Bliss from Blessings

Today marks the beginning of an era in my blogging life. Inspired by my amazing friend Katelin (The Five to Nine), I am starting a daily posting entitled:

"Bliss from Blessings"

I feel like it is time to focus on the wonderful small miracles in life that make the world a beautiful place to be. The people, scenes, things, words, and nonsense that are tiny in nature but significant in impact.

My purpose is to recognize the things in my life that bring bliss......and in turn.....create a pattern of worthiness in my life and pass on the blessings.

A Few Key Points About My Life

1) I love working for a food company.....instant dinner without grocery shopping!

2) I have not spent one red cent on something frivilous for myself in quite a while (except for that $2.10 at Jack in the Crack, but after a puppy poops in your car....it is NOT a frivilous expense). Let me just say I am incredibly dissapointed in myself for acting like this is such a big deal! Heaven forbid I might actually save a few bucks BUT I just want to buy something. This is my new resolution, to not 'want'. Go ahead, wish me luck with that, haha

3) I have not found a good time to exercise and so I don't. I have decided I will never find a good time to exercise so I'll just have to suck it up and use the bad times (like 4:45 in the am...AHHH)

4) I love drawing floor plans. Love Love Love Love it. I will build a house one day and it will be everything I could have ever wanted. I love putting all my big fancy dreams down on paper. (Note...this doesn't go very well with #2)

5) No matter how grouchy, rude, ungrateful, snotty, and unkind I am (and trust me, sometimes I am) I am continually blessed by my Heavenly Father. His hand is unwavering in my life and is the only constant in which I have come to place my reliance. Even though I may feel like being the opposite I cannot deny that I am continually thankful and amazed at the blessings Tyler and I are given.

I just made a mad-men version of myself! I never have seen the show...ever...in my life. BUT making myself like I belonged in the show was quite a treat!

Try for yourself here: Make a Little Cartoon You!

How fun is she! I couldn't decide between pearls or a scarf, donut or coffee, purse or newspaper....oh so many options!

Maybe Yes....but Maybe No?

This will not be nearly as fun as Callie's, but it will get the job done and share a little bit about me in the process.

The bold items are things I can answer 'yes' to:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland or Disneyworld
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (does my family garden as a kid count?)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Olde Faithful Geyser Erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie or on a TV show (this one also kind-of counts...I got to be a guest news anchor on the 6pm news once a month during 6th grade. It was awesome!)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (I sold trinkets to my neighboors when I was a kid-that totally counts)
58. Had an encounter with a wild animal
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (Barbies!!)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (stress fractures in my shins...nothing crazy)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a Jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Taken a martial arts class

Techno-Mania

I just wanted to write a quick post about how grateful I am for medical technology. My mom just had quite an invasive surgery and it is amazing how easily and effortlessly doctors seem to accomplish such daunting tasks. A surgery that would not even have been possible a few decades ago, is now complete in less than 2 hours.
We are so blessed. Mom is good.

Closet Geek

Yay for a new Ipod Touch and Adobe Photoshop!!!! I am in technology heaven...ya'll better watch out :)

These Are a Few...

1) I hate to admit it, but I am absolutely in love with the new Miley Cyrus song. IN LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!

Listen here: Party in the USA

2) I am so glad I went out with the ladies dancing on Friday night. I forgot so much, including how much I love dancing. It is tough to convince boys to dance with you when you have a wedding ring on, but it was worth the good time. I'm so thankful for a confident husband.

Come with us: Paragon Dancing for only $5 on Fridays

3) I'm starting a tri-healthalon at work and the winning team gets a pair of customized running shoes....Yoga-Booty-Ballet....here I come!!

That's right friends; I bought it, and I love it: Yoga Booty Ballet

Isn't She Lovely

It's a ferret, it's a rat, no.......it's JOEY!

The NEW Love of His Life

Well....I am lame for not having pictures, but I would like to officially welcome the newest addition to the Curtis family...

JOEY!

She is an adorable little black dachshund and Tyler is in love all over again. This little mongrel can do no wrong in his eyes.

I'm just glad he cleans up her pee around the house....we'll call it even :)

A Little Taste of Paradise

Guess where we just spent a week!?

HAWAII

This was the first vacation Tyler and I have taken alone since our honeymoon! It was so nice to soak up the sun (like Sheryl Crow...haha) and not have to entertain any family or friends. Love ya'll, but it was sure nice to have some boy time all to myself :) We went to some great places, got a little burnt, and really just relaxed. We had no agenda and for those of you who know me well, know that it is a major step towards my over-planning recovery...haha

Me enjoying some "Shave Ice"

We walked through downtown Lahaina almost every night. The road is lined with restaurants, art galleries, shopping, and sights. This is also a really historical area since it used to be the home to royalty, Maui's first jail, and the largest Banyon tree in the world (almost an entire acre!) Most importantly, the street itself halfway hangs over the ocean, so the waves were always near by.

One afternoon we stopped by a "Shave Ice" place and the guy that owned the shop was so amazing. You could tell that he really cared about his little icey treats and wanted to make sure every customer was just as happy as he was about their cup of goodness. Unlike our continental favorite "Bahama Bucks", this man made each syrup from scratch. He told us he buys pure can sugar from the nearby plantation and mixes it with all the fresh fruit on the island. I got Mango, Guava, Passionfruit, and it was like eating the iced version of the fruit itself. The syrups even had the fruit pulp in them!!!

On the Road to Hana

There is a beautiful road on the East side of the island called the road to Hana. This 2 hour drive has over 600 switchback turns and 54 one way bridges. It winds all along the side of the mountainous cliffs of the Hawaiian rainforest. This was definitely the most beautiful part of the island. There were beautiful views of course, but also great little farmer's markets, hikes, and creatures.

Hiking the Pipiwai Trail

We stopped to take a 2 mile hike into the rainforest on the Pipiwai trail past the "7 Sacred Pools" and through an amazing bamboo forest. The bamboo forest was crazy because there aren't any branches for birds to land on so it is dark and silent. A little creepy :) At the end of the hike there was a huge 700 ft. waterfall! You could stand a good 20 feet from the base pool and still feel the mist of the water from crashing against the rocks.

We also went on a great snorkel trip and swam with schools of fish and sea turtles. I would post pictures but we were a little goofy looking with our snorkel masks and sun burnt faces...haha!

It was a great time and as mushy as it sounds the best part was just relaxing and spending time with Tyler. I love him too much for my own health.

Thanks Maui....it's been grand!