Daydreaming at a Cafe.

It's a brisk January afternoon.
I needed to have some deep-thinking time. I know that sounds weird, especially for all of you extraverts out there, but I did.
So I came to a cafe to write and think. For me, often times, writing at a cafe is my favorite thing in the world. I love being in the presence of other people, but not having to talk to them, if that makes sense.
One of my other favorite things about being in a public place alone is that I can people watch.
I am not a judgmental person, but I love just watching people and trying to guess their story. I am not judging, but I like to simply analyze where they come from, what they are doing, etc.
As  I have continued to come to this cafe to do my blogging work, I have noticed a pattern in behaviors in people. These are some of the people that I have watched and seen.

She's in a bright pink shirt and a psychedelic scarf. Her hair is still wet because she is trying to prove to the world that she isn't physically high maintenance. She isn't wearing any makeup. She is talking with her guy and girl friend extremely loud. Why is she talking so loud? I mean, it is so loud that she is two tables away and I can hear literally every.single.word that she is saying. She has been going on about her two horses for about 20 minutes. She is doing most of the talking. She's opinionated, but nice. She's someone you would want to invite to a party with you.

The rich couple who are older, are dating, have been for awhile, and are content to sit together in silence and drink coffee. She, on the other hand, is very high maintenance. She is wearing a nice cardigan and dress pants, probably from J. Crew or Banana Republic, and her hair doesn't even move it's so put together. She doesn't say much, but when she does, it's very rigid. I saw them get out of a porsche. They probably love to go out to eat together often. I think that they travel the world together.

The two bros in their sports jerseys. You can tell that they feel uncomfortable being here at this "girly" place, but they are buds and the food is delicious. One is in a Seahawks jersey and the other in a beanie and a Real Salt Lake jersey. They aren't saying anything, but have a crap ton of food that they are eating. I bet these two are roommates and had no food so they came here to get some delicious food.

The indie guy in his glasses and long sleeve crew neck and brown boots. He is alone and keeps looking at me as I am typing. Not because he is trying to check me out (or maybe he is…I am sort of a  hot item! Ha), I can tell he is lost in thought. I bet he plays the guitar somewhere on Friday nights.

The two business buddies. These guys have literally been talking about their business ideas for about 30 minutes. They are talking numbers and money and all important business crap that I don't even like to hear about because, well, I choose to be with 12 year olds by choice as my career. Their in suits on a Saturday afternoon, which means they are very dedicated to their work.

The woman who showed up in pajama bottoms and is either hung over or not all there mentally. Her hair is everywhere and she looks very confused, like she's never been here before. She doesn't look very happy. She looks really lonely. I smiled at her and she just looked away. I want to go to her house and bring her cookies.

The family with three little kids and one baby. How cute are they? The kids are pretty well behaved, which I am okay with at a place like this. Of course the little girls are dressed in adorable little patterned pants and their hair is both in braids. They are a typical, Mormon Utah family, but they look happy. I can tell that the parents are good parents and love their children. One day, I would like to be there. But not with that many children under the age of nine. Haha!


Do you ever go to a local cafe that you love? 
Do you like to people watch?

Til next time…

"So, Like, What's Been Going On?"

A friend tweeted me the other day… "So, like what's been going on? I haven't read a post from you in forever and I miss your words."
Sigh.
I mentioned yesterday that there are a plethora of reasons for why I have been MIA from the blogging world. But, I guess, in all reality, it doesn't really matter, does it? I am now posting and that's the important thing, you could say.

Update on my life. Wow. Where do I even begin?

Christmas Break was fantastic. I did exactly what title of the holiday entailed…I took a definite break. I checked out from anything that I, essentially, did not have to do. I did not go into my classroom, I did not blog, and I did not grocery shop of any manner. Ha! I spent a wonderful week sleeping in, going to the gym, finishing up our Christmas Cards, and spending quality time with my puppy and T Money.  In all truthfulness, I was sort of recovering from my play and teaching the whole break. It was nice to not have rehearsal every day! Haha. My Christmas Break was very low key. We went and looked at lights, saw movies, and did fun, easy, cheap Christmas activities.  It was my first Christmas away from my family and with the in laws. I have to admit, I was a little sad. I wanted to be home in Oregon, with what was familiar, but Christmas with my in laws was actually wonderful! It just so happens that T Money's family does a lot of similar things and traditions as mine. I love my in laws so much, so it made the transition a whole lot easier.

all photos in this post via instagram. 

I didn't make New Years Goals this year. Not because I don't have goals, but because I always make them and never keep them. So I made one blanket statement and word that entails all of my little goals.
Happiness. 
I want to do what makes me happy. 

As many of you know, I have struggled with clinical depression since I was 14. This is not something that defines me or even tears me down anymore. I have learned how to process, deal and cope with it. There are definite days when I still struggle with it, but I know what helps me and what doesn't. I know when to see signs.
 I have spent too much of my life trying to do what makes others happy, or my parents happy, or what the church thinks that I should do to make me happy. I am doing what I know will make me happy. And let me tell you, in the past few months that I have done that, I have felt SO MUCH HAPPIER. I love where I am at in my life and that, to me, is what the whole point of this journey is, right? To enjoy it and embrace it and love it and savor it. And that's what I'm doing.

