RIP Cross-Fit

I did it! I made it through a whole month of torture. WOW.

To be completely honest I never made a Saturday...but who really works out on Saturday...ok usually I do, but I got busy....everyone gets busy!

And to be COMPLETELY honest... I am totally going to miss Cross-Fit. I know I NEVER thought I would say that...but it is VERY true.

I am going to miss going to bed SCARED because I do not know the work out for the next day. I am going to miss waking up at 6:10 exactly so I can be ready to catch a ride with my dad. And thinking how am I ever going to do this work out. I am going to miss all the names of the works outs...the guy who invented it named them after all his ex-girlfriends because well you know they are all a pain in the bum. I am also going to miss telling Mere what my Cross-Fit work out was every day...it's always the best thing I can bring to the conversation.

Most of all I am going to miss the PEOPLE:

Mike: The instructor who is way too nice to be a instructor...so encouraging and understanding.
Mindy: The other instructor who I inspire to be...she can do like a thousand pull-ups.
The Guy Who Is Always Done First: When he gets through it I know it CAN be done.
The Girl Who Is Always Done First: She is a beast...in the best possible way and gives me hope.
Bernie: The woman who is much older than me, but gets done either before me or at the same time as me. She is the one that lets me know I CAN do the work out.
The Lady Who Is Always Joking: She makes the whole thing bearable and funny.
The Lady Who Is Always Joking's Husband: He is just REALLY nice and is funny too.
The Couple That Started At The Same Time As Us: We started together and finish together and still think we all are crazy for doing this.
The Oldest Lady: If she can do it so can I!
The Guy Who Always Gives Me A High-Five When I Finish: I always looked forward to this...it was really encouraging.
The New Lady: She is in crazy good shape and like 30 years older than me. She is definitely fun to work out with and challenges me.
My Dad: The man who made me do it in the first place, but always comes with me. I am going to miss talking about how hard the work out was with him.

More than anything I am going to miss that feeling when I have just accomplished a work out that I know I would have never done nor could have ever done on my own...SHEER BLISS. When you do something that seems impossible there is nothing like that. You want to shout I did it...I finished...I pushed...I CONQUERED!

Man that was a great class...I totally am going to miss it SO much. I am so happy that my dad convinced me. Although exhausted I know my body thanked me after every work out. I am stronger. I am happier and I am going to miss you Cross-Fit!

So moral of the story...do hard things...they are rewarding. Go ahead try something hard...if you think you can't think of me doing a Cross-Fit work out every morning for a month...I never thought I would survive...but I did. And I didn't ONLY survive...I conquered and loved it!

much love,

b.

My Poor Kids

Maybe it's a girl thing or maybe it's a me thing...but I think about my future kids all the time. Weird I know...but I do it. I think I just think being a mother is probably the most important job there is. I mean think of all the great people that you know...more often than not they probably have a great mother. That's just the way it is.

Sometimes though I feel sorry for my kids already...because I think they will have anything but a conventional childhood. For example, I saw an add for Trick-or-Treat with Unicef and I thought...yep my kids will do that...be dressed up and collect candy, but also collect coins for Unicef. That's just the way it will be.

Other things:

1. They probably won't know what it is to bottle feed a baby...if I can help it.
2. Recycling will be a matter of fact...and probably when they get to school they will cry because there is only ONE trash can.
3. Every vacation will NEVER be just for fun...always learning or helping...they won't know what a REAL vacation is.
4. It won't be weird that they know what DVT is and how to prevent it.
5. They will probably think the f word is fat and the s word is skinny.
6. Kids will probably stare at them with open mouths when they banter about the morning news, politics, human rights, or international relations...well see just how informed they can become.
7. Inviting friends to dinner will always be interesting...naan, peanut sauce, fish eggs, and haupia do not always sit well with everyone.
8. They will think riding in a car is a luxury...depending on where we live.
9. They will probably think that everyone speaks at least two languages...if not 3 or 4.
10. Soda, sugar cereal, sweets and treats will either be VERY special or the devil.
11. They will call all their body parts by their correct anatomical names...and will think its weird when people call them otherwise.
12. Video games will be weird to them...they will think...Why would anyone want to play a video game...playing in the real world is so much better!...we will see how many boys I have...YIKES!
13. Talking about anything and everything won't be scary or embarrassing...it what people should do...COMMUNICATE and LEARN...no shame.

