our mattress is in the living room again...

... except this time it's not because life sucks (read about that here) + we have a cat to join us on it this year (although Chris might consider the fact that we still have a cat a little sucky)!

Life is actually bueno bueno right now. I mean, Christmas break is sooooo close + Sodalicious has a peppermint chocolate cookie + there's a new package on my doorstep on what feels like every other day with Christmas goodies (slowly accepting the fact that I am in charge of my own Christmas presents from Chris) + I discovered Bath and Body Works Coconut Mint Drop shower gel -perfection!

I think the only things that might be putting a damper on life right now are that I have to wait two more weeks for another episode of This Is Us + Leah Remini's Scientology: The Aftermath is over. Like, what am I supposed to watch on my mattress that's in the living room?!

But in all seriousness, I am so so SO grateful that there is a mattress in my living room and it's NOT because life sucks right now. Last year at this time I was so sad + discouraged + just felt so... low? Not to say that this year hasn't been difficult or sad, but last year I just felt so hopeless and so miserable. I'm so grateful to be out of what I like to call the funkhole of 2016! Chris is grateful, too. I think that was one of the hardest parts about being so miserable... it totally effected (affected? I hate that I don't teach English sometimes) Chris.

But here we are now! Funkhole-free! Anxiously awaiting to see what 2018 will bring... definitely hoping it will end with us on a mattress in our living room because life has been good. 

...and I'm really hoping Lupin is still on our mattress in 2018.




p.s. Go get the peppermint chocolate cookie from Sodalicious already!

Missin' Our Punkin's

The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss . . . 

Every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.

-Joseph B. Wirthlin

when I said we're leaving our mattress in the living room...

... I really meant it.

Besides the occasional trip to the grocery store + Swig (my punchcard loves me!), we have pretty much set up camp in our living room.

Who woulda known that simply putting a mattress in the living room is all it takes to make me actually like watching hours of sports? I wish I could say the mattress gave Chris the same tolerance to watch Hairspray Live!, but it didn't (please tell me you watched it?!).

Now I know I said #noshame when it came to having a mattress in our living room, which is still true, but I think there is a little shame to be had when people come over and see it... do they think we're fighting and Chris has to sleep downstairs? Or maybe they just think we're really white trash? Which they wouldn't be completely wrong, seeing as how we've made a nice little border with our Swig cups. . .

Anyway, now you know where to find us + you'll understand why our bellies are giving Santa a run for his money.


p.s. CHRISTMAS IN 10 DAYS!!!! How?!

when life sucks // 6 simple steps

Sometimes life is just rotten. Like, really though.

So, what do you do?

Step One: Make sure you're married to a Chris Gourley.
(okay, the real "step one" is CRY. a lot).

Step Two: Have your Chris Gourley suggest that you go to Swig.

Step Three: Have your Chris Gourley voluntarily + completely drag down your mattress to the living room so you can enjoy watching TV surrounded by Christmas lights.

Step Four: Contemplate on leaving your mattress in the living room all month of December. #noshame

Step Five (optional): Convince your Chris Gourley to take a kissy picture (which probably ain't our best look) on self-timer solely for the purpose of being on the blog. #seriouslynoshame

Step Six (also optional): Realize that having a Chris Gourley is absolutely the one thing that helps life feel just a little less rotten. . .

Back to Reality

I still can't believe it's 2016! It just doesn't feel real yet! I'm thinking it's not going to feel real until I go back to work tomorrow and I have student's telling me I wrote 2015 on the board instead of 2016...

Speaking of work--I'm not ready to go back!!! I have said all break that I'm ready to go back, but now that it's finally here I'm finding myself feeling all anxious and having mini heart attacks and millions of thoughts running through my mind of things I should have done during the break need to do now. Is that normal, teacher friends?! 

I will say that I am ready to be back in a normal routine and not feel like the most worthless person on the planet, though. Pretty sure the majority of my Christmas break was spent on my (now larger) bum + eating Hi-Chews, but I can't complain too much--I got a lot of Chris time! We made it out of the house a couple of times to go adventuring. And by adventuring, I mean go out to eat. Ha! But really, we did go see a few movies + we went on a hike up Battle Creek Falls and it was beautiful and made me feel like Elsa for a minute and actually consider being a "Winter person," but only for a minute, though.

