advice from the average

I have yet to announce this publicly because I was so nervous about 

Failure

Failure

Failure

I decided my motto for 2014 is going to be "I can do hard things"

and one of the hardest things to do is to start over.

As many of you know I ran cross country and track in high school and I loved it.

My senior year I suffered a pretty rough injury and was told I should stop running 

competitively

ouch.

Welp. I am starting over. I decided to run the Salt Lake Half Marathon in April. Here I go.

I started training almost a month ago and I thought I'd share what I have  learned so far.

1. There is a lot of advice out there.. use it! It is nice to know there is a whole running world out there helping each other out. Runners Unite!

2.  You're going to get discouraged. Something that was really hard for me is that I started this thing so out of shape. I hadn't worked out regularly since before Dallin and I got hitched (really let myself go there) I got discouraged when I was running a ten minute mile. MOTTO- I CAN DO HARD THINGS. just keep at it. No one starts as well as they end.

3. Smile- This one sounds pretty silly. Whenever I start to feel tired or my lungs start to burn from the cold I smile. It is pretty hard to get down when you're smiling! It is also hard to feel down when you realize you look like a weirdo running with a huge smile on your face. 

4. Ice Baths- Oh my gosh. These have saved my life! I never used to ice after long runs until I read a blog (advice number 1) that told me to. It genuinely helps if you sing while you enter the icy tub. Ice baths will help you to avoid injury and will make you feel less sore the next day. 

5. Bragging Buddy- tell someone when you have accomplished your goals! You worked super hard and deserve some congratulations. I tell Dallin all of my accomplishments "I made it to 10 miles!" "I had my fastest mile time!" Dallin is always there to cheer me on, he is a pro cheerleader. 

Well gang, now that I have announced this publicly I can't back out. So thanks for holding me accountable!

Also I am looking for a some good running music

what's on your playlist? 

xoxo 

Fashion Blogger

Just wanted to share some photography I have been working on lately.

They are all for my good friend, Kahana Bigelow's fashion blog

Check her out.

to see more be sure to pop on over to her blog here

xoxo

Dallin

XX WARNING XX 

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN MUSHY STUFF

 

Happy birthday to my handsome husband today. This post is dedicated to all things Dallin! 

The Big 25! 

25 things I LOVE about Dallin-

25. His impulsive, crazy decisions (mostly revolving around hair styles)

24. His amazing sense of humor

23. His hot bod

22. His dedication to the people he loves

21. His musical talent, Dallin is one of those gifted people who can pick up any instrument and start playing it like a pro. He might be a freak.

20. His drawings, ALL  of them are instagram worthy

19. His paintings

18. His love for soccer

17. His dedication to BYU football, even after all the let downs

16. His obsession with shoes

15. His illogical logic

14. His love for China, Chinese people and Chinese

13. He is an amazing cheerleader

12. His awesome sense of style

11. He knows how to fix stuff ha

10. His instagram photos (although I do find some... well most, embarrassing, it makes me happy that he has found a medium to truly express himself)

9. His love for food

8. The way he teases Melanie

7. His hugs

6. His kisses

5. His love for the scriptures

4. His love for knowledge, if he could watch documentaries all day instead of school he SO would

3. His love for our Heavenly Father

2. His love for his family

1. I love that Dallin was born! January 9, 1989 was a great day!

Some other random facts about Dallin;

Dallin fell out of tree when he was 7, suffering a minor (or major, I can't exactly remember) head injury.

Dallin almost cried once while watching August Rush, the closest I have ever been to seeing tears 

Dallin is in a band called the Pre-Teens, they have a lot of fun and going to their shows is like going to another country. I love it! 

Dallin loves to skateboard, and spends many Sunday afternoons watching skateboarding videos

Dallin has been to Europe 3 times, maybe more. I can't remember, all I know is that I am jealous.

One of Dallin's biggest goals in life is to be black.

Dallin hates his birthday, because he is weird.

Happy Birthday to my most favorite guy in the world! I love him.

xoxo

Social Media, Please.

