I just called to say . . .

Tip #3
Talk to a friend

I think it is so much fun catching up with friends. Whether it’s a friend that you talk to everyday or a friend that you haven’t talked to in years. I love talking about nothing & everything at the same time. It’s so nice having someone you can turn to & have a listening ear. I just hope that I can be that friend to someone. I really need to do better calling all of my old friends that I haven’t seen in years. Hopefully this can be the push that I need to call them up. When I think of some of the last times I talked to some old friends, it makes me sad. It seems like yesterday, but it’s been more like 10 years. Wow. That’s a really long time. My goal is to reach out to at least 3 friends, or neighbors, or even a family member. I want to tell them they’re on my mind & catch up. Hopefully I can be a better friend in the years to come. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

Brrrrr!

Tip #2
Mow a lawn/Shovel a driveway

I know this is not the easiest task, but can you imagine how good you would feel when it’s over! And how good you would feel if someone did that for you? I absolutely hate being cold. I also don’t like being wet. When I’m out shoveling the walks, that’s exactly how I feel; cold & wet. So I think that makes it that much better of a task for me to do. I think we need to step out of our comfort zone. There are so many people that would be so grateful for a little help, whether it is a time issue or a physical challenge for them. My Dad is the best example for this tip. He mows countless lawns in the summer & he snow blows even more driveways in the winter. He is always looking out for people in his neighborhood who haven’t gotten to it yet & he does it for them. It takes quite a bit of time, but he says that it’s well worth it. As soon as the next snow storm comes through, I’m going to go out early & help out one of my neighbors. I am always helping out one neighbor in particular, so this time my plan is to do hers & one more person. Maybe it will be the difference of a day. Maybe it will be that one bit of help to hopefully help them to have a better day. I think it’s worth a try!

I'm so thankful

I love this time of year. Everyone is so thoughtful & aware of others. I also love pondering over the parts of my life that make life so much better. From serious to silly & everything in between. I decided to make a list of 50 things that I can't live without (or really wouldn't want too!).

1- Riley & my little Kobe. Oh how I love them! They are the sweetest, most thoughtful, fun people ever! They make me want to be better. They make me proud in every way. I am one lucky girl!
2- Mom & Dad. I can’t even tell you how much these two do for me every day! I couldn’t do it without them that’s for sure! From taking me out to lunch, helping with yard work, shoveling my driveway, watching Kobe, & going shopping. This list could go on & on.
3- Bret & Mindy. My brother & sister. I can call them whenever I need a listening ear or a kind word. I know these two have my back! They are such awesome examples to me & I have always looked up to them. I look forward to the times that we are together. And I adore the way they are with Kobe. I can't express how much I love their spouses & my nephews & neice. What an amazing family!
4- Curt, LeAnne, & the rest of the Sayres’. I love you all. What good times we always have. I can’t wait til the next time!
5- Aunts & Uncles. What great examples they all are to me. I have looked up to these wonderful people my whole life.
6- My cousins. My peeps. My confidants. Oh how I love our talks. You’re really more to me that just cousins, you’re also my best friends! And you always will be! *Fist Pump*
7- Amazing Race. If you’ve never seen it—you must!
8- Smelly lotion
9- Hot baths
10- Clinique Face Scrub
11- Pajamas. Yes Lisa- the matchy kinds.
12- Love notes
13- Disneyland (who isn’t??)
14- New York Yankees
15- Hot Weather
16- Murray City. Go Spartan’s!
17- A Clean Car
18- My Steamer Mop
19- Slippers
20- Lip Gloss
21- Sitting down with a really good book
22- My job
21- Kind people
22- Quiet
23- Great Harvest Sugar Cookies. You must try one! Problem is they’re only a certain stores. Darn it.
24- Vitamins
25- Sun tanning (don’t judge me)
26- Reading Cookbooks. Even if I never cook anything out of them.
27- Fitting into a smaller clothing size
28- Painted fingernails. Makes my hobbit hands look a little better. Maybe.
29- Mexican Food. Mmmmm tostadas.
30- Working Out at the gym
31- Dishwasher
32- Bananas (especially with peanut butter!)
33- Yard Work
34- Holding a brand new baby
35- Going to the movies. Gotta see the previews.
36- USA. I’m so proud to be an American.
37- Hot Chocolate. Especially the new white chocolate.
38- Relish Trays
39- A New Outfit
40- Flats
41- Long Hair
42- Excedrine Migraine Medicine
43- My Mom’s cooking
44- Any Reality Weight Loss Show- Biggest Loser, I Used To Be Fat, Too Fat For Fifteen. . .
45- Clinique Happy & Pink Sugar Perfumes
46- Playing Sports
47- Baking With Kobe
48- Long Weekends
49- Playing Board Games
50- America's Funniest Videos & Ridiculousness

It's Time To Be Good!

The other day I was reading the newspaper & I came across an article that I loved. It was a really good reminder to be a good person. It gets so easy with our busy lives to forget others. Stranger’s even. How easy is it to just walk right on by someone without even a simple hello or smile? I always try to be friendly but this article had some really great ideas on new things to do every day. I think that I’m going to write one of their ideas every week. Sort of like a little tip or a little push to do good. We can all use a little push every now & then . . . right. So here goes.

Tip #1
Read with a child

This is so simple to do. It’s something that I actually love to do & do daily. I look forward to reading with kids’ at the school where I work & reading at home every night with Kobe. Kobe actually looks forward to it too. By the time dinner’s over, he starts asking if it’s time to read yet. I just love that! And as someone who does read with students’ at the school, I can totally tell those students who are read to & those that aren’t. 20 minutes a day makes a world of difference. We always try to mix it up a little & read different genres. By far in our house the favorite type of book is superhero. Kobe just can’t get enough!

What a chump!

Me. That’s who I’m talking about. I feel like such a chump. I am the biggest slacker when it comes to this blog. But the times are a changing. I am really going to try going to do better. I want to update at least weekly. Even if not a single person is reading, I want to for my little fam. So we can remember all the fun stuff we do & maybe even the not so fun stuff. I have some ideas for next years writing, but for now maybe just the happenings. I’m going for it. Wish me luck!