Now reality is setting back in as me and Chris prepare for what I like to call the "Monday of the year" aka January aka the month we eat lots of salads and write down ways we want to be better. Anybody else? What is the secret to surviving the Monday of the year? Please let me know when you've figured it out. 

Wish us luck as we head back to reality tomorrow. 

Ready or not, here we go 2016!

Best Week Ever

It's F R I D A Y! Which means there are sweatpants to be put on, debates to be had about where to eat for dinner, and Rob & Big to be watched! (our current obsession) Friday, I love you. But before I join Chris for our wild Friday night plans, I thought it'd be fun to just take a minute and reflect on the past week and see who's having the best week ever--according to the Gourley's.

First up is our front door. This guy has gone through some rough patches--one too many church flyers being taped to it + kicks, scrapes, and sticky hands from the Gumball Gang. Fortunately for him, I started to notice and decided to give him a little TLC. I put the vinyl "hello" (which Chris thinks is too inviting...) on him a while ago, but hadn't had time to add much else until last Saturday, which is when I decided to make a wreath!... because wreaths are basically the extent of my crafting abilities.

Front door also got a new doormat this week! I hadn't planned on buying a new doormat, but while I was wandering aimlessly through target with my large soda in hand (so therapeutic), I found that bad boy on clearance! And just like anything that's in the clearance section at Target, I convinced myself that I needed to buy it. 

Next nominee for having the best week ever would have to be Hi-Chews. 

Chris decided it would be a good idea to buy a huge bag at Costco for us since we don't have a membership/luxury of buying crap we don't need in bulk, so he made sure to take advantage when Tom G and Martha took him there. After this past weekend I am now reminded of why we don't have a Costco membership... we ate the whole bag of Hi-Chews in three days, people! THREE DAYS. Hi-Chews may be gone, but they are not forgotten (literally-I'm still finding wrappers!), which is why they most definitely are having the best week ever. I guess you could say my thighs are having the best week ever, too. 

Speaking of my thighs... they, along with the rest of my legs are having the best week ever. Why? Because for unknown reasons, I have shaved my legs not only once, but twice this week! That's about two times more than I usually shave in the month of February (Chris might be a better candidate for having the best week ever than my legs-ha! No shaving=marriage!). 

Let's be honest though, I think we really know who is having the best week ever this week...THIS DRESS!

I actually had no idea who this dress was until this morning, only after I had 3 different students ask me what color the dress was. "Mrs. Gourley is it blue and black or is it white and gold?!" I felt like I was taking a pop quiz every time a student pulled out their phone to test me. At first I thought it was just a high schooler thing to be worrying about the color of this dress, but after checking my Facebook feed, apparently the rest of the world is worried about it, too. Obviously, it's white and gold ;) But when I looked at another picture of the dress, I saw blue and black?! Clearly, I'm a Divergent or something. And clearly, this dress is really who is having the best week ever since it's broken the internet better than Kim Kardashian. What color do you see?!? 

Now it's time for dinner! Where I'm sure me and Chris will still be talking about that dang dress. Happy weekending!

THE FEELS

As most of you know, I am an emotional person. Like, reeeeeeeaally emotional. Emotional is probably an understatement. I just feel too much! And on Monday, I definitely had feels, but not the good kind that I'm used to (like watching Ellen's 12 days of giveaways! Note: do NOT apply mascara before watching!). Instead, I had feels that made me (and maybe Chris) realize that I am truly insane. Like, on a scale from 1-Britney Spears circa 2007, I was definitely an 8. I'll paint you a mental picture...

Me in an ugly Christmas sweater, holding a pan of peanut butter fingers in the car, sobbing (way past Kim Kardashian crying ugly) + hyperventilating. Complete with mascara streaks that went all the way down my neck, and red lipstick smudged around my lips and on my teeth. If you are having a hard time picturing what that looks like, a close comparison would be The Joker, you know, who is insane.

Now that you have that lovely + flattering image of me in your mind... I'll tell you how I got to that point.

