to each other with our hardships, our good days, out best days?



Because of this connecting, there is a whole world of people out there, who I have yet to me, that I consider my friends.



Like the time I texted Brooke from A Little Too Jolley for some advice. And get this, though we have yet to meet, she texted me back. And offered prayers in my behalf.



Or the time Sierra and I realized we were in Vegas at the same time, and even though our schedules conflicted, had they not, I would have been chillin' poolside with her ... even though we hadn't {and still haven't} met yet.



And then Stephanie from A Daily Scoop helped me organize a massive fundraiser for one of my previous seminary students whose mother had passed away. With the funds raised, he was able to purchase a headstone for his mother's grave. I would not have been able to do that with the knowledge and expertise of Miss Stephanie.



And so continuing to blog, I will. And I hope you will too, for we know it is far more than writing some words down for the world wide web to see ... it is a way for us to see that in that wide world, we are not alone.



Let's all be friends, shall we?



___



Hope to see you drop by soon!



Blog . Twitter . Facebook . Instagram . Pinterest . 


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Something that I love just as much as blogging friends…are flowers. I know that I am weird butI would much rather receive flowers than chocolate on any given day of the week. I just think that they are so happy and pretty. 

Photo via 

The Bouqs (as seen on Shark Tank, O! Oprah Magazine, Forbes, E!, The Today Show, & Popsugar), are changing the flower industry one bouquet at a time.The Bouqs own their own flower farm, growing flowers in the rich soil of an active volcano. All bouquets are cut to order and are sent to your door. There is no waste, and there is no middle man, leaving you with great savings.

The Bouqs also take the pain out of choosing flowers. Their pricing is simple - $40 flat fee for all Original size bouquets with FREE SHIPPING. This allows you to choose the bouquet you love best without thinking about price!

For Fourth of July, The Bouqs are bringing back their absolutely beautiful Red, White and Bouq (which is red, white, and blue roses)! Check them out here! This bouquet is THE perfect gift to bring to the Fourth of July BBQ you are attending or hosting. Order one today!!!  

Three Ways to Make Newlywed Life Easier.

Hi Friends! 

In July, it will be my one year anniversary. I am not entirely sure when we "stop" being newlyweds. I have heard that it's when you start having children, or after you've been married for a year, but there are so many days that I feel like I have been married for 10 years and there are other moments where I feel like the past year has just flown by! Either way, I still feel like there are so many things that I am learning about my husband, myself, and our relationship through marriage. I am nowhere near knowing a semblance of what you need to know to have a completely successful marriage, but I have found three ways that have made our transition into marriage much more successful. Those first few months were quite brutal, to be honest. We had to learn all the little nicknack things about each other, whether positive or negative. And it was interesting, to say the least. 

1. Ask Your Spouse about Their Day. 

My husband and I have quite a different schedule than most "typical" couples, if you will. He works from home and goes to school a couple of hours every day. I work about 50-60 hour weeks as a 6th grade teacher. He is the one who starts the laundry, does a lot of the cooking and cleaning. It definitely changes the dynamic of our household with this routine, but it works for us and we like it. Something that I have found that works for our marriage is that, no matter how hard of a day at school it was, no matter how tired I am, is to ask Tanner about his day. To take a moment and just listen to his day and vice versa. It is nice to get to vent and talk to someone who truly cares. 

2. Set Your Expectations. 

This one is HUGE for us. At the beginning of our marriage, I had all of these expectations and when he wouldn't do them, I would get frustrated. But I found that when I sat down and explained what my expectations were, whether for cleaning or how to clean or how to set the table, etc. it made things so much more pleasant. For both of us :) 

3. Travel Together.

Now, we don't have a ton of money, and ideally, if you can go somewhere far with your spouse or loved one, I think that is a huge bonding experience. (Thailand? Sure! That's where Tanner and I are planning on going next summer!) But something I found that strengthened our relationship is going on little trips together. Whether that was just to California for a few days or St. George, etc. You see how that person responds under stress and you get closer and out of your comfort zone. 

I am nowhere near perfect, but I do know that these three things have helped us. Go on--try it out! 