I don't know how many of these will really happen...just depends on the kids I get and how well I raise them. And I am sure the list will grow and grow...my poor weird kids.

much love,

b.

I have NO idea where I got this...so sorry! I think it is floating around in a lot of different spaces. But what I DO know is that I completely agree with it...well except for the tea part...I don't drink tea...but I can replace it with milkshake...YUM an elvis milkshake to be more specific. If you have no idea what I am talking about, I am sad for you...seriously go try and elvis milkshake...YUM. That is art...flavor...goodness...and yes PEANUT BUTTER!!!

OK well I have to go take care of some art.

Why don't you do that too...live.

much love,

b.

Nearer My God To Thee

Tomorrow I head to the LDS Temple for my first time as an adult...yep I am all grown up!

Excited.

Nervous.

Anxious.

Happy.

Whoa.

Those are just SOME of my feelings. Mostly I am excited. My only hope is that it is a good experience...that is all that I can ask for. And I guess I am realizing that I am the one who really determines that.

So yeah...make your experiences how you want them to be. You are the one in control of how your react...why not make it positive, great, happy, exceptional, special, or extraordinary?

much love,

b.

Yeah So What If I Don't Drink Coffee

YEAH TODAY IS THE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My beautiful and fabulous friend Meredith is opening her coffee shop!!!

SO yeah if you are in the area please stop by and say hello!

Parlor News Coffeehouse
135 E 2nd St
Powell, WY

AND if you are like me and do not drink coffee that is OK...there are pastries and I'm sure she would make a wonderful hazelnut steamer for you...my fav! But no promises :).

So go ahead stop by...but preferably not during a rush hour...give her a break it's her FIRST DAY!!

love you mere!

much love,

b.

Pickleball

I know what you are thinking:

Yuck I hate pickles.

Yum that sounds like the greatest treat ever!

Picklewhat?

Or something like that.

Well let me tell you something. I am the daughter of a pickleball champion. Yep that's right. Ok maybe he isn't a nationwide champion, but he has taken the prize at the Billings, MT tournament with some first and second places. Yep my dad is a pickleball champion!

OK you are still wondering what in tar-nation is pickleball! Well it is no treat...it's a sport.

The Ball:
The Paddle:
That's Old School. If you're like my daddy you use this paddle:
The Court:
The Rules:

Click Here.

Basically it's similar to tennis, but totally different. Does that help?

Anyway. So every week my dad gets together with the guys in the morning for some pickleball. Yesterday I had the fortune of playing with the fellows...it was really fun even though I'm not all that great.

Another great detail about this sport is that old people can play too:

In fact I think it is relatively an old persons' sport. Well at least all the guys who I played with yesterday are at least 50 or older. Yes I just played a sport with people who are more than 30 years older than me or even 50 years older...I still got schooled.

Anywho you should try this sport it is SO fun and not as easy as you might think!

Here's some things from my morning stroll:

And last but certainly not least. Wish Upon a Wedding:

A non-profit organization who in their own words is "Based on the concept that two people in love should never be denied the chance to marry their soul mate, [they] help couples who have endured much greater challenges than the average person. Specifically, Wish Upon a Wedding provides weddings and vow renewals for couples who have faced terminal illness or other serious life-altering circumstances."

I think that is just dandy. I mean if you know me I am always looking for great ideas to start a non-profit organization and I think this one is not just brilliant, but touching!

So....go ahead think "How can I change the world through a non-profit organization?" and then DO IT!

much love,

b.

ASIAN LOVE

As many of you know I am half Japanese, hapa, half Asian, hapa haole, half white, half American, half Caucasian, mixed...whatever you want to call it.

Most people who don't know just ask "So, what are you?"

I am always tempted to respond "I am a human...what are you?" but I usually don't...when I have people just look at me funny.

Anywho. I LOVE ASIA...and not because I am half Asian, but because I just LOVE it. It is so RICH, COLORFUL, CRAZY, and the PEOPLE...WOW.

