PACKING

In less than 2 days

we are 

MOVING HOME

However,

I absolutely hate packing

Even though we don't have that much stuff.. 

I know we have enough boxes and suit cases to pack everything,

but I still feel like I always need some sort of magic spell to fit everything into boxes

See you soon

Flash-Back-Friday: 20th Birthday

I posted about this last year.. but I'm posting about it again!

One year ago this Sunday,

Jayson and I moved from Salt Lake City back home to California

I can't believe its already been that long!!

When we moved home, we really wanted to see our friends before we started work, but by the time we had seen our families and celebrated my birthday with my family, we were about to go to Disneyland for my birthday. I started calling and texting everyone, asking if they wanted to get together but they were either busy, didn't answer, or didn't want to hang out. I told them I wanted to get together for my birthday and I still got the same response :( Sad, Right?

By about 5pm that day, I told Jayson that I wanted to just stay home. We had so many chores to get done and we needed to wake up early the next day to go to Disneyland. He told me that was fine, but that his brother Cody had wanted to go to Chili's with us because he had a coupon for queso dip. He finally convinced me to go, but I didn't want to take the time and effort to get all dressed up. I mean, we were just going with his brother.. I don't need to look "pretty" to go out. But here's where it gets interesting.. Jayson really likes my natural hair-unstraightened. I think he's nuts, so I almost never go a day without straightening it. We had a conversation a few weeks prior to this that I should just try to go a few weeks without touching it and see if it tames itself naturally... I finally agreed since my new job would be me working with kids, so I would have it pulled back anyway. It took us a loooong time to get over that 'discussion.' So that night, when I decided to just leave my hair alone, he mad a HUGE deal about the fact that I wouldn't put make up on or straighten my hair. I was a little more than frustrated, because we had just had this huge talk about it. I held my ground and told him that I wasn't going to 'get dressed up' just to go eat dinner for an hour and then come home and go to bed. He tried getting dressed up with a button up shirt and tie, hoping that would make me want to get dressed up more, but all that did was make me change out of my sweat pants and put on a pair of nicer jeans.

About 10 minutes before we left, Cody left the house and said he would meet us there. I told Jayson that it makes no sense for us to wait to leave and we should just leave too, but he kept telling me he had finances to run on the computer before we left. I didn't think anything unusual was happening, because he checks our finances pretty frequently.

We finally left and he called Cody to let him know that we were just pulling into the parking lot. Again, still didn't think anything of it because he was asking where Cody was sitting. Then we got out of the car and I saw a big black truck drive by. I didn't think much of it.. I just thought it looked cool, but then Jayson saw me looking at it. So he grabbed my hand and RAN inside Chili's. I thought he was just being cute and having fun with me (I'll explain why he did that in a bit). We got inside and started walking toward the table. I was looking for Cody as I walked, and then I noticed my friend Karla sitting at a table. I got super upset, because when I asked her if she wanted to do anything, she told me she had to do some stuff at home and couldn't. By the time I had thought about why she told me she couldn't hang out, I also noticed Sarah..and Chris..and Lilly..and soon realized that every person sitting at the table were people I had called and told me that they were busy. As I realized that, they all shouted SURPRISE! At first I was like "who the heck are they talking to?" and then I realized that they were talking to me.

sorry for the watermark, I used a trial version of editing software to get the 2 videos put together

So my first surprise party was a success. 

I'm glad my friends "lied" to me just to surprise me :p

 But man, I wish I would have listened to my husband and gotten dressed up for dinner.. oops. 
Thanks again guys, that was such a fun night :)

Neverland Family 5K

Guess who is officially running a Disneyland 5k?!!

I have been openly talking about running a Disney Marathon for quite some time now.. I jokingly mentioned it to Jayson a few years ago, and then we never really talked about it much after that. I'm not much of a runner, but I came up with the theory that being inside Disneyland will encourage me to run (since I practically run through the park when we visit anyway).  Lately I've been into watching YouTube vloggers and one guy in particular used to be a Disney World Cast Member, so he travels to all of the Disney parks and vlogs his vacations. He has done a few of the Disney World Marathons and did a Disneyland Marathon last year. Ever since I first watched that video, it kept the runDisney program on my mind. 

