Too Much Time on My Hands

With school ending (for now) and my part-time job situation, I definitely find myself with a lot of free time. Because it's been so long since I have experienced this, I regretfully failed to manage it very well or fill it with productivity. The first little while was spent watching TV shows I've never had the time to watch, watching favorite old movies, re-reading books I've read a hundred times, sleeping in, etc. 

Lately, I have made a goal to become more 'domestic'. Now, what I mean by that is simply to do a lot of the crafts and projects I've been wanting to do for years, executing the ideas that have been swimming around in my head (or on my Pinterest boards) for a really long time! I also have the time now to cook more demanding meals and try lots of new recipes, which is something I have always enjoyed but never had much time for. 

If you care to follow my attempts and adventures in increasing my domestic abilities, I have created a page (right up at the top of my blog) called "Cooking, Crafts, & Projects". On this page, I will document my latest craft, recipe, or project. 

Who knows? Maybe you'll find something you want to try!

Falling for Fall

I used to think summer was my favorite time of the year. But now that fall is no longer associated with the stress of going back to school (which, I must admit, has been a bittersweet thing), I can honestly say I am falling for fall. 

This is why:

october general conference. being inspired and uplifted. receiving answers to prayers. feeling very strongly of god's love for me and those around me.

celebrating this guy's birth and life. he's my everything

clean, crisp fall air. beautiful fall colors. rejuvenation.

colder weather. more nights in by the fireplace. precious time with my love.

paintings in the fall sky.

jeremiah. laughter. smiles. hugs. kisses. sweetness. purity. 

Just a Bad Day, Not a Bad Life

Sometimes when I have a bad day, I get caught up in the negative. And then I remembered something I saw a couple months ago: 

"Take a deep breath. It's just a bad day, not a bad life." 

Yes, bad days are not so fun. And yes, they often happen because of things that are frustratingly out of our control. But from now on when I find I'm having a rough day, I'm going to take a deep breath and remember that life is good. 

One day does not define my entire life. 

Next time I'm having a rough day, regardless of the reason, I'll say to myself: Relax. Take a deep breath. It's just a bad day, not a bad life. Life is GOOD.

Ragnar Relay: Wasatch Back

Last month, I did something I never thought I'd do- I ran a Ragnar race! I had always heard a lot of good things from people about their Ragnar experiences, but they were also coupled with statements about how long and hard they had to train, how much pain it caused them, or how difficult the race was. So naturally I had mixed feelings about it. But when my dad asked me to run the Ragnar for a great cause (a dying friend's wish - click HERE to read about it), I knew I wouldn't say no. What I didn't know was that it would be an incredible experience.

I joined 83 other people in making up 7 teams to support Michelle and her family. Together, we made up the Funny Farm Fanatics: chickens, sheep, mice, turkeys, donkeys, cows, and pigs.

Go team Funny Farm Donkeys! 12 people, 36 legs, 200 miles!

After months of training, I felt pretty ready to tackle this thing! And surprisingly, tackle it we did. We did awesome! I couldn't have asked for a better team. Everyone did their best- there were lots of "kills" and "resurrections" and sore muscles and sleep deprivation and laughter and sweat. Here's us gearing up before the race, getting our tatts on!

(P.S. I still have a tan line in the shape of that Ragnar tatt - I call it my ghost tattoo)

I was runner 12, bringing up the rear. Leg 12 (Hard) - 2 mile trail run! I have to admit, I did not prepare myself enough for trail running. Not only is it a lot more physically demanding, but it is also very mentally challenging! You can't just put one foot in front of the other - it takes constant attention to detail and a careful eye to avoid tree roots, rocks, slick footing, etc. But it is also breathtaking, beautiful, and refreshing. Here's me at the end of my first run!

Leg 24 (Hard) - 7 miles, almost all uphill (some of it gradual, some of it steep), in the wee hours of the morning. That's right - I started at 2:40 a.m. and finished at 3:30 a.m. At first I was freezing, but once I got moving, I warmed up pretty quick! I was really proud of myself for keeping a consistent, fairly quick pace on this leg. I hauled butt and killed a lot of people on this run - and when I got to the exchange point to hand off to my teammate, HE WASN'T EVEN THERE! I can't even describe how furious I was. I had worked so hard to make up for some lost time for our team, and our van 1 teammates weren't at the exchange. 16 MINUTES LATER, they finally showed up. Oh boy was I upset. 16 minutes! Their excuse, you might wonder? Didn't have a good one. I'm not still bitter or anything ;) Because of how dark it was, and that it was a no van support leg, this is the only pic I got:

I guess that's me! Haha

After I finished that leg, we (van 2) had a bit of time to rest while van 1 was running. We went to a middle school that had hot showers and wrestling mats to sleep on - best $5 I ever spent! Got a good 2 hours of solid sleep and then it was show time again! Here's some pics of our wait/rest time:

Before I describe my last run, I just wanna give a shout out to my van 2 teammates. All of us had KILLER last legs of the race. 2 of my teammates each had to run 4 miles straight uphill. That 8 mile uphill stretch was NASTY. They were champs and rocked it! Couldn't have done it, so I'm glad I didn't have to. The view at the top was gorgeous:

Love my daddy :) So glad he was our van driver and there to support me and cheer me on!

