getting healthy....sucks

So this one time, I decided I'd go running.  I mean, I played tennis for a year, I took gym, I was in theatre and dance, I could totally run.  Fun fact: If you haven't been running in, oh I don't know, 4 years, don't do it.  Just, don't.

After about 10 minutes into my run, I found myself feeling like this...

(via)

Luckily I had the hubs and our dog were with me to keep me motivated and to help me jog/walk the rest of the way.  I guess I shouldn't expect to be able to do a run at a speed I was able to do when I was a teenager...but seriously,  is this my body really this out of shape?  Am I really so run down in my twenties?  

Needless to say, I basically had an existential crisis as I pondered these things. (Who am I? Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide, no escape fr-....wait, that's Queen....Whoops...) I mean, seriously, I'm a twenty year old woman, why in heaven's name can't I have the same body and be in the same shape I was in high school?!  I mean, I've always had a little bit of fluff. (As my girl Ashton over at A Fluffy Girl says, have you read her blog? Because she's seriously the sweetest gal you will ever meet.)  But, I distinctly remember not having this much fluff and being able to run for 10 minutes without wanting to die.  

When I was in high school, I first noticed my emotional eating habits, although they've been happening for as long as I can actually remember.  No date for the weekend? Ben and Jerry's, bam, perfect date night.  But, seriously, I had a lot of emotional issues I didn't know how to deal with.  So, I ate.  For some reason, food was my comfort.  And I was more than willing to let it "solve my problems."  I was looking at my body and absolutely hating myself.  And I wasn't willing to do anything to change it.  

Thankfully, God blessed me with the absolute sweetest man who never fails to make me feel beautiful and amazing.  Seriously, everyday, multiple times the hubs tells me how beautiful I am, he praises me, he loves all of my curves and basically makes me feel...sexy.  After a conversation with him, I feel like Ellen Degeneres on an particularly good hair day.

(via)

However, a few months ago I came to the realization that I needed to get to the bottom of this issue and break it.  So, I started reading through the twelve step program.  And I felt so much peace.  Seriously, it was like everything suddenly made sense.  My body isn't ugly or awful, it is beautiful and strong.  However, I certainly haven't taken care of my body as I should be.  So, began the journey of health and wellness.

Now, I have a goal to walk everyday with my doggie and the hubs.  I do Zumba 3 times a week (in the privacy of my own home, ain't nobody got time to actually go flaunt themselves at a gym).  I drink the recommended amount of water everyday.  I'm staying away from things I'm allergic to.  I'm making small but profound improvements in my life so that I'm not crash dieting to merely lose temporary weight.  I'm making lifestyle changes at a gradual rate, so that I will be able to feel healthy (and, hey, if I happen to lose a couple of pounds in the process, score).

Hopefully as I continue to make these little lifestyle changes, someday I'll run more than 10 minutes without wanting to die.

Fingers crossed.

inspiring

Today, I got a super, amazing surprise from my absolutely lovely blog friend, Kera, who blogs over at Nugget on a Budget.  Seriously, you should totally check her out.  She's awesome.  Kera nominated me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award!  How awesome, right?!  Basically I am bursting with excitement and happiness (also, I am bursting because I'll be guest blogging over at Nugget on a Budget later this month.  Details coming soon). 

A few easy rules for accepting this award:

1 // Display award logo on your blog. - Done.

2 // State 7 things about yourself. - Sweet, more random facts about me that you may/may not know!

3 // Nominate 15 bloggers for this award and link back to them. - Yeah...I'm gonna go with 5, because I can't think of 15. 

Seven things about me:

1 // Pink is my absolute favorite color.  Seriously, if it is pink I almost instantly want it.  My wedding dress was even a blush pink color with white lace on top, with a matching pink veil.  Needless to say, I'm in love with pink.

2 // It's true, I work for the government.  I'm a State of Wyoming Port of Entry Highway Patrol Officer.  Basically, I have a badge and authority to write tickets, issue permits and put drivers our of service, etc for commercial vehicles only, but I don't carry a gun.  Which I am totally okay with.

3 // I am obsessed with having things put up on the walls in my home.  I don't think a room is complete without a wall COVERED in art, pictures, vinyl, whatever else.  I just think it is so cheery and so happy looking to have your walls filled with beautiful things.

