15 phrases your wife says that mean the complete opposite.

Sometimes women say one thing, but mean another.  Click here to read my latest article on FamilyShare.

Hair crush : the under-cut

source

This hair cut/style is the bomb dot com.  The faux-hawk is one of my favorite styles ever.  And I love that you can do it with long hair.  The under-cut is so daring, and I love the design on this one.  I'm not sure if I'm that daring, but maybe I will be someday.  Also in love with her earring and tattoo.

How to spot the miracles in your life

I have been thinking a lot about miracles lately.  Miracles are big, some are small, and I think most might even go unnoticed.  Miracles can brighten your day, comfort your soul, and strengthen your faith.  And the best part is, there are already miracles in your life.  Here's how to spot them.

{Slow down.}

You are busy.  I am busy.  Everyone is busy.  Some people bask in the glorification of busy.  Technology, work, activities, competition - all these things can overwhelm your life.  Stop.  If even for a moment, just stop.  Two words that pierce my soul every time I hear or read them are as follows: Be Still.  I have these two words plastered around my workspace, my home, even my phone.  Be present.  Surround yourself with your family.  Surround yourself with the moments miracles are made of.

{Tender mercies.}

David A. Bednar said, "Tender mercies of the Lord are real and they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence."  What is a tender mercy?  Bednar describes them as personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts.  Knowing that these tender mercies are sent to us personally is a miracle in itself.  See how many tender mercies you can recognize today!

{Seeing isn't believing.  Believing is seeing.}

I was recently watching a classic movie, Charlotte's Web, with my daughter, and one part really stood out to me.  Fern's mother asks the question, "Do you understand how there could be writing in a spider's web?"  And the doctor simply replies, "Oh no, I don't understand it.  But for that matter I don't understand how a spider learned to spin a web in the first place.  When the words appeared everyone said they were a miracle.  But nobody pointed out that the web itself is a miracle."

How many  miracles are already present in our lives, every day?  Miracles aren't just events like the parting of the red sea.  They include simple moments like a baby's first smile or the beauty of the earth.  More often than not, miracles should inspire gratitude, not awe.

{Be grateful.  Be prayerful.}

Speaking of gratitude, I believe this is an essential attribute in recognizing miracles.  This paired with prayer makes it almost impossible to not see the miracles that lubricate your life.  Say a prayer of gratitude.  You might be surprised at the miracles that are already there; ones that you just may not have noticed.  A prayer of gratitude is often the answer you need.

{Write it down.}

Many people have a gratitude journal, or something of the like.  Mine is called a tender mercy journal.  I don't write in it every day.  But when I'm feeling dis-connected or in extra need of God's love, I'll commit to writing down every tender mercy I see in a day, a week, or so on.  I find that when I'm purposely looking for them, they are more easily found.  And when they are written down, they are not easily forgotten.

Everyone experiences miracles.  They are already happening in your life, you just need to know how and where to look.  Instead of trying to over analyze everything, try recognizing those things as miracles.  Big or small, each one is significant and meant just for you.

Fall Faves

I am NOT a fashion blogger, but I have found a few things this fall that I wanted to share.  I could (and maybe do) wear these every single day.  So if you feel so inclined, here are my fall faves.

Essie nail color in Angora Cardi

This color is kind of a dusty rose that doesn't stand out and goes with more than you would think.  I've been wearing it for 2 weeks and plan on keeping it for a while.  I haven't gotten sick of it yet.

DSW Western Bootie in Taupe

These booties are perfect for me because they don't give me much height (short heel) and they are very comfortable.  They also come in black, but I love this color because I can wear it with everything.

H&M Light-knit sweater in gray

I just bought this sweater last weekend and have wanted to wear it every day.  Is is SO comfy, but doesn't get hot.  It is longer in the back, and the sleeves are really long- just what my lanky arms love!  I want to go back and get every color.

Target faux leather leggings

These type of leggings can be tricky because some don't stretch, some are known to separate or look worn after wearing them once.  These have held up really nice and stretch great!  They have an elastic waste band and back pockets.  They are cheap but the quality has been great for me!  I only wish they came a few inches longer, but if I pair them with some longer boots, they're perfect!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Stuffed Mushrooms

These are my favorite appetizers, especially around the holidays! I'm sharing them here so enjoy!

school year scripture themes

I posted this on my Instagram the other day, and had several people ask me for more detailed info on what exactly I and my family do with these scripture themes.  It's one of my favorite traditions, but it only started a couple years ago. 