All day Monday I had been teary-eyed. I knew I was stressed about finals, but that's never made me hit the point of sobbing in an ugly Christmas sweater. All day I had just been sad and felt like I was failing at everything--school, work, church, being a good wife, etc. and when me and Chris were rushing on our way to a party, I just couldn't hold it in anymore--the feels had taken over! Next thing I know, I'm sobbing hysterically in the car trying to explain to Chris what's bothering me.
I'm going to fail my biomechanics final!
I haven't slept in three days!
I'm not going to be able to work next semester.
I barely have enough money in my account to pay for tuition.
I haven't even started Christmas shopping for anyone.
What if I don't get to student teach next semester?!
I can't even remember the last time I cooked a homemade meal!
We haven't gotten to spend anytime together!
The house is always a mess and the laundry is never folded!
There's children starving in Africa! (...I didn't actually say that, but you get the point, right?!)

....It was NOT pretty. I don't think I've ever cried so hard in my life. It was like every sad or negative thought I have been feeling this month just boiled over the surface! Luckily for me, Chris was really patient and turned the car around and took me home. His orders were to put my phone down, get in a hot bath, just relax and breathe. So, if picturing me in a Christmas sweater sobbing with mascara down my neck wasn't enough, you can always picture me naked in the tub with all my smeared make up still on and crying hysterically. I'm sure I looked like I was straight out of a horror film.

But! Don't worry! Because now that I've gotten a little more sleep and finished all my finals, I am A-OK! And starting to find myself laughing at how insane I acted/looked in front of Chris on Monday. At least we know now how to handle an almost-Britney Spears kind of melt down?  HOT BATHS + Grey's Anatomy. Oh, and lots of cuddling.

Also, because I've been too busy having mental breakdowns, here's some "good feels" I've had this month. Scroll, scroll, scroll!

Thanksgiving Point lights with the Gourley Gang! + Sharing my chocolate shake with Bryce.

Hanging out with Evie, while Chris was in California.

Watching Koree and Griffin in the nativity at their ward Christmas party.

FHE at grandma and grandpa Walker's!

My wreath that my cutest aunt Joelle helped me make! (okay, mostly made...) Thanks, Joelle!!!

I'm so grateful to be done with finals and feel like all is right in the world again. Now I just have to worry about Christmas shopping...

Good luck to the rest of you crammin' for the last of those finals! 

mundaneness mondayness

You  know it's Monday when...

-the milk:cereal ratio is off. And by off, I mean there's half a gallon of milk in the fridge, and less than 1/4 cup of Reese's Puffs left.

-you're late to class... twice.

-your husband accidentally took your lunch to work.

-you're sporting the top-knot for the third day in a row.

-you studied all day for a test you thought was today, then found out it's not until Wednesday.

-you remembered you have to speak in church on Sunday (I'm never letting Chis answer an "unknown" number. ever. again.).

-you get hit in the leg with a softball.

-"Aunt Flo" drops in to say hello.

-you forget the tostada shells at the grocery store--the whole reason you went there in the first place.

-you cry after forgetting said tostada shells (thanks, aunt Flo!).

-your "light" sour cream is in need of about 180 more calories.

-you're midway through Zumba class and you realize you forgot to shave your armpits.

-the highlight of your day is eating a chocolate pumpkin spice caramel while watching Grey's.

-you're already asking, "Is it Friday, yet?!" (or "is it Wednesday, yet?!" because it's my birthday on Wednesday! aka my annual dinner at Texas Roadhouse!)

Don't worry, though. My Monday wasn't all that bad, I did find out I don't have to take my independent study class to graduate. *heel click* + I filled out my Swig card. Yes...there's light at the end of the tunnel! Rainbows after rain! Or to be quite honest, Dr. Pepper in the back of the fridge!

Congrats on making it through another Monday, ya'll.  

small paychecks, big memories

Did your mom and dad ever tell you stories about their "struggles" when they first got married? Well, my mom and dad did. They would tell me about their teeny tiny apartment where they lived as newlywed teenagers, and how they would turn the lights off and immediately hear mice crawling inside their walls. I also remember my dad telling me he still to this day can't eat Campbell's Vegetable Beef soup because they ate it so much when they first got married. That + scrambled eggs + fried potatoes. Oh, and if they really wanted to splurge, they would walk across the street and buy an order of potato logs to share.

I used to be convinced that when I got married, I would want to go through that struggle, too.

