tid + bits of life via instaLOVE♥



adorable cloud cupcakes from tearsa's baby shower :) bittersweet transitions, exciting as well! unintentionally matching my nails with my shoes :) lots of time with my niece Mia :) top knots that hit the roof of your car cafe rio cancun fried shrimp tacos, the most amazing thing ever!   a ski weekend (more on that soon!)beautiful sunrises on early morning workouts!




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transitions...






















If you guys follow me on instagram and twitter you may have seen me mention that I am leaving my jobs and transitioning to a new one. I posted not too long ago about disguised blessings and how fortunate I have been to have my jobs. Like I said, since moving to Provo I have been blessed with opportunities I didn't expect or see coming. I have learned so much.

I think once we recognize our blessings and we get "comfortable" our Heavenly Father likes to bring in new opportunities to keep our growth moving forward. As mentioned, I have been working as a Paralegal in the mornings and then doing Financial Aid in the afternoons. I don't think I mentioned I was doing Financial Aid at Aveda. Since working at the Aveda Institute in Provo, I have fallen in love with the people I work with, the students, and the goals alined with the company. I have always looked forward to going to work from day one at Aveda.

So when my director called me into her office and told me they thought I would be a good fit as their new full time Marketing Lead, I was shocked and ecstatic! I never saw this coming and it is such a great opportunity for me to do something I really love doing! I get to plan events and fashion shows, work with students and professionals within the Aveda network, as well as the businesses in our community, marketing online, and so so so much more!

It was extremely bittersweet for me to leave my job in the law office because I loved my boss. However, I feel like this new job was tailor-maid for me and I can't wait to explore the possibilities! I always had a vision for what my future would look like, what I would be doing... and the more I just "let go" and let God guide me, I have found a whole life I never expected for myself. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me, because I am starting to get the idea that I couldn't have dreamed it up!


meet bonnie, and get $50 to forever 21!

You guys, today you get to meet Bonnie. I have had the pleasure of meeting Bonnie a few times (and want to hang out with more if we can ever get our schedules aligned!) and let me tell you, she will crack you up! We figured our readers were so awesome, we should introduce each other (go check out my responses to her questions) and offer you guys a special treat as well, enjoy ;)

Hi!  I'm Bonnie and I blog over at The Life of Bon!  This is me:


I'm getting bench pressed on a longboard.  You know.  Totally normal.  Here's a picture of my face.  In case you're into that.  I'm trying to look all sexy and suspicious and also somewhat pale and sickly.  What can I say, I NAILED IT!


I am so excited to introduce myself on Alycia's blog.  Alycia and I are bloggy friends and real life friends!  Who wudda thought?  Plus she's gorgeous.  I've been trying to figure out for about six months now how to steal her hair.

1.  What inspired you to start blogging?

Two years ago, on a train ride in France, I had the strong impression to write every day on a blog and to make it a priority in my life.  I thought this was stupid.  But I still did it.  I didn't tell anyone (not even my husband) for several months because I thought it was so weird.  Little did I know I would find so much joy and fulfillment in it and change my life the way it has.


On a train in France.  I had no idea that inspiration was about to strike and change my life.  Wow, so dramatic!

2.  You have a 10 minute speech to give at a high school, what is it about?

I teach high school English, so this question is right up my alley.  I would tell them how uniquely special they are and that life gets better after high school and that they are smart and funny and can do anything they put their minds to.  I'd tell them the world is full of opportunities for them and that they are talented and have worth and value and their lives have incredible purpose.

Yes, kinda sappy.  But I think high schoolers need it.  They're such a special group of people and I adore them

3.  What is your greatest accomplishment?

I can stick a noodle up my nose and out my mouth.  BOO- YAH!



Too much?

4.  Who do you admire?  
I admire...
My husband for being so passionate and motivated
My mom for never feeling sorry for herself for a second after my dad died.
Nat the Fat Rat and CJane for being my blogging idols.
Myself for putting up with 240 pubescent teenagers every day.
Any person who runs for president of the U.S.A. because that's just cray cray.

5.  Tell us about a time you were incredibly embarrassed.

Thanks to my father in law, I've got a bucketful of these!  I would have to say it is a tie between these two things.  Which one do you think is more embarrassing?

a.  in front of 300+ wedding dinner guests my pop in law went on and on about how difficult it was to conceive my husband, Greg.  There were details about trying to impregnate Greg's mom.  Pop in law then pulled out a jock strap from when his younger softball playing days and said it was the jock strap's fault for lowering his sperm count.  Mortified is to put it lightly.
OR
b. Two weeks after we were married, father in law came over to dinner and proudly announced, "Well!  No one is a virgin at the table anymore!"