I did some research on a few of the runs, and the one that interested me the most was the Disney Princess Marathon because that race in particular was for a charity event, but it was all the way in Florida at Walt Disney World, and cost almost $400 bucks just for one person to race. I was really discouraged after that because after paying for air fair, a hotel that's NOT at the resort (because its ridiculously expensive to stay at the resort), probably needing a rental car, paying for parking, and THEN paying for registration, it would easily cost us a couple thousand dollars. If I'm going to spend a few thousand just to run 26 miles (that's how long a marathon is, right?) then we had better be visiting W.D.W.! But we don't have the money to do that... 

So I let my dream of running at Disneyland just remain a dream. And then I thought that once Jayson and I have kids, it's going to be practically impossible for me to ever have a chance at running again until after they are old enough to stand around and wait for mom to finish a run. Plus, who wants to wake their kids up at 3:00am and convince them to just STAND inside Disneyland and not do anything? Then I came to the conclusion that this is probably my one and only chance to do this before we have kids. 

I did some research, and yet again came across that $400 price tag, just for one person to race, even at Disneyland. My heart sank.. If I'm going to spend $400 to run, half of that money could be used for 2 park-hopper tickets! I did some more research, and then I came across the Neverland Family 5K! 

Now let me explain exactly why I am so thrilled about this.. 

When I first found out about the runDisney program, it immediately climbed its way to the top of my bucket list. But there was just one problem. I am not a runner.. I have never been. Yes, I'm a 5th degree black belt and should have the stamina of a horse, but I have never, ever, been able to run. I don't have asthma, I don't have any medical problems, I just have never been able to run. I get light headed pretty easily, and I've blacked out a time or two after running just a mile at school. The last time I ran a mile was in high school- my sophomore year. If I remember correctly, my fastest mile time was 8 or 9 minutes. I ran because I had a grade that needed to be raised, and who wants to go home to their parents and tell them that of all the classes they take, they fail physical education? But I wouldn't let this crush my dream.. 

I told Jayson about a month ago that I wanted to do the run, and that I was going to do it, even if I had to do it alone. I was going to cross this event off my bucket list, even if it killed me. I got an email reminder this morning saying that registration was already 65% full and I knew that my time to register was running out. I told Jayson about the email, and he immediately responded with "I'll run it with you." My heart literally stopped. Jayson hasn't ran since he played football in high school either, and both of our stamina has dropped tremendously since we graduated.  Before I had time to send him a response, he texted me back and said "Go ahead and sign up." My heart was pounding. I thought to myself "is this really happening?!" 

As I clicked on the registration forms, filled them out, I paused before pressing the submit button and texted Jayson again, making sure that I wasn't just dreaming up the fact that he told me to sign up. When he reassured me that I wasn't dreaming, I pressed the submit button...

When this popped up on my screen, I was literally in tears. I just stared at my screen for a few minutes. I couldn't believe I had finally signed up for a run! The Neverland Family Run is only 3 miles, but it's a more realistic run for me.. 

I'm still taking it all in. I'm still crying about it too, in a good way. My dream is finally coming true. And not only am I running in Disneyland, I'm running with my husband. I can't even begin to tell you how much it means to me to be married to a man who is so supportive of my goals and dreams. He doesn't even like to run anymore, and he's doing it anyway. He's doing it for me. He's doing it with me. All because it makes me happy. I am so blessed.. 

The run is at 5:45am on Friday, January 17th, 2014

Colette Buttler- My YouTube Idol

I just really want to be a mom like her some day 

& I hope my girls will have this much fun with me :) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz5wD1Q284w

#ShayLoss 5 Week Challenge

Hello Angel Faces 

...am I the only one who follows Jenna Marbles?