That's so cute! I want to be poor and just live on love with my husband! 

Yeah...that was until I got married, and I went probably two weeks eating a peanut butter sandwich for lunch. Every.single.day. I remember just losing it in the car on my way home from somewhere with Chris and I looked at him all teary-eyed and said, "I can't eat one more damn peanut butter sandwich! I just can't!" and of course, Chris just laughed. He now refers to peanut butter sandwiches as "damn peanut butter sandwiches," and always says it with a little smirk. Punk.

Obviously, Chris and I have never had to go through the kind of struggle my parents did. Actually, when I think about it, we haven't had to go through very many struggles at all (which I'm very grateful for). There have been some times throughout our marriage that I have thought, "I can't wait to tell my kids about this," though. Tonight was one of those times.

I was scrambling through our fridge and cabinets trying to find something to throw together for dinner. The final product: semi-freezer burnt tator tots and fettuccine alfredo. Well, if we're being technical here, it was spaghetti alfredo, since we only had spaghetti noodles. Normally, I would just suggest going across the street and getting a $5 hot-n-ready, but for some reason, I was kind of excited about having to get  creative and work with what we had. Am I finally growing up?! Probably not. But as I was making dinner, I just couldn't help but think about the other things I'll get to tell our kids about to convince them that we were once "poor newlyweds" too.

Here's the list that I have so far...

• Our fridge for the first month of our marriage was a little mini fridge that sat on top of a bar stool.
• The dryer we got on KSL has a high-pitched squeak that doesn't stop until about 20 minutes into the drying cycle.
• Chris had to walk to the church parking lot to use wifi.
• We can't use the shower in our hallway bathroom or it will set off the fire alarm.
• For the first 6 months of our marriage, we shared a car and I had to bum rides (mostly from my brother) to school. One time I even rode the bus. Guys, big girl pants!

I know half the things on that list are things I've complained about, but today, I'm grateful for them, because I know that this is the time in our lives where we get to trade in the small paychecks for big memories.

 So for now, I'm going to try to enjoy the random dinners, the little quirks about our home, and the many, many bowls of Spaghettios that lie ahead of me as Chris and I finish school .

To the stranger who paid for my gas yesterday

....thank you.

Thank you for reminding me to not judge others. I've worked in retail and fast food (at Sonic, because I'm sure you're just dying to know!), so I've seen my fair share of people who's cards were declined. Every time I would have to tell someone their card was declined I would feel so bad, but then I'd immediately judge them. I would think things like, Stop buying things you can't buy! Quit being irresponsible with your money! Do you really need that 44oz diet Coke?!  -by the way, I totally get that now, you really do need that 44oz soda. If I would have known just how embarrassing it really is to have a cashier tell you that your card has been declined, I would have never said anything to those customers. I can't remember the last time I was that embarrassed, especially since I was so dumbfounded by the news! I'm sure my cashier thought I was just pretending. I wouldn't have blamed him for thinking that... I thought like that too.

But after yesterday when I found out my card was declined because of security issues and I was receiving a new one, I immediately felt terrible for all those people I had judged in the past. Even if their cards were being declined because they couldn't afford it--who cares?! Who am I to judge? Why didn't I step in like you and offer to help them? So for that, thank you! I'm grateful for your random (and pricey) act of kindness, because I'm reminded of how powerful service is. I hope that when I find someone who can't pay for their gas, I'll be as quick as you to jump in and help them-no questions asked.

It's comforting to know there are still good people out in the world--I'm ready to be one of 'em.

currently

making// excuses for putting off my reading for class. Um, hi! It's only the second day of class--wish me luck this semester.

cooking// lots and lots of meals that have rice... gotta love that end of the month grind. Chris hasn't been complaining, though. I swear that kid could live on fried rice.

drinking// a lot less dirty DP and a lot more water these days. Ouch! I hurt my arm patting myself on the back for that one.

reading// Divergent. Yes, I'm hoppin' on that bandwagon! But I refuse to see the movie until I've read the book.

listening to// my overplayed, two years-old, beaten-to-death running playlist. Any suggestions for good running songs?!

wanting// any and every product I see Jaclyn Hill using! Girl crush.

looking// for cute, casual, sun dresses! If I click a dress on Pinterest that has no link one more time I'mma lose it.

