St George

Since the beginning of January, Bryce has been saying he wants 'sun' and warm weather. this was a daily occurrence... For valentines day, I came up with this smart idea to take Bryce to st. George. I would be able to give him what he had been asking for, for a month and a half. Welllllll to make a long story short... hot wire sucks! They really got me good. after hours, and I mean hours, of fighting with them over them booking a hotel room that wasn't even available, I was able to get my money back. I was really sad that I could not give Bryce what he had been asking for. My plan failed miserably! Since I had been on the phone 6+ hours fighting with hot wire I decided to tell Bryce what was up. I guess things work out better that we didn't go. The weekend we were scheduled to go was beyond busy. I had 3 people from work go down there and Bryce had a co-worker down there and it was so busy that they couldn't get in to eat at a restaurant. It was the first weekend that was nice down there in months, there was conventions and it was a holiday weekend. Fast forward 2 more weeks - I jumped on to hotels.com and saw a great deal for a hotel. This was on a Monday... I ho-hummed over it until Wednesday. I decided that it was the perfect weekend... a perfect 75 degrees, no conventions, no holidays and no pre-arranged plans for us. I went ahead and booked our hotel and got going on packing things. I had our bags to pack and went shopping for some 'snack' food to eat on the way down. Friday came and I could not get out of work fast enough. Bryce even got home 3 hours early from work. When I got home we threw our stuff in the car and headed south.

The drive down there was long. We had to stop and get gas and dinner. It was too dark to be able to see where the warmth had hit. The only thing we saw on our way down was snow. We got there about 830, checking in to our hotel and called it a night. We talked about all the things we could do and places I had picked out to eat. Our hotel package came with more than a continental breakfast. They had hash browns, eggs, french toast, doughnuts, bagels, waffles, fruit, all kinds of drinks and much more. I am not for sure if it was the fact that we were up super early or that it wasn't that great of a breakfast but I hardly ate anything. Bryce had eggs, hashbrown and a morning ritual of oatmeal. When were done we headed back to the room to change and get going for the day. With the warm weather - even at 8 in the morning, a light jacket was beyond warm enough for me. We changed , grabbed our water packs and snacks and headed across the street to grab stuff for lunch.

After we grabbed the few things we needed, we decided to head over to snow canyon. Neither of us have really been to st George so we were not for sure what we were in store for. When we got to snow canyon, we decided to drive to the top and work our way down. I did not expect to get to the top of the canyon 8 minutes later but we did. so we hit the parking lot at the top and what turned into 'I just want to see what is at that point over there' turned into us hiking 3 different trails. Did I mention that we did not pack sunscreen??? By this time it is almost 1 and there was nothing that we could do about it. Something that was only suppose to be a minute turned into 4 1/2 hour hike. By the time we made it back to the car, we were starving. and I was burned.

There was a small area in the canyon that had a few tables. We got there before the crowd. As soon and we starting eating - everyone showed up. after lunch we decided to head down the canyon to go grab some sunscreen for my already burned shoulders. As got towards the end there was a parking lot that Bryce wanted to check things out.... that 'check things out' turned into us hiking all the way back up the canyon to where we stopped before lunch. By this time I was already toast - so why rush. There is rock everywhere. tons of places to climb, all different kinds of trails. When we got back to the car it was 4 and we were hungry again. We decided to head back to the hotel, get cleaned up and head to an early dinner.

After dinner, we did a little window shopping, and by now my legs were sore. Neither of us had hiked that much in a long time. after about an hour of window shopping, we headed over to get dessert. By this time we had gotten so much sun that it was cold even though it was still 60 degrees outside. After ice cream, we headed back to the hotel with plans to hit the pool but the only thing I hit was the bed. I don't think I even remember getting in to bed.