As some of you have more than likely noticed, but also have been way too polite to say anything, I'm sad to say that I've gained about 15 pounds since Jayson and I have been married

15 pounds?!

Why are you freaking out?!?!!

THAT'S NOTHING!!

You're right, it is nothing. But to me? 15 pounds may as well be 100! This is the "biggest" I have ever been in my entire life. I've always maintained a healthy weight of about 130-135lbs. I've always been able to eat whatever I want, literally, and it's never affected me. I've always felt comfortable in my skin,
but as of lately, that's been quite the opposite. As I said, I've gained 15 pounds and grown a full pant size in two years and I feel disgusting..

I used to live off of McDonald's in Junior High.That's because I would get out of school at 3:15pm, only have 45 minutes before I would go teach at my karate studio and then I would be there for 4 hours training and teaching, so I would "work off" the yuckness that my body consumed. After I stopped training, I still ate whatever I wanted and ended up getting heavily addicted to Diet Coke..

When I first realized that I could no longer fit into any of my size five jeans that I owned, I was upset but I just brushed it off of my shoulders. Then as Jayson and I were packing for Colorado, I tried on my favorite pair of capris and was literally in tears when I couldn't pull them up my thighs.. That was the most heart breaking feeling I have ever had in my life. I just stood in the mirror and looked at how "disgusting" it was that I couldn't pull them up any higher.

Now before you all freak out, just step into my shoes for a minute. I don't think that I'm fat. I don't think that I am over weight, and I don't think that I'm unhealthy. But for me, personally, and my body type.. I am not what I consider to be "healthy" for what I've always been. Does that make sense?? Anyway, once Jayson and I moved out here, I was determined to get back into shape. I became so fixated on being able to walk up a flight of stairs without running out of breath. I wanted so bad for that "bird-arm" to get toned. I wanted so bad for my "stomach pooch" to go away. I just wanted to feel comfortable in my own skin. I couldn't even wear a bathing suit in front of my own husband without feeling uncomfortable..

I ended up convincing Jayson to weasel in a 24 Hour Fitness gym pass into our budget. For the first week, Jayson and I went ever night after work, consistently. The next week, "mother nature" kicked in and lezbihonest (bonus points if you caught that reference), what girl goes to the gym during that time?! After that, we both stopped going. I tried eating healthier, but then that chocolate ice cream in our freezer just kept calling my name after long days at work.

I woke up one morning and was just sick of my constant excuses to not get in shape. My constant justifications for filling my mouth with junk and crap that would make me feel ever worse after eating it. Shortly after, my favorite YouTube family, The ShayTards, came up with a brilliant idea. ShayCarl, the husband of the family, has another YouTube channel called ShayLoss where he posts videos of his journey through weight loss. Shay has been blogging for the past 4 years and during that time has gotten back in shape and even ran a marathon! All while holding callings in church, being a YouTube sensation, constantly going to meeting for YouTube channels, hosting events like the Monsters University, Blue Carpet Premiere, all while taking care of his four children and helping his sweet wife, Colette, with their fifth baby boy that's on the way! Can you tell I'm kind of obsessed with this family?! Anyway, his younger brother Logan came down to California to live with them for a while, so Shay and Logan came up with the 5 Week Challenge.

The 5 Week Challenge started on Monday, June 24th and is going until August 1st. Basically, they are making a video every day of the week (Monday-Friday) to help get us YouTube subscribers motivated to change our eating habits and working out daily. It's been super helpful! Especially since they make videos about at-home workout that you can do. Unfortunately, working out at home just doesn't work for me because I get too easily distracted. So I've been going to the gym instead.

I took some "before" pictures but for obvious reasons, I won't be posting them. I've been to the gym every day this week and have started to watch what I eat. I have also been completely off soda for 16 days! I am so excited and happy about this :) My goal is to just be able to fit into my capris when I get home so I can wear them to Disneyland.

Wish me luck!!