Instagram Favorites

Courtesy of  Work Shop

I admit it. I am addicted to Instagram. I love the classy photos, the inspirational captions, the clever products, and learning about people’s lives. I’ve already mentioned some of my favorite accounts in earlier posts, but here is a comprehensive list if you feel like your feed could be freshened up a bit. Enjoy!

For Fitness: @activelyrees
I love Nikki Rees. While she doesn’t post specific workouts or meal plans, she provides daily inspiration about working out and eating healthy every day. She appreciates fitness and health without being obsessive over it. Her bio line reads, “FITNESS, CAKE and everything in between.” I recommend giving her a follow if you want to be inspired every day and become attached to her lifestyle and cute two-year-old daughter Maddie. She also has a blog, which you can find here.

For Photography: @piperalkonis
I first met Piper my freshman year of college. She was one of my best friend’s roommates. She was always taking pictures. Piper’s photos are centered around her everyday life, and somehow she manages to make them raw, unique, and breathtaking every day. I could look through her photos for hours. Give her a follow if you want to add some eye-catching, fantastic photos to your feed.

For (Baby) Clothes: @bowsforbrainsshop
There are a lot of baby bows businesses out there. This one, however, catches my eye. 20% of every purchase is donated to cancer research, there is free shipping and sales constantly, and the bows are absolutely gorgeous! I can’t wait to have a baby girl just to try out these bows. Follow this page if you want to see some munchy babies and beautiful bows! You can find the story of donating money to cancer research here.

For Inspiring Stories: @humansofny
If you haven’t given them a follow yet, you totally should! This account is run by a photographer who lives in New York and travels to different parts of the world. For his posts, he takes simple photos of people and shares a quote from them about their life. I’ve been following them for a couple years now, and it has opened my eyes to so many different situations and cultures in not just New York, but in the world!

For Food: @abountifulkitchen
Si Foster creates tons of beautiful and yummy recipes and shares them with wannabe chefs and bakers! She has made many copycat recipes such as Swig Sugar Cookies and Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies, and comes up with her own recipes ranging from Basil Couscous Salad to Peanut Butter Banana Power Muffins to Cream Cheese Chicken Casserole. I recommend the Levain Bakery Dark Chocolate PB Chip Cookies. Sooo good. Follow her if you want some meal and dessert ideas and recipes!

For Flowers: @workshop.pdx
I. Love. Their. Flowers. Work Shop makes amazing arrangements for any occasion and takes the classiest pictures of their flowers. They have workshops all the time, which makes me want to move to Portland rather desperately. Give them a follow if you want to (literally) freshen up your feed with some beautiful flowers and plants.

Details of a Wedding

Courtesy of Jenisse Photography

Recently, I was thinking about my wedding day, and a lot of details came to mind. I loved remembering those little details, and realized I might not always remember them. I can’t afford to forget! Sometimes the finest details make a day intimate and special. Here are some of the finest details from my wedding day.

Problems with the Veil. After our small ceremony, I gave hugs to all the family and friends present. After each hug, my veil would slide down the back of my head. I had to fix it over and over. Eventually, I just ripped it off and put it on the chair behind me, now veil free.

12 Inches of Snow. The night before my wedding, I slept at my parent’s house, just across the street from where my soon-to-be-husband Nathan was sleeping at his parent’s house. I remember being woken up by the clattering of makeup in the bathroom and my mom commenting about snow. I looked out the window – it had snowed twelve inches in one night. My dad and brothers were out shoveling, and I could see Nathan and his dad shoveling their driveway. Not everyone gets to see their soon-to-be-husband shoveling snow in the early hours of their wedding day.

My Best Friend’s Spit. During wedding pictures after the ceremony, I paused for a moment to talk with a group of my best friends. We paused for a group shot where they all pretended to kiss me, and I felt a glob of spit hit my cheek. One of my best friends had accidentally spit on me when pretending to kiss me! We all burst into laughter as I wiped it off.

White Fleece Leggings. Because it was a very cold January day, I wore white fleece leggings under my dress when we took pictures outside. I would say they worked pretty well! I never got uncomfortable, and they were so soft and flexible!

Moments with Mom. I loved the quiet moments with my mom as she helped me into and out of my wedding dress several times for the ceremony and reception. It was special to be with her and to share the special day. She did most of the wedding planning, and worked so hard behind the scenes to make everything perfect. I cherish those little, quiet moments with her.

Breathtaking Pink Garden Roses. These beauties were everywhere – in my bouquet, in Nathan’s buotineer, and on the white ruched cake and the centerpieces for the tables. It was a perfect, fresh, and romantic flower for winter.

Exit as Man and Wife. After our ceremony in the Mt.Timpanogos Temple, our family and friends waited outside the golden doors for our exit. With my heavy bouquet in one hand and Nathan’s in the other, we threw open the doors and stepped out into the crisp, snowy air. We were officially man and wife!

