What's Your "Zombie Apocalypse?"

In the beginning of January 2014, I joined the Thrive Life team! I eventually want to work from home (to avoid driving in the snow whenever possible) and this is a step in the right direction.  Shelf reliance; being able to "shop" from my shelves whenever possible to keep good healthy food in our tummies without reaching for the frozen pizzas when we are short on time. 

(Look! I'm Official!)

My reasons for starting our family on the Thrive Path are simple. Fast, farm-fresh, ingredients that are affordable, healthy & not high in sodium like most quick foods.  Thrive enables me to set a budget, and pick my items which conveniently show up at my home safe & sound every month! (see, less trips to the store in the snow!)  Now that I'm back to working outside of our home, this is a lifesaver when I just want to go straight home after work & not have to "Stop at the store" real quick; which almost never is.  This enables us to get quick healthy meals on the table in the amount of time that it takes water to boil rather than getting home late, and still having to spend an hour cooking dinner.

I know what you're thinking...Cause I thought it too, at first.  The big ones I'm sure are:  "Why freeze dried?"  "Why THRIVE?"  or my most favorite:  "Space Food?!" 

It's not "space food!"  But I really think it is the food of the future. These foods are freeze dried within 3 days of being picked!  That is more fresh than you can find at most grocery stores!  

When I first started purchasing THRIVE for our home, I had it as a "just in case" stash of emergency preps.  Then I started experimenting here & there; throwing things into recipes, and now I use it on a weekly basis, right down to my baking!  Everything I have tried from THRIVE tastes just like fresh (except that I didn't have to "brave" the elements and make a long trip to the store to get the items I needed).

I joined THRIVE to share this amazing product with friends & family and complete strangers if they'll listen! This has really changed the way we eat, even Mr. wonderful will grab some freeze dried fruits & veggies instead of chips! That is serious progress!

Let's be serious, being from California; we weren't strangers to prepping.  With earthquakes, fires & mudslides happening constantly; we were used to storing water, food, generators/ candles & batteries for our version of the "zombie apocalypse." So when we arrived in Colorado a year ago, I began to "prep" for things we could encounter out here.. power outages, being trapped at home due to heavy snowfall or crazy weather etc. We weren't completely sure what we were going to encounter on our Great Colorado Adventure! But at least now, we are prepared for it all.  

So, What's your "Zombie Apocalypse?" Is it natural disasters, job-loss, change in income earnings, EMP, or actual zombies?  I choose to prepare, because I know life happens..

Words of wisdom from about a Decade ago….

It’s weird to meet yourself from 10 years ago. I think we would absolutely be friends. Lol But still strange to get a perfectly clear picture of who I used to be, and to know I am nowhere close to that person today.

Confession… I broke into my Myspace.. and found all my old blog posts.

Here are the highlights:

• ·        Life should be little nuts. Otherwise, it's just a bunch of... Thursdays, strung together.  * I think I told myself this to avoid going bonkers from the chaos.

It seemed like I was in a constant state of “OMG or WTF”  Like dodging tornados rather than avoiding them altogether. 

I was searching for contentment: hoping to be happy with ones mental state, physical being and all around stance in life at the current moment.

At the same time, things seem to be at a complete standstill. Like a creepy calm before the Hurricane..

...Ready for whatever's next.... (I hope...)

·        January 2006

**A particularly difficult person is actually a spiritual lesson for you, but in a very annoying disguise. Try and see what life lesson or great truth this person is trying to communicate -- then send them on their way**

This is by far the best horoscope EVER!!  Although it almost seems to be a bit late, in the sense that the lesson in the annoying disguise is no more, however it’s still nice to have some reason to the CHAOTIC EMOTIONAL HURRICANE that I've called life for the last few months...

So to the person that is the "lesson in an annoying disguise" who will never understand or read this...Thanks for teaching me that even after years of friendship a person will still (if given the opportunity) stab you in the back.  This has definitely taught me to not be so trusting and no make sure that I know someone better before I give them the title of *friend*.

And to the rest of you... thank you for putting up with *Basket case Barbie* I'm back now, and ready for whatever's next.

So, CHEERS... to the next step. 

And cheers to growing up, Funny, almost 10 years later I cannot even imagine who the person is that I was writing about.  The funny thing about that horoscope is that it is just as true today as it was almost a decade ago.  And its still one of the best lessons I’ve learned in my adult life.

And just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water.... BAM!!  Shark

·        A little observation… and then I get distracted the end thought is.....No matter how much you push and shove….Things always go back to how they were unless you change something..