Every new years I begin to rethink my overuse of social media. Total I probably spend about 1-2 hours a day browsing twitter, facebook, instagram (my personal favorite), vine, snapchat, pinterest and various blogs. I enjoy these mediums to stay connected with friends and family, but what I find myself doing more than "staying connected" is comparing myself to everyone else.

The quote above is exactly how I feel about my social media usage. A popular trend is to post "braggies" (photos bragging about what your doing, the surprise gift your boyfriend got you... etc. and YES, i do it too) Man, the braggies get me down sometimes. "I want that purse, I want to be graduated, I want, I want.. I WANT!" or "What the junk? How are they affording a trip to New York City when they are in the same situation as Dallin and I?" (Yes, the last question was directed towards Griff and Kels... We were really jealous! haha) 

Soooo my next new years resolution is to down my social media usage to about 4 hours a week... woah! 

and to STOP IT! Stop comparing myself with everyone. I have a absolutely wonderful life and I am thankful for every day of it. 

I am enough.

suck it, satan!

xoxo

Happy New Years!!

My number one New Years Resolution was to take more pictures. So far, so good! Hope you all had an amazing and safe New Years. Here's to 2014!

xoxo

100 Things I am Thankful For

Happy November!!!

1. Dallin... duh!
2. My amazing mother
3. My best friend and sister, melanie
4. My funny dad
5. My brave brother
6. My awesome in-laws
7. my nieces and nephews
8. Grandma Bowlling
9. Grandpa Bowling
10. Sara Evans
11. Cami Kehl
12. Andrea
13. Maddy
14. Tami Hales
15. My amazing job, I love that I am able to say that!
16. food
17. My awesome 2 bedroom apartment
18. good friends
19. My Canon
20. UVU, Go Wolverines!
21. Modern Medicine
22. health
23. pretty things
14. the mountains
15. snow
16. Netflix :)
17. my car
18. public transportation
19. all my shoes
20. CAKE
21. education
22. USA
23. pretty jewelry
24. my ward
25. the relief society
26. happy people
27. DoTerra
28. my iphone
29. music!!
30. Dallin's talents, guitar specifically
31. nail polish
32. humor
33. amy pohler
34. liz lemon
35. tina fey
36. Kanye West (for giving me someone to laugh at)
37. Celebrity mean tweets hahahaha
38. Lorde- shes amazing
39. yoga
40. running
41. Indian food!!! specifically the star of India
42. Dave's kitchen in Salt Lake
43. Skiing
44. Snowboarding
45. Nature
46. hiking
47. MY PUPPIES!!
48. For people who push me to be better
49. books
50. blogs
51. pretty rugs
52. feminine hygiene products (gross, i know! but i am so thankful for them)
53. zupas
54. boots
55. hoodies
56. jelly beans
57. the voice
58. bubble wrap
59. holidays
60. Hawaii
61. the beach
62. disneyland
63. disneyworld
64. red velvet anything
65. young womens program
66. coke
67. cookies
68. coats
69. scarves
70. my bed
71. fall
72. winter
73. summer
74. Weber State
75. Dishwasher
76. vacuum
77. pinterest
78. social media
79. general conference
80. sara barellies (so talented and funny)
81. libraries
82. missionaries
83. veterans
84. flat iron
85. just shaved legs
86. lotion
87. rocky mountain chocolate factory
88. the ability to reproduce.. i guess
89. cafe rio tostada wednesdays
90. antique/thrift shops
91. water
92. heating
92. air conditioning
93. mashed potatoes (guess I really am an Idaho girl)
94. my 5th grade teacher Mrs. Cooper
95. my laptop
96. traveling
97. pretty pictures
98. laguna beach :)
99. movies
100. My wonderful wonderful life!




Hope you all have an amazing Thanksgiving!

Now its time for Christmas :) Click on the link below to see my cute nieces and nephew as dancing elves!

http://host-d.oddcast.com/php/application_UI/doorId=1177/clientId=299/?mId=50670539.2

My Top Ladies

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, with all the events and promotions going on this month about women and breast cancer it got me thinking about the women in my life who I have looked up to, who have helped shape me and who love me. I put together my top list of women who I adore and wanted to thank for their special role in my growth while here on Earth.