I would love to hear about details you remember from your wedding! Leave a comment below.

P.S. For more pictures of our special day, click here!

A Flowered Card

I sat on a ribbed floral couch, sandals deep in burnt orange carpet. It was dark in the room, not because the curtains were closed, but because the walls were boarded in the pre-2000s style. Next to me sat *Carol, my companion, in a red blouse and black cardigan, chatting. On the swivel recliner across the room sat *Julie, an older lady with curly white hair trimmed to her scalp and a red striped shirt. She rarely smiled, rarely talked. When she did talk, her voice was soft but forceful. Her eyebrows were constantly pulled together as if in impatience.

As Carol talked to Julie about vacations, volunteering, and the return of Carol’s son from Singapore, I thought of the first memories I had of Julie. Most were at church, one over the phone, and the visits Carol and I made.

At church, as she conducted the last hour, she was to-the-point, never gracing us with her smile, never making a mistake. She looked into the eyes of many women, making notes with her fine tipped pen, and speaking softly into the microphone. I was intimidated by her grace and style.

Over the phone when I would tell her we could come visit her in the evenings once a month, she told me plainly that evenings were difficult, but that she would allow it. To my apology, she would retort, “Well, I don’t like it, but it works.” I would hang up, blushing in embarrassment. Carol would comfort saying, “You know how Julie is.”

The visits Carol and I made were much the same. Julie would listen with rapt attention, rocking on her chair, rarely smiling, and offered her hasty opinion whenever there was silence. Thirty minutes on Julie’s flowered couch always felt like a very long time.

One day, I was surprised to find a flowered card from Julie in my mail box. When opened, I read her cursive script. She told me of her appreciation of my service in church, and that she had noticed my efforts. She said she looked forward to visits from me and wished me the best.

I was astounded. In my mind, Julie was not a person who wrote kind words on a flowered card. She was not a person who would notice the small doings of others, and compliment them for it. I was pleasantly astounded.

That card made me discover something that many people before me have already realized. People are not to be judged harshly based on a few encounters or memories. There is so much more to people than we know, and I am embarrassed that I had to learn this lesson yet again, at the fault of my own.

I was completely touched by Julie’s card, but I shouldn’t have been surprised. There the opportunity to be good is in everyone, and people choose that opportunity more often than we expect. I hope I can be one of those people, and follow the touching example of Julie.

*names have been changed

The Good List (No. 02)

Weekend Getaways. A couple weeks ago, my husband and I stole away to St. George with my family for a much needed getaway. We hiked The Narrows and Kanarraville Falls. Absolutely beautiful. Among our other activities: swimming, eating Twinkies, eating at Subway 2 (!) times in a row, and visiting the St. George Temple.

Warm Summer Nights. Often, I still grab a jacket while going out the door, out of habit for Utah’s predictably unpredictable weather. I’m pleasantly surprised to discover I don’t need it most nights.

White Oleander. This book, written by Janet Fitch, completely touched my soul. It follows the heart-aching story of Astrid as she experiences foster care after her poetic mother gets put in jail. Astrid learns of the harshness of the world, but also experiences love, trust, and artistic beauty. Be warned: this book is not for the faint reader.

Dunkirk. A raw, beautiful movie. I loved the lack of dialogue, the depth of character, and the knowledge of an important World War II event.

Nikki Rees. I recently discovered this Instagram fitness star, and have been enjoying following her day-to-day inspiration for working out and eating healthy. I first discovered her story here, and have been following her ever since.

What's been on your Good List?

6 Things Learned from Freshman Year

Something I'm really looking forward to in the next year is starting my Sophomore year in college studying English. I am ecstatic to be almost done with my generals and I can't wait to finally be writing English essays, reading the classics, and becoming a part of the reading and writing culture. That being said, I've thought a lot about my first year of college, starting in June of 2016. Here are 6 things I've learned from my Freshman year.

1. Life doesn't always go how you plan it. Visit my posts 10 Reasons to Get Married Early and Why Plan to read more.

2. Taking notes with a laptop and wifi connection equals loss of attention in class and ultimately low test scores, in my opinion. I found I was most successful when I took notes the old fashioned way - notebook and pen. Rewording, drawing pictures, and not being distracted by Facebook, Pinterest, or Amazon really helped a lot.

3. Studying for tests takes a lot more time than you think. I started studying for “easy” classes a week before. The “hard” classes like Organic Chemistry and Anatomy I started at least two weeks before. When I didn't follow this formula, I got low test scores and lots of regret.

4. Exercise can improve mental capacity and helped me stay awake in my classes. I ran most mornings, and lifted with my friends at the school gym once a week.

5. Making friends in all your classes is an easy way to build a support group and learn about people from all over the country (or world!).