The next morning, Bryce wanted to go to a dinosaur museum and go to a Mongolian BBQ place for lunch. I didn't think much of it so we took our time getting going. We headed over to breakfast, which was better but I only ate a bagel. We went back to our hotel room and packed up. When we checked out it was still really early and neither place was open. So we headed towards sand hallow to check it out for future trips. Only Bryce didn't stop at the exit... he kept going and before you know it we ended up at Zion's national park. It has been a really long time since I have been there that it doesn't even look like the same place. We drove up the 'non- senic' side through the tunnel to the east entrance and back down. Just before we went through the tunnel there was a hike. The board said that it was a mile round trip - when we got back to the car it was over a 2 mile hike round trip. This hike I did not like. We were on the side of the rock without anything to keep you from falling over a 300 foot drop. Who does that??? well apparently alot of people. over half way through - as we are walking along the cliff that is literally a half a foot to my left - we come around a bend to see a 'bridge' out of wood. Only the bridge has nothing below it but the drop off to the scary ravine. My first response was 'hell no!' and I told Bryce I would wait for him to finish... only the problem was - where I was at there was no where for people to pass. So I would have to go back down part of the pathway by myself on the side of a cliff or continue on. This is something really difficult for me. I have dreams of falling off cliffs and I can feel my body hitting the bottom - where ever the bottom is. It is horrible to feel/see that. Bryce almost lost his hand as I was crossing that bridge but I did it. eventually we got to this amazing lookout over Zions... was it worth it? yes. Would I do it again? Probably not. going back, there was this cloud of doom hanging over me. Had we not been hiking on a cliff I probably would have ran all the way back just so I could be done with it. again, Bryce almost lost a hand on the way back. I am surprised I didn't break it. Once we got back down we jumped in the car and headed through the tunnel. You are not allowed to stop in this tunnel. It is very narrow and very dark. Luckily we had no one behind us so we broke the rules and stopped a few time for pictures. only for a brief second though.

After the tunnel we then headed up the 'scenic' drive to check it out. By the time we were hungry again it was close to 3 so we headed out of Zions and found the only place open to eat. The place it is called 'wildcat willies'. Let me tell you that this is the best food I have ever had in my entire life. Bryce even agreed. It is about 1/2 mile before the entrance to Zion's and if you ever get a chance to stop... do it! I got this amazing salad and Bryce got a BBQ burger. For being a tourist place it was just the right price.  but if it was just in the city - it would have been overpriced. By the time we got done eating it was near 430 and we needed to head home. We got home just before 830 that night and we were already ready to go back. Once we hit beaver, it rained all the way home. we both already missed the sun. This trip was a much needed trip for both of us.

Overlooking zion's

This is the looking down on the long tunnel you have to drive through

The end of the trail...

I made it!!!!!

There is the bridge of death... it doesnt look like much but when you look down you are looking down into a 300 foot drop. ugh!

Driving through the tunnel looking out of the opening (see picture above)

This is about half way through the tunnel. It is almost 2 miles long.

Another look out of the opening of the tunnel. SOme amazing views, and I am glad we broke the rules :)

Snow canyons, our first trail... bryce with my car right behind him. It is the last 'trip' for my car since I am getting a new one!!!!

While bryce was exploring - I looked down and saw this lizard. He was black - I have never seen one blend in withe the black rock.

and he ran away from me - or so he thought.

Snow canyon - rock everywhere....

As I said - rock everywhere. You can literally spend all day running around on the rock.

Current favorite....

Here is my new current favorite....

7-11 mini doughnuts!!!!

They are perfect bites size doughnuts. The are 3 for .99... Who could not love that price???? They are perfect for that small craving of sweetness without going overboard.

Besides, who does love mini anything?!?!?!?!?!

The club

It seems like lately that there have been a few sad blog posts and Facebook posts from me. My heart has literally broken into two pieces but they are slowly getting sewn back together. I don't want this blog post to come off as sad. My sadness has now turned into awareness.

You see I, along with my family, belong to a club. It's a club that no one wants to be in yet we were put into this club for reasons that we will probably never have explanation for. It seems like before I was put into this club, I had heard of it happening, but never to anyone close to me. Now it seems like it is everywhere. Now my friend Jana joins me of 6 years, and we cannot forget her siblings too. Then my friend kacey joined us 3 years ago... Along with her parents and siblings. Now, just 9 days old, a new girl that I grew up with, joins us. The pain never goes away and it does not get any easier. It's a club that no one wants to join and no one wants to talk about, yet we are all aware that it is there.

