From the Happiest Place on Earth to this

We had a fabulous 8 days in sunny Disney World, we came home to snow and devastating news about Haiti. Do you ever feel almost guilty to be so blessed? I do. But then I remind myself to just be grateful and generous. The kids loved it! Despite no sleep or naps even really, they did great. My boys are such good little travelers, even on the plane!
This is our first day at Magic Kingdom riding the fairy over, you can see the castle in the background. I had never been to Disneyworld, only land, I was excited! Our place was on Disney property even though it was Wyndham resort so we just rode a shuttle verywhere, except you still had to take the fairy or monorail to MK.

Hang loose!

One of Boston's favorite rides was Buzz Lightyear, here he is with Zurg. Incidentally, I hate this ride because it is hard for me to see my laser and so I miss my target and the result is my score sucks almost as bad as the kiddos do, I am competitive and don't like to be bad at anything so this ride leaves me bitter. But, I loved the similar ride of Toy Story where you can actually see what you are doing, it was way fun, cute and amazing details, and I actually get a decent score!

Boston made me ride the tea cups two times in a row! Talk about puke, he loved it though! It was fun laughing with him on it!

Boston liked Pirates of the Caribbean it was crowded th first day we went but the last day it was a walk on because it was the middle of the week instead of a weekend, so that was nice and he wore his pirate costumes and we saw the "real" Jack Sparrow so it was fun. He loves anything guns as this picture shows.





Brock rockin' out to Playhouse Dinsey Live Onstage-he loved it, anything with music!

So Bostons favorite ride was of course Star Tours, and then he liked Pirates, Dumbo and anything like Dumbo (ie Aladdins magic carpets, Tri-cera Tops Spin) Soarin', Goofys rollercoaster, although he was freaked at first, but it was so fast he did ok, Buzz, Toy Story, all the movie ones (Fantasmic, 3D ones, etc) he was a trooper and we made him go on Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, and they pretty much tramatizaed him, he didn't cry, just was pouty after and said he "definately did not like that and had no favorite parts!" Brocks fave was Small World hands down, we rode it over and over adn he just danced! He also like Triceratops spin. We saw a really cool bird show in Animal Kingdom that everyone enjoyed and Bos liked the Safari, he wouldn't go on Expedition Everest and I thought it was way fun, but was glad we didn't have Boston go. Too intense. Good times though!

Adventure's First Stop!

So we are leaving for Disneyworld in 2 days. Bos says,"We better get gas and drinks at Maverik before we leave to the airport" Why? "Because it's adventures first stop!" Oh, and we are going on an adventure to Disneyworld? "ya" I thought that was just too funny!

In need of a push

For some reason I am in need of much motivation today, I have a lot to do and well, I don't feel like it! But either you run the day or the day runs you so off I go!

"The best six doctors anywhere,
And no one can deny it,
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air,
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend,
If only you are willing.
Your mind they'll ease.
Your will they'll mend.
And charge you not a shilling."
— Nursery rhyme quoted by Wayne Fields,
What the River Knows, 1990

"You are important enough to ask and you are
blessed enough to receive back."
— Wayne Dyer: Self-development author and speaker

"Character isn't something you were born with and can't change,
like your fingerprints. It's something you weren't born with
and must take responsibility for forming."

I am completely stealing this quote from a beautiful gals blog because I loved it.
"The first thing to realize is that you are in control of your own energy. I know it doesn't feel that way sometimes. Depression can take hold like an invading germ; anxiety can cause fear to leap out of nowhere; anger can simmer like a pot on the stove. Yet these conditions do not define you, and in fact you can begin to use basic energy—the kind that comes from food, air, loving relationships, nature's beauty and the flow of creativity—for your own good. All these sources of energy are available to you all the time. They are part of your birthright; they connect you to the flow of life, which is constantly renewing itself."
~ Deepak Chopra

Okay, enough is enough, I know! Ciao!

Walk my way to a better butt?

So we are going to Disney world Friday and I got these Reebok Easytone shoes from Nordstrom last night. I mostly got it for comfort, but, hey if it's claims are true, a workout while I walk won't hurt either! I also tried on the Sketchers Shape Ups and I must admit my vanity stopped me from even considering these, although they felt nice, you are wearing these big boat things that just look so silly, I am sorry to anyone who has them, but the Reebok ones are cute and comfy, and claims: "Walk. Tighten. Tone. The Reebok EasyTone Inspire is designed to help give definition to your legs and butt. Simply walk and let the balance pods under your shoe do the rest. The slight instability created by the pods feels similar to walking on sand and forces your muscles to work a little harder, toning you up as you strut your stuff. The EasyTone technology improves muscle tone in the hamstrings, calves and glutes up to 28% not bad considering all you have to do is walk around as usual."
So we shall see! I will post my results!

Have you heard of Boyce Avenue?

I recently discovered this gem of a boy band, JK they are not a boy band. I don't know if I am just a sucker for guys who sing acoustic and play the guitar or piano, but I am diggin' these boys that cover songs in their own unique way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3o3F5n7TBI

Happiness is

eat pray love

eat pray love One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia. This is the current book I am reading and I absolutely love it! It makes me want to go to Italy again and get into yoga, so far. It is her memoir of hard times and how she worked through it and the journey she went on physical, mental, spiritual on this year of travel. Here are some excerpts:

"People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life.

A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave.

A soul mates purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life, then introduce you to your spiritual master..."