OK so it is not like I have traveled all over Asia or anything...actually I have only been to Japan twice. But I did a four month research project on Cambodians...LOVE those people...what a STRONG people. I lived in Hawaii for a summer where I met TONS of Asians...who I just LOVE mostly because they love love love and make you laugh SO much. I also had the privilege of working for BYUs International Services where I worked with plenty of Asians. So I think I am well-acquainted with Asians...I mean I have grown up with one my ENTIRE life. LOVE YOU DAD! SMILE.

OK BREAK...I know I am saying Asians as a lump term...SORRY...I know Asians are so diverse and shouldn't be clumped into one term...but really I love just about ALL ASIANS...because of the diversity. Each country and culture is so rich and lovely and lively...WAHOO...Asia is SO amazing!

So this morning I did my usually click click click and I found this....thanks to A Cup of Jo:

My Rocking Wardrobe: Japanese and Korean inspired FASHION!

Amazing right? YES!

Please take a look:

FOR ME:For Little Girly Rocker MAE:

For the Tough Little Guy TORU:

OK OK OK you caught me...I just chose the cutest pictures for the kids...they were just too cute to resist. And there are TONS more...suggest taking a peek.

So...YAY for ASIAN LOVE.

Yeah you heard me go find Asian love.

much love,

b.

Missionary Wish List

As many of you know I will be serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints come November 17. I have been called to serve in Vancouver Canada and will be preaching to Chinese immigrants therefore I will learn to speak Mandarin Chinese. I will be in Provo, UT at the Missionary Training Center for about 12 weeks studying and then I will be shipped off to spend the remainder of my mission with the crazy Canadians!

These last few months I have been preparing and preparing. This includes reading the scriptures, studying Preach My Gospel and getting ready to enter the LDS Temple. Also I have been shopping to gather EVERYTHING that I need. And I have gotten a TON! My mom deserves a huge THANK YOU for helping me and paying for the majority of it. I still have a few more things to get before I am set, but there are some items that I will never get…but I still think they are great.

Here is my wish list of items:

I will always need to be on time.

I hear Vancouver is WET.

A dress for every day of the week (made modest of course and all different colors...this IS a wish list right?).

I hear it get nice and cold up North.

I will need to look professional…but cute at the same time.

I am traveling to Canada…HELLO.

Whew...what a list. And you should see what I already have...I'm so spoiled...YIKES!

I am so excited to go to Canada to teach the Chinese about my beliefs and share a message about Jesus Christ! I am also SO READY to GO! I can't wait for November 17...even though I will definitely miss family and friends.

I am READY. Ready to learn, grow, speak Chinese, teach, pray, and LOVE. I am READY.

I realized that my missionary wish list only included material objects...YUCK! So really what my missionary wish list includes is: (NO particular order OK...you just can't order these things)

1. Growing closer to God.

2. Working hard EVERY day.

3. Loving all the people in Vancouver.

4. Not just getting along with my companions...but LOVING them.

5. Gaining a strong (like rock solid) testimony.

6. Increasing my knowledge of the scriptures and spiritual things.

7. Understanding my Savior: everything He did/does for me and everyone.

8. Speaking Mandarin fluently.

9. Being perfectly obedient.

10. Forgetting myself...because this is NOT ABOUT ME.

There's SO much more...I can't even list it all...I just want to be the BEST...you know me, the perfectionist...but it is really what I hope for and what I am going to strive for.

So be your best...I know you can do it...and you are already succeeding if you are trying!

much love,

b.

Am I Brave?

Have you ever asked yourself this or maybe just hope that you were. Well I have...LOTS. I want to be brave. I can think of many people who are brave that I admire. If you brave it seems like you can do anything. And I want to do EVERYTHING!

Well...think about this:

It's not brave if your not scared.

-From Bounce

much love,

b.

Never Underestimate A Mother's Love

I have been mia due to a few family events (aka stress)...but that's OK.

While I have been home I been fortunate to spend a lot of time with my momma. We drive to school together, eat all our meals together, and go on walks together etc. I pretty say to her everyday..."So what do you want to do next?"

So yeah I have been able to see a lot of things...like just how much my mom LOVES her kids. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of frustration, tears, sleepless nights, tongue biting, and LOTS and LOTS of walking (Walking is how my mom deals with life. She walks, walks, and walks until everything is doable). But there is no doubt that she loves her kids.

Mostly it is so great to see how much she wants each of us to succeed. She expresses how she sees so much potential in each of us and prays that we can reach it. She really thinks the world of us...maybe even more than we really deserve.