So what is it that sets us apart from so many others? Suicide. Suicide to a spouse, sibling or parent. I don't tend to include aunts and uncles because I don't think that you get a full effect when it's not sitting in front if your face, at every family meal or function, at everyday life. Doesn't mean it doesn't exist it that it hurts less because it doesn't but when it it a spouse, sibling or parent it is in your face every single day. It's your life. There is no getting away from it.

Now I know that each and every single one of my siblings have dealt with it differently. Some don't let it appear to bother them as others. I on the other hand wear my emotions on my sleeve. And I have yet to get this leaky eye syndrome checked out! Every single time I hear about this happening, a little piece of my heart breaks. I know the long road that is now paved for the survivors. It sucks. No better way to put that. I don't know why but this week it feels like my heart was literally ripped from my chest. What do you say? What do you do? I'm sorry does not seen justifiable or satisfying.

So now what???? Well we help pick up the pieces and try to live our lives to the best possible way we can. And when we hear of this happening to someone we know, we stand together and let their families know that we understand and try to help pick up a piece or two for them.

I told my friend on Monday night... "Remember how he lived and not how he died." She has two precious babies to love for the rest of her life and the best thing she can do is tell then how he lived his life and not what a horrible awful death he had. So with that I want to tell people how my BIL lived and not how he died.

He was a good father. He loved his son. He loved my sister. He loved his family and he loved our family.

Oh how he loved food. You could always find him in the kitchen. He was quiet but if you went in the kitchen and sat by him he would talk your ear off. His stomach was a bottomless pit.

He was a true super hero at heart. He loved superheroes more than anything. I bet he would go crazy over Thor, iron man and the avengers. He was the first one in line to see the hulk and even dressed up his son as the hulk at the age if 3 for Halloween.

He loved video games. I remember right before his son was born, I went over to their house to find him with the empty bouncer next to him playing video games as if his son was sitting there sleeping... Even though he wasn't born yet.

He loved his cats.

He strived to make the best possible life for my sister and nephew. He was a hard worker often working 2 jobs to support my sister as a stay at home mom.

There are a just a few... I try really hard to remind jayce of the good in his dad and not the horrible awful death he had. Because he needs that. His dad will be a superhero is his eyes.

Year in review

I think it is that time of year to do my year in review. I am still standing by the fact that if I make goals at the beginning of January I am automatically setting myself up for failure. So here we are getting ready to start February, so I think it is time to review last years goals.

Here were my 'wants':
Get off of the phones at work - switched departments. Check and check! I have to cover phones every once in a while for 'breaks' It comes down to twice a month. can I tell you that I absolutely hate it! I do not miss that job! Every time I have to go up there it is a nice gentle reminder to be grateful for what I have.

Go back to the Paiute.. yep! We did that. Paiute - 2 us - 1. We will be back with a vengeance this year. Paiute will not kick our butts!

Go back to Island park.... did that too! It was such a great time, yet a harder time leaving. I'm considering moving up there.

Do something fun and different for myself. As I stated last year, I took a cake decorating class last year. I also helped my sister photograph a wedding... quite an experience. I also took my friends family photos... Cherry hill, Moab by rzr... I am sure there are many more things to add to that list but that will make one very long post!

Get back to grocery shopping bi-weekly. I did ok on that. It made it extremely difficult not having an oven. I got a new stove the week before Christmas. it wasn't a complete fail but it wasn't a complete success.

Now on to my goals:
I want to lose 20 pounds and keep it off. What I didn't know was that about a month after that I went to the doctors for a routine check up. Sad to admit that the year prior I gained 20 pounds. Can I say emotional eating. Do we need to mention work??? Yeah - scary point in my life. It was awful! I made myself an agreement that I wanted to drop that 20 pounds before island park. I did it! It was a success. I was hoping to kick another 20 by the end of the year. I have not done that. but I have kept off the 20 that I gained...

