Good People

     It never ceases to amaze me how just a couple of good people can make for great company.
     I had a Lia Sophia party tonight (for those that don't know, it's jewelry) and I sent out a facebook invite aaaand like a million postcard invites to people at college. Many saying they would come, though I didn't actually expect it to happen.
     When the party bell rang, there were only two guests: my sister-in-law Michelle and a really good friend in college, Lori. There is one other that was supposed to make it that had very good reason not to..she has be excused hehe =>
     My point of this is that as I was hoping for a big show, it was quite small....but the fun-o-meter went up just as high.
It's good to have good people in your life.
=>
     Aside from all that, if you want to check out the jewelry go here:
https://www.liasophia.com/sites/amymartin1/catalog-intro
and put Glady Dalton in the hostess lookup, you have until Friday the 9th!! =>
The Deal: by 2 get 3rd at half price....the MOST EXPENSIVE is your HALF-OFF piece!! =>

Fun Fourth Adventures!

During the day, I took the time to get some things accomplished, like stats homework, organizing photos, editing photos, going to the gym, and just plain catching up! 

Aside from all the busy-work, Daniel and I went down to Mesquite in the evening to have some fun with friends & family. 

Dad made some delicious and giant pork ribs to eat before we headed out to see Mesquite's fireworks display. I have not been very impressed the last couple years with their display, but they surprised me this year with some pretty badass fireworks for such a small town. 

A couple examples:

Something I like to do every year is to have people "write messages" with sparklers!! Everyone enjoys it, even the kids!

Now, how about some people?? 

Okay, a few explanations: Kyle is folding his arms because he was mad about some brotherly quarrel that involved that giant K'Nex cube that Adam is holding above his head....umm Ian is shooting the camera with a K'Nex gun he made aaand it looks like I'm attacking Daniel because I was so I could get a photo! haha

I would explain what my brothers are doing, but I just can't....hehe

Lydia was just being an absolute doll for me here while I was getting photos.....lots of thanks to Michelle!!
OH! and doesn't that head piece just look sooo cute!?? That would be the amazing work of J&M's Eye Candy!!
Go check out their shoppe!!

Here's the set on flickr for my Fun Fourth Adventures!
Hope all of you had some Fun, Fantastic, Fourth Adventures!! 

Sand Hollow Little Adventures

I have been anxious to do something fun that was out of our "norm"....I gave Daniel a lot of ideas and a few days to think about it. Then come Sunday (July 3rd) he decided we'd go swimming at Sand Hollow. 

YAY!!

I got everything ready pretty quick and we were off!

Now, I should mention that Daniel was a bit hesitant to go anywhere because he really enjoys his time home since we don't get too much of it that we can spend together. 

Anyway, we went and he wasn't all that excited until we were on the freeway almost there....then it hit me.

He's never been to Sand Hollow!! haha =>

I've been several times and never really thought about it, but Daniel has never been. I seem to walk him into a lot of firsts in his life..I'm just awesome like that, but it goes both ways =>

We had flippers, goggles, toys and an umbrella....we were set for awesome!

I didn't take a whole lot of photos because I was in the water most of the time, duh.

While Daniel was almost right near the buoy he told me he found a toilet. 

Yes, a toilet. 

I thought he was full of shit. I didn't see it the first time, so I started to think he was seeing things...haha

Later on when the sun hid behind the clouds a bit, it was easier to spot what was under the water. Daniel found his toilet again and got me out there to have a look for myself.

There seriously was a porcelain throne sitting at the bottom of the water. 

HAHA!! It was even upright!

After I got several good looks in, I started to wonder who the hell would drop a toilet down in the water at Sand Hollow!!? Regardless, it sure was funny.

Aside from all that, Daniel was glad we came. It actually turned out perfect because the time frame we were there wasn't all that hot and we had a decent amount of clouds to help us out. Once we got home it got super windy! We just have the best timing ever, I think..haha

Anyway, here are some photos.....OH and for those who hear so much about this Daniel boyfriend of mine, but have never seen him as if he's some sort of figment of my imagination I will assure you, He Does Exist!!

He's just not fond of photos.....but, I have captured him!! It's fun, like Pokemon or something. 

Set on Flickr

Poopface

LIFE!!

