joyful {inspite of the} weather

I think the absolute B E S T April fool's trick that could have been played was definitely by the weather this year! I wish I had taken a picture but the temperature yesterday morning was over 70 degrees...oh how lovely it was too! I went out and planted some freesias in our garden, swept our apt. steps, and actually put away my snow scraper for my car (p.s. how stupid of me!)

So around two A.M. when I saw this while I was at work I was just absolutely saddened...

...yes, I whole FOUR inches on my car when I left work at 6 A.M.

Happy Monday! Here are some alive, bright, beautiful things to start the week off right!

I'm only kinda proud of my beautiful plants. And of course they smell DIVINE.
They make it feel so much like spring in my apartment even though its yucky outside!

{via}

Oh yes, I would love to have a saturday on that in a garden, reading a bit of
Jane Austen with some lemonade. Ah, summer, come quick!

{via}

Oh my goodness! Adorable! I can't wait to get our puppy in a couple months.
...and then maybe another one after that.

{via}

E. Taylor. 

Gorgeous + Confident. 

Legend + Classic

This week, I want to really focus on developing self confidence, and making your own je ne sais quoi. I really think that as women, especially in the spring (because of winter blues or holiday weight gain) we find things wrong with ourselves whether physically, emotionally, or whatnot. Everyone starts focusing on getting in shape for swimsuit season, or finding a new look to become 'confident'. Don't get me wrong, I struggle with that too. But I that why I want to explore this, for myself and others.

~M

Its time...

...to make the announcement. No, we're NOT pregnant. But we have announced to our landlord that we plan to move out at the end of May. Mainly to move closer to our parents (by fifteen minutes), to move by our friends (they all live in Pleasant Grove-you know who you are), and to get a puppy (we're still deciding on the brand so any advice or suggestions would be most welcome).

So along with the addition of a puppy(ies?) to our little family, I figured it was also a perfect time to change our blog URL! I have for a while, wanted this blog to be more than just a daily update on Jared and I's happenings. I want it to be about our family, but also about my crafts+gardening+hobbies+yoga doings. And hopefully it can become more than that as I redesign and renew it to become something to uplift. So along with changing the look and everything else, it only made sense to update the address/name as well!

Feel free to come along for the ride.

p.s. the new URL will be http://thesmithsandco.blogspot.com/

p.p.s. those who are 'follow'ers will still be updated automatically

p.p.p.s.  I am changing the URL address 4.9.11
you have been warned.

Finding the {HAPPY} in Life

 I decided to start a new concept with the blog...yes if you couldn't tell I'm trying to revamp. Extra pretty please excuse me as I do so. But please DO enjoy Thursday guest posts from now on! Below is a little tid-bit from a couple of friends of mine whose blog I L O V E. I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you take a peak... and welcome to all the visitors! Stay and explore for a bit

Hi Lovelies. Melissa asked if we’d contribute to her blog, with our ideas about how we live life to the fullest. As college students, life is busy and constantly go, go, go, but here are the ways we stay grounded and happy.

{1} Keep a journal. Harley and I S W E A R by this. We both became avid journalers last summer in Europe when we did it religiously. Find the fun in recording thoughts and dreams. There is something beautiful and intense about allowing raw emotion to spill out on paper. Let go of inhibitions. Find a favorite pen. I give you permission to buy a pretty journal—today. Do it at least once a week, and practice listening to your thoughts.

{via}

{2} Family. Don’t take them for granted. Sometimes I find it too easy to be short-tempered with my parents or siblings and regret it immediately. They’ll always be there, so enjoy every minute of it.

{3} Find balance. In order to feel fulfilled, we must achieve a balance. Force yourself to do the necessary things on the checklist before you go out and play. Work hard, play hard.

{4} Me time. Award yourself ME time. What do you love? What makes you feel alive? Find the thing and do it. Spending time for yourself will give you the rejuvenation you need to finish the menial tasks. My yoga instructor brought this quote to class:

{via}

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is more people who have come alive." Howard Thurman

{5} Live with passion. This relates to #4, but it's different. Have pride in what you do; put your heart and soul into everything. I think passion can transform nothing into something.

We would love to hear your ideas as well at Harley&Jane!

xoxo

Jane.

P.S. my flower pots are starting to grow and put out flower starts...in only a WEEK!

I knew bulbs would be where my green thumb lies.

Happy Thursday!

~M

Fellow Co-workers

I don't know how many people can say how glad they are to work where they do. I absolutely LOVE where I work. There are so few negative things, and they only have to do with the scheduling of the aides. I have made more friends at my work then I have every made it my three years of college. Or any other job previous to this one.

Most people do not like the idea of working in close proximity with lots of people on a highly personal level, or the idea of working in the health care field. The usual responses I get when I disclose that I work as a CNA at a rehabilitation facility are, "Ew, you must deal with ....a lot of crap" no pun intended. Or, "I could NOT do your job". Or, "That must be really hard". Yes my job was hard at the beginning, but like every other job, once you learn and perfect what you need to do, it becomes that much easier.

Anyways, point is I love my job, and my co-workers and it is one of those things that brings me immense joy to be able to help others.

I actually had to work on my birthday, and my friend Sandra also had to work on her birthday, which coincidentally is the day after mine. So we had a little party at work.