·        There are no regrets, only lessons learned. I’d like to pretend that this is true, but sometimes my biggest regret is not slapping someone when I should have. Haha

·        

Lemon perrier... is pledge water...  yep. Still true.

·        HOW TO TERMINATE A SLIM JIM CRAVING:

Step 1: Read clinical description of mechanically separated Chicken

Step 2: Repeat step 1

Yep... that did it... 10 years later, I still don’t eat slim Jims… Or McNuggets for that matter.

·     Fact:   In 2006, Brandon was my drinking buddy.  And if we didn’t live in 2 different states... he probably would be still. “wait, wait… I think he’s actually going to pull this off!”  I miss Brandon.

·        Fact: I made horrible choices in men before Mr. Wonderful.  If you are reading this and you were one of my horrible choices; I’m so happy we didn’t work out so I could find the one who has my heart.

• Sometimes you have to lose who you are to find out who you're supposed to be...  Truer words were never written. Being 23-26 was probably the hardest years of my life.. I learned some awful lessons, they made me stronger because of it, but they were hard lessons none the less. 26 was the most difficult to say the least … In 2008, I lost my dad and had a really rough year.. but then I found the love of my life.  And everything changed.

Fast forward to present time…  Life is Great!   Mr. Wonderful and I are about to celebrate 4 years of marriage, We have built a great life together.  I wish someone would have told me at 23 that it was all going to be okay 10 years later. 

It's the end of an era.... Goodbye Glitter & Couches!

Hello trousers & blouses!

 The time has finally come for me to move on from the land of pillows, candles, home decor & glitter.. On to a bright future with a new amazing team of ladies that I can't wait to be a part of! 

I will treasure the friendships that I have built over the past few years. And I look forward to actually getting to see everyone outside of work. 

The future is bright, I'm hopeful that I will fit into this new team like a missing puzzle piece. Everyone I have met so far has been wonderful!  

Looking forward to the next big adventure! 

A Little Reflection on this Past Week...

To say that this has been a "trying" week... Is a gross understatement.  I usually try to take things 1 day at a time, but sometimes... Several days attack me at once! 

Rude... Right?! 

I'm done dealing with & talking about this week, so I'll just leave these right here.. 

I'm ready today.. & Tomorrow begins a new week!  Let's do this! 

You're the Pea to my Pod. The Thelma to my Louise..

Thank you for knowing me the way that you do, for understanding how my brain is sometimes my worst enemy. Thank you for being the kind of person in my life that I'm not only lucky enough to call my friend, but also my mirror. You see my truth even when I can't face it.  Thank you for never making me feel like I'm walking the path alone- even if I'm pretty sure I'm on the wrong one. 

Through all of the years that we have been friends, I have always admired & respected you.  Watching you blossom into the incredible woman that you are today makes me so proud to call you my friend. 

Thank you for telling me to be the very best version of me. Everyday.  For encouraging me & reminding me to be mindful of where my energies are going.. For reminding me that sometimes it's okay to breakdown- but it's not okay to unpack & live there.  

... For being my occasional therapist.  Thank you for instilling the wisdom of Velma when I need it, and being the Thelma to my Louise when I don't. 

Thank you for encouraging me when I need it, and for telling me that I'm being absurd (sometimes I need that too) but most of all, thank you for coming back into my life & staying. You are a lifetime & I feel so blessed. 

Love love. 

The hardest thing in life is knowing which bridge to cross, and which to BURN.

There are four things that you cannot get back in life:

The stone ...after it's thrown,

The word ...after it's said,

The occasion ... after it's missed,

The time ... after it's gone.

So apologize when you should and tell those near & dear to you how much they mean to you. 

There is no do-over button, you don't always get a second chance to fix things. 

Dude, just be nice. 

The death of a friendship...

I am constantly learning things about life, and sometimes hard lessons are learned about friendships.  Recently I had to end a friendship, unfortunately the friendship had been on life-support for a few years and neither party made any heroic efforts to revive it…. 

Which brings me to the point of my post… Expiration dates! Not like spoiled milk, or moldy cheese... But let's be honest- when they expire; they can leave a bad taste in your mouth. 

 There are some who believe every friendship in your life has a “shelf-life.”   

Reason, Season, or Lifetime.

The “reason” friendships are the friendships who are in your life to teach you something or get you through something- just as you may be in their life to teach them something or get them through something.  These friends are not meant to be lifetimes, they’re meant to be there and then gone just as quickly as they arrived.  Cherish them, and respect them for what they are. Don’t try to push them into another category, one or both of you will end up with hurt feelings.

