My Favorites for Friday

It's Friday! We made it!

Of course, I started my Friday with a truly awful hair day. Anyone else feel like a bad hair day can ruin a day before it really begins? Cause I do. And I had to put my make-up on in the car. Real princess stuff here peeps.

But, I won't let it get me down! Let's be super positive instead, k?








Here are some of my favorite things from this week: 
Labor Day! I had an awesome barbeque with the family, and then went and saw Madagascar 3 (again...) with one of my besties. It was a good day. And that movie is hilarious.

 I don't remember why or where this water bottle came from.... let me think on it...

Hm.

Oh yeah! I got it at the RSL game we went too last Saturday. It was an expensive water bottle, but I love it. It's such a wonderful size. It's my water bottle until my new one comes from FlyLady (SO excited about that)!

I LOVE my new running shoes. They give my calves a killer work out, and they have slowed my time down a bit as I work on proper running form. But they are awesome. And they make me happy. I want to go running Right Now!

I just love this guy. Like, a lot. He is my favorite all the time. Even when I'm mad at him. He is so patient and loving and funny. He rocks my world.

Yes, yogurt. 'Cause yogurt is awesome. And if you can have an apple turnover yogurt, then... wow! At first, this idea scared me. I mean, a turnover in a yogurt? Psht. Weird. But it's delicious. And different. And it makes both my taste buds and my tummy smile.

Other awesome things this week: Finding incredible singer/songwriter Greg Laswell (love this guy. Love every single one of his songs that I have listened too. That's rare folks), Completing an entire week of training for my 10K and not being dead (oh, I haven't told you about my 10k... Don't worry, I will.) Actually liking some of my homework. And the best of all...

This blog. I love this thing. I love finally opening up my soul and being vulnerable, letting other people hear about my hurts and struggles; and then finding out that my stories have helped some of you. I have received several messages thanking me for opening up. And I have to say that getting those messages was the best part of my week. It was fulfilling a dream for me.

My goal with writing this is to be open and honest and share with everyone how wonderfully ok it is to just be ok! I write because it helps me work through hard things, learn new, wonderful things and in a tiny hope that maybe something I say will help others. Thanks for making my dreams come true guys. You rock!

Frustration and Gratitude

I think that some days the universe decides, "Hey, you know what? That girl has had like four days of happiness and almost no stress. Let's make it rain!"

Stupid universe.

But I weathered the storm. Thanks to my husband. He really is my rock.

I don't want to go into too many details. Let's just say it involved money, money for school, school assignments, my thesis, not having a car and a huge workload at work.

Yup, that about sums it up.

Stupid universe.

I think the most frustrating thing is not having a car. Stephen's parent's have generously let us borrow their car (and live in their basement. I married into a family of awesome people), ut we usually have to be in two places at once. Like, I'm at work and Stephen has to be in school, or he is car hunting. And these two places have to be in the Northernest part of Orem and the Southernest part of Provo. (I made up those words, just go with it)

I am dropped off and picked up. I feel like a 15 year old. I kinda hate it.

But at the same time I am so, so, so grateful that we have people in our life willing to help us along when we fall on hard times.

So... try having both of those feelings at once. Frustration and gratitude. I'm really hoping gratitude wins out. It's much easier to live with. But I'm only human. And, dagnabit!, I want to drive myself to work like a big girl.

Well, Stephen had a job interview today (GO Stephen! He totally nailed it and is now a research assistant in his department. My husband pretty much rocks) and so he was late to pick me up. Like... 45 minutes late.

Shoot. Me. Now.

I was so mad that I had to hang around work after everyone else had left, yet so happy and grateful that Stephen got such an advantageous job. Again, frustration and gratitude.

Stephen fixed everything though. He calmed me down when I was hyperventilating earlier. He took me to Rubio's for dinner (I love their gourmet tacos!).

I ate all the tacos, cause they are so delicious.

And then he did the most amazing thing ever: He bought me new running shoes.

More about my shoes later!

Now, I don't want to get into the connection between my husband and my running goals. That needs it's own post.

But it totally turned my day around.

I think gratitude might have even won out. It's funny, isn't it? How two emotions can so strongly overcome us. I wish I could say I open my heart and life to more gratitude than frustration. I'm working on it. But more often than not I find myself frustrated at the little things. I get caught up in having to be dropped off and picked up, the stupid toilet at work not working or even my nail polish chipping. These things do not make up a life.

But gratitude does.

Gratitude sheds light on the smallest of miracles. On the joys of friendship. On the power of forgiveness.  Gratitude is what makes happy people, happy. I need to be more grateful. I think I will work extra hard on that tomorrow and see how my day goes.

What do you think usually overpowers the gratitude in your life? I want to know. Maybe we can help each other come a little bit closer to the grateful life, the happy life that we all deserve.