Sandra, isn't she just gorgeous?

Nani, the awesome-est nurse ever!

Me, Sandra, and Tori who is leaving us...FOREVER. Booo.

Cake, Cheesecake, and excluded from the photo - Pizza. We eat things like this fairly often at work, hence why I made rule #3 of my 21~4~21 (21 goals for 21st year).

Overall, best birthday ever so far!

p.s. I forgot that sweet amazing Tori gave me this for my b-day.

Love that girl!

What do you love about your work?
 What things or experiences from your life would you never change for anything?

{One year older and wiser}

This next year of my life, I want to not take one single moment, day, and experience for granted. I want to live life to the fullest, and do everything I can to make the best of every chance I have been given in this life. So the day before my b-day (Sunday) I put together twenty one goals I want to accomplish or change this year to better my life.

1. go (and continue going) to a chiropractor. My back often has a lot of aches and pains from my work, and I'd like to be feeling the best I can which means going to get my knots and ribs put back in place
2. go to yoga at least once if not twice a week. We recently watched a movie in one of my classes called The Mastery of Chi. I really REALLY think there's something behind the chinese philosophy
3. go off chocolate/ice cream/candy/cake for at least three months in the next year. Enough said.
4. stop eating out as much. Maybe twice a week. I haven't eaten a home cooked meal at our apt. in weeks...
5. go on one weekend vaca. each month
6. keep my garden pots alive
7. get a puppy....or two
8. make a budget
9. build a better savings, like one that a bank would accept for a house down payment
10. stop online shopping except for things I can only get online. Like cheap scrubs
11. do more crafts. they are so relaxing for me
12. start going on walks with my hubby each week
13. go back to not drinking carbonated drinks anymore. My BP has changed from 100/60 to 120/80. Not unhealthy, but I don't like how much its changed since I start working more
14. go visit Hawaii, New York, and California
15. Convince Jared to go to Disneyland...THIS YEAR
16. do my own manicures- acrylic nails are just to much money for what they are
17. get a hair cut at least every two months
18. start reading scriptures by myself EVERY DAY
19. only work one sunday a month
20. don't negative self talk myself
21. find new ways to love my husband, and myself.

I think that if I follow through with all of these, in a year I will be so much LESS stressed, and so much more happier!

Here are some pics from the day. Mom took me for a girls day out and we shopped till we dropped! Literally, PC, Gateway mall, Fashion Place as well.

Started off the day at one of my favorite places to eat for lunch, Rainbow Gardens. Isn't it quaint?

Yes, I'm still thinking about my glittery TOMS from Nordstroms

 Stopped by Sephora, and bought a little somethin' somethin' for myself

{Poppy by Coach if you can't tell}

and I got the best thing a girl could ask for - my long lost favorite Aunt Diane stopped by with a handmade quilt made especially for my by her and Aunt Vellis. Love those ladies!

Do you have a family member you absolutely LOVE seeing or getting visits from?

Happy Tuesday!

~Melissa

the BIG 21

The reason I've been so excited for today was that it was a monumental day...cause I turned 21! Since I had school, work, and a trip to the DMV to take up my day, its been more like a birthday party weekend instead of a birthday day. Saturday my sweetie took me to my ultimate fav. restaurant Red Rock Cafe (go there if you haven't!)

 {Yes, that is my sweetheart making faces. Can you tell he hates posing for pictures?}

and ordered my ultimate fav. food... fried green tomatoes. Mmm! Then we went and saw limitless, which was a great movie in the fact it was fast paced, but I hated HATED the ending. Oh well, not all endings are as amazing as Inception's was.

Today for my actual birthday my hubby took me to Cafe Rio which is just divine. Pork Salad, yes please! It just breaks my heart when I hear that its only in a couple states. People don't know what they're missing out on! Then I helped Jer hand pick some lovely birthday items for me from Cherry Lane Boutique.

{Cute scarf and earrings that I am going to LOVE!}

Love that place! I can always find great things. In general, I just love boutiques. I completely prefer them over department stores, and shops at the mall because everyone goes into those places, and boutique are more indigenous to the area.

Ah thanks honey, SUCH a surprise!

 {Just fyi, it was NOT that much.}

How was this for a cute outfit to go to the DMV?

{See those cute shoes? They're from DSW via my momma}

All in all, a great birthday so far! Tomorrow: shopping with my madre ALL DAY in PC. Any good places I should go? New stores other than those in Tanger Outlets?

Surprise Me

This spring I decided to reach out into the blogging world and meet some other people who love posting their opinions+thoughts+dreams+worries into the world for all to see. i stumbled upon this Spring Blog Swap on J&K where Katie (blog hostess extraordinaire) paired us up with other ladies who wanted to do this fun adventure. The rules were 10$ worth of spring things that we LOVE by a certain date.

I got paired with Mandy at HippyChic whose blog I seriously enjoy reading! Who knew you could have so many hobbies and interests in common with someone who is a little over 1600 miles away? I literally was racing home hoping to find a package waiting each day this week. It finally came on Friday and look how cute she packaged it!

 It's kinda blurry-sorry!

Look at all the good things she sent me! I love nail polish, and chocolate in crazed amounts. and some awesome sunflower seeds to plant! Hallelujah! What are you looking forward to this spring?

...I'm personally looking forward to tomorrow.