4 // I am a reality TV junkie.  It's bad, you guys.  Dance Moms, Real Housewives, Pretty Wicked Moms, all of it.  It's so horrible, yet so addicting.  And it makes me feel 19879832x better about my life choices. 

5 // I love to travel.  Road trips are the best, but flying is also fun.  Well, I think flying is fun, I don't think the hubs agrees with me.  We have a goal of trying to see all 50 states.

6 // I use the term "Bam Shotgun" far more often than I probably should.  It's used as an exclamation like "WOW!" or "AWESOME!" or "NEATO!"...However, it can also be used as a substitute for naughty words...P.S. It is my friend, Kenna, who started this phrase.

7 // I'm LOVE Ellen Degeneres and Melissa McCarthy.  Both are such amazing role models, activists for loving your body and, they're both incredibly hilarious.

(If you don't laugh at this clip, you're wrong)

I Nominate {for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award}:

Annie @ Pretty, Witty and Cheerful

Patricia @ Kisses and Croissants

Ashley @ Wasn't Quilt In A Day

Megan @ and here's to you Mrs. Robinson

McKinli @ Makeover with McKi

Thanks for tuning in.

Loves and Hugs,

Megan

little purple pansies

First off, I appreciate all of the love and support after my last post.  Ya'll in the blogging community sure know how to make a girl feel 10000x better!  Thanks so much!  Now, onto tonight's thoughts...

There is something completely invigorating about having fresh flowers in your home.  I firmly believe is having fresh flowers in the home at all times.  The hubs never understood this when we first were hitched, probably still doesn't understand it today, but he puts up with it and has accepted his wife is crazy sometimes.  It's cool...



The latest beauties in the kitchen, all decked out for the Fourth of July.

"The earth laughs in flowers." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

What things are must haves in your homes?  Do you share the love of the floral or is there something else you have that brightens your day whenever you see it?

real life and the 4th of july

Everyday I feel like I am bombarded with images of fit and trim wives who also have a million kids and full time jobs.  They have pristine homes, children who are always dressed in matching clothes and they always take the time to work out and look fantastic.  I read posts in my bloglovin' feed (have you switched readers now that Google Reader kicked the bucket?  Bloglovin' is by far my favorite.  You should totes try it out)  with titles such as "How to be a better wife" or "Looking hot for your man" or "Why my life is put together and why yours never will be" (okay, the last one may be a bit of an exaggeration....but still.)  I look to these women for inspiration, for an uplifting read and for help to become a better person.  But lately I've just been feeling...inadequate.

I mean, seriously, these women can keep it all together while working, having a husband AND having babies?!  I can barely keep myself upright long enough to finish my school work and a shift at work.  I'll admit, my husband cleans our little apartment dwelling far more than he should have to.  I'll admit, I don't put together adorably photograph-able outfits everyday.  I'll admit, I don't always throw cute parties when we want to have friends over.  But guess what?

That doesn't make me a bad student, employee, wife or person.  

All it means is that, I'm human.  I have limits.  It is a blessing to recognize limits so you don't overwork yourself.  I'll do my best to be happy-go-lucky and come up with cute ideas for this blog.  But, please understand when I don't.

Now that is off my chest, let's get onto the fun stuff...FOURTH OF JULY.  We had a lovely little low key celebration with my parents and a couple friends.  I made pasta, jello, potato and fruit salads (but not all together...seperate salads...together would be gross) and prepped food to be BBQ'd by my daddy.  He is the grill master.  We played tons of games such as Apples to Apples and Bananagrams.  Then, of course, we set off some fireworks in our yard.  Because nothing says I'm proud to be an American like explosives.  Enjoy some pictures of our perfectly imperfect 4th celebrations.

Thanks for tuning in.

Loves and Hugs,
Megan

Linking up this week with Nugget on a Budget and Dawn's Disaster (two of my absolute favorite bloggers!)

 

Daddy Potter, always all smiles

 



Rebecca, Andy, Momma Potter and JD playing Bananagrams

 



This is my "let's just go play with sparklers" face. 

 



Centerpieces for the table.  Is there anything more American than sunflowers and the American Flag?

