Good Byes and Nature

Good byes are never easy. You never know what to do or say to make the ease of saying good bye to someone you care about better. Whether it’s saying good bye and knowing you will see a loved one in the near future or saying good bye forever, they’re much easier said than done. I have two friends leaving town this week. One is moving back to Arizona, which isn’t to far but still isn’t as close as I want my best friend to be. The other is moving to Australia for 6 months which is entirely much too far for comfort to say the least. Then there is also my sister who is leaving this week to go to South Africa for a week and that’s much too far as I’m concerned as well. Though I will miss all these wonderful people with all my heart I know that they are going to do amazing things with their lives and make great impacts on others. I plan on trying to retain this thought process and be positive throughout the whole good bye stage even though I know tears will flow at some point.

Then on to nature, I know the two don’t relate but as you’ve probably noticed, none of my blogs with two separate subjects relate. I know I have said a few things about the environment and nature in previous blogs but my inner tree-hugging self seems to have a hard time retaining itself. I just really want to make a point to enjoy nature and everything we are surrounded by on this beautiful life. We really are blessed by our environment. I also want to make a point that we really need to watch how we throw away trash and to make sure we are recycling as often as possible. I know it may seem like you aren’t having a big impact individually, but you really are, especially if you friends or neighbors see you do it too, you can create a community of recyclers which would be amazing. Photo Credit.

When’s the last time you separated your plastics and glassware from your regular trash?

 

Mission Trips and Brunch

Life changing moments are rare but always unforgettable. My lovely little sister made the choice to go on a mission trip at the end of this month to South Africa. She has wanted to go help serve others for as long as I can remember so it honestly fills my heart with joy to see how excited she is to take this step. Not to mention I am also terrified for her to travel across the Atlantic Ocean and be in a country she’s never been in, with who knows what could go wrong. I am doing my best to stay positive though because I know it’s going to be such a great experience for her and I know she will come back feeling so happy and blessed to have helped others who need it.

And who can forget one of the best meals of any given weekend; brunch. Even though it’s sort of a made up meal group I consider it the best. Especially when it’s with your friends who you’ve had that privilege of spending the whole summer with, but now have to go back to different states or countries and live their own lives again. It’s those little things like having your ‘last meal’ with the people you love and sincerely appreciating it because you don’t know when you will see them next.; especially when it’s over some mimosas and an eggs benedict or French toast. The combination of both makes a great start to any day. When’s the last time you made a point to have brunch or take the chance to go do something amazing with your life? Photo Credit.

 

Paddle Boards and New Cars

It’s not every day that you are able to enjoy unique experiences with the ones you love so it’s always a good choice to truly app reciate it. This last weekend my mom and sister went up to Lake Tahoe with me and tried paddle boarding for the first time. I’ve done it many times before and I thought they would really enjoy it. We made it a day trip and the day was flawless. The weather was absolutely beautiful and they both succeeding in paddle boarding for the first time which was awesome. It’s so heartwarming to see your family completely content with no worries in the world. It’s always a good idea to take a step away from your normal hectic life and go somewhere beautiful to try and forget your worries for the at least a day. Photo Credit.

My next subject is new cars. I recently made the choice to buy my first car all by myself. It was a big decision in the adult world because I did it on my own and knew that it was going to be my complete responsibility once I made the purchase. I ended up turning my old car in and getting money back for it to then get a new Chevy Malibu. It was such a satisfying experience, especially when I had good enough credit so that then I didn’t even need a co-signer. It’s the little things in life like having those moments where you feel accomplished and feel happy about yourself for something that you normally wouldn’t do. You need to step out of your comfort zone every once and awhile because most of the time it will be a good choice and maybe even lead to better things. When’s the last time you did something positive that was out of your comfort zone?

 

Managers and Watermelon

Managers aren’t usually a positive subset to talk about but sometimes there are exceptions. My managers at both of my jobs are both so awesome and are sincerely good at their job. They care about their employees and make sure that everyone is doing what their supposed to be doing in a positive way. They even bring breakfast/lunch/dinner for us for no reason at all. It makes me happy that I have such optimistic influences in my life, especially since that’s the direction that I’m heading in. It helps me to know what kind of a manager I want to be in the future and how I want to handle things in a productive way.