 My Number One:

 My Hot Mama, of course! In Relief Society this past Sunday the teacher asked us to think about a woman who has influenced us in our lives. I thought of my sweet mom! The more I began to think about her the more emotional I became. I don't know ANYONE in my life who has sacrificed more for her family. Sometimes when I can't sleep at night my mind often finds itself thinking about this. My mom, for much of my life, has been the breadwinner for our family. She works full-time and has never slacked as a mother. She was able to rise to the occasion. She never missed a soccer game, a performance, or a time to embarrass me (not her fault, I was just embarrassed that all my guy friends thought she was super hot, I have learned to embrace it since then) Not too long after my Dad's nearly fatal car accident my parents had to put their dream home on the market. I can still remember our last night in the house where I grew up, we sat on the floor for our last family prayer in the living room. My mom prayed that each of us could remember that its not the house that makes a home, its the people in it. I think she knew this is exactly what her children needed to hear; we were all super bitter about the move. I have so much love for this woman!!! Thank you mom, for all you do!!! Thank you for your tremendous sacrifice, endurance and love. You make me cool.




Numbero 2:

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I absolutely love my Grandma Phyllis. Ever since I can remember I have had a special bond with my Grandma. I often tell people that her and my Grandpa are the most Christ like people I know. Something my Grandma has always instilled in me is to be myself. She has always embraced my weirdness, I don't know anyone who can get me to be more myself then her. I often find myself craving her hugs when I haven't seen her in a long time. I am so blessed to have the special bond and relationship that I have with her. Thank you Grandma for always listening to my crazy rants and for laughing, even when I am not funny. Thank you for being my favorite shopping partner and thank you for teaching me, through example, how to treat others with the kindness and respect that Christ would. Love you to the moon and back forever

My girl number 3:

Miss Melzers. Melanie is the best sister in the whole world. Whenever I  hear stories about sisters not getting along or fighting all through adolescence it makes me so sad. Mel and I have always gotten along and had so much fun together. There was a very brief moment in my teens where I was embarrassed to be seen with her and I still feel terrible about it, because she is way cooler than me. Melanie is the funniest person I know! (dont tell Dallin) No one can make me laugh harder than she can, when I say that I think it really surprises people. Melanie tends to be super shy and nervous around other people but when she is with me, she "let's her freak fly!" Mel also has the most tender and sweet heart, I have woken up to so many little notes from her telling me how much she loves me. I had a friend in high school pass away suddenly and when this happened Mel slept with me every night as I cried myself to sleep, she even cried too. Melanie is my greatest friend, sister, partner in crime, and hero. Love you Mel. Keep making me look bad, I secretly enjoy it ;)

Number 4:

Ashley Tappana! My most favorite young womens leader ever, is what most people know her as. I cant think of anyone who has had more influence over my testimony than her. I would look forward to when it was her turn to teach lessons in young womens.  I can remember one night after an activity my mom, who was the young womens president at the time, and I were driving Ashley home. When we dropped her off her husband Tim was outside for some reason and as soon as he saw her he dropped what he was doing and embraced her... and then they made out for a little bit. I can remember thinking I want love like their love. Ashley was in the sealing room when Dallin and I were sealed together for time and all eternity. I could see her out of the corner of my eye and I knew if I made eye contact with her I would just loose it. At that moment I realized that I had found it, the love like Ashley and Tim's love. Thanks for being my most favorite young womens leader ever. Love you forever!

Number 5

Miss Aubree Bushman. One of my biggest fears when I got engaged was "The In-Laws!" Aubree helped to push this fear out of my mind completely (I knew she'd always have my back ha). Aubree is Dallin's sister but claims that she actually raised him, and for that I owe her a whole lot. During mine and Dallins engagement we spent a lot of time in the Bushman household, which I loved. Sometimes I wished I could sit and take notes on how Aubree interacts with her children. She is a Pro-Mother!This is probably why I love her kids so much, I have never felt a bond with kids like I do with Cooper and Dezzie. They are the funniest, sweetest and smartest kids ever. Thanks Aubs for always being so welcoming to me! I am so grateful for all you do for Dallin and I. Thank you for all the left overs, for all the Sunday dinners, for all the breakfasts, and for all the memories! Love you!