Update post

Sorry for my absence from the blogging world. My work world and mom world and visiting my sister world and trying to have a life world have sucked up all my time lately. I have plans for a new post in the very near future! I promise....

And the award for Best Aunt Ever goes to....

I spent this Fourth Of July gettin' down and groovy to MILEY CYRUS with my neice, Shawnee. A few months ago, I scored (with Joey's help) tickets to the Stadium of Fire, starring MILEY CYRUS! The BlueMan Group performed, as well, but for Neen, the night was all about MILEY!

The day began with a trip to Bear Lake to switch kids. I picked up Shawnee and we headed for Provo. She was SUPER EXCITED...I've never seen her so amped about anything in my life. She even said it was better than Christmas.


holding her ticket up outside of the Stadium. She practically danced from the car to the stadium!



After much deliberation, she picked out her first concert T-shirt. This was my favorite one, too.



View from our seats. Not the best in the house, but not bad.



The whole night was worth it for this smile. She was so enthralled with the whole event!



Sky-divers from the Military brought in the service flags.


Glenn Beck talked about the meaning of the colors of the flag.




Members of the National Guard led the National Anthem.




F-16s from the 419th Fighter Squadron (my old unit!) flew over the stadium, much to Shawnee's delight!



The BlueMan Group performed, which was a lot of fun!



Shawnee "Raisin' the Roof" to the BlueMan Group!



Finally, Miley Cyrus took the stage. Shawnee was so excited that she started to cry. So cute!

The concert was a lot of fun. Neen's favorite song was "Girl's Night Out" because Miley had the girl's stand up and sing with her. I liked "See You Again" best, but probably because it's the only song I know.

The night ended with an AMAZING firework's display that lasted a long, long time.





On the way out of the stadium, Shawnee ended up standing about 2 feet away from the BlueMan Group members as they went back into their dressing room. She was so tired that she didn't even notice until I nudged her and pointed it out. They all looked right at her with their weird, freaky eyes! She was out cold almost immediately once we got on the road, but not until she called her Dad and Grandma Nita.

It was such a fun night, and I'm so glad I got to do this with Shawnee. Plus, she paid me the ultimate compliment.

"I'm so glad you are my aunt. You are totally in the Now Version..."

High praise, indeed.

Tagged by Beck

5 places I go over and over:
1. Work
2. Gym
3. Grocery store
4. 7-11 with the good ice and Diet DP
5. Library

(I have a pretty boring life)

5 people who email me regularly:
1. Boss
2. Co-workers
3. Grandma Beckie
4. NR
5. Writing group members

(some of you reading this owe me an email or two)

5 places I like to eat at
1. Home
2. Whole Foods
3. Mazza
4. Keith and Jamie's
5. Grandma Lanes

( I don't get out much due to 10 month old, but I'm starting to dislike eating out, anyway)

5 places I would rather be:
1. Bay area visiting my frister
2. Vacation- preferably somewhere on a beach
3. Bear Lake
4. Jackson Hole
5. Asleep in bed

(Going to a few of these places in the next few weeks...YAY!)


5 TV shows I watch all the time:
1. So you think you can dance (my summer obsession)
2. Army Wives (Lame, I know, but I love it)
3. The Next Food Network Star (don't know why but I love this show)
4. Gilmore Girls (my all time favorite TV show)
5. Bunny Town (I have a 10 month old - give me a break....)

A Little Gift

This afternoon, I took Riley for a walk in a beautiful little town not far from where we live. As I walked along, enjoying the gorgeous surroundings, the sunny day and my baby's happy laughter, I realized that I am delighted with where I am right now. Geographically, yes, but also physically, emotionally, spiritually....in many, many ways, I am very lucky and very blessed. I also contemplated some decisions I am trying to make and pondered how the results would impact my life, Riley's life and the lives of other's I love and care for. Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that I have a lot to be grateful for and whatever I choose to do needs to give back in some way.

When we arrived home, I put Bug down for her nap. She was tired out from the sun and from taking in all the new surroundings, and was content to go right to sleep. Before I settled down for a Sunday afternoon nap, which is becoming a much anticipated weekly tradition for me, I took Harley outside. Still thinking about my day so far, and about the utter contentment I had felt while walking with Riley, I noticed something right by my foot: a small card, printed with this message:




Hmmm....coincidence? I don't think so. I think it's a little gift, put into my path, to let me know that i was right on in my thinking and I need to follow those thoughts with action. Which i plan on doing, right after I take a nap.

Aaaahhhhh.....summer.....

- lazy evening strolls through the Avenues
- walking barefoot through the cool grass early in the morning
- watermelon for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- watching kids play in the fountain at the Gateway
- the smell of sweat and sunblock
- tank tops and flip flops
- pedicures with little flowers on the toes
- buying fresh flowers at the farmer's market
- riding my bike at dawn
- watching the stars from the roof of my building
- outdoor concerts
- street festivals
- jetskiing on Bear Lake
- hiking in the canyons that surround my city
- baseball games (first MLB game this year!)
- several trips to see loved ones
- taking my little one swimming several times a week

So far, I am LOVING this summer. So much to do. So much to enjoy. So much to look forward to.