"There is so much about my fate that I cannot control, but other things do fall under the jurisdiction. I can decide how I spend my time, whom I interact with, whom I share my body and life and money and energy with. I can select what I can read and eat and study. I can choose how I'm going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life-whether I will see them as curses or opportunities. I can choose my words and the tone of voice in which I speak to others. And most of all, I can choose my thoughts...

I am burdened with what the Buddhists call the 'monkey mind' -- the thoughts that swing from limb to limb, stopping only to scratch themselves, spit and howl...

When you're lost in those woods, it sometimes takes you a while to realize that you are lost. For the longest time, you can convince yourself that you've just wandered off the path, that you'll find your way back to the trail head any moment now. Then night falls again and again, and you still have no idea where you are, and its time to admit that you have bewildered yourself so far off the path that you don't even know from which direction the sun rises anymore..."

For sure more excerpts to come as I cannot get enough of the thoughts in this book. I suppose if you are not going on your own journey of self-discovery per se, as I am, than maybe you won't like this book, but I for sure do.

My Top 10 for 2009 (in no particular order because that would just be too hard)

Brock turned 1
San Gelato on Soda Row in Daybreak
I started a Blog
Boston started preschool, 3 days a week
My new friendships
Lawn put in our backyard
3 great new team members in Mary Kay
My family, friends and I are healthy & Aaron and I are employed
I learned to knit
I became more "crafty"

Top Songs of the Decade and 2009 (according to some, not neccesarily me)

Top 25 Songs of the Decade
1. Maroon 5 "Harder To Breathe"
2. The Killers "Mr. Brightside"
3. U2 "Vertigo"
4. John Mayer "Your Body Is a Wonderland"
5. Green Day "Warning"
6. Fall Out Boy "Thnks Fr th Mmrs"
7. Kings Of Leon "Use Somebody"
8. Owl City "Fireflies"
9. Fray "Over My Head (Cable Car)"
10. Weezer "Pork and Beans"
11. Lit "My Own Worst Enemy"
12. Gorillaz "Feel Good Inc"
13. U2 "Beautiful Day"
14. Katy Perry "I Kissed a Girl"
15. Green Day "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams"
16. Jason Mraz "The Remedy"
17. No Doubt "Hella Good"
18. Incubus "Drive"
19. Sara Bareilles "Love Song"
20. U2 "Elevation"
21. Muse "Uprising"
22. Jack Johnson "Upside Down"
23. Coldplay "Viva La Vida"
24. Jimmy Eat World "The Middle"
25. No Doubt "It's My Life"

Top 10 Songs of 2009
1. Owl City "Fireflies" (Really? I like Fuzzy Blue Lights better)
2. Kings Of Leon "Use Somebody"
3. Muse "Uprising"
4. The Killers "Spaceman"
5. U2 "Magnificent"
6. Coldplay "Life In Technicolor ii"
7. Snow Patrol "Crack the Shutters"
8. Airborne Toxic Event "Sometime Around Midnight"
9. Carolina Liar "Show Me What I'm Looking For"
10. The Fray "You Found Me"

I agree with a few of these, but it is still fun to remember...

Happy New Year!!! New Year, NEW ME

New Year's Eve we went and saw Sherlock Holmes and to Rodizio Grill. Good Times. 01/01/10 I took the kids to Classic Fun Center with friends, didn't make it to the gym. Day two of the new year and no gym yet either. But one of my resolutions is to go to the gym or do some exercise somewhere, 6 days a week. This is my favorite time of year and I feel full of possibilities!

"Goals (Desires) need to be realistic, something you are not currently achieving and something that will require a certain amount of mental exertion. You need to realize that the desire may not be easy to achieve, but you must maintain faith that if you make a determined effort that a way will be prepared for your goals to be accomplished. YOUR SUCCESS IN ACHIEVING THE GOAL WILL BE IN DIRECT PROPORTION TO YOUR FAITH AND EFFORTS, NOT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES." ~Grant Von Harrison, author of Drawing on the powers of Heaven

"It is most appropriate for you to quietly, and with determination, set some serious personal goals in which you will seek to improve by selecting certain things that you will accomplish within a specific period of time. EVEN IF YOU ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, IF YOU ARE WITHOUT MOMENTUM YOU WILL HAVE TOO LITTLE INFLUENCE." ~Spencer W. Kimball

"To a great extent we accomplish what we think about. In other words, what you think about today, tomorrow, or next month will mold your attitude and determine what you will accomplish during your life. Your life is influenced more by your own thoughts than anything else." !Gran Von Harrison

"How could a person possibly become what he is not thinking? Nor is any thought, when persistently entertained, too small to have its effect. The 'divinity that shapes our ends' is indeed in ourselves." ~S.W. Kimball

Fairy Tales can come true, but it's all up to you! ~The Princess and the Frog

My Top 5 New Years Desires/Goals:
1. To be healthy physically. Eat healthier, and exercise 6 x's a week. To lose 50 pounds.
2. My Mary Kay Income to be 2500 a month. Be able to pay our bills monthly, pay a full tithe this year, and pay off credit card debt.
3. To be a Director with Mary Kay, work my business daily and see 30 faces a month and share the business opportunity at every appointment.
4. Increase my faith and spirituality. Go to the temple, have family prayer and scripture study. Have Family Home Evening. Magnify my calling in Young Women by praying every day, reading the Book of Mormon for 5 minutes a day, smiling, influencing one young woman for good each week, earn my Young Women Recognition Medallion.
5. Get mentally healthy. This will greatly improve my marriage and my ability as a mother, and as a person. Significantly reducing stress, anger, exhaustion, etc. etc. I am still working out the specifics of this one...