Living My Best Life #30before30

It's been a while since I've written anything... And if I'm being honest, I haven't had much to write about. I know all of my other blog posts have been pretty light and fluffy... but let's have some real talk for a sec. (Don't worry, I'll get to the light happy things in this post as well!)

This last year has basically eaten away at my soul. After a series of unfortunate events, I've looked at my life and realized that my unbalanced lifestyle was chipping away at my happiness. I invested so much of my time in my job and neglected relationships with pretty much everyone else.

A month ago, I allowed my anxiety and stress to consume me. I felt like I had completely lost myself. In an effort take back control of my life, I have decided to return to the things that brought me happiness before. I was recently inspired by a good friend who created a list of 30 things she wanted to accomplish before she turned 30. Some of them were serious life goals (#adulting) and others were just silly things she has always wanted to do (#yolo). In an effort to reclaim my zest for life, I have decided to create a 30 before 30 list. My 30th birthday is coming soon, so I only have a few years to work on this. With that being said, I had to keep my goals pretty realistic (I'll save the other ones for my 40 before 40 list!... ugh... that freaks me out!!).

I want to use this blog to share this journey with you!! So please, wander with me while I check things off my 30 before 30 list!!! (DISCLAIMER: I've had my list compiled for a while now, but I wasn't really doing anything about it. Some of them have already been checked off so I will talk about those ones first.)



1. Grow A Cucumber

Cucumbers are my FAVORITE vegetable!! They are so refreshing and delish! This last March, I was looking for work and realized that it was the perfect time to plant cucumbers in Arizona! Since I had the time to give a young plant some TLC, I decided to give it a shot and plant a garden!

I've only ever tried to grow something once and it was while I was on my mission. I decided I wanted to have a strawberry plant (which is funny because I don't even like strawberries...). I planted a strawberry "bush" in a pot and called him Jerry Berry. I was able to get one strawberry before the plant fell to its death at a gas station in Parker, AZ... and it was soooo sour!! (Which really didn't help my whole not liking strawberries thing...) Since this experiment was such a failure, I assumed I didn't have a green thumb and that this new garden would be an epic disaster.

This was actually really fun! I went to the good ol' Home Depot and picked out a handful of other fruits and veggies that I wanted to grow.

I planted strawberries, tomatoes, zucchini, jalapeños, red, yellow and green bell peppers, cilantro, and of course, my beloved cucumbers. (And you better believe I named every single plant!)

Everything grew really well! I had fatty stacks of zucchini coming out the wazoo! Larry the cucumber plant only produced one cucumber... and sadly, it did not taste that great. Everything else in my garden was a smashing success! Next season, I will have to plant cucumbers again. I was really lucky to have a few months where I was doing contract work from home. This allowed me to tend to my garden daily and give it a little extra TLC.

 

 

If we live an unhealthy and unbalanced life and neglect the people and things that matter most, our spirit shrivels. This cute little garden of mine reminded me that happiness comes after we put forth the required DAILY effort and a little extra TLC (#treatyoself)!

I'm excited to continue on this #30before30 journey as I strive to live my best life!

You Have Got To Be GIFing Me!

For the last several months I was working as a field representative for a state-wide political campaign. I have had many people ask me what it was like to work on a campaign so I figured I would use this blog post to explain my experience.

Life on a campaign as explained through GIF's:

1. The excitement of starting a campaign:

2. Begging people to phone bank:

3. When someone says they can volunteer:

4. When volunteers cancel:

5. When volunteers don't show up for their shifts:

6. When someone shows up for an extra shift they weren't signed up for:

7. When you have to get after volunteers for not making phone calls:

8. When you don't sleep regularly:

9. When you're gaining weight from all the phone bank pizza and soda:

10. You might actually be dying:

11. When you aren't reaching your goals:

12. The nerves before election day:

13. When you win the election:

The Voices In My Head

Recently, I saw the Disney Pixar movie Inside Out and LOVED it! The movie follows the life of Riley, a young girl, who is just uprooted to San Francisco. Her emotions try to guide her through the difficult changes ahead. Like Riley, there are a million different voices running around in my head. They give me advice on how to deal with life and help me know what to say in awkward situations. Meet some of the voices in my head and some of the things they say to me: (Disclaimer: I'm not crazy!)
 "You Chose Poorly" - Grail Knight (Indiana Jones)