Then onto the subject of watermelon; it easily makes summer the best season. It’s so delicious and refreshing on any occasion. Whether it’s just cut up or made into a margarita, they’re always enjoyable. It’s the little things in life like realizing that you do work with amazing people even though you hate your job, or a little taste of your favorite fruit. There’s so much to appreciate in life and so many things to remember not to take for granted.

 

Hikes and Best Friends

This weekend I was able to enjoy the beauties of nature around the Tahoe area while taking a hike with my best friend. It’s so nice to get up early in the morning when it’s peaceful and when you know you have the whole day ahead of you. It’s also the fact that you get to spend the whole day hiking with your best friend and really appreciating life and all it has to offer goes along with the subject of my blog; enjoying the little things in life and the moments that you know you can’t replace and that you will remember forever. Then, when you finally reach the top and take a look at all you have a accomplished and how far you’ve come, (in life and/or your hike), all is well in the world and you feel so content with every aspect in your life.

This weekend also made me really realize how much I appreciate my best friend and how much I enjoy her company. She goes to college in a different state so I don’t get to see her as much as I would like to but she’s been able to spend this whole summer in town and I have sincerely loved every minute we are able to see her. It’s the little things that you take advantage of and then realize how much it is actually appreciated when it’s gone. Like for example when she goes back she won’t be a 10 minute drive away when we need to talk and gossip about our love lives. I won’t have someone who it always up to be my wingman when we go out on the town, and I won’t be able to get that comforting best friend hug whenever I need one most. It’s these little things though that make me appreciate the times we do get to spend together and makes all of the memories we create so much more meaningful. Photo Credit.

When’s the last time you truly appreciated the company of your best friend?

Work and Flowers

Sitting here at work, doing homework instead of my other work priorities I realize that it’s not so bad. Why do we all dread Mondays and going to work so much? Shouldn’t we be at least a little happy that we even have a job that pays us? Even though I know our daily lives are stressful as it is and that taking 8 hours out of your day to go work in another stressful situation is almost too much to handle. We have to appreciate the little fact that those of us who do have concrete jobs don’t have it so bad at all. We should be thankful we even have a job and some income of money that either feeds ourselves or supports others. I also think we should separate work from our home lives. Sure we could have terrible bosses, clients, and/or coworkers, but we should let it ruin our entire day, especially when you get to go home to a family who adores you or even to your dog. There’s always point and time of day where you should stop, take a deep breath, and be thankful for everything you do have, even if it feels like nothing’s going right.

And now to my next subject of flowers; I know I have blogged about flowers before but I feel like they’re such a beautiful part of nature and they’re too hard to ignore. Whether you are witnessing them outside in their own environment or receiving them from someone who cares about you, they’re definitely something to appreciate. ‘Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature.’  The only bad thing about flowers is that they don’t get to share their beauty for as long as they should be able to because without enough water, nutrients, and sunlight they eventually die. In this aspect they can sort of be related to people because we need certain things like food, water, and people who care about us so that we can lead happy, healthy lives. Photo Credit.

 

Family and Red Velvet Cheesecake

One of the things that I am so appreciative of in this life is the love and support my family continually gives me, and not to mention the rare, one of a kind, homemade dinners I get when I go to visit. I have no idea what I’d be doing or where I would be without them by my side all of these years. It’s the little things like being able to drive across town to get a hug from mom, have a beer with dad, and have story time with my little sister. I take that for granted in an aspect because many people live very far from their family and sometimes only get to see them once a year. With that, I feel so fortunate to have them so close by.

Not to forget to mention that my family always makes an effort to prepare my favorite homemade meals whenever they know I’m coming to visit. They love to treat me to my mom’s own recipe of lasagna, (which is the best thing on the planet). This always makes me feel loved and appreciated because they put so much effort into the time they get to spend with me. It’s so important to remember the people who love you and to thank them on a daily basis for everything they have done for you. Even if it’s a little thing like someone thinking to bring you home your favorite cheesecake, red velvet preferably from the Cheesecake Factory, even though they’ve had a long night at work; it’s those little things like knowing you were on someone else’s mind that mean the most. Photo Credit.

Go spend time with your loved ones and don’t forget to count your blessings.

