one of my favorite salads

Today was a long day.

Not a stressful kinda long day. However it was full of job interview butterflies, FAFSA papers, transcript request forms,  Centergy (yoga and pilates combined), AND preschoolers :)

Nuff' said.

Nothing a fresh spinach salad couldn't fix. Feisty forces tried to persuade me to go to the frozen goodness aisle for a pint of my 2 best friends, Ben and Jerry. *Que internal motivation. 

I keep telling myself "You have this one day to make good choices, and if you mess up you have to wait till tomorrow for a re-do"

So far its been working for me.

This salad is very simple and easy!

Ingredients:

Spinach

Boysenberries (or blue berries)

Blue cheese

walnuts

green apple

balsamic and olive oil (I sometimes use the italian seasoning dressing packet and substitute the vinegar for balsamic for a very delicious balsamic vinaigrette) 

                                       ENJOY!

Workin' Out

Yesterday I went to a live african drum dance class for a little exercise.
 It was interesting.

I have NEVER felt so uncoordinated in my life!!! I use to take ballet, hip hop, and jazz; but african drum. MAN, was I lost. Definitely not for me in the long run,

but it was fun. I am always ready to try something new, thats one more thing to cross off the list.

Next up ZUMBA !

Today I opted out of a gym class and did my own thing. I am truly motivated deep down. 
The hardest step is ALWAYS the first one out the door. 
However, I LOVE working out and feeling strong. There was a season of my life where I worked out twice a day, averaging 6 - 8 miles a day running, about 5 days a week (including swim workouts)!

There is NOTHING like swimmers high by the way. If you know how good a runners high feels, imagine that times ten, in a beautiful blue, refreshing pool with bubbles all around you, no noticeable sweat, and no noise. 

Not even the beat of an ipod. 

That is a beautiful feeling.

I also found a new class I am really looking forward to going to. I will already know a few girls from church :) Can't wait. The instructor is going to kick my butt, I hope :) 

I hope you go outside tomorrow and get some fresh air!

Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated.

Hawaii

So call us crazy but - 

we totally bought tickets to Hawaii last night for next month!!!!

One of Bentleys best friends is getting married in the Laie temple on the 21st :)

I absolutely LOVE celebrating LOVE, and will take any excuse to go to Hawaii. Plus we got married there, thats reason enough in itself to visit.... frequently right?! :P

We aren't living outside our means- or going irresponsibly overboard. The tickets were a screaming deal; practically begging us to buy them. Seriously this is the time of year to go to Hawaii! 
We are on a frugal newlywed budget, and keep to it very well. 

 BUT I did receive a very nice and unexpected reimbursement from Cuesta for OVERPAID tuition! Who does that? 

I won't blame it on the hair color that would be too easy and detrimental to all the beautiful and brainy blondes out there. 

After I updated my FAFSA to my now "married" status things changed in my favor with FAFSA

FOR ONCE :)

and voila

sportin the goggles

climbing trees

drinking these

eating sweets

running on rocks

hiking to water falls

swimming with three finned turtles :)

Christmas Our first one

So this is only a month late :) Here it goes, a few photos of our morning which was full of surprises!

He knows me sooooo well! 

I may or may not have woken up at an absurd hour that morning, our kids will love that someday.

As soon as I walked out of the bedroom I walked into this subtle note. Only to find just around the corner. . . 

This Beauty! (Bent is Good) 

My Vanity that I saved up for and bought when I was in 7th grade was stolen the first week we moved in. 

I love where we live, it's filled with darling people, but seriously. C'mon, we were obviously moving IN not getting rid of Beautiful furniture full of makeup and a few priceless pieces of jewelry. (I'm still a little sour about that) But my hubby did a great job picking this one out :)

Totally my style.

We enjoyed the rest of the morning relaxing, eating sun-dried tomatoe and artichoke heart omelets with smoked apple sausage, turkey bacon and cinnamon rolls go big or go home

Our first Christmas was so nice and relaxing. I cant wait for the next one!