What do YOU enjoy about summer?

Taking care of myself (5 things Friday)

I had a LONG conversation a few days ago with a friend who is going through a really hard time. She is trying to make some big career decisions and she works a million hours a week as a pediatrician, which is a very noble, albeit draining, career choice. Add in some men issues and a family drama to her already crazy world, and that pretty much sums up her last few months. If anyone needs some good old-fashioned self-care, she does.

I kept telling her she needed to take some me-time. Go to the spa. Get a massage. Take a bath. Read a novel. Basically, do something for herself. And the sentence she kept repeating was that she couldn't do that, she needed to X, Y, or Z. Now, I understand the need to keep going...that there is always something to do or somewhere to be. But I'm learning really quick that if we don't take care of ourselves, we can't take care of others. On airplanes, they tell you to secure your own oxygen mask first before assisting your neighbors...same concept applies. So I thought I'd use my 5 things Friday list to document 5 main things I do to take care of myself.

1. I try to live a healthy lifestyle. I work out pretty regularly. I eat well most of the time. I drink a lot of water. I wear sunscreen. I try to get enough sleep (although this is difficult with a baby). I limit caffeine and sugar and am working on cutting both out of my diet. I get regular checkups and do self exams for breast and skin cancer every month. I do yoga a few times a week and meditate daily. I'm not perfect in any of these areas but I'm trying to do the best I can, both to feel better for myself and set a good example for my daughter.

2. I indulge in the things that make me feel good. I get massages almost weekly. I get pedicures when I can find the time to go (or when I'm at my sister in law's house) . I buy new music off of I-tunes when I want to jazz up a workout or my walk into work. I recently bought a mountain bike because biking makes me feel alive. I buy new clothes because I enjoy getting dressed up and feeling good about how I look. I hired a housekeeper because I love a clean house and don't have time to do it. If something makes me feel good, I find a way to have it in my life and I don't feel guilty about this because I work hard for what I have. Plus, because of the "single mom with small child status", I don't really go out much and don't eat out much, so money has been freed up that goes into my little luxuries.

3. I am trying to simplify my life. What does this mean? I am really trying hard to think about what I spend time on, what I use, what I buy, what I need, what I want and what I have room for. If I don't use something, I have been trying to find a new home for it. I've donated a lot of stuff and I have spent a lot of time going through everything I have and making sure I have a need for it and a place for it. I don't go shopping just to go shopping because that's when i buy a lot of junk I don't need and this contributes to the clutter I am working hard on getting rid of. I keep a list of stuff I need and then I try to buy it all at once. My simplifying extends to every area of my life. I have simplified my life by hiring a house cleaning service and having my groceries delivered. I order necessities like deodorant and tampons and hairspray online and order a 3-4 months supply at a time. I pay my bills online. I have my dry-cleaning picked up and delivered. Basically, I am trying to keep the necessities in my life orderly and simple so I don't have to spend a lot of time worrying about them. I would much rather spend my time and energy living my life with my kiddo than cleaning my bathroom or buying groceries.

4. I am focusing on my spirit. I know, that sounds a little hippy-dippy-trippy and very "happy, sunny, la-la-la" but what I mean is that although I have always been a fairly spiritual person, I haven't really worked on it. It's just been there. So now I'm spending time learning more about what I need for me to feel whole and complete. I'm reading about various religions, I'm examining the one I was raised with, I'm spending time meditating and praying, I'm writing about it. Basically, I'm exploring a side of myself that has been neglected or ignored for a while and trying to figure out how it all comes together for me.

4. When all else fails, I write about it. Writing has become a huge part of my life. I spend a lot of my (very limited) free time writing. I'm working on several projects that I hope to have published and I'm spending a lot of time and effort on my writing group. I'm hoping to find a way to work with a writing coach next year when my writing group ends. I have found that having the ability to put words together in a way that expresses what I am feeling has been a huge part of healing from some of the recent events. Also, it's been a great way to purge myself of the anger, bitterness, and heartache that have been inside of me and has also provided a method for documenting the stories of the early parts of Riley's life for later, when she is ready to know about that part of our lives. Writing, whether in an assignment for my group or on a post for one of my blogs, has been a great way to take care of myself by getting the words outside of myself.

So, there you have it...a list of 5 things I do to take care of myself. Let's hear from some of you...What do YOU do to take care of yourself?

Talkin' Loco

"You is talking loco and I like it!" -Hansel, From Zoolander

I am starting to realize that sometimes, you gotta wade hip-deep into the "crazy" to find the "crazy, but in a good way" things you need in your life. These are the people, the thoughts, the ideas, and the plans that add color and clash to your world.

I need to remember this...that it's ok to shake up my safe, predictable, type-A existence every now and then.

So, here's to the crazy ones! And thanks to the very crazy one who reminded me of this. Nice to have you back.