A few weeks before school starts, I prayerfully choose a scripture that will become our theme for the school year.  I print up three copies: one to display in our kitchen, and one to tape up in each of the kids showers (where they can re-read it every time they're in there).  We have a special Family Home Evening about the scripture and talk about what it means and how we can use it in our lives at school, home, with friends, etc.  For example, the first year we did Matthew 5:16.  Throughout the year, we talked about how we can be a light to others by being a good example in various different ways.

Also throughout the school year, we will work on memorizing the scripture.  When my kids leave for school every morning, I remind them how they can be a light to others or how they can work on strengthening their foundation, or whatever the theme is about.  My goal is to teach my kids (as well as my husband and I) how to use these inspirational messages to better ourselves each and every day, and how to apply these words to our lives.

the quarter order.

My husband and I have been in the parenting game for over 10 years.  We have tried several different chore charts and disciplinary tactics for our 4 kids.  Some worked fine (for a while), and others failed immediately.   Recently, we came across a method that covers both ~ getting our children to do their part around the house and drastically improving their behavior.  Now, I know that this method won't work for everyone, but it is working wonders for us.  Here's how it works:

At the beginning of every month, each child gets an allowance.  You can customize this to your own family needs, but we give our kids $5 each.  The allowance needs to be given in quarters.  No matter how the month before went, bad or good, each child gets their allowance on the first day of the month.  

If a child misbehaves, take away a quarter.

If your kids fight, take away a quarter.

If they don't make their bed, take away a quarter.

If a child unloads the dishwasher without being asked, give them a quarter.

If your kids go an entire day without fighting, give them a quarter.

If they happily go the extra mile, give them a quarter.

Again, you can and should customize this to your own family.  We don't give quarters for doing their regular chores.  That's just something they need to do.  If they don't do their chores, bye-bye quarter.  On the last day of the month, we help them split their quarters into savings and spending. 

Here's what we as parents have learned from this system:

The first month or two, our kids almost ran out of quarters completely.  We have to consciously be aware of giving them quarters, because we don't want this to have a negative implication.  But now, they come out pretty even, and often with a couple more quarters than with what they started.  They are trying to find ways to earn quarters, and this Mama is LOVING it!  There is less whining, less bickering, and less fighting.  There is more helping, more sharing, and more loving.  It is working great for us, and I hope it can work great for you!

3 reasons running makes you better than her.

I combine two of my passions in this article on Family Share ~ running and writing.  Don't let the title deceive you.  Let it inspire you.

Ragnar 2015

I have always wanted to try Ragnar, but with it being so expensive, and my priorities on other races, it just hadn't happened yet.  Ragnar is a 200 mile relay-race from Logan to Midway consisting of 12 runners.  Josh's company, Deseret First Credit Union, decided to put a team together.  I was an alternate in case any one dropped out.  Well, turned out several people dropped out, so I got picked to run.  Meet (half) the team: Spencer, Matt, Kaylee, Me, Abby, Steve.  Strangers here, BFF's at the end!

Originally I was supposed to be Runner 6, which consisted of 3 separate legs: 6.9 miles, 2.3 miles, and 2.6 miles.  But last minute, another runner wanted to switch from a harder leg to that one.  So I became Runner 7.  My first leg was a 5 miler.  It started around 4:30pm and it was 92 degrees.  I am not trained to run in the heat, so it was pretty hard.  Luckily, there was a guy who lived on the route who had a hose just spraying the runners.  He was my favorite person of the day.  I also saw some sprinklers and made my way through those.  I did it at a pretty average pace.

First leg, done!

Most Ragnar runners have to find a place to sleep like high school football fields, or school floors, etc.  We were lucky enough to have a runner in our van whose brother lived in Mountain Green.  He let us crash at his house.  I got my own bed and even my own bedroom!  It was a dream!  My next leg was a 4 miler and I started at about 6:30 in the morning.  My perfect running time!  I ran on a trail the entire time next to a highway.  It was actually really beautiful.  This next picture was right after my leg.  Rockport reservoir.