Seeing all of this love, I reflected on all the times my mom has been there for me. First let me say...the list is endless...my mom was there for me ALL of the time. But here are some of ones I really remember:

1. A+ Student (I was believe it or not the biggest procrastinator; I thrive with stress. BUT I am also a minor or MAJOR perfectionist. My mom would stay up with me all night to finish and perfect a school project which was almost always due the next day).

2. Excuses, Excuses (If I ever felt uncomfortable about going somewhere or hanging out with someone my mom ALWAYS said "Blame it on me." She didn't care what people thought of her...she would rather have me safe and comfortable).

3. Globe Trotter (My sophomore year of high school I decided I wanted to study marine biology in the Bahamas through a school program. My mom worked every Thursday night with me "stuffing boxes"...my first job, to help me pay for the trip. She also was encouraging when I went to Hawaii, Washington D.C., and Japan. Hopefully this lasts so I can go to Jerusalem, Nepal, Thailand, and Cambodia.)

4. Brown Baggin It (Yes this is humiliating, but my mom packed me a lunch all of my school years. Yes that includes through my Senior year. She didn't insist on me taking a sack lunch...I am was just plain lazy. She never complain though.)

5. SURPRISE (My mom never failed to surprise me with a little gift. Whether it was a new scarf, note in my lunch, extra treats in my ski bag, or just a trip to Dairy Queen she always found a way to make my day better.)

Yep those aren't even one thousandth of all the great things my mom did for me.

I have realized that my mom really is my best friend.

We talk. We walk. We shop. We fight. We laugh. We eat out. We cry. We learn. We grow. We love.

I don't know how many other girls are that lucky to be able to talk to your mom about anything and be besties. It's kinda weird. But she is still my mom and knows me better than anyone in the entire world. I'm one lucky girl.

My mom really does love all her kids. She would do anything for all of us. She ALWAYS does what she thinks is best for us. If I pay attention close enough I realize that she is always teaching me.

The other day my mom asked me "So are we even?" My answer was "No. We will never be even. I will always owe you."

much love,

b.

Smile Today.

.

Try NOT to be SERIOUS.

Be GRATEFUL.

Sing a TUNE. (No you really don't have to sing, but let you soul enjoy some music.)

Have a CHAT with a friend or stranger.

PICTURE something beautiful. (I don't mean visualize. I mean organize. Organize a scene into a beautiful picture for yourself...which later you can visualize and let it inspire you, calm you, or simply ground you.)

Say HELLO. (I mean say hello to some THING you don't know. Become informed.)

Do one thing that SCARES you.

BREATHE. (I mean hard as in move you body.)

Lists motive and inspire. Please add and subtract as you please. Make it your own. Be you.

BUT remember: become.

Becoming means not being who you are but making the little changes along the way to be who you want to be. This will include trying.

TRY NEW THINGS.

Trying new things helps shape who you are and who you are becoming.

SO: Smile Today. (I mean try things that are hard and difficult that make you frown at first, but when you realize you can do them bring the biggest smile...whether its on the outside or inside).

much love,

b.

Addiction: the state of being enslaved

Yep you guessed I am addicted. Now the definition doesn't lend to me (yes I just discovered that wonderful wording...lend...I like and maybe love and am going to make a point of using it more often). But what am I in the state of being enslaved to?

CLICKING

Yep. I get online and click, click, click. There is just TOO much to see and love. I am hoping you know exactly what I mean. You see a blog and love it then see a post and click you are on to a new website which you just love too and then you find a post and click you are on to a new website which you just love...click...click...click...the cycle is almost unbreakable. UNTIL you look down at that little clock in the bottom of you screen which tells you exactly how much time you have just wasted click. Guilt takes a hold and you end up closing the long line of tab on your browser.

Whew yep that just happened to me. So follow my trail:

First I started with my own blog list.

Which landed me HERE and HERE.

Where I found:







Which led to:

More Recipes



More Prints



More United Plates and some Presidents





and More Candy Cakes





And then I found:

1.

2.

3.

Yep I kept clicking and clicking and finding and finding.

And that's OK.

Because the find is the best part.

So go ahead click, then click, then click again.

Happy Finding.

much love,

b.