 

Thunderstorms and Snugglers

Nothing really compares to afternoon summer thunderstorms and the smell of rain. Though you may end up getting soaking wet, it’s still an amazing aspect of nature to truly enjoy. Even seeing the ransom spurts of lightning can make you stare at the sky with awe. And then after the storm there is a sense of calmness and the lovely smell of rain which completes the whole process. It’s the little things in life like that, that make you happy inside without even noticing. Nature has such a powerful effect on those who appreciate it, and since this is the only planet we have the privilege of living on, we should acknowledge all it has to offer. Photo Credit.

You can also never go wrong with cuddling up in a blanket during a thunderstorm and watching it through the window while enjoying a delicious Snuggler, (see below for ingredient details). This yummy hot chocolate drink goes great with any occasion, even if you are just by yourself. It’s also nice to just have some peace and quiet in your life, even if it’s only as long as the storm outside. It’s the little things like having time to yourself and forgetting the worries of your sometimes chaotic life. Alone time is always needed, even if you’re an extrovert type of person, remembering who you are and how wonderful your life is can always put you in a positive mood.

Snuggler

¾ oz. Mint Schnapps

5 oz. Hot Cocoa

1 tbsp. Whipped Cream

1 tsp. sugar

 

Directions Pour peppermint schnapps and cocoa into an irish coffee cup, and sweeten to taste. Gently float cream on top, sprinkle with grated chocolate, and serve.

Make sure to take a moment and enjoy the next thunderstorm you see!

Dust and Country Music

After a very fun and eventful 3 day weekend at night in the country it’s safe to say I made many memories I’ll never forget and I’ve never been so happy to take a shower. Camping out it the desert for 3 days makes you realize that there are a lot of things to be thankful for. It really makes you appreciate the wonderful friends who made it a great experience, how beautiful Nevada sunsets are, and how worthy water is. It is also safe to say that I am very fortunate that I have a lovely comfy bed which my body can’t wait to sleep on – the ground is very hard, and not to mention very dusty. It will definitely be a relief when we finally get all of the dust off our bodies, cars, and every other object we took there with us.

Besides being covered in dust the whole time, night in the country is a great way to have a little getaway weekend, especially when you go with a big group of fun friends. You socialize during the day and then at night they have country music concerts which always lead to a good time. Then usually around that time you can look to the sky and see an amazing Nevada sunset. It’s perfect. And it really makes you appreciate the life you have and the people who surround you and make your life complete. It also lastly makes you feel thankful for the luxuries you have at your own home, like running water, your bed, and countless other things. It was definitely a long an exhausting weekend but I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. Photo.

When’s the last time you looked at your life and realized just how wonderful it actually is?

 

Beer, Hugs, & Oreos

Again we are on the topic of two contrasting subjects but who doesn’t like a beer every now and then or a delicious double stuffed Oreo to complete a meal? They’ll both relate by the end of this post, I promise. We’ll start off by remembering how lovely it is to take a break from our daily lives and have a couple brews with people who bring out the best in us. For myself, it’s always either with my family or my close friends. Whether I am in need of cheering up or just ready to have a stress free night, they are always by my side. Not to mention they are always the ones to comfort me and give me heart-warming hugs whenever they have the chance. I like to think that hugs are a little, important things in life because they let people know that others do actually care about you. Just a simple hug can help bring back your happiness and let yourself be reminded that life isn’t too harsh, especially when you have loved ones around you. And who’s to say that a beer or two couldn’t do the same because along with brews comes good company and you can never go wrong with that.

Then we come to why Oreos are in my title.. There so many little things in life that we tend to miss or fail to appreciate that it’s almost overwhelming to actually think about. Like how happy you get when you take an Oreo out of the bag and twist the crackers apart and end up with all of the cream in the middle, perfectly set on one side. You don’t realize how accomplished you feel. I realized this watching my roommate become too entirely happy when she separated an Oreo perfectly. This made me start thinking that if we all became THAT excited about the little things that happen in our lives, then our days would be so much better and we would be in all around better moods. Without the normal comforts of food, drinks, and people we would be as happy as we could be. We needs to realize and appreciate our connections and what brings us all together, as well as focus on the small things that bring a smile to our faces, without us even knowing.

What brings a smile to your face?

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