There is A LOT of waiting during this race.  We got to know each other VERY well, and spent our time cheering on other runners, sitting in the porta-potty's, or making cool rock formations...

On the way to my last leg, we got pulled over.  It was ridiculous and unnecessary, 

but luckily no ticket!

I was SUPER nervous for my last leg.  It is known as "Ragnar Hill" and is the hardest leg in all of Ragnar history.  2800 feet elevation gain over 10.3 miles.  I had a few motivational quotes on my phone, and wrote my kids names on my arm as well a boy (Hayden) who is about Ian's age.  He just woke up one day and couldn't walk.  After a lot of tests etc. they determined he had some kind of stroke.  Anyway, he is getting back to walking with a walker and he and his mom inspire me every day.  He had recently gone on a hike and made every step.  He said it was so hard for him but he did it.  It was (and continues to be) so inspirational and I thought about him a lot during that run.

After running a flat mile, the hills came and they came fast.  I came to a fork in the trail, and there were no signs telling us where to go.  A group of runners decided to follow the main trail, so I followed.  Unfortunately, about a mile in, we realized that we had made a wrong turn.  So we had to run another mile back to where the route was.  Who would have known that we were supposed to run up a STEEP grassy hill instead of following the main trail.  Apparently, we were.  This was at the top of the hill, and trust me- it was A LOT steeper than it looks!

This was almost to the top of the summit!  It was SO beautiful, but SO hard!  Below is a map of the elevation and mileage.

It was very anti-clamatic to finish that run!  I was so happy to be done and felt very accomplished.  I was excited to see my team and to receive my own special medal just for conquering the hill.  However, when I got to the finish line, my team wasn't there and they had run out of medals.  I waited for about 45 minutes (I had no cell service), and finally some volunteers drove me a couple exchanges down to where I met my team.  

But here am I with my team crossing the final finish line.  DONE!

 Most of our team:

The greatest support system and running coach there is:

Finally got BOTH my medals!

 Some of my swag:

Ragnar, I'm not sure if we'll meet again...maybe when my kids are all grown.  You are a beast, but I conquered you!  Until next time.

Ogden Half Marathon

I just wanted to share a little bit of my Ogden Half experience.  This was my 2nd half marathon, my first being the Ogden Half last year.  This year I was able to train and run with my friend, Whitney.  We spent the night before at my parents house in Ogden so we could drive just a few minutes to the race.

After a restless night, we woke up at 4 AM to get ready.  And here's my 4:15 AM face...

We loaded the bus at 5:00 and drove up the canyon to wait for about another hour+ for the race to start.  Luckily it didn't rain while we were waiting, but it was pretty cold.

As soon as the gun went off, it started raining.  Luckily, I enjoy running in the rain and I loved every single minute of those 13.1 miles.  Last year I took it really easy and slow, but this year I pushed myself just a little bit and finished 17 minutes faster than last year.  I was very happy with my time!  There was no time for socializing after the race though, as I quickly became aware of my frozen fingers which soon became my frozen body.  I couldn't wait to drive home and dive into a hot bath.

I took it pretty easy the rest of the day, and enjoyed a night out with the hubby where I enjoyed a big fat juicy burger and cheesecake.

Can't wait for next year...should I consider doing the full?

5 extra special gifts to give your mom this Mother's Day.

Mother's Day is coming up quick and I'm sharing some unique and thoughtful gift ideas over on FamilyShare!  Check it out if you need some inspiration!

Ultimate Pork Nachos

About time for another recipe!  Check out these loaded nachos over on Mother's Niche!

i AM a writer.

The other day as I was scrolling through the RSS feed of my favorite blogs, I came across two separate posts.  They were posted the exact same day, not even an hour apart.  They were written by two different women who are both professional writers.  I often enjoy their opinions and advice given on family, marriage, and motherhood - subjects I frequently write about as well.

The first woman wrote about how she loved writing, and started freelance and professional work to get her name out there - a way to be "more than just a mother."  She talked about how it became almost like a burden because it was now a job instead of just a hobby.  I'll admit that it scared me because I was very recently hired to write - making my hobby an actual job.  I didn't want to lose my passion.