So like I said... it's hard to know which one to pick.

The man, the myth, the legend.  Eating an ice cream bar and drinking a coca cola.




6.  What is your worst puke story?

I have puked in just about any situation you can imagine.  I've got the weakest stomach ever created (Hello, never getting pregnant!).  Probably my best story is from my very first day of college.  I was feeling sick so I rested my head on the desk in a Spanish class.  The Spanish teacher kept yelling at me to sit up but because it was in Spanish I didn't know what she was saying.  When I finally understood that she was yelling at me, I sat up just in time to puke Honeycomb all over the floor.  I ran out of the classroom and never returned.  Literally never.  I dropped the class.



7.  How did you meet your husband?
The short of it is that I was sitting on a balcony and he walked past with some friends.  He yelled up that he liked my hair and I yelled back to come make me a hot dog with his shirt off.  You know, the normal flirtations.  Eight months later I was throwing a bouquet.  The full story is as cheesy and sappy as you can imagine and can be found here.




8. What sets you apart from other bloggers?

I have a redheaded husband who does every accent imaginable including an old English maid accent!  You don't find that just anywhere!

9. A life changing experience.

My dad died very unexpectedly when I was 23.  It was devastating and in many ways I am still reeling from the shock.  I will never be glad that it happened, but from the experience I have learned one of life's greatest lessons and that is that I am much stronger than I ever thought I was.  There is strength within us that we never discover until life makes us.  You can more read more about my dad here here and here.


10. Something about yourself that you never tell others?

I used to practice kissing on a wooden post.  It was all sorts of gross tasting, but I thought it absolutely necessary if I was ever going to grow up to be a fantastic kisser.  I was only 9, give me a break!

Thanks Alycia, so much for having me!  I feel like this is a legit interview, like I'm a total celeb!  Now come on over to my blog and see what answers Alycia gave to the same questions.  And while you're there stick around for awhile and say hi.  I love visitors!  You can find me at twitter @thelifeofbon and instagram @thelifeofbon and facebook too!

Oh, and Alycia and I up and decided to give one of you readers a $50 gift card to Forever 21.  Just in time for spring shopping!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Smith's Rosebud Salve Review


Check out my review on the cult favorite Smith's Rosebud Salve!
Sorry for the video quality, it was a rainy day and the lighting was horrible!


To see more reviews on beauty and lifestyle products...
Subscribe to my Beauty & Lifestyle Channel  :)


chilean lunch date...

After Tearsa's baby shower, I figured since I was in the Salt Lake area I should hit my brother up for a lunch date. I always have fun with Alex, but that is no surprise, we have been besties since birth :)

Alex wanted to take me to a Chilean restaurant he had discovered and really wanted me to try some authentic Chilean cuisine. (In case you don't read my blog regularly, Alex served an LDS mission in Chile)

I love when I get some alone time with my siblings, seeing that normally there is always so many of us when we get together now, our family just keeps growing! We talked the afternoon away and enjoyed some Chilean  Empanadas, which were great of course! Can't go wrong with bread and meat!

They were MUCH larger then I was anticipating though. I had a roommate from Argentina and she would make empanadas sometimes and they were NEVER as big as these things were. So to say I was STUFFED after is an understatement!




Thanks for the date bro ;)








tearsa's baby shower...

Last Saturday I went to my dear friend Tearsa's baby shower! I still can't wrap my mind around the idea that she is having a baby... a BABY! How am I at the age where my friends are having babies?!! 
Whenever Tearsa and I get together it is as if no time has passed at all. That is when you know you have a dear and true friend :) It was so fun to watch her open her gifts and see the joy fill her face with the idea of her little boy. Melted my heart!

The theme was "showered" which I thought was adorable. Such a great afternoon just talking, laughing and sharing in the excitement that comes next month, Tearsa is going to be a MOM! She is going to be such a cute momma and that baby of hers is going to be one adorable little boy :)



kindred spirits :)

tid + bits of life via instaLOVE♥


having a blast at alt with old friends & new :) acknowledging I have a nail polish problem and not caring one bit! birthday waffles made by the hubberz birthday mail surprise from my amazing mum :) amazing friends who take me out for a birthday dinner Our 5th Valentine's Day together :) Me on my way to workout after all the birthday and month of love sugar!


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meet & greet - the daily tay!