And of course the tablescape.

 





one year

525600 minutes (I sincerely hope at least one of you sang that lyric from RENT in your head while reading)

365 days

52 weeks

12 months

1 year.

That's right, I've been a Mrs. for exactly a year as of five days ago.

As most of you know, both of us had a violent flu on our honeymoon.  We spent most of our first days as husband and wife holding each other's hair as the other threw up, cleaning out buckets and watching the Newlywed Game on TV.  Sounds super glamorous, right?  However, it did give me a great perspective.  I mean, it could really only go uphill from there.

To celebrate our first, we decided to return to that sweet Bed and Breakfast we had our honeymoon at and actually get to enjoy the trip.  About a week before our anniversary, JD got the flu.  Yes, seriously.  Then I got the flu.  Yes, seriously.  We both had the flu, AGAIN, right before our trip.  It's a curse.  Clearly, we are not supposed to celebrate any life event ever...Thankfully, by some miracle we were both better before we left for Salt Lake City on our little mini getaway.

We went to the Anniversary Inn, location on South Temple in Salt Lake City, UT.  (If you are looking for a getaway in the Northern Utah area, I HIGHLY recommend them.  The staff is friendly and wonderful, the breakfast that gets brought to your room is delish ((seriously, best cinnamon roll of my life)) and it's the perfect romantic ambiance to enjoy your partner's company.)  The first night I was dying and craving Jimmy Johns, so we went to our favorite sandwich shop and picked up some sandwiches (or unwiches for those like me who are gluten intolerant) and went back the hotel.  The next day we finally got around to going to the City Creek Center.  You guys, IT'S SO HUGE!

And we loved it.  So much to see, so much to look at, so much to buy!  I even got a little spoiled and the hubs had me pick out jewelry for his anniversary gift to me.  (P.S. It was from Tiffany's.  P.P.S. It's not diamonds, because I picked it out.  I can't handle the pressure of a Tiffany diamond at this stage of my life.  Seriously.)  I got him an iPad mini, which he hasn't put down since it was purchased.

We finally got to see Man of Steel in theatres.  Seriously, SO GOOD.  We're thoroughly obsessed and so happy to finally see a Superman movie that doesn't suck.  (yeah, I'm looking at you George Clooney)  We ate more yummy food and headed for home the next day, after shopping at my new favorite grocery store, Trader Joe's.  FINALLY THEY OPENED ONE REMOTELY CLOSE TO ME!!!

Day One, June 21, 2012

Day Three Hundred Sixty Five, June 21, 2013

I have tried to avoid being all sappy, but I have to.  I mean, we're still newlyweds, right?  I am so grateful everyday that I made the decision to marry that man, and I am so thankful that he made the decision to ask me to marry him.  He's sweet, caring, loving and I am better because of him.  I am so grateful I found my love and better half in life.  One down, eternity to go.  Oh how I love that sweet man.  

"Love is like oxygen! Love is a many splendored thing, love lifts us up where we belong, all you need is love!" -Moulin Rouge!

holy, i fell off the edge of the earth, batman!

Yeah...I'm not dead.  Promise.  I'll update you briefly on our entire lives up to right.....now.

• We were going to buy a house.  The closing date was set for June 21, 2013.  Our loan and everything fell through.  So, a few more months in the basement of my parent's house it is.  Good thing they love us so much and have been so wonderful with letting us be there.  Luckily, I know that things happen for a reason and we're continuing the search for our dream house in Kemmerer, WY.
• I got a new job.  I loved working for Blue Law Office, but I'm off doing bigger and better things.  I'm currently working for the Wyoming Highway Patrol as a Port of Entry Officer.  Basically, I have authority to issue permits and (in six months after I go to special officer school) write citations, I just don't carry a gun.  Which I am perfectly okay with.  Now we have good insurance, more steady and stable income and we're doing great!  I actually feel like I'm contributing to our family income instead of JD being the one making all of the dough.  Which makes me feel much better about not burdening the poor guy.
• I have a new hobby.  QUILTING.  Love it.  My mother is part of a quilt guild, so I decided to join up.  It is much more fun than I anticipated!  I am loving it and feeling so ambitious I am planning on doing lots of quilts for Christmas gifts. 
• JD and I are happy as ever.  We're really, really, really happy.  Even though we didn't get our house, the more we think about it, the happier we are that we didn't.  It wasn't our dream house, it was just a nice place.  Plus, something better is headed our way.
• We will be celebrating our first anniversary next week.  Seriously, I can't believe it's been an entire year.  It feels like just yesterday he was on one knee at the St. George Utah LDS Temple asking me to marry him. 
• Also, I'm slowly becoming an essential oils lover.  Seriously, they are the best.