The second woman wrote about how she had been writing for years professionally, but never considered herself a "writer."  Even though she gets paid, she said she feels like an impostor.  The best part of this post was her exclamation that, "I am a writer!"  I had to laugh as I read this because I can totally and completely relate to those feelings. 

As I read these posts, I felt like I had arrived at a fork in the road.  Yes, my hobby is now a job.  But it doesn't have to be a burden.  I have been reflecting on the reasons I write.  It's not to get my name out there.  And it most definitely is not to become "more than just a mother."  I realized that the reason I love to write is for the hope that I can inspire someone.  If my words help to brighten another's day or let them know that they're not alone, then I have certainly succeeded.

I decided to follow the second woman's path.  I am so incredibly happy to be getting paid to do something I love; to fulfill one of my greatest passions.  And I am here to joyfully admit that "I am a writer!"

10 ways to brighten your day.

These things are some of my favorite ways to brighten up a day that just hasn't turned out the way I wanted.  They are simple, but make a big difference.  Sometimes, that's all it takes.

Serve others.  

This one is my favorite and by far the most effective way to turn a bad day around.  You can do anything from making a treat for a friend to buying groceries for the frazzled mom behind you in line at the store.  Satisfaction guaranteed!

Go outside.
I don't care if you're not an outdoors person.  Just step outside of your home.  A little grass between your toes and some fresh air is good for the soul.


Treat yo'self.
Food fixes feelings, right?  No?  Well then, you haven't tried my cheesecake.  Seriously though, some foods do cause your brain to release dopamine which helps regulate movement and emotional responses.  So, as a temporary fix to turn that frown upside-down, I highly recommend it!

Pray.
Start your day by communicating with God!  It doesn't take much time, but makes a world of difference in your day.  Be still.  Use those quiet moments to feel of His love.  I can't think of better way to ensure your day is full of happiness.

Put your phone down.
Or tablet, or any type of technology.  Unplug!  Studies show that excessive use of your device can lead to sleep disorders, stress, and depression.  Leave the world wide web behind and be present in the real world.

Pick some flowers.
Or buy yourself a bouquet at the store.  I never pegged myself as a flower person.  When I was first married, I told my husband that I would rather have a slice of cheesecake or new shirt before I would ask him to "waste money on flowers."  He didn't listen, (good hubby). The first time a fresh bouquet was delivered, they donned the center of my table and cheered me up for days.

Listen.
What speaks to you?  Birds chirping outside?  The sound of rain?  How about your favorite song?  Turn off the buzz that normally fill those passing moments of each day and listen to what will make those moments count.

Grab your favorite drink.
Maybe all you need is some hydration.  One of the tricks I learned as a new mom to cheer up my ornery toddler was to give him a late afternoon bottle/sippy/drink.  Not just a few sips of water either - a big ol' drink of vitamin-rich milk.  Maybe milk isn't your nectar (I don't blame you, EW!), but I think adapting my "trick" will work on us big kids too.

Get inspired.  
I love inspiring quotes.  Take to pinterest or even google and search for a quote pertaining to something that may be worrying you or taking away your happiness.  Read your favorite book.  Certainly there has been someone or something that has lifted up your soul.  Pour over that message that speaks to you again, or find a new one!

Meditate. I like to think of this one as a mix between "Pray" and "Listen."  You don't need to master Lotus-pose while chanting "Homm" to be a master at meditation.  Find a quiet moment.  I like to focus on three things while meditating, which always help me calm down and have a more relaxing day.  First, focus on your breaths, breathing deeply.  Second, focus on your thoughts.  My thoughts have a tendency to be all over the place.  Scatter-brained equals me!  Think of something that makes you happy or calm.  Finally, focus on your current emotion.  How have you been feeling all day?  How are you going to feel the rest of the day?  You can change the course in that moment.

It's okay to take time to take care of yourself.  If you don't, you won't be much good to anyone!  I hope some of these will work for you and that you will find success in brightening your day!

Best websites for sheet music.