The “season” friendships are similar to the reason, but with no teachable moments.  Enjoy the hell out of those for what they are. Love hard because they won’t be in your world forever.  Again, don’t try to force them into lifetimes either.  If there is a lesson to be learned it’s that nothing lasts forever.

Lifetimes, some of us are lucky enough to have more than a few of these.  I am one of those lucky ones. I have some friends that as soon as we met; we knew we’d be together forever.  No matter where life takes us, we always pick up right where we left off, and even if it’s been a year or so since we’ve spoken… We get on the phone and it’s like not a minute has gone by.  Cherish these weirdos.  They are such a blessing!

No matter what the lifespan of the friendship, if it ends, try to end it with the respect and love in which it began.  

Positive Problems..

Is a Positive problem like a humble brag?  I think not.

I love that we have been so busy being out "doing things" with the people we care about that I have had zero time to blog about the adventures!

This is truly the best problem to have!   This summer has been WACKY busy! So busy in fact that I still haven't had time to create a blog post for our awesome St. Thomas trip from Easter! ( I will share pics soon, I promise!) So busy in fact that I didn't even get to blog about my bestie & his fantastic girlfriend who flew out & surprised me for my Birthday!

John & Candice, I love you both to the moon!. This is the first birthday John has ever been around for..  considering we've been friends for 16+ years.. (this is a huge deal) so thank you for making this happen! Can't wait for your next trip out!

We've both been working very hard, in fact; Mr. Wonderful worked some absurd number of nights.. like 40... before having a day off.  This meant we didn't see much of each other besides "high-fiving" in the hallway as we both were coming & going to work.  August brings us to our vacation! (FINALLY!!)

It was a much needed break, Augie-the-wonder-dog went to "the spa" where he was spoiled rotten & very well taken care of. (thanks JimEdd & Sharon!) and Mr. Wonderful & I took off to Sin City, where he stayed behind for his besties Bachelor Party weekend & I traveled with my brother & his family to Idaho & Montana to see our cousin get married! (Congratulations Alex & Lela!).  

Loved getting to spend extra time with these two!!⬇️ Being their Aunt is seriously the coolest gig. EVER. ❤️

We had a fantastic time spending time with our family that we don't get to see very often!  I have a feeling that will be changing, I miss them terribly!

Mr. Wonderful & I met back up & traveled to Ventura!  Home sweet home!   We got to see lots of family & friends. It was a wonderful trip!  

We also ate our weight in fantastic "ACTUAL" Mexican food! (since there isn't any in Colorado)  There was an annual  Pizza Night and a Drunk brunch.. it was a great trip home. We left with our hearts & tummies full. We will be back in a few months, and we are looking forward to watching the Future Grijalvas say their "I Do's"! ❤️

As soon as we got home from our trip, it was time for Lyndsi's Annual Pilgrimage to Colorado! We had a wonderful time with her (even though we missed the kids) and we miss her already! Can't wait for her next trip out!

How can such a simple question mean so much?

Every year, around this week; one of my close girlfriends asks me what I'm doing for my birthday.  Every year since we've lived in Colorado, they don't- because we live a bazillion miles away, and are in Colorado for said birthday. 

Here it is, birthday week & 2 of my newer friends (since moving to Loveland) have texted to ask what the plan is for my birthday. I don't quite know why, but it made my day. To be back in the groove, having girlfriends who want to share my birthday made me feel like we are where we're supposed to be & that even though I miss my California girls... That I have good friends out here too! 

So thanks girls! I hope we can celebrate soon! 💜

Today, my heart is happy... Except about what whole getting Old-er part.. Haha 

Has it really been that long since my last post?!

6 months?! 

How has it been 6 months since my last "life in Colorado" update?? Well... Here we go. 

In January I was promoted to full time Sales Leader at Pier 1, which is great- it's in the direction I want to go, but it means I live at the store 40 hours a week. With no consistent scheduling; it also means that Mr. Wonderful and I don't have as much time together as we would like. But this is just a push for us, with his startup starting soon- his work is great, but crazy. 

In April we took a much needed family vacation with my Brother & his family. I'll post all about that later, it was an incredible trip & we will cherish the memories from that trip. 

Shortly after Mother's Day we both caught whatever nasty cold went around the Colorado Tribe- but we are all recovered now... I hope. 

We've had a couple visitors so far this year- the Bray family came to visit & my aunt & uncle from Oregon came out which means we got some extra family time in! 

(Everyone with great aunt Joyce!) 

(Leslie & I with great uncle Harlan!! Some of you may remember him from our wedding. He's just awesome)  

Anyhoo, It's been a chaotic few months, but we are doing well!