And, that's about it.  More blog postage coming soon.  You can count on it. 

mamas day

My mother is really one of the most amazing women I know.  And I'm well aware, everyone thinks their mother is the bees knees, no other mother is as amazing as theirs, I get that.  However, I believe mine is an outstanding one.  She's got an amazing story, which makes her even better. 

My parents circa April 27, 1991 at their wedding reception.

(FYI, that hair piece in her hair, became my bridal veil at my own wedding.  Love having such a precious heirloom)

 

 

My mother and father were married in the Las Vegas Nevada LDS Temple in April 1991.  My father had three children from a previous marriage, which my mother loves with all her heart.  Their entire family was sealed together in the Las Vegas Temple, for time and all eternity long before I was born.  I was born in October 1992, to a wonderful family with amazing big sisters and a big brother who watched over and protected me throughout my childhood.  Sure, we fought, like siblings generally do, but their care and watchfulness was unwavering.  My mother taught me what unconditional love means.  She has unconditionally loved my siblings and I through all of our trials.  All four of us kids have made some really, really, really questionable decisions, borderline stupid sometimes.  However, even when mom didn't agree with us, she gave us unwavering  support. 

 

The whole fam damily, Easter 2008

 

My mother taught me how to listen to the spirit.  In her single years, she traveled around the country working at various horse ranches as a ranch manager/veterinary technician.  Her life is continually led by the promptings of the spirit.  If my mother feels a prompting, action is taken immediately.  When she was preparing to go back to school and moving back to Salt Lake City, UT, she felt prompted to move to Overton, NV (a tiny, tiny little town) and care for her Uncle's horse ranch located there.  Moving their made absolutely no sense, but the spirit prompted her so she packed up and moved to Overton.  While managing her uncle's farm, she began working for a local veterinarian.  Later, she met my father.  If she hadn't followed that simple prompting, none of my siblings nor I would have ever had the privilege of being her children.

My mother taught me what it means to be a true friend.  If my mother even suspects someone needs help, she will go to the ends of the earth to ensure they are taken care of.  We joke and say she is almost "charitable to a fault."  Even sick and tired, she will give whatever she can to whoever is in need.  Friends care for one another, not just in a superficial sense, but in a deeper way.  My mother truly knows how to love as Christ loves, unwavering and unyielding.  For example, the day before my wedding, my mother was violently ill.  She was so sick.  However, the next morning she picked herself up, took some medicine and participated fully in the entire wedding day.  She helped plan things, she helped get me ready, she did everything regardless of how much she was hurting and how ill she was.  Then, on my honeymoon when I got the same terrible flu, my poor husband didn't want to leave me alone in such a state.  So my mother, still recovering from how incredibly sick she was, went to the store and bought crackers, soda, Gatorade, medicine, even pajamas for me and brought them to our little bed and breakfast.  She gives, even when she is in desperate pain, even while she is recovering from eye surgery (like right now!), even when she is on the verge of being in the hospital, she will continue to give. 

My mother is the most inspiring woman I know.  There are so many other women in my life who helped shape me into the person I am today and acted as mother figures in my life.  My grandmothers, my aunts, my teachers, my church leaders, my sister, countless others and of course, I have my wonderful mother-in-law who has been such a lovely, welcoming, beautiful woman and treats me as one of her own children.  Needless to say, JD and I have both been blessed to be raised by amazing women. 

 

So today, JD and I are so grateful for our mothers.  The ones that raised us and the ones that influenced us.  We're so grateful for you.  I can only hope that whenever I become a mother, I'll be half as wonderful as you all are.

P.S. I got Wreck-It-Ralph as a mother's day present from the hubs because, eventually, I'll be the mother of JD's kids.  SCORE!