playing// TENNIS! This is one of my favorite things about warm weather--Chris playing tennis with me! Actually, it's more like me hitting the ball and Chris playing fetch because I'm not very good yet.

wishing// that me and Emma Stone were best friends. Please tell me you saw her lip sync battle with Jimmy Fallon?!

missing// Harry Potter. It's about that time of year to re-read them all again... :)

enjoying// marathon training with my brother. Long runs are so much better when you have someone to talk to.

looking forward to// the Tulip Festival tomorrow + the 80 degree weather this weekend.

liking// my new running shoes! + the fact that my body is no longer shrieking in pain after I run. Who knew I would love Asics so much?

excited about// camping, hiking, and all the other fun adventures that come from being married to Chris during the summer time.

needing// to decide what to do with my hair... should I stay dark or add some highlights for the summer?! (what a rough life I live...)

smelling// the flowers every morning that I run. It makes my allergies worth it + masques the smell of dog poo I try so hard not to step in.

wearing// my turquoise earrings every.single.day. They don't even match my outfits.That's how obsessed I am.

noticing// the zits coming in on my chin. I'm glad they're there to keep me humble, I was just having way too many good hair days in a row.

thinking// that I should really stop putting off reading for my class now.

feeling// like a room without a roof! (you're welcome for getting that song stuck in your head) fun fact: I've cried every single time I've sang that song by myself past month. It's part of what I like to call, "Shayli's April Showers"



p.s. this prompt was stolen from the lovely, Kelli at KGilby

my funk

Warning: this is a ramble/vent. Brace yourselves.

------------

All last month I was just in a funk. I couldn't really put my finger on what was making my funk so funky, and I'm still not even sure if I can. Last week at work I tried to explain said funk to a co-worker of mine and it just sounded ridiculous when I said it out loud! Granted, it probably is ridiculous, but I thought I'd at least give it another try explaining it to blog world.

First, a fun fact about Shayli: I hate change. Hate it! Just give me a routine where I can be sure I know what cereal I'm going to have in the morning and what time I'll be home so I can make dinner and watch Netflix accordingly! You know... important things. Anyway, this semester I have felt like I just haven't been able to get into a routine. Some mornings I would have to wake up early and go to class for two and a half hours, and others I would get up early and only have to be in class for half an hour. Where is the consistency, people?! Although, I can't be too upset about getting out of class so early, since that usually resulted in me with a dirty DP in hand while watching the Vampire Diaries.

But it's not just that my classes have had weird schedules that put me in a funk, but also that I'm really not that into my classes. Last semester I was so excited for my classes and now I can't even tell you the name of the classes I'm taking. Biomechanics..? Kinesiology... err something? Plus I feel like all my professors skipped the magnificent first day of school that consists of going over the syllabus and explaining the flow of the class y'know? Actually, now that I think of it, a lot of my classes didn't even hand out a syllabus... which is probably why I feel like I'm always two steps behind in all of my classes--how am I supposed to follow without the schedule?! I need to know the flow!

It's not even just school that put me into a funk, though. I feel like this semester has just squashed any ounce of wifey I had in me. You wouldn't think sitting at a desk for four hours would be exhausting, but it is! *cue eye rolling* After I come home from work, I just feel exhausted. I can barely get up the energy to cook dinner these days! And cleaning the house? Forget it. You know it's getting bad when your husband starts scrubbing the bathroom... bless Chris. Bless him. It may sound normal to some of you that I don't want to cook dinner and clean my house but that's not my normal--I LOVE doing both of those things! Seriously, I ask Chris on a regular basis if I can just quit everything and be a stay-at-home-wife (just wife! that mom stuff still looks a little too hard for me...) to which his reply is always, "No."

Speaking of Chris.... have you seen him? Because I haven't. At least that's what it's felt like this past month. Any night that I was home, he had basketball, and any night the he happened to be home, I would be at Zumba (because hello! I'm going on a cruise! And that bikini body isn't going to form itself!). Even on the weekends I felt like we didn't see each other...even if we were together all weekend it just felt like we had other things going on and not really spending "Chris and Shayli" time... ya know? *cue more eye rolling* And to top it all off... my phone got stolen before I even got the chance to take a selfie and show the instagram world my new dark hair (thanks again, Ali!), but don't worry I'm sure there will be one in the works soon... I just need to learn how to use my new phone. 

