The Early Bird Gets the Worm

If there's one thing I believe in, it's waking up early. 

I grew up in a household that didn't believe in Saturday morning cartoons. We were expected to be dressed, fed and ready to work by eight a.m. every Saturday morning. I didn't get to sleep in or eat a bowl of cereal in front of the T.V. before a long day of nothingness. I worked with my family. We were raised on a small "farm", if you will. We sometimes had chickens, raised cows, pigs and kept horses. I built fences with my dad and plowed the field (though on a tractor) all before lunch. It was a great experience that taught me a lot about life, just as a generalization. 

I hear about people who sleep in late and hurry to get ready for work so they aren't late. It makes me wonder how their lives are fulfilling. What is it that you do during the day to take care of yourself? I know it seems strange because, come on, you aren't at work all day. You have after work to worry about. Well, yes, worry is what you'll do.

People work all day and are tired upon leaving time. Maybe you get a quick workout in or make the excuse that you are too exhausted to work out. Then there's dinner and time spent with family or even alone. But you're still tired. You've had a long day and need to de-load. That isn't the time to have to truly relax. You watch mindless television to escape yourself. Maybe to lose yourself in someone else's story in the form of a book. There are worse things, yes, I'll admit. There is just something about mornings that you can't get from any other time of the day. 

I'm not sure if I'm a morning person per se or I just don't necessarily prefer sleep. I have blackout blinds that can make me sleep through the entire morning if that is my intention. And trust me, I have kept them shut. However, waking up at ten in the morning is a terrible feeling for me. My dad always said that the day is half over by then. I merely thought it was said in jest. A little stab at my character for sleeping in that long because he had been up for hours. I now understand the validity of his words.

Wake up early. Have some quiet time for yourself. It's the best way to get to know yourself again. Without work, distractions, crazy drivers or just being too damn hurried to even make yourself breakfast. Even if what you do in the morning is routine, set it at a pace which is conducive to clarity. 

Mornings are magical.

Read More

Blood Is Thicker Than Water

When I was growing up, I was fortunate enough to live around five minutes away from each set of grandparents. My family actually lived in the house that my Grandfather built. Needless to say, my grandparents were very involved in our lives whilst I was growing up. My dad eventually got another job when I was eighteen and we moved from our little ol' town in Utah, to a scary ghetto one in California. The absolute worst part was that I was so much farther away from my grandparents. Yes, I missed my friends. Yes, I still miss the snow. But missing family is a different kind of empty.

Losing both of my grandfathers in recent years has been difficult. Especially when I feel like I wasn't there enough and I would have liked to be. But I have had the extreme fortune of having both of my grandmas come stay with my parents for a couple months at a time, to whom I live rather close. 

Now the real reason behind this post is because I have gotten a couple different people saying things along the lines of, "Oh, that's sweet to hang out with your Grandma." And the sentiment behind it is nice! Trust me, I'm sure there's some little old lady in a rest home, cursing her grandkids because they suck and never visit or call. But believe me when I say that when I'm hanging out with my grandmas, the pleasure is all mine. I love those ladies more than life itself. And when I see movies where parents have to drag their kids, kicking and screaming, to see their grandparents, I just want to punch the kids and the parents in the throat.

I abhor seeing those motivational quotes saying stuff along the lines of "family isn't always blood" bull shit. Sometimes, I'm sure there are those who have a terrible family system. Those aren't usually the people posting this stuff. It's the people who have conflicts with their family because said family cares about them. Or their family is perfectly adequate but they keep comparing to the proverbial Jones'. Blood is thicker than water. There I said it. And it's true. Because, yes, you probably do have friends who have your back no matter what. But one's true family is everything.

Never will I regret the time I've spent with my family. Even if we're not doing anything particularly special. All the Family Home Evenings, Holidays spent together, camping and my favorite Saturday lunch dates with my dad, I will cherish until the day that I die. 

Read More

Big, Fat Slackers

So, if you remember, Emily and I started our exclusive you're-not-invited book club. (Sorry, not sorry) But we love it when people read so go ahead and secretly read along with us. Anyhow, we ambitiously set forth to read two classics during the month of October. Well, truth be told: we failed TREMENDOUSLY. Not only did we not finish both Frankenstein and Dracula in October but only yesterday (in February) did I finish only Dracula.

Now, we all get busy. Blah blah blah we're adults, we have lives, the holidays etc. I tried to read every day, even if it was only one page. But then I would realize that days had gone by without so much as reading the title of the book. Sob story over… I eventually finished and that's all that matters.

I have to say, I loved the book. Or should I say I "ended up" loving it. The story starts off slowly and builds nicely enough but there were many times during the book where I was slightly underwhelmed. Everything is told through diary entries so you aren't getting the brunt of the action, which made it interesting at times and at others, made it seem thin. I won't delve more into it, just read it for yourself!! But if you want a more in-depth review, check out this chick's review on youtube. Good stuff.

The link can be found here.

The next book we are enjoying for our February read will be Night by Elie Wiesel! And no, don't ask me how to pronounce his last name.

I actually know nothing of this book so I'm actually pretty excited about reading it and experiencing it for the first time. I got it off of the list that we found on BuzzFeed, which can be found here. Feel free to read with us and comment your feedback!

Read More