madre

My mother came to visit.

I hadn't seen her in over a year.

I don't remember the last time we had a picture taken together, so one day we went out shopping and snapped a few shots.

She's beautiful.

And I love her.

appreciation 2012

I have not posted for a very long time! And in fact I have at least one other post I'd like to share, but in lieu of Thanksgiving this past week I'll post this first.

I believe that being grateful is one of the foundational habits of a happy and positive life. If we don't express gratitude, how will the Universe know which ways to surprise us next? How would our friends and family know when their actions or words are appreciated and welcome? One thing I have been practicing lately is saying THANK YOU, for just about everything.

So here it goes, my excessive expressions of gratitude. In list form:

-family. They've helped me out so much the past year. And my mom is here visiting from across the country!

-my job.

-new life. I have a couple of friends that had babies this past year and it's amazing how much light such a tiny little body can bring into the world. Nothing beats a baby's laugh.

-new wool socks. I love socks this time of year. My dad knows this. He's the best.

-ovens. Because I love to bake.

-Diane, my favorite yoga teacher at the gym I go to. Enough said.

-tea. I have been drinking lots of tea lately, and it really helps to calm me down if I'm feeling out of sorts.

-books. I've been reading a lot too.

-all sorts of resources, actually. I've been really into magazines and Pinterest lately (heehee)

-kind words. They're not heard enough.

-good deeds. They're not seen enough.

-a roof over my head.

-pets to cuddle.

-friends to laugh with.

-someone to love.

-the sky. It reminds me to breathe deeply. Especially right before the sun rises. I love the colors and clouds. Sometimes on my way to work early in the morning, if it's clear enough, I can see the Grand Teton. It makes me incredibly happy.

-mountains. I love the grandeur they add to the landscape.

-my safety. I feel like this is something most people take for granted. I know that Orlando has much more crime than eastern Idaho, and I'm so grateful to live in a safer community.

-the safety my loved ones experience, as well.

-my daily comforts. Like my bed and pillows, hot water, a reliable car, clothes, grocery stores (even though I still plan on having a massive garden and growing a lot of my own fresh foods, I'm glad grocery stores exist... most especially during the winter.)
-rain. I love the smell and the sound. I love the freshness that even just a little rain can bring to the earth, and my day.

-sunlight. It's been overcast for a while here, so it's been a big deal for me when the sun comes out and shines.

Review: THE DEFINING DECADE

I've recently come to accept the realization that I love self-help books. So when my friend of 14 years recommended The Defining Decade to me, I picked it up immediately.

Source

The book focuses on the fact that now, more than ever, twentysomething year olds are confused about how to tackle this delicate decade. Dr. Jay writes that the media delivers false information that decisions can be postponed during the twentysomething years, and that they should be "lived up". Jay argues that this is utterly detrimental to the future; the decisions made (or not made) during the twenties affect individuals for decades to come. The book was full of valuable information and facts. She writes with compassion, knowledge, and experience.

The book is targeted to twentysomethings who have graduated college and don't know what to do or where to go afterwards. In that sense, I couldn't really relate, since I haven't received a degree yet. But the advice backed by the examples she offers are invaluable. Plus, it gave me a great feeling of "there's still time for me to get, and stay, on track!" She talks a lot about work, love, and the changes the brain undergoes during the twenties.

I really enjoyed this book. It was straightforward and written very clearly, making it an easy and enjoyable read. I'd like to own this book to have as a reference, and to  also pass on some information to my teenaged nephew as he approaches this busy decade. I would recommend this book to all twentysomething year olds and their parents.

wisdom from a father is invaluable

I found a box of books a few weeks ago with many books I haven't read, and many that I love but haven't read for a long time. Since I don't have much shelf space in my room I decided to swap out the books I've read recently for new ones and old favorites.

While I was rummaging I came across a message my father wrote in a book he gave me for my 17th birthday. My dad always writes a little in books that he gives me and it's one of the most treasured aspects of my life. This particular book is a collection of poems and tales by Edgar Allan Poe. I always admired that big volume on his shelf but never opened it because I knew how much he loved it and how protective he is with books. What he wrote was this:

"Dear Clari,

Happy 17th birthday!

I hope you enjoy this book. It was my personal copy. I hope that you find it as enjoyable as I do.

Remember that a good book can be a good friend and an escape from the world when things get rough.

Also, Poe rocks!!

I love you.

Love, Dad."

I've been repeating the italicized sentence to myself over and over since I found it. Because my dad is right. He knew that I use books as an escape when things get rough; that's something I've always done, and he knows it's something I'll always do. Not to mention, my life was turmoil when I was 17 and I think this was his way of encouraging me to deal with life in a productive way. Reading is never detrimental.

Now, years later, it's incredibly relevant to my life. That book holds such wisdom. It could very well be my favorite because my father's advice is timeless. I feel so grateful to have such an understanding and wise father. And Poe does rock!

the summer: images

A few days late, but here are a few of the pictures I took on the summer solstice.

Sunrise with the wind turbines.

The view of Idaho Falls from Sunnyside; sunrise.

Purple fuzz; midday.
[I have no clue what this is.
Some sort of weed, I'd guess,
but it really intrigued me.
I think it's beautiful.]

Looking west; sunset.
[I love the golden sliver you can see from
the setting sun's reflection on the Snake River.]

the summer

Yesterday was the longest day of the year! I decided to make it really fun for myself. Everything I did was laced with a little bit of "first day of summer" fever. I took advantage of every minute of sunshine. I even woke up to watch the sun rise and was sure to watch it set, too. I went to a great yoga class, I got to wear a pretty sun dress; my boyfriend and I walked around downtown with iced tea, peeking into antique stores and thrift stores. We also walked around the river and that may have been my favorite part of the whole day. We walked for hours. I took some pictures because I wanted the day to be memorable. The summer solstice this year marked the day when I started taking myself seriously again and made a game plan to work harder than ever before. I'm lucky my boyfriend accepts my swift attitude adjustments. I'm lucky I had someone so wonderful to spend my happiest day of the year with.

I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow. I would do it tonight but I'm exhausted after spending hours cleaning and organizing my things. Thank goodness for two days off in a row!

BRETTSDOTTER

I spent Father's Day with my dad. It seems like an obvious thing to do but this was big for me since I don't remember the last father's day I spent with him. I'm so happy that I had the opportunity to do so this year. I love my dad; he believes in me more than anyone in the world and he's one of the nicest, most funny guys I've ever met. We had a relaxed, lazy day. We browsed magazines, talked fitness and food, and exchanged funny stories. We also talked about some serious life topics.

Somehow I knew we'd talk about those things. I think maybe I've been especially tuned into the Universe lately, who knows. But for the past month or so I've been feeling like I needed to prepare for something. I felt like it was high time I kick it into high gear and get serious. What "it" was I didn't know until I talked to my dad on Sunday afternoon.

You see, my dad is a plotter. He taught me how to set goals and manage time and money from a very young age. He's always striving for the next, greatest thing in life, and he passed that on to me. Most recently, he's worked out a way to help me achieve one of my highest goals in the next year! I was floored when he told me what he's been thinking. He loaded me up with resources and ideas on Sunday and told me to start practicing my passion again, this time with the intention of never letting it wane again and only letting it grow. I don't know where I'd be without my dad. He's always there for me in the ways that matter the most. He's the greatest blessing in my life. And because of him I get to start the most exciting part of my journey faster than I thought!