....Am I completely ridiculous for complaining about all this? Answer: yes. But no worries! It's out of my system and in blog land! Plus, I was de-funked today! And it's the beginning of a new month--a short month! And I got to start it out by feeling like a wifey again and going grocery shopping and cleaning my house! Oh, the sparkling counter tops and folded laundry! I have missed you. Oh, and to answer the question you're all dying to know... I'm having multi-grain Cheerios tomorrow ;)

Here's to a funk-free February!



p.s. these kinds of posts will be far and few... I promise.

7 things! 7 things! 7 things!

#1 Vampire Diaries.

I know, I know... so five years ago. Whatevs. 

I.am.obsessed.

All week I've found myself thinking about vampires and witches!

... and how the CW manages to find such beautiful people (seriously Ian Somerhalder, where did you come from?!). 

#2 Eating "healthier."

Which has consisted of a lot of mandarin oranges and string cheese + binge eating at Mi Ranchitos and Chubby's over the weekend and undoing any of our "healthy eating."

(Our New Year's resolutions love us)

#3 Waxing.

In case you were wondering, waxing doesn't get rid of your blackheads... just ask Chris.

Also, thanks to my sister-in-law Haley for making my face smooth as a baby's bottom! Even if it did mean I had to see just how much hair is actually on my face. You would have thought she waxed a werewolf (Vampire Diaries!) looking at my waxing strips.  

#4 Hair
I've been lusting after this hair color.
We'll see if I have the...ahem...lady balls to actually do it, though.

#5 Chris
Chris got a raise at work a couple weeks ago.
He doesn't like to tell people, but I do! I'm so proud of him.

#6 Marathon
Obviously New Year's resolutions haven't quite faded away... but my Dr. Pepper beer belly hasn't either, so here's to 26.2 miles in June! Feel free to join me and my brother, Dugan!
This is what happens when you're bored at work...

#7 Cruisin'

Last but not least... we're going on a cruise in March!! Papa and Mama Gourley are taking us on a Caribbean cruise, so I'll get another experience traveling with Tom G! Who by the way, has already taken the initiative to print out all the different excursions we can choose from and read them to us himself ;) I can't wait! Seriously, though... is it March yet?

That awkward moment...

...when you've been sitting at work for an hour before you realize you're not wearing a bra.

Yep. That happened today.

SO EMBARRASSING.

Now, I know what you're thinking: HOW? How could you not remember to put a bra on?! Trust me, I'm asking myself the same question. I do have some theories though... Maybe I'm still suffering from finals week brain? Or maybe I was just so focused on actually doing my hair today (sorry, topknot... I'm sure you'll make an appearance tomorrow...and the next day...and the day after that). Or maybe, just maybe, it's because I was more worried about shoving candy cane kisses in my pockets for breakfast? I don't know.

Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that today also happened to be the day I decided to wear a white shirt? Or that today was the first day in weeks that I was assigned to be up at reception at work? Which meant no hiding behind a desk for this braless girl. Nope. Just constant walking students to the testing room. I'm sure they thought covering my chesticles with their test was normal, right? And I'm sure my coworkers thought I was just trying to be really reverent walking down the halls with my arms folded like the little sunbeams* I teach.

Thankfully, I had a lunch break to go home and cover the ladies up! Man, I never thought I'd see the day where I'd actually be excited to put a bra on. I came back from lunch a whole new (more shapely) woman!

Needless to say, bras are going in the gratitude journal tonight.



*That was a lie. My sunbeams are little crazy humans. But I love them. Most of the time.

Oh, hey aunt Flo!

....all men stop reading NOW. Or don't unless you like hearing about lady parts? Actually, just keep reading. I don't mention any lady part words that make you cringe.

I should have known a storm was a'brewin' down in my lady parts...

This week has consisted of me pounding down food. Seriously, pounding. And then asking Chris every night "Umm.. can we go get food??" And holy #*%# I need some chocolate!

Poor Chris...