Get back to kickboxing - not to lose weight but to enjoy myself. Check! It was the best thing I did last year. I love kick boxing and it has helped with my stress levels. There are weeks that I don't want to go, there were weeks that I didn't go... but I went on a regular basis.. enough to say that i did it!

Wear make up once a week. I tried that, I did really well at the beginning of the year - then I forgot about it and once again, that 10 minutes extra of sleep became more important.

Start 'my favorite things' post. Yep! did that too... I still have more coming, don't worry!

Buy a new pair of shoes every other month. I got through 4 out of 6. 4 great pairs of shoes... but I sucked at taking pictures.

Try a new restaurant every month. FAIL!

Goal as a couple: Dress up, get out and do something together. Last year was a tough year for us and we did not do this. Kinda sucks to look back on that goal and realize that it was probably the most important and we failed miserably.

Now for the past month I have been racking my brain of new goals that I want for the new year and only one comes to mind.

Be Happy

I spent far too much time last year stressing and worrying about the 'what ifs' and 'could bes' It effected me personally and professionally. There are things that are out of my control and at the end of the day it is up to me of what I make of it. This year I am not going to worry about the small little things. I am going to embrace life and enjoy it as it comes. Sounds pretty easy right? Well only time will tell.

Now that I have that out, here are a few things I am going to do this year:

Bi-weekly lunches with my dad
Island Park
Piaute
Cut back on hair - just cut back on days
Kickboxing
change my hair style (just the way it is colored....)
facials
Get my first hand gun (pink! nothing wrong with being powerful yet girly there)
massages
spend more time with my sisters
More niece/nephew dates (scary frankweenie was a HUGE success)
get a new car (SUV actually - already in the works. SO. FREAKIN. EXCITED!)
rzr trips
camping
backyard bbq
redo the kidney bean out front
Last but not least... love my man and spend more time with him.

Sounds like lots of fun??? Yep, this year is going to be epic.

I dont know what to even say...

First off let me say that this post is not directed at any one person in particular. I need to say it and every time I go to say it, it is never a good time and looks as if it is directed distinctly at one person. It's not... this has been an issue for months.

ok lets start by saying I need as many comments/suggestions as possible. I assure anyone who wants to comment - I will not publish it. It is for my eyes only. You can even tell me I am a whinny butt who needs to pull up my big girl panties. seriously... if that is what needs to be said - say it!

I have been back at work (hair) for 2 weeks now. The first week was just a toothpick short of a disaster. I was hoping week 2 would be better and it hasn't. At this rate, I am dreading the remainder of the year if this is just an insight of what it is going to be. Out of all of my appointments - 60% have canceled within hours of their appointment. Only 1 canceled at the 24 hours mark. Out of the remainder appointments - 75% of them showed up 20 minutes of more late. Not good ratings huh???

I feel frustrated and mad - a little sad. I am frustrated because I have clients who are waiting a month to get in to me because this time of the year I am booked that far out. I have people who would rather have that spot but I cant call them and say 'hey you want it' because I don't have time to run and grab product. I try to go only once a week to get what I need (maybe I need to rethink that??). I am frustrated because I think people get the idea that their lives are busy. What about mine??? I am beyond mad when someone's appt is at 4:30 and they show up at 5. Oh lets not forget that I have someone after them.... I have exactly 15 minutes to clean up from appointment 1 before appointment 2 arrives (had appointment 1 showed up on time). I would LOVE to take a minute and kiss my man before I hit the pillow half dead and cant remember the next morning if I kissed him or not. Lets not even talk about eating dinner. Never mess with a girl and her food. 15 minutes - for someone who shows up 20 plus minutes late or more. I am sad that people don't realize that I work outside of this. I have a full time job. This is something that I love yet I am to my breaking point of not doing it anymore because people cant respect my schedule, my house, my family or bryce. This is extremely hard for bryce yet he chooses to support me 100%.