I am so excited to introduce you guys to someone who will really make you smile when you read her blog :) Taylor blogs over at The Daily Tay and over there you can find her talking about her adorable dog Harlow, talking about her writing endeavors and making you laugh too!

She also blogs over at The Browse a must visit if you are a blogger! Seriously check The Most Indistinguishable Girl in the World. Oh and I love her ABCs of Blogging post :)  Enough introductions, take it away Tayyyy...

Interested in a Meet & Greet Feature on my blog? I love finding new blogs to read and am happy to offer a place for others to find each other as well :)


happy valentine's day ♥


The funny thing about Valentine's Day, is in your marriage, every day should be Valentine's Day. I don't even have to think about it, I just do it. Every day I tell Trevor how much he means to me, that I love him. I give him kisses and hugs and send him random sweet texts.

But I guess every now and then it is fun to step it up a notch and make the day extra special. So today I will be trying to amp up my game to show Trevor just how much he means to me, and that I am so happy I have him to be my Valentine from here on out :)

Enjoy this beautiful day of love!



Oh and to make this day extra lovely, there is a pretty 
killer giveaway going on!
$1500... you should check it out!!

Or just look below this post... yup just right down there sits
your chance to win $1500!!!

 


$1,500 Valentine's Day Giveaway!

Okay all you bloggers out there... DON'T FREAK OUT TOO MUCH... but I kind of have the best giveaway ever for your Valentine's Day today! No it isn't ad space with all of these bloggers, it is a $1,500 VISA gift card to ONE winner.

So that means if you don't really care about blogging enough to have "ad space" and all that jazz, that is MONEY! MONEY to go spend on amazing new clothes, or to pay some bills, OR maybe you DO love blogging and you want a new blog design? Beauty is, it is ALL yours from all of us to do with as you please!!!

&yes, I am aware the images are cut off on one side! even with the blogging help of all these gurus I couldn't fix it last night haha, I will have more time later ;)













GIVEAWAY RULES: No purchase necessary. To enter, participants must use the Rafflecopter form above. This giveaway is in no way affiliated, administered or endorsed by Facebook. The giveaway closes on February 20, 2013. The winner will be notified by email on 2/21/13 and will need to respond within 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen. Winner must be 18 years of age or older and a US resident in order to win. Prize is valued at $1,500. Good luck!


HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY IF YOU WIN?!!!


30 day shred challenge...



Writing about my goals to eat better and lose some weight has made me so much more accountable, because it is so public! You guys are real motivators too! I talked about how I hit a wall a few weeks ago, but have kept at it and tried really hard not to let it get to me.

I have been eating right and working out strong for the past week, and I am feeling great. I am just trying to stay balanced. In an effort to really stay motivated and be accountable, I announced on instagram that I am going to do the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred straight for 30 days! I am taking Jillian up on her offer :) I do really well when I set super specific goals like this.

I have had a few of her DVDs for awhile now and I love them. They are killer workouts, but I have never actually done the 30 Day Shred the way you are properly supposed to do it - Straight for 30 days with good eating to get great results. I have read reviews online of people just raving about the results, so I figured why not try it since I already love the DVD as supplemental exercise?

So many of you wanted to join in that we started a hash tag to try and motivate each other! You can join us at #30daybuttkick I realized the other day that we will be leaving for a two day ski trip with Trevor's family over spring break this month, and I am pretty sure I am not going to do this DVD in front of my in-laws, soooo I am kind of bummed I will have to skip those two days. But since I will be skiing the whole time for two days I figured it will be okay haha, I will practically be in a static squat the whole time and will be plenty sore! So I am not counting those two days in my 30, just in case someone out there is "counting" my 30 day challenge haha and will just pick up where I left off in counting after those days. So since I started this challenge on February 5th, my goal is to have done Jillian Michael's 30 times by March 8. I will make sure to post my results then! You going to join me?! ;)

A lot of you have asked what I have been doing, eating, and all that jazz. I plan on sharing it all with you at some point, until then, I am just trying to really get going on this weight loss and healthy eating habits, so stay tuned :)

Getting Healthy in 2013...


valentine's blogger meet up!

Last week I went to a local blogger meet up at Francesca's and got to look around at the new Spring line. We enjoyed some Valentine's treats (I allowed myself one - *pats myself on back*), and played a few games!

I love that there are so many bloggers in Utah because it is a chance to talk all things blogs with people who "get it." Since, let's face, blogging is just something you can't explain until you do it, you get me?
























This was my team and the Valentine's Day outfit we had to put together :) &yes, I am holding my mannequin's invisible hand.
























THANKS GIRLS!