Some of these things that make me happy and that I want to continue to work on and change are:
-Going to the gym & exercising outside when I can. Yes, I want to lose weight. And thats a definite goal of mine, but more importantly than that, working out helps  with my depression and anxiety and stress. I love the endorphins that it gives me. I go to the gym because it makes me feel better. I will try to go to the gym often.
-Blogging when I want to. Sure, that may affect my numbers, but I felt way too much anxiety putting a deadline or a definite date on things. Who cares? I want to have quality posts and if that means only one post a week, then so be it. I am so sick of all the drama and mean words and stress that blogging brings. The second a hobby turns into something negative, it is not healthy.
-Do something once a day to improve myself. If that means, taking a bath and dealing with my stress, going to the gym, taking the dog for a walk, reading my scriptures, taking a nap, watching a show, reading a book, going out to lunch with friends, writing on this blog, etc. I want to remember that if I want to help others, I need to take care of myself. I want to continue to be spontaneous and fun and continue enjoying life. Along with this is involving myself in the Be Better Movement for Kenya Keys. Many of you know that I lived in Kenya for a few months in 2011 through an education program called Kenya Keys. Every week, I am, with the help of many other women to improve myself physically and mentally with one challenge a week. For every challenge I participate in and post on social media, money is donated for a child's education in Kenya. I am very passionate about these things: health, education, and my love for Kenya. I am excited to participate in it so that my loves in Kenya can get an education. This is improving myself and them. Look for the #bebetter52 hashtage on my instagram!
-Continue My Relationships and Serve Others. I don't have a lot of resources like money or tons of time, but I do have the luxury of having lots of people I love close to me. I want to continue to reach out to old friends, make new friends and serve those around me. I I have so many good people around me and I want to continue those friendships and relationships, because those people and that time is something that makes me happy. It sounds so cliche, but service really does bring happiness.
-And, of course, grow as a Teacher, Daughter of God, Wife and person. 

Life: My life is good. I have many things to be grateful for. The past week I have been really sick with a horrible cold, cough and sinus stuff. I am just now starting to feel better.  Tanner and I are thinking about buying a house and that's a little stressful, but it's definitely something we have started looking into. It's note definite, but something we are pondering. We are enjoying our time together and are excited for some possible trips this summer!! I am working like crazy and swamped with science fairs, testing, observations and parent teacher conferences. I am loving working with my young women and talking to them often. They are such funny, beautiful, awesome 14-15 year olds. My mother came into town last weekend for a visit and my brothers birthday. It was good to see her. Hard, just like it can be whenever family is around, but it was good.


And, that, my friends, is the way the cookie crumbles.
(That doesn't relate to this post at all, huh? That phrase doesn't work, huh? Whatever.)

Oh here are more pictures of life recently. Thank you, instagram. IG seriously saves my life. I really need to start using my nice camera.

I Was In a Musical.

Well, hi.
It's been awhile, huh?

I wish I could give you a definite reason why I haven't posted, but I don't really have one specific one. It can be any of the following reasons: There have been lots of family problems and crises, I was very busy with teaching, I went on a hiatus over Christmas and liked it way too much, or the fact that I just wanted a break from blogging. It's probably more the last thing more than anything. Sometimes we need to step away from things, don't ya think? 

Well, a month ago, yes… a month ago, I had the opportunity to play Mrs. Cratchit in A Christmas Carol Musical. Back in August, I told T Money that I was getting the urge to be in a play. I wanted to act and sing and be on stage. I hadn't done it since college and I was getting "the itch" to do it again. He was so supportive when I decided last minute in September (literally the day of the tryouts) to try out for the play. I thought, I real want to do this play and I don't have children yet…it's the perfect time to do it! It was so much fun to participate in it. It was a LOT of work. I would teach all day and then go straight to rehearsals 3-4 times a week for three months. I was pretty busy (especially during November and December--an already crazy couple of months), but I was so happy with what I was doing that I felt at ease. It felt as though my poor husband didn't see me for months, but he is such a supportive person, that it all worked out. I loved it. I loved the rehearsals, I loved the friends that I made, and I loved being on stage. 

The actual performance was so great. I wish I could be on stage more often, but unfortunately, I think I need a little break until the next one. Teaching and doing a musical may give me a heart attack if I keep doing it. But, sometimes I'm crazy so we will just have to see. :) 

I am so grateful for all of the support, love and compliments I received from family and friends. I had so many people who came to see me perform (even my dad flew out from oregon! For a measly play?! He's the best). I had about half of my class come and see me as well! I had my in laws, siblings, coworkers, people from my ward, old friends, and new friends come and see the show. It was seriously amazing to see all of the wonderful people in my life support me. 

I am so grateful for the friendships that I made from this play. Some of the nicest, honest, and fun people I know were in the show with me. These are people that I know I will keep in contact with for a long time. I am grateful for their talent and example. 

It was such a wonderful experience. Yes, it was stressful and frustrating at times, and there are a few things that I wish that I could change about organization or direction, the but it just felt good to "express myself" through some talents. Ha! 

Here are some clips from the show for those of you who didn't get to see it :) 

"And God Bless Us, Everyone" 

:)

Goodbye Hair!

Tanner hates hair. He hates it.
In fact, he hates it so much he asks to me shave every day.
All my ladies out there are laughing because they know how ridiculous that is. Maybe in the summer. Maybe.

So, in order to stop this whole unnecessary hair ordeal, I got myself one of these:

Permanent Hair Reduction: Infini'Silk Light Technology. 


With my PCOS, hair growth is a little bit of a problem. This technology has helped with that! It's very simple. All that you need to do is put the light up to the problem location and within a few treatments, you will find a noticeable difference.

I'm telling you guys….get one today!