Who also had to deal with two huge vent sessions from me today: 

"I don't care if breastfeeding is "natural!" It makes everyone uncomfortable when you whip out your boob in public! I don't mind if you cover up and feed in public, but oh my gosh, no one needs to see your breasts in public! I fee like those women are just trying to make a point! Don't you agree with me, babe? Don't you?!!" (this may seem like a random topic, but we talked about breastfeeding in my women's health issues class--I promise I don't just randomly start debates about boobs...most of the time) 

"Ugh, I am so sick of everyone on Facebook complaining about Elf-on-the-Shelf! If you don't like it, just don't do it! Don't make other people feel bad for doing it!!  -By the way, I don't even have an Elf-on-the-Shelf. 

And then I finally went to the bathroom and  all of my days of starving, crying, and wanting to just punch people in the face this past week made more sense... Um, hi aunt Flo! How nice to see you!...NOT. 

I guess having ovaries isn't completely bad... Now I can justify sobbing at this video my friend, Kara, posted while simultaneously shoving two handfuls of candy cane kisses in my mouth.

...the point of this all is that there really is no point. I have a 10 page paper due tomorrow and Chris is gone playing basketball while I sit here and watch the Kardashians. Braless.

gratitude.

The other day in my Mind/Body/Spirit class we talked about gratitude.

Now I know what you're thinking, "Great, here comes another thankful list for November. Scroll down..." Stop scrolling! Come back! This post isn't going to be a huge list of things I'm grateful for! Promise. But if it was, would you really just keep scrolling? Why don't you like meeeeee!?

Anyway...gratitude! My teacher talked about how being grateful improves our health. She told us about an experiment that found that people who thought about what they were grateful for had boosts in their immune system, and those who actually voiced their gratitude had 2x more of a boost in their immune system. How cray cray is that?! I loved that we got to learn about the physical benefits that come from gratitude rather than just the spiritual benefits, ya know?

That lecture also made me realize how much I suffer from an ungrateful heart. I suffer from what I like to call the comparesies. I am constantly comparing myself to others, whether it be on social media, at school, church, or good heck, even with random strangers at the grocery store! I compare, feel bad for myself, start wanting things I can't/don't have, and then just get irritated or sad when I don't get them. I see now how not being grateful literally effects my health! Even if I do get something, it's not long before I find something else to want. It's a vicious cycle. I've realized that comparesies also makes me constantly look towards the future, instead of  just enjoying the present moment and being happy with all of the things I'm blessed with every single day.

So for this holiday season, I want to make it a goal to keep a gratitude journal and just write down some things that I'm grateful for every day. Don't worry, I won't bore you with my list on here, which I'm sure will consist mostly of food and other things like eyebrows. And hopefully this will help me narrow down my Christmas list for Chris ;) But really, I know I need to be more  grateful for what I have, and what better time to start than this week with Thanksgiving coming up?! I know, I know... so cliche. But it's a start, right?!

Also, I know I said I wasn't going to make a list of things I'm grateful for, but I never said I wouldn't say ONE thing I'm grateful for. Loophole! So I'd just like to say that I'm grateful for Swig in Provo. Oh Swig, what would I do without your Dirty Diet Dr. Pepper's?! Actually, I do know. I'd fall asleep easier, be on time to class, and save money, but that's besides the point. You can't put a price on happiness, especially the happiness that comes from a DDD and a sugar cookie.  It's the little things ;)

Here's to being more grateful and boosting immune systems this holiday season!

I just wanted BOO!

Yesterday, something happened that I don't think has happened once since I've been married-or anytime in my life for that matter-I was actually ready for the day + did a craft (by myself!) + made dinner. I've done all those things, but not all at the same time. Heel click! The fact that I was triple threat-ing it yesterday made me think that I should always act like my classes are cancelled, or maybe convince Chris that I should just be a stay-at-home wife. You know, like a stay-at-home mom? But without the being a mom part.

Since I was busy not going to class, I decided to go to Hobby Lobby and get supplies for a craft that I saw on Pinterest. This craft was perfect me because it required almost little to no crafting abilities. Behold:

                                                                                          

via

Apparently there are a lot of people who think like me and like easy crafts because when I got to the wooden letter aisle at Hobby Lobby, there were no B's or O's to be found! I even lowered my standards and considered getting the curly wood letters that I hate, but nope! No B's or O's there, either. Thanks a lot, Pinterest! After triple-checking the aisle, I just started to walk aimlessly around Hobby Lobby, because let's be honest, who goes in there and leaves with nothing?! Finally, I decided to just make another burlap wreath since that's the only other craft I'm capable of making, but then a stroke of genius hit me--Why not put "BOO" on my wreath?! Another heel click, please! 

