Manic Mondayz

Having all summer off, and then two weeks of no Mondays (first week of school and then Labor Day), I had forgotten how bad Mondays can suck. It even starts to hurt on Sunday morning when I realize my weekend is basically over. I have to make some adjustments to make Mondays do-able, what with my exhaustion, 200 grumbly 13 year olds, and a whole week of whining ahead of me (I still love it by the way).

I start by planning a new outfit that I'm excited about. It makes me feel better about climbing out of bed. This Monday I wore my new red pants - snagged at H&M for 30% off during Fashion's Night Out (blog post still pending).

I indulge in a little "treat yo self!" Sometimes I get a smoothie on the way to work. Sometimes I'll get an extra Diet Coke from the gas station during lunch. Sometimes I'll sneak a treat into my desk for that lull between 5th & 6th period. I'd never survive otherwise.

I try to exercise on Mondays. I shoot for 3 days a week, sometimes more, but I always try to make one of those days a Monday. I find it helps me to reset my sleep schedule that I completely screwed up over the weekend, and it just sets my week off in a great productive manner.

FHE! Don't get me wrong. We don't really do FHE, although we should. We try to set up Classy Dinner Parties (CDPs) as we call them, with our married friends for Monday nights whenever possible. It always keeps me excited all day long. Next week is soup in breadbowls and making caramel apples with the Findeis'.

Monday night we went to Happy Sumo with my family to celebrate the Beard and Mitch's birthdays! Mitch turns the big 18 on Saturday. Can you believe it? Most people think he's already 18, and he certainly acts it. This kid is as athletic as Brooke, smarter than me and cooler {taller} than both of us. He's the kind of kid who does the right thing because he wants to, not because anyone tells him or expects him to. I can't wait to judge and scare off all the girls that swarm him when he gets back from his mission in 3 (!) years. He's one of my best friends and I just love him so much.

Look how good looking my 2/3 favorite guys are? (Ed Budge not pictured, but also good looking.) Yes, this is how the Beard takes pictures. You should all be more thoroughly impressed with our engagement photos now.

Happy Birthday boys!

Happy Birthday Mr. President (Beard)!

You are the Jim to my Pam.

The Andy to my April.

The Han Solo to my Leia. 

The Kirk to my Spock.

The Samwise to my Frodo. 

 

The father to my Glen Coco and future baby/puppy Holdaways. 

My rock, my relief and my very best friend. 

I'm so glad I tricked you into marrying me. 

Happy Birthday Beard! Love you!

Sleepy Morning Products

I love getting ready in the mornings. I love it. The Beard and I fight about it every Sunday before church (the only time we are getting ready around the same time).

"Ryan! Get up! It's your turn to shower. We're gonna be late!"

"You are still in there!"

"I'm waiting for you to come get in!"

"I'm not getting out of bed until you are done in there."

"I will literally spend as much time getting ready as you allow me."

"That's retarded."

The Beard has a brisk 20 minute routine from waking up to being ready. Everyday. It's not quite that simple for me. I COULD get ready in 20. Easily. But I don't always. On a lazy Sunday, getting ready for date night, or any time where I am not in a rush I love to spend extra time on my routine. It's so zen and therapeutic.

Well this year, my commute increased from 5 minutes to 30. My school starts 10 minutes earlier. So now I don't have the luxury of rolling out of bed 15 minutes before school starts. Hence, my routine has changed, and I have some new beauty products to prove it.

First, I'm slightly embarrassed but also pleased by my first beauty discovery. I originally bought it for the Beard at his request. One morning I was running late and needed to wash my hair. The Beard's Pert Moisture 2 in 1 Shampoo/Conditioner. This is blasphemy for a girl who has used her mom's Paul Mitchell products her entire life.

 

Later that day I found myself running my fingers through my hair over and over. It was soft. It was shiny. And dare I say, it was sleek? Wow, Pert 2-in-1. You changed everything.

Garnier Anti-Dark Circle roller is pretty fun to use. Dark circles are my big beauty problem, and I've never found a product that works 100% for me. This product is pretty sweet because the metal ball feels cold and soothing, which helps to wake up my eyes. It goes on light and sheer, which is great because I can't stand heavy products. It definitely improves my circles and looks natural, but I still layer a tiny bit of concealer over it.

In an effort to distract from my dark circles and make me look fresh and awake, color in my face is necessary. I used to love Maybelline's Dream Mousse, but now it's the bouncy blush and it SUCKS. I've upgraded to L'Oreal creme blush. Unfortunately more expensive, but I like it better. It's a bigger pot, less shimmer and blends even easier. I'm in love.

 

Highlighter eyeshadow is the quickest and easiest part of my routine. I brush Mary Kay's Crystalline or Spun Silk under my brow, on the inner corner of my eye, and directly under my pupil on the lower lid to open my eyes up.

No way am I waking up early to wash and blow out my hair every day. No way. Too lazy. Plus my hair is super clean, rarely oily and can go days without washing. My new favorite? Dry Shampoo. I thought it was only for oily scalps. Turns out its a saving grace for me, and flat-haired girls everywhere. I love the Suave Keratin kind. Cheap and necessary.