As a music lover, piano teacher, and mom of four, my favorite place to find sheet music is online!  Not that I don't love taking a toddler to the music store where they can tear pages and pound piano keys to their heart's content (and their mother's dismay.)  But there are some great websites out there with sheet music, and here are my favorites:


Musicnotes  This one is my favorite and most used as a piano teacher.  This website has a huge variety; everything from movies to classical to pop.  Another feature I love about this website is that you can change the key on many of the songs.

I Can Play It  This page, created by lds.org, has taken many Primary songs and Hymns, and arranged them at an easier level.  It's great to introduce piano students to playing church songs.

8notes You can subscribe (pay $$) to this website to get more music, but it already includes many traditional and classical songs for free that are perfect for beginner piano students.

Onlinepianist This website doesn't have a huge variety, but has some popular songs which are really fun for kids and even adults to play.

Sally DeFord Music  If you're looking for beautiful and unique arrangements of your favorite hymns or church music, check this site out.  She also composes many of her own pieces-each one beautiful and uplifting.

Free LDS Sheet Music  The name says it all.  This is a great resource for choirs, ensembles, instrumental, and arrangements.

Free Sheet Piano Music Another site with a small selection, the pieces here focus on the classical genre.  Great for beginner recital pieces!

6 Principles for Parenting Happier Kids

If you ever doubt yourself as a parent and think you're getting it all wrong, welcome to the club!  You're not alone.  Every mother and father out there has felt the same way at some point, if not every day.  These principles, created by Lynn Scoresby, are my favorite to remember when I'm feeling as such.  They get the job done while ensuring your children still feel loved.

1. Prepare more than punish

A few years ago, my husband and I finished our basement and our oldest son finally got his own room, along with his own bathroom.  Before he could even enjoy the privacy of his new found freedom, I told him he was responsible for cleaning that bathroom all on his own each week.  I didn't set foot in that bathroom until a couple weeks later.  Honestly, it could have been worse, but I immediately saw my own mistake.  I hadn't actually showed him how to clean it, and the result?  Well, let's just say it's beauty only ran skin deep.

Rather than getting after our children for not doing what we ask, let's first make sure they understand what is expected of them.

2.  Communicate more than control

As parents, it can be so easy to bark orders at our children.  They may receive your short-term message, but in the grand scheme of things, they are also receiving feelings of negativity and even neglect.  Instead, hold that tongue, and lovingly talk with your children, not at them.

3.  Encourage more than criticize

One of my favorite pieces of parenting advice is this: "Remember your child is not an adult, so don't expect him to act like one."  I didn't quite understand what that meant until my child threw her first public tantrum.  Embarrassed, I quietly scolded her for acting out that way.  She was two.  Yes, these situations require proper and loving discipline, but it's important to remember that it's also part of a child's natural development.  Positive encouragement should always outweigh negative criticism.

4.  Involve and individualize

As a mother, I am very independent.  Meaning, I like to do things my way with little or no help from others (excluding my husband, of course.)  If the house needs to be clean, dinner made, kids dressed, let me handle it.  Why?  Because in my world, it needs to be done the right way, at the right time. Can any of you relate?  This is where I need to make a conscience effort to involve my children to help.  Yes, it usually ends up messier or taking longer than necessary, but the lessons they learn are invaluable.

5.  Love more than isolate

This principle always tugs at my heart-strings.  It's natural, at least in my experience, to discipline children with a time-out, whether for the sake of the child or the parent (we throw tantrums just as good as our littles).  I think a break is OK, for the sole purpose of calming down so we don't let our emotions get the best of us.  But don't isolate your child for longer than that.  They need our love, especially when they may not deserve it.

6.  Love enough to set and maintain limits

I feel like this should be an obvious principle, but I see so many parents that try too hard to be their kids' friend or that give in too easily to a tantrum or whining.  We know we are loved by our children, but wouldn't it be nice to be liked by them?  Some days I definitely don't feel liked, and that's OK.  I know that by setting family rules and being consistent, I am helping to shape them into the best individual they want to be.

I have found that by applying these principles, my kids are happier, I am happier, and our home is a happier place to be.

Deep Dark Chocolate Cookies

If you are in the mood for some rich, fudgey chocolate goodness, these cookies are the perfect thing to satisfy your craving.  Hop on over to Mother's Niche to get the recipe!