6. High quality breaks can save your studying. Laura, my freshman mentor, told me high quality breaks can help you feel productive even though you are taking a break from studying. She suggested reading, taking a walk, or getting a drink with friends instead of sitting on social media. I tried it, and found much more fulfillment in every minute of every day.

What did you learn from your freshman year? Leave it in the comments below!

My Biggest Mistake

As I look back on my life, I’ve made some pretty good choices. I worked hard in school, was involved in cross country and other after-school activities, made close friends, went on fun family vacations, got accepted into my dream school, and married a wonderful and handsome guy. I’ve lived and learned, and I’ve been blessed. However, there is one dark cloud in my past, one that I count as my biggest mistake.

My biggest mistake is my failure at a positive relationship with my brother.

It wasn’t always bad – we were best friends when we were growing up. When he would get into trouble, I would cry to my parents and beg them to have mercy on him. We shared an apple under a blanket when our parents told us we couldn’t eat anything else but our dinner. We played knight and mother-to-the-knight in our little backyard, and went on bike rides together. It was bliss.

Something changed. Me.

I think I transformed into a witch. As we got older, it got harder and harder to be patient with him – to show that I loved him. It was easy to fight and say hurtful things as we walked to school, and later, drove to school. As I look back, I know I got mad at him for the little things he did. He teased, played loud music, criticized my driving. None of those things were worth the things I did. I did much worse.

I yelled, I screamed, I kicked, I ignored. I was the worst sister he could ask for. I damaged our relationship, no matter how many times he tried to repair it. Only now do I see the effort he made, and his despair when I refused to give in. Only now do I have endless guilt and shame for how I acted. A simple apology to him cannot dissipate such a dark cloud in my past.

Much to my relief, our relationship is slowly repairing. It’s gotten better since I’ve moved to college and married, giving us time and space. As he prepares to take big steps in his own life of serving a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and going to college, we find we have things in common. We are able to talk about things – what’s it like in college, relationship advice, music, and religion. We are almost friends again.

In an effort to gain at least partial forgiveness for what I have done, I promise to never treat another human like that again. I promise to make it up to him every time I see him. I promise to learn from the biggest mistake of my life, and I feel overwhelmingly grateful for second chances and eternal love. As our relationship continues to build, I feel peace and hope that we have time. Time for me to heal past wounds and to be there for him for the rest of his life. I love you, brother. Forgive my biggest mistake.

The Experience, Not the Workout

Sometimes running is about the experience, not the workout. It took me a long time to realize this. In my early running years, I felt guilty if my run did not have me sweating and hurting. The only point of running was to lose the calories I just ate or fulfill my 30-minutes of exercising for the day. Don’t get me wrong – it is extremely important to exercise daily and get those health benefits. However, I was too focused on the workout and missed out on some beautiful running experiences.

Running has the power to clear and relax the mind. It has the power to help us fully appreciate the beautiful world around us. It has the power to allow us to be in tune with our body - to listen to it and feel its strength. The best part is, you don't have to be running at a breathtaking pace to accomplish this.

This morning, I fought the battle of getting out of bed. My alarm went off, and I stubbornly dozed. My husband gave me a persistent push and I fell out of bed. I stumbled out the door and blinked at the morning light. It took me a while to start running. When I did, it was achingly slow. The phrase “lazy bones” flashed in my mind as I watched my legs struggle against the pavement. 

Yet, as I ran, there was something special. I started to have that running experience. My mind was relaxed. I knew how my body felt and noticed it was gaining strength and energy with every step. I started to notice the beautiful world of my neighborhood. There were pearl white roses, a soft light coming from behind the mountains, singing birds, and refreshingly cool air. It was a beautiful morning, and my lazy bones weren't going to stop me from appreciating it.

Even though my run was short and quite slow, it was about the experience, not the workout. After a busy and exhausting week, I needed to find myself again. Today, I found myself through appreciating the sweetness of a calm, cool morning.

This morning’s experience reminds me of two life-changing quotes from my hands down, all-time favorite running book, To Be a Runner by Martin Dugard. In it, there are several lines that perfectly explain the importance of this running experience.

“To run is to think. To think is to solve problems, dream, reflect, hope, mourn, pray, and grow. We focus so much on the way running tones our thighs and fortifies our hearts, but running is also a spiritual and emotional journey” (112).

“[Running is] not just exercise. It’s not just achievement. It’s a daily discipline that has nothing to do with speed, weight, social status,sexual orientation, political affiliation, where you live, what car you drive,or whether anyone anywhere loves you. It’s about the slow and painful process of being the best you can be. That’s why the first step out the door is always so hard. That’s when we choose between settling for average and being a superhero version of ourselves” (230).

It’s easy to settle for average. Every day, I try to find the superhero version of myself. And I realize, it comes from appreciating the experience – not just a running experience, but every experience of every day. I continue to find myself, and hope for a better me.