My weekly routine now is to give myself a real live, careful, sectioned blowout. Not just blasting my whole head until it's dry, but the real deal (great directions here). This way, my clean hair looks a million percent better and lasts longer. I usually do this on a Saturday or Sunday. By Tuesday my hair starts to look limp, so I pump it up with dry shampoo along my part, in my bangs and wherever I need volume.

Wednesday or Thursday I'll rock a bun or pony as my hair gets dirtier. I'll wash my hair at night and put rollers in it in the morning, or wash it quick (Thanks Pert!) and twist it damp into a low chignon.

I can sleep as late as 6 am and still get ready, take out Glen and double check all my crap to cruise out the door at 6:45. Thank the lord for beauty products.

National Grandparents Day

Growing up I was so lucky to have both sets of grandparents within biking distance of my house. My friends who had to drive to other states over Thanksgiving Break were so jealous. We could see both families on any given holiday. I've been really close with my grandparents and it's been such a blessing.

Now my grandma Vy is all I have left, and she's the greatest. She works at the temple, gets down to play with her puppy Oscar and does Tai Chi. Allegedly she's the one I'm most like, and we get along really well. She's still got the classiest style for miles and I can only hope I look that good at her age.

My grandpa Harold passed away in the fall of 2008. It was kind of a hard, because I'd never lost a family member before, but also because one of my best friends, Britt Dalley had died right before we graduated that spring. He'd had dementia and Alzheimer's for years, and it wasn't too much of a surprise. I wasn't super close with my grandpa Harold, because I was pretty young and he spent a lot of his time with my older cousins, as he was a professor of psychology at BYU. The hardest thing was seeing my grandma and dad deal with it. I did feel some loss that I wouldn't be able to visit his office on campus or take one of his classes like my cousins.

Only a few months later, out of the blue, my grandpa Stan passed away. I was much closer with him. He lived right around the corner and we lived with him (in the house the Beard and I just vacated) when I was young. My grandpa Stan taught me how to change a tire, and was always encouraged my ambition to go to BYU and maybe even law school. He was a "good ole boy," quiet and hardworking. His death was much harder for me, especially because he was so healthy (we thought) and we spent so much time with them.

My grandma Nancy has always been the closest. We were the best of friends. We spent so much time together even as I got older. She was the first person I called to talk to when I landed back in the US from London. She was such an amazing example of compassion and cheerfulness. She was incredibly racist and old fashioned. She was just the best. For the 2 years she lived after my grandpa Stan passed away, she missed him terribly. She had been very unhealthy and in pain for years and years, and all she wanted was to "move on." So we saw it coming. Her death was probably the least shocking and most peaceful. I was so happy for her.

However, as time has passed since her death I find myself missing her more and more. She never met the Beard but would have LOVED him. She wasn't here to visit when I got my engagement ring. She wasn't at my wedding. I couldn't call her when funny things happened at school my first year of teaching. She won't be there to meet my first child. I wish she could be.

This picture was taken for my cousins Jessica, Justin, and Jake on missions, but I kept thinking it applied to my grandparents too. 

The day before I got married, my mom and aunt Lisa surprised me with a beautiful, delicate opal necklace. They were stones from my grandma, one for each of her granddaughters and my mom and Lisa had them made into these beautiful necklaces for our wedding days. I felt like she was with me and it was so comforting. As we lived in the "Old House" and used her Christmas decorations I felt so close to her and knew she wanted it that way.

You can kind of see the necklace here.

I wore the necklace today and felt really comforted at church when quotes on faith and love warmed my heart. I have been so lucky to have amazing grandparents, and now I have four more because the Beard's grandparents are still with us and remind me so much of both sets of mine.

Grandma & Grandpa Holdaway

I miss my grandparents, especially Grandma Nancy but thank goodness for the Plan of Salvation. I hope they are watching over me, but it also freaks me out. They'd be embarrassed by things that I do (the amount of popcorn I eat, probably) and say (Grandma Nancy probably wouldn't mind the swearing actually). So hopefully they only see the good stuff. :) I'm so glad I know they're happy and I'll see them again or life would be absolutely miserable. Families are forever. How great is that?!

Workout Wednesday: Yoga Challenge!

Well, I've sucked with Workout Wednesday. I'll admit it.

But I'm ready for another one!

I found this on tumblr and signed up! I'm really looking forward to yoga every day, and it will definitely be a challenge. It begins September 10 and runs for the month. They send you videos to complete each day and tips for fitness and nutrition. It's going to be awesome!

Somebody do this with me! I'll struggle doing it every day, but if I'm held accountable to one or more of y'all I'll be tougher. Go sign up and comment or email me! Let's yoga this shiz!

The Best Video Ever

My friend Sierra shared this and I freaking LOVE IT. The dancing Ewoks are cute enough, but Vader, Obi Wan and the gang just get me every time. Watch and enjoy.


I've got a few blog posts in the works, I'll be back soon! I promise!