Also--I am guest posting over HERE today. 

Don't forget to enter the Art Print Giveaway!! Only 4 more days!

ART PRINT GIVEAWAY

Hello from Portland!
It's been quite the adventure here (more on that later), but I am loving the green. So many memories from growing up when I return home to Oregon.

You all are in for a serious treat today!
My dear friend Jen, from the blog: The Project Girl is doing a fabulous giveaway today.
Jen is a master in creating crafts, designs, and home organization. She is one of the most creative people I have ever met personally. She and her husband just built a beautiful home. I go over and crash it all of the time because there are so many things about it that I absolutely love. I mean, come on, look at this bathroom. It's unreal! I keep trying to convince Jen to let me and my husband live in her basement ;)

Jen has her own Etsy shop with so many cute art prints. I have one that says "Oh, Living the Dream" in a frame right by my desk. How perfect, huh?
These designs are refreshing and light. They fit perfectly into any room throughout your house--the kitchen, the bedroom, or your office. You definitely will want one of these ASAP.

This week, it is our pleasure to giveaway this particular "You Light Up My life" design to one lucky winner! 

See below to enter. Make sure to do the mandatory options first.
Good luck!
Giveaway ends in a few days, so get to it ASAP!


Click to join the giveaway


Jen is generously doing 20% off any purchase of 10$ or more on The Project Girl Etsy Shop. Valid through July 6th. Use the coupon code DREAM20 at checkout. Go check out her awesome stuff today!

10 Types of People to Stop Following on Social Media.

Let's face it. 
We all do it.
We all follow people who we consistently ask ourselves, "Why in the world am I still following this person?!" 
Perhaps it's because of sheer entertainment, perhaps it's because they are your friend and you don't want to hurt their feelings, or perhaps it's because you are just too lazy to click "unfollow." Whether it's on instagram, twitter, or Facebook, we all follow people that we, in reality, need to stop following ASAP. I sort of went through a "binge" of my FB friends because I was sick and tired of all the stupid crap (that's the correct term for it) that I was seeing on my newsfeed. 

I started thinking of all of the different types of people who we all need to stop following on social media as I was perusing around my social media sites.

Now, I want to make a statement: I am obsessed with social media. I am the first one to admit this. I am on it all of the time and I post a lot (hence this blog!). So I know that I can be guilty of a couple of these on particular days when I don't want to do anything except be on the computer (oh don't pretend like I'm the only one). Just a forewarning, so you all know that I'm not a complete hypocrite.

Okay, moving on. 

1. That Person Who Always Spells Things Wrong. 
Here is a status I saw the other day: 

"Seriously? My dog just went threw the back window and broke his leg. He's so dumb."

Hmmmmm…. Yea….. 


2. That Person Who's Posts 50 Pictures a Day of Their Incredibly Unfortunate Looking Child.  

Okay, I definitely need to explain this one. I am already guilty of posting like 50 pictures of my dog. And, I actually really like looking at pictures of my friends babies. I get it. I totally do. I will probably post looooots of pictures of my children. But it's the type of person who is posting numerous amounts of pictures of their unfortunate looking child with the caption that reads: Isn't my child the cutest thing in the world? 

Uh, No. Honey. He's not. Sorry. 

It's almost as if they want validation that their child is cute, when, well, er, they're not. 

Let's hope my child isn't ugly, eh? :) 

3. The Person Who Is Constantly Looking For Validation. 

Like what do they want me to post? "OMG You are like soooo wonderful and beautiful and skinny and have perfect skin and have such cute clothes and are so smart and the right man will find you I promise, girlfriend."

Come on, girl. 

4. The Person Who Just Wants to Argue. 

Seriously? I really don't care if you believe that dogs with three legs should be saved in Camaroon. But thanks.  

5. The Person Who Only Stalks. 

You know that person who never comments or posts, they just look at every single one of your pictures and then sees you in real life and they're like "Oh my gosh! I know every?thing about you!" And you're like, "I didn't even know we were FB friends?" My mom does this. YEA MOM. I'M CALLING YOU OUT. 