I just updated my photo blog on some favs from my San Francisco trip. Here's the Flickr set =>

Mom & I finished 2:12 which is awesome for us walking it(mostly)...GO MOM!! Next year I'm going for time rather than experience.

It was definitely an amazing experience. SO many people!! My favorite other than the scenery would have to be the neighborhoods we went through. Every couple houses had a party going on with loud music for us all to hear. We had every genre you could think of!! The people were all so fun and full of energy. The costumes were all entertaining, I saw umpa-lumpas equipped with theme music, a giant birthday candle and a firefighter(a real one!). Check the Zazzle Bay to Breakers 2011 group on flickr to see everyone's photos of the event!
Here's a few shots:
Flying Tortillas!!

BUTTS!


I couldn't imagine running in a suit like that would be very easy..

SO excited for Bay-Breakers 2012!! 
See you there =>

Just Breathe

This is Tara Stiles. For those who aren't that close to me, I'm very thankful that I stumbled onto her a year ago. She has taught me so much about myself. 
Today, she inspired me to share how yoga has helped me and I thought I'd go full blown blog post for everyone to see. Here goes.



I like to put everything on a calendar so I can physically see what I need to do and what is coming up. Lately, since this school semester is coming to an end, my life is packed with to-do's...when I look ahead a few days to see what's coming up I feel overwhelmed and I start focusing on every little thing that needs to happen. When something simple is surrounded by several other things then that simple task is no longer simple. The way you think and feel about what is about to happen or your busy day can physically and mentally make something more difficult or easier. That saying, "it's all in the mind" is pretty much what I'm getting at here. 


I've experienced times where I get stressed over what is yet to come. Not only does that stress me out more when 'it' comes, but it uneccisarily stresses me out before 'it' comes. THEN there's the snowball effect where I'm already falling apart over one thing that everything else in the path of that thing, will also get out of hand. This cycle repeats itself within the last two months of every semester. I'm changing that. 


Yoga is more than just putting yourself in a pretzel shape and chanting out funny phrases. There are several types of yoga and you do what works for you personallly. If that chanting puts you in your happy place, then go for it. They all have one thing in common though, and it happens to be the most important lesson I've learned. Breathing.


Yoga has literally saved me from myself. I'm an over-thinker, I heavily criticize everything I do and I worry waaaay too much about what is happening next. When I'm always looking ahead like that, I don't take the time to look at the 'now'. I am always helping myself in the future (or so I think) and I skip over helping myself now. 


When the calendar gets full, I find it much harder to take time to pause and do a yoga routine. Not that I don't have the time, everyone can fit 10-15min of yoga in....but it's that when I do have some free time I'm in a daze, thinking and spacing out because my brain needs to regulate itself. Plus, when you squeeze in a quick routine as a chore rather than something you do to relax and open you mind and body..then you probably don't get many benefits from it. Rushing through a yoga routine to me, was never satisfying. 


Here is how yoga saved me. I was finding that I wasn't doing yoga as often as before I got to these predictable busy days and the effects on my mind and body were noticeable. I could mention how, but that is a whole different story and blog post haha.


I was starting that horrible cycle again and thought to myself that I had to stop it this time. 
So what did I do? What am I doing? 

Breathing.

It seems so simple because we just do it and don't think about it. We are a mutitasking culture and we do as much as we can simultaniously. Sure, breathing isn't considered a task to us. But if every now and then we just focus in on our breathing it could make a difference. Breathing promotes the thought of you as you. Not you as a student, you as an employee, daughter, mother, helping friend or friend in need. But you as yourself. 


Now breathing is the first part and is the biggest and most important. But if you can clear your mind for a few minutes, I mean really clear it and push all thoughts out of your head and focus in on YOU then that would be amazing, but I won't ask too much, haha baby steps.

That is how yoga saved me. It taught me the simple concept of just remembering to breathe. 
In my current busy life, I am SO grateful for that lesson. When I look at the full calendar today, I have a brief moment of an overwhelming feeling and then I just close my eyes, take a deep breath or 10 and clear my head. If there's time I'll sit and just meditate or do a relaxing, or even stimulating if I need the push, yoga routine. Then when I return to my to-do list, I have a fresh mind and body so that snowball effect doesn't crush anything. 

That feeling is the best in the world, I feel like I can do anything. 

Thanks Tara Stiles for giving me the inspiration to share this.