I know most are thinking 'well you do it at home' or 'you only do it on specific days and sometimes that doesn't work for everyone' I understand that and I get that. I try to keep my prices extremely low (as a matter of fact - they are 1/3 of what I pay for my hair to get done) and I try to be as accommodating as I can. Including working through Dec when I said I was going to take it off. Staying up late to fit in that one person who might not wait. or even fitting them in on Saturday or Sunday.

lately I have been having clients show up with their loved one. Brothers, sisters, kids, parent, friends, nieces, nephews... with 'cant you just fit them in tonight.... please??? They only want..." I love the extra money but I have a hard time due to the fact that i have several people who are now at a 3 week wait. Is that fair to them? If it is not that then it is 'well you don't have an appt after me so you can fit them in.' what about spending time winding down, cleaning up, showering and eating a good meal - you were 20 minutes late remember????

I'm exhausted (already) and I'm to a major breaking point. I need suggestions and comments... again I wont publish them. they are just for me. To go and work out a salon is out. It cost too much in booth rent (might as well buy a bigger house and put it towards my mortgage), I cant charge the prices I have so that means.. yep, my rates would increase by 66% and I really don't want to commit to 40 hours a week working nights and weekends. I like having my weekends from work and I like not working 80 plus hours a week.

help!

Piano

A couple of months ago... I mean 6 months ago, my mom approached me with an offer of a piano she found. Almost 2 years ago I asked if I could take her secondary piano, play it, clean it, tune it... Take care of it until she wanted it back. It just didn't seem to work so the subject was dropped. Now flashes forward 18 months later, my mom said that there was this piano that was free and all I had to do was move it. It was worth checking it out. One Saturday morning we drove clear to no-mans land to check out this piano. When we got there the piano was in great shape. There was minimal wearing, it was surprisingly in tune after 5 years, very well taken care of but it was ginormous!!! The piano is 80 years old and what they call an upright grand.

I worried about this piano... It was too good to be true. If I said no I would wonder if I was passing up a great opportunity. As many as there were 'pros' there were 5 more 'cons'. Would it fit in my house??? How would we move it without destroying it??? How would we get it down the stairs??? Where would we put it?? How would we lift a nearly 1000 pound piano???

I spent time thinking about it and decided that I was going for it. I found a mover for a great price. That took out nearly half the list of cons. Before they even agreed to doing it they had to come out and measure to make sure it would fit. Let me tell you that this move was almost as bad as our couches. We just couldn't seem to get our schedule coordinated. After 2 months of trying, moving day was here. Perfect timing before the rain.
As we got to piano moved from the truck to our entry way and down the stairs, our perfect plan came to a screeching hauls. Our piano was stuck. It was like fitting a square peg into a round hole.. We had to be creative in how we were going to get it to fit. Eventually we did, with a quarter inch to spare.

Soon after we got it settled, my Mom came over and help me tear it apart and show me how to clean it. It has taken me this long to get it cleaned and back together. For Christmas I got a piano bench and some sheet music. I can't wait to start playing again.

Not bad for a free piano!!!

Holiday wrap up 2012

Wow! I cannot believe that it is 2013. I have some great things planned for this year. I did not post 1 single time in December even thought I promised myself that I would since I really had no excuse. I was too busy making holiday plans, attending parties like a rock star or my favorite past time: cuddling up on the couch with my man and a good movie. I have seriously soaked in not doing any hair in December, but yet I did. I had at least 1 appointment a week in December. There is always next year to make that happen. so here is our holiday wrap up.
Thanksgiving - we spent the day at home here. well not all of it but most of it. This year was the year with my family but anyone who knows me knows that I don't go to my parents house for the holidays so this year we stayed home and invited anyone who want to, to come over and be adventurous in our first attempt ever at a deep fried turkey. (we still didn't have a new stove - 10 months and counting!) It ended up being Bryce's mom, grandma, him and myself. It was a quiet non-traditional turkey day. Simple dinner - no baking, minimal cooking and lots of laughs. Around 6:30 for the first time in 8 plus years I decided that it was time to head to my parents. I would have said no but I had a cousin in town that i haven't seen in 17 years. They were here for 3 short days - arriving on Thanksgiving only 2 hours before we got there and was leaving in the wee hours of the morning on Sunday. It was fun but crowded. We stayed there only 90 minutes before heading home.