When a team goes up, they must come down. Andrea, my cousin, was the runner that had the pleasure of running straight downhill for 8 miles. What a champ! She made great time, and I was waiting for her at the exchange to take on my next and final run.

Leg 36 (Moderate) - 3 mile trail run. Moderate? Yeah right! This thing should have been labeled Hard or Very Hard. The Ragnar Bible deceived me. I prepared for a 'moderate' 3 mile trail run, supposedly easier than my first trail run. But was it? Heck to the no! Not only was I tired and running on like 3 hours of sleep, peanut butter and celery, and rolls with turkey, but it was 12:30 ish and hot, hot, hot! Here's me at the beginning of the leg, ready to finish the race for team Donkeys:

So I follow this nice, paved path for a few minutes, getting "killed" by a few huge macho men flying by. It leads me to the trail head. And where does the trail go? STRAIGHT UP A MOUNTAIN. Not exaggerating. I ran it for maybe 5 minutes, and then had to walk the rest. I was feeling so weak and lame and like such a wuss! And then I saw these big macho men that had passed me before the trailhead walking up the mountain too, and I didn't feel so bad anymore :) HA! 

Once I get to the top, now I get to run down the mountain on a winding trail. So refreshing to my poor legs that were on fire from speed walking up. Once I make it down the mountain, the path leads me back uphill into a neighborhood. After a short run through the neighborhood (when I say short, what I was really thinking at the time was, "I swear I've run more than three miles! Where is the stinkin' finish line?!"), I come back down into Park City High, where I know the finish line is waiting for me. Hallelujah! I come around the corner and there's my team, there to cheer me on! I slap all their hands and keep going, with them following behind to cross the finish line with me. What I didn't realize at the time was that I should've slowed down a bit so that we could all cross together. Whoops. I kind of left them in the dust because I wanted to give it my all until the very last second! There was no stopping me now! Evidence: (I'm on the right side of the cones)

I DID IT!

And I had a great support system waiting for me at the end. Thanks Colt, Mom, Dad! The first thing they did was put a medal around my neck, and it almost sent me to the ground. Man that thing is heavy!

I love my husband :)

Couldn't have done it without this girl, Andrea! She gets the Best Cousin Ever award fer sure!

The Funny Farm Donkeys

Overall, the Wasatch Back Ragnar was an awesome experience. It challenged me, and I love a good challenge. Was it hard? Oh, yes. But it was so worth it. I would do it again in a heartbeat. 

If you have trouble sleeping, just run a Ragnar. You'll sleep great ;) 

Makes Me Wanna Take a Back Road

The hubster and I spent Memorial Day weekend with his family up in Driggs, Idaho at the Buxton Farm, on Buxton Lane, just over Buxton bridge. After the long car ride through the middle of nowhere, you enter the beautiful valley, overlooked by the Tetons.

This is one of the most peaceful and beautiful places I've been to: no crowds, no hustle and bustle, no traffic, no shopping malls. Just friendly waves from passers by, dirt roads, acres upon acres of farmland, and one stoplight. Just ONE.

I love this place. This is where generations of Buxtons have worked the land over with their hands, planting and harvesting potatoes, barley, hay, you name it. I love hearing all the stories about the hardships and the fun times. I'm grateful for the farm in Driggs. My part-cowboy, part-politician split-personality husband (love him so much!) spent his summers working side by side Granpda and Grandma Buxton, repairing fences, branding calves, plowing fields, moving pipe. He learned how to work and how to work HARD. Getting up with the sun and working all day until sundown. Without spending his summers up there, my husband would most likely be like too many people's husbands: lazy and afraid to get his hands dirty! (HAHAHAHA JK, but for reals)

There is a beautiful simplicity up in that Teton Valley that I have come to love. To be cliche, people stop to smell the roses there. And that fresh, mountain air does a lotta good for the soul! That trip was just what I needed: a break from the busy and complicated world we live in. Nothing better than a ride up the canyon on a four-wheeler, campfires and mallows, and making more memories with family.

We miss you, Grandpa Buxton! It just isn't the same up here without you...

Makes me wanna take a back road...

See ya in the fall, Driggs!