Halloween Wreath How-To:

1. Have your aunt Joelle teach you how to make a burlap wreath months in advance.

2. Skip class, and go to Hobby Lobby with no intentions of making a wreath.

3. Lower your crafting standards and decide to make a wreath, even though you already have one.

4. Watch Breaking Bad while assembling wreath.

5. Go to your mom's house to use her hot glue gun, because you don't have one + she made chocolate cake!

6. Hang up your new wreath and be sure to remember to post it on Instagram for validation.

#lionsdontcarewhatlambsthink

The other day, my friend, Jenessa posted a picture of her "real" life on Instagram (click here to read about it) and put the hashtag, "lionsdontcarewhatlambsthink." I loved everything about her post. It was so refreshing to see, since this is something I've been thinking about a lot lately--how we all portray our lives on social media, and how sad it is that we have to explain what is our "real life" and what is not. 

Oh, and since you asked for a picture of my real life, here it is. Seriously though, the first thing I do when I come home is change into sweatpants, grab my bag of chips, and turn on Netflix until Chris comes home--a little embarrassing, no? Anyway, back to me attempting to write about relevant things on my blog...

It's SO easy to feel inadequate after looking at any kind of social media. Patty Pinterest made another table out of  pine cones?! Freddy Facebook is in Hawaii again? How does Suzie Instagram afford to go out with her husband every night?!  It's not uncommon for me to feel a little sad after getting off of my phone. Yet, I still continue to look at it almost every minute of every day. Why?! I'm still trying to figure that one out.

So, how do you stop being sad and feeling inadequate after looking at social media? Demand that everyone post "real" things? Un-follow everyone that seems to have a better life than you? Suck it up and just remember that you chose to follow those people? Of course not! Besides, you wouldn't want to risk losing any followers... ;)

Sometimes, I think it's hard to remember that it's natural to just post about the "good" things going on in our lives--we're excited about them! And we want others to be excited with us. I don't think anyone really posts a picture and thinks, "Who can I make feel inadequate with this post today?" We just naturally like to share the great things going on in our lives, and keep the not-so-great things to ourselves. So then we fall into this routine of posting only great things and give the illusion that our lives are perfect.

Now I'm not saying you shouldn't post those happy, beautiful, or glamorous moments that happen in your life, because girlfriend, if you are having a good hair day and want to post a selfie, post away! Just remember that those "not-so-great " moments that you think no one cares about (like the tears you shed the day before when you weren't having a good hair day), there's a good chance that someone else out there cares about it. There's a reason people are looking at your blog, Instagram, or Facebook--they want to know what's going on in your life! All different aspects of your life. Well, maybe not ALL aspects of your life... no one needs to see that you're texting your spouse to bring you more toilet paper, but you get the point.

I think another half of this problem (for me at least) is not being grateful enough for what I have. I am so focused on what others have or what they are doing that I forget the blessings I receive daily in my life. Silliness! How can I be jealous that Suzie Instagram's husband surprised her with flowers when my husband brought me home a gallon of peanut butter cup chocolate ice cream the week before? It's easy (almost too easy) to lose sight of all the daily blessings we're given, and even easier to compare our blessings with someone else's.

I feel like I'm getting a little preachy here, and I apologize, because I know I'm guilty for more than half the things I've mentioned, but I'm working on it. So feel free to join me and do the same, but if not, that's okay too--chances are I'm still gonna double tap my screen and like whatever you post.

But before I go, I would just like to ask you one question: How refreshing would it be to live in a world where selfies were posted with captions like, "It took me 1.5 hours to get ready before I took this picture," or "I had to use 3 DVD cases and a candle to hold up my phone so I could take this picture in my room by myself" or even "It took 13 tries to take this selfie"... ? A girl can dream, I guess. But anyway, I'm going to get back to keepin' it real with my Chris, and continue to watch football... on seperate couches.. on our Saturday night.

Happy "real" Saturday! Peace + Blessings