The day after Thanksgiving, we are open as a company but only require 1 person to work in each department that day. Lucky me, I was scheduled. I don't mind it because it is rather easy day. No managers, no phone calls, just me and a new Christmas tree to set up and get going. By noon, my work had brought in pizza. They told us to hurry and eat then they kicked us all out. It was an easy day to get paid for basically doing nothing. After work I called my sister and she asked me to meet her at the mall. By this time is was 1... was I insane?? YES!!!! I have this store that i am completely in love with called Torrid. Best. Store. Ever! they were having some killer deals and I wanted new clothes. My sister has never been there and she needed new clothes. Win win win win! That was the only store I was brave enough to go in to. We got in and got out as fast as we could. When I left i got a call from my cousin asking her to join her for dinner. Bryce hadn't been feeling well and he told me to go get some girl time with her. Not that i normally mind but the whole fam damily was there. We had a group of 20. It was nice to spend a few hours out with my cousin I don't get to see at all. While there my mom put me on the spot and ask me to do her hair.

The next morning I got up bright and early to pick her up. One thing not many people know is that my cousin has physical disabilities. When I see her I see a normal person who has to work 10 times harder than I do for what she wants. She tries very hard to do things on her own but she needs help constantly. When I picked her up her mom said that she would come with to help with her. Her mom scarifies so much for her on a regular basis that i told her i would be able to handle it and if we needed anything, that we would call. This gave her and her parents (Her parents also help a great ton!) the whole morning to lounge, relax, take time eating breakfast and do whatever they wanted without have to worry about AL. I took her home and helped her down to my basement and we got her all done up for an evening with my other cousins. Of all things we put in more highlights along with blue low lights. I flat ironed her hair (which she has never had done) and we called her mom when she was all done. It was so cute to see her extremely nervous for her mom to see her. Her mom loved it! It was a sad time to say goodbye to them. I don't know if it will be another 17 years before I see them again. They are talking about coming down next year, hopefully for a longer period of time, but things come up and things change. Hopefully it wont be too long.... after my cousin left, we got ready and headed over to Bryce's sister. This year is was their turn to spend Thanksgiving with the in-laws (its nice that we are on the same year) and when that happens we have a huge dinner at their house the Saturday after thanksgiving. It was filled with movies - always a tradition to watch Christmas vacation with his family when we do our thanksgiving dinner  - food, laughs, and games.

Christmas Eve and Christmas:
This year I had Christmas Eve off. The first time in a long time and hopefully  not the last since I have switch departments at work. First part of the morning I spent running errands. To the grocery store, to my parents house to drop off gifts... all very early so I missed the crowds. I was home by 11 and just relaxed until Bryce got home. We spent some time tidying up the house and settled down to dinner, Christmas movies and chocolate fondue.

The next morning Bryce was up at 5:30 (surprise!!!! I am usually the one that is up super early) when he gets up, I get up - for the most part. We open our gifts and we headed back to bed for a short nap. By mid morning his family came over and I was well on my way to making lunner... or dinch. (on my new stove mind you!) We opened up gifts and had dinner. By 5, everyone was gone and we settled down to more movies. The day after Christmas we went shopping in the bright morning hours.. and it was a complete bust! Bryce had to work and headed to work while I went home and relaxed. I wasn't feeling so hot so I spent the day lounging around with some of my favorite movies... somewhere in there I took a nap too. I didn't get any pictures on Christmas. I was having too much fun enjoying myself (or staying busy in the kitchen)

New years eve I had to work. It has been a long busy ride since then. I got off at 4 to head out and run a few errands before we had a small party at our house with family and a few friends. There is no better way to end the new year than that.