6. The Person Who Posts Videos Every Single Day. 
I am all about hilarious videos. But do you really need to post a video of the dog jumping on it's hind legs with the caption: This is the funniest video I've ever seen? No. Everything is good in moderation, bud.



7. The Person Who Thinks They Know It All. 
Cool info. I can look stuff up on the Internet too.


8. The Person Who Is Obsessed With Their Religion.
We all know that person. The person who only posts about religion and nothing else. I mean, I think it's great that you're sharing your testimony, but don't you have things going on outside of the church? No?


9. The Person Who Only Posts Negativity.
Whether it's a negative comment on one of your pictures, or a status that's just always negative. It is incredibly tiring. Please, just be nice and post something positive every once in awhile.


10. The Person Who Only Posts Party Pictures and They Are 29 Years Old.
Okay, I get it. You're 29 and a hot Bachelor. Good for you. You get to go to the bars and get wasted on hit on girls all night? Wow, you are so cool. I bet you are doing so many good things in your life. Oh you're 28 year old single chick who dresses like a stripper? I bet the guys love your personality.



Do you have any others you would add? 

Oh, also, I really hope I'm not one of those people you want to stop following on social media. Eeeeek. 

So, We Got a Dog.

Can you believe it? 

We got our first child! Haha just kidding. 

Everybody, Meet Saylor. 

Saylor is about 12 weeks old. She is an aussie doodle (or aussiepoo but T and I refuse to call the breed of our dog with anything 'poo' in it). Her parents are a mini aussie and a toy poodle so she will only get to be about 15-18 pounds. 

T and I were pretty set on getting a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, but last week we found an adoption place with a bunch of doggies. We met Saylor and about fell in love! We had to get her. It just felt right.

(It also helped that she was SO cheap and every puppy we kept trying to find was nowhere near our budget at this point of our lives.)

Saylor had all of the characteristics of a dog that we wanted: small, but not a rat, longer hair (but doesn't shed cause it's hair not fur), no barking, has a cute/fun personality, and cute. We just moved to a teeny apartment and needed a dog that would be fine just sitting with T all day in the apartment (he works from home) but also one that will go for hikes with us--and she can do both. She is super cuddly and loveable and always wants to sit right next to you. 

Besides the fact that she peed on my shirt already today, (what can I say? She loves me and gets excited to see me!), we love her! Come over and say hi! She loves people :) 

May.

May has consisted of lots of outdoor adventures! The weather has started to consistently stay nice and HOT so I take every chance I can get to be outside and enjoy the sunshine and get some exercise. School is officially out, people. And now I have time to breathe. Hallelujah! (although, I will miss my kiddos. Always do).

Warning: Lots of photos.

Photos via instagram. Come follow! @sainge_worth

//Ingrid Michaelson Concert// 

{Salt Lake City}

The concert was absolutely amazing! She is such a fantastic performer (and so very funny!). Always a fabulous night seeing Ingrid live. I love her songs so much. 

//Mother in Law's Graduation// 

{Logan, UT}

//Road Trip to California//

 {Long Beach & Huntington Beach}

It was such a fun getaway. We were able to do so many fun things in the few days that we were there including riding bikes along the beach, go to Six Flags, enjoy time swimming and playing, and seeing nephews and family! 

//Spontaneous Memorial Day Camping// 

{American Fork Canyon}

Let me rephrase that…we set up camp and loved it the entire time until I tried to go to sleep and I was freezing and just wanted my own bed. Hey, it takes time to make this city girl into an outdoorsy one. But it sure was BEAUTIFUL.

//First Official Day of Summer//

{Pleasant Grove, UT}

-Got my first very own fishing pole and fishing license. Tanner and his family are so proud.

-Went on a hike to Battlecreek Falls. And I remembered how out of shape I am.

Other Fun Stuff! 

--hanging with friends!
--Exercising and working out.
-6th grade graduation/assemblies/end of year school activities/saying goodbye to kiddos.
--moving…
--being outside and enjoying nature.

It's been a whirlwind and I sort of feel my body, mentally and physically, just shutting down. But it's okay because it's summer! Huzzah! Time to party!