Monday Mantra ~ {Signature}

As a parent, one thing that truly amazes me is how passionate and invested I get with my children's interests.  Maybe it's part of my personality-I easily empathize with emotions.  For example, a few years ago, I never thought I would know, let alone care about all things dinosaur.  But when my oldest son became obsessed with paleontology, I found myself riding his shirt-tail all the way through the Mesozoic Era!  I know for many parents, it's hard to let your kids become their own person, especially when they are so young and impressionable.  I still struggle with it occasionally.  But when I came across the following quote, it really left an imprint on me.  Which brings me to today's Monday Mantra:

Luckily, I had a great example of this in my dad.  As long as I can remember, I have loved to write.  At a young age, I told my dad I wanted to be a famous author.  Instead of giving me a reality check, he told me I had to start small.  He encouraged me to enter the school's reflections contest and win.  Yes, he told me I needed to win.  (I did, by the way.)

My dreams and goals vastly changed as I meandered through adolescence, teenage, and on to my adult years. Through it all, my dad never made my dreams seem too big or too far out of reach - no matter how crazy they may have been.

As I watch my own children find new interests and try new things, I sometimes find myself wanting to steer them a titch one way or another.  And I think at their young ages, that's okay.  I have no experience with teenagers, and I suppose once things start to get serious, you will need to make sure they understand the pros and cons of their future choices.  But for now, I sure enjoy watching my son eat, sleep, and breathe dinosaurs.  And I can't wait to see the signature my children create.

Free Font Friday

Baby Lexi

Biloxi Script

Eight Fifteen

Hipsterish

Kenzie

KG Beneath Your Beautiful

KG Girl on Fire

Line and Sand

Signerica

Sorry...We're Closed

My Top 10 Songs of 2014

Here is my 2nd annual list of my favorite songs for the year!  I had a really hard time making up this list this time.  The top 5 were easy, but after that-they are just kind of songs I liked, but not necessarily loved.  It would take way too long for me to sit and analyze which songs I absolutely love, let alone the order of my preference.  Anyway, like last year, I will try and explain a little about why I chose these songs.


10. Sky Full of Stars - Coldplay

First of all- Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay has an amazing auto-tuned voice.  I say that because I heard him live once and it was awful.  But anywhere else, his voice is perfect.  I can love an auto-tuned voice, can't I?  Anyway, the song is great too.

9. Rather Be - Clean Bandit

I had never heard of this band or whoever sings this song before.  I haven't even looked them up, so I honestly know nothing about them.  But I love the instruments in this song and the lyrics.  It's a great song to run to as well.

8. Centuries - Fall Out Boy

Speaking of great running songs- this one is another favorite.  I'm starting to really like Fall Out Boy, even though they've been around for a while.

7. I Lived - One Republic

This song is just one of those uplifting, feel-good, motivating songs; a great one to start off your new year!

6. T.S. 1989 - Taylor Swift

I don't deny that I get hooked on certain main-stream music.  And I couldn't choose just one song from her new album.  I love it all.  I also have a theory about Taylor Swift: you either love her from inside the closet, or outside the closet.  Either way- everyone loves Tay.  If you don't believe me, just watch this.

5. Annie Soundtrack - Annie

Speaking of entire soundtracks, this is one is the best!  I have always loved the original movie, so when this one came out, I was a bit skeptical.  But I could not have loved it more.  They modernized it, of course, and the music is great!

4. Be Still - The Fray

This song is so beautiful.  I love to listen to it when I need to take a step back and just reflect or meditate or "be still."

3. Madness (cover) - hester See & Andy Lange

This song was #1 on my list last year, but it was the original.  This year I am including this cover, because it's my new favorite way to listen to it. I seriously can't get enough.  Listen to it now!!

2. Long Time Traveller - The Wailin' Jennys

I literally just heard this song for the first time last night.  In fact, I was half-asleep in bed while my husband was watching TV.  This song came on during a tv show, and I sat straight up and "Shazaam'd" it because I needed to know what it was that second.  The harmonies and voices are so pure and clear and incredibly beautiful, as is the song.

1. The Walker - Fitz & the Tantrums

This song is fun to listen to, great to run to, and definitely relatable for me.  Especially, the above quote.  I love everything about it.