Spring, Summa, whateva

 

Let it be known that I'm a cold weather kind of girl. I like cuddling up with blankets and sipping hot cocoa and singing Christmas carols. Call me stereotypical and overrated, I don't care I love Winter! (as long as I can stay inside and keep warm.) But truthfully, I am so happy that the weather is getting warmer!
I was jogging around my ward a few nights ago and saw kids playing outside and people working in their yards and taking walks together. What I love about warm weather is the way it makes people act. People leave their windows open to let in a breeze. They take walks around the neighborhood and stop to chat with friends. Everyone steps outside to look at an especially beautiful sunset.
Warm weather makes people feel....good! And it makes me happy to see it :)

Guess what? Chicken butt.

Yeah, that's the best I could come up with for a title for this post. Sorry if it offends you.
I just thought I'd let anyone who reads this know that I am unbelievably happy. And I find myself smiling at absolutely nothing several times a day. Don't get me wrong, my life is in no way perfect. There's plenty I could be UNhappy about..but why would I want to do that? Being unhappy is fun. So I'm focusing on the things I have instead of don't have, and the things going right instead of the things going wrong.

THIS GUY is a big part of my happiness. I think I can safely say that Stephen and I have never been happier and it is SO MUCH FUN to just be happy together.

That's what's up! Keep it real :)

Keep moving forward

Get out of bed. That's the hardest thing I've had to do the past couple weeks. Just get up. Some days it takes all the strength I've managed to gain from a not-so-restful night, to sit up, push off the blankets I've burrowed into, plant my feet on the carpet, and stand up without hitting my head on the light fixture.
I haven't slept well in years, but I've grown used to that. What I'm not willing to get used to is being lazy. This would probably be a good time to tell you what my definition of lazy is. If I go an entire day without reading, I'm being lazy. If I go an entire day without listening to good music, I've been lazy. If I go an entire day without talking to and spending time with my family, I've been lazy. If I don't dance from one room to the next, at least once, I am being lazy. If I don't check at least one thing off my daily checklist, I've been lazy. If I don't even bother to MAKE a daily checklist, I am beyond lazy. I have to do SOMETHING. Something that teaches me, or enlightens me, or makes me better. I refuse to live a life without growth.
That's why I'm taking my New Year resolutions (which I normally don't even make) very seriously this year. I've chosen to take control of my own health. I've chosen to work harder in school. I've chosen to increase my spirituality. In other words, I've chosen to not let myself be lazy.
KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

december.

December came more swiftly than I had anticipated. I once looked forward to it, but now dread the fact that it's here. Finals are stressful, work is discouraging.
My favorite season is nearing its end and Winter has crept in with its icy hands and winds that tear at even the warmest of souls.

This is my winter song to you
The storm is coming soon
It rolls in from the sea

My love, a beacon in the night
My words will be your light
To carry you to me

Winter Song by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michealson

Thank heaven for family and loved ones <3

Randomly Alex

Hey. I think it's safe to say I have a compulsive need to share weird things about myself. Today I'd like to share 5 of my life goals that might surprise you. Or maybe not.

1. Own a puppy.
I know. They grow and get older and become "dogs," but to me, it will always be referred to as a puppy. And it has to be MINE. Mine. My very own puppy. And it has to be beautiful and go jogging with me and love me unconditionally.

2. Bare children.
I will adopt if given the opportunity, but I want to give birth at least once. At most, seven times. Yeah. SEVEN.

3. Write a book.
I love love love reading, and I consider myself a pretty good writer. I would love to write something that other people would pay to read. That would make my....life.

4. Live outside Utah.
Don't get me wrong, I love the Beehive. I just want to branch out and experience an every day life somewhere that isn't....here. The above picture happens to be Seattle, which would be ideal.

5. Only marry once.
In Autumn time. One wedding. For eternity.

A tribute to my Mother (better late than never)

                                          My mother and I, October of this year

This past Sunday was my mother's birthday, I wanted to do this post then, but I've been preoccupied. SO here it is, two days late.

I remember having a great childhood, but I don't remember many details about it. However, one thing I do remember, and probably one of my very first memories, is my mother singing me to sleep when I had had a nightmare. To me and any of my siblings, one song in particular will bring memories flooding back. To this day it has a special place in my heart and I will sing it to my own children one day.

My mother is the most selfless person I know (-less, not -ish). She has worked to help support our family for as long as I can remember. She serves faithfully and goes above and beyond for our church. She doesn't hesitate to help a neighbor or friend in need. She keeps our house in order and manages her own business. I know what you're thinking, "This is impossible. Your mother must be a robot." But no, she isn't because she also has the biggest, most loving heart of anyone on earth. Just the other day, I was super grumpy to her and she hugged me and said she loved me. No robot would do that.

I can't possibly talk about all the wonderful things about my mother because then this post would take me my whole life to type. So just know SHE IS THE BEST MOM ON EARTH.

I love you mommy :)

things you probably don't know about me and probably don't care about but I'm going to tell you anyway

1. I cry a lot.
This may not be much of a surprise, but it's true. I can cry over ridiculous things. I once cried during a diaper commercial. This is because I have an irrational love of babies, but that's a post for another time. the point is I cry all the time and with almost no warning. I cry when I'm happy, sad, mad, bored, whatever.
2. I keep a diligent journal.
An ACTUAL journal with paper and pen. I tape in ticket stubs and draw dumb pictures and write down stupid stuff I do with my boyfriend. I write what's happening in my family and what I'm doing in school and everything in between.
3. I am in love with IcyHot.
I keep a bottle by my bed and smell it right before I lay down to go to sleep.
4. I have terrible terrible dreams.
The worst thing you can imagine: I've dreamed it. People have been murdered in my dreams. While I could probably peg it to watching too much Law and Order: SVU, I try not to blame Mariska Hargitay for any of my problems.
5. I have disgusting eating habits.
I'll go all day on one bowl of cereal and then eat an entire bowl of popcorn and chips & salsa at 1am. Gross.