 "Treat Yo Self" - Tom and Donna (Parks and Rec)

 "But my life is good! Really good! I get to wake up every morning, at 5 am, and make some soup! It's the best! I love it! I get to lay in a bed, all by myself, all of my life. That's fantastic!" - Nacho Libre
 "Don't be suspicious" - Jean- Ralphio and Mona Lisa Saperstein (Parks and Rec)
 "Ron, would you like some salad?" (Waitor)

"Since I am not a rabbit, no I do not." - Ron Swanson (Parks and Rec)
 "I have flaws. What are they? I sing int he shower. Sometimes I spend too much time volunteering. Occasionally I'll hit somebody with my car" - Michael Scott (The Office)
 "Cause I'm flushed with caaaaaaaaash" -Jean-Ralphio Saperstein (Parks and Rec)
 "I'm full, and yet I know if i stop eating this, I'll regret it." - Chandler Bing (Friends)
 "There's nothing we can't do if we work hard, never sleep and shirk all other responsibilities in our lives!" - Leslie Knope (Parks and Rec)
 "You sit on a throne of lies" - Buddy the Elf (Elf)
 "Never give up, never surrender" - Jason Nesmith (Galaxy Quest)


 "Did I do that?" - Steve Urkel (Family Matters)
"I got a lifetime of knowledge" - Sebastian/Viola Hastings (She's The Man)


 "You're killin' me smalls!" - Ham Porter (The Sandlot)
 "It's a trap" - Admiral Ackbar (Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi)



Well... I hope you enjoyed meeting some of the voices in my head! And again... I'm not crazy!

Never Trust A Man That...

'Tis the season for cuddling by the fire, and kissing underneath the mistletoe. Romance is in the air... or is that the bitter cold chill in the air that makes you want to grab the nearest man and have him hold you to help keep you warm? It's debatable. All I know is everyone is pairing off and getting cozy as winter settles in. 

Since I am such a thoughtful person, I figured I would share some words of advice for you ladies searching for a man to keep you warm. ("I've got a lifetime of knowledge" - Viola Hastings)

Never trust a guy that...

- Wears a clip-on tie

- Cheers for the University of Arizona (Go Sun Devils!)

- Takes more time getting ready than you do

- Has more than one bathroom selfie on Instagram (Even one is too many)

- Hates animals

- Enjoys tofu

- Is a Rand Paul supporter

- Has crazy designs shaved in his hair

- Lies about his time in prison

- Has more than 8 bumper stickers on his car

- Consistently "forgets" his wallet

- Sincerely believes in conspiracy theories (Chemtrails are not part of a covert operation people)

- Drives a Chester Molester van and offers you candy if you get in

- You meet off of Craigslist (The Craigslist Killer is a thing...)

- Has a mullet/rat tail 

- Wears ankle socks with dress pants

- Is still active on MySpace

- Isn't prepared for the zombie apocalypse

- Hates Disneyland

- Wears tighter pants than you

- Does his own taxidermy

Well ladies... I hope I these were helpful! Good luck and "may the odds be ever in your favor!"

10 Reasons Online Dating Is Literally The Worst!

Online dating is literally the worst! A few months ago I signed up for LDSPlanet.com, a dating website specifically for LDS singles. My eyes were opened to a whole new world of interesting people. Seriously guys!!! I may die an old frumpy cat lady... My birthday is coming up, just buy me a cat now.............

Here are 10 different types of people on LDSPlanet.com. Enjoy.

10. The guys with really great hair:

 

 

9. Mirror selfies:

 


8. High school pics: (um... I don't want to date a 12 year old)

 


7. Missionary profile pics:

6. Just a guy who wants to find someone to share his bicycle with: (I actually know him and he is super awesome! Ladies... If you want to share a bike with this man I can hook you up!)

5. Profile pics that make you say "WHAT???? Let me guess... you have a really great personality..."

4. Edward Cullen impersonators

3. The creepers: ("He's climbin' in yo windows, he's snatchin' yo people up, so ya'll betta hide yo kids, hide yo wife, and hide yo husbands cuz they're rapin everybody out there...")

 

 


2. The straight up wack-jobs:

1. The 62 year old... but don't worry, he looks and acts 40:

Well guys... that basically sums up why I'm single and why I hate online dating....