One Tree Hill

You know, it's nice to realize that there is a sort of  poetry to real life, or that reality can be just as beautiful and meaningful as art.

Josh and I are taking a leap of faith and moving to California in a just a few weeks. It's where we have always wanted to end up, and this time seems like the best time. No kids, no mortgage, all healthy... why not? Even though it's probably one of the safest risks we could ever take, it's still scary.

Will I get a job? Will it be a good job? Will we ever be able to buy a house? Why do we have so many pets again?

It's exciting, terrifying, and oh, so bittersweet. I haven't really talked about it much on the internet or with people, so sometimes it still feels like a secret. Job-wise, I haven't wanted to tell the fans of the Davis County Fair, because I feel like the Davis County Fair is an entity unto itself... my own little baby that needs to float off and grow on it's own. My extreme loyalty made deciding to leave the fair very difficult. I'm less than two weeks away from my last day at the fair and my thoughts still swarm with worries about who will actually come to the concert, will the new person remember this, will the t-shirts get done on time, blah, blah, blah. Believe it or not, I have been working on detaching myself, and the awesomeness of things to come really outshines my worries. I want the fair to go on, and not skip a beat. I don't want anyone (you know, besides the people who NEED to know) to know that I'm gone... I want them to judge the fair on the fair's own merits. I hope it can be seamless, and I hope the fair fans will stay loyal, and that the fair will continue to get better.

Yes, I'm going on about an EVENT. Yes, I think of it like a freaking person. If that ain't love and dedication... then I'm just koo koo bananas. :)

And now for my personal poetry.

You probably know that my absolute favorite show of ALL time is, "One Tree Hill." I love it with all my heart. This was the last season (9 seasons... HOLLA) and I pretty much cried throughout the last several episodes. The series finale was just last week, and let me tell you- it was perfect. So perfect. Everything tied together, they had awesome throw backs, a whole lotta love, and such great music!

And just tonight I realized, "One Tree Hill" has been with me throughout all of my Utah years. And man, do those years encompass A LOT. So many stages of my life. And the show went through a similar transformation. The first few seasons were in high school, then they skipped the college years, then they even skipped some more time. They grew up and got married, and so did I. Their careers grew, and so has mine. And now I'm leaving and moving on, just as my favorite show/security blanket is ending. It really is just perfect!

At the end of the last episode, I cried... hard. I have never cried that hard about anything fictional in my life. But I felt it! Happiness, sadness, peace... all rolled into one big ball of mush. Ahhhhh, it feels good to get those kind of tears out. And then you stop and think, "I'm crying about a TV SHOW." And then Josh, hugged me and told me it was okay. He knows how much it has meant to me, and he didn't even laugh at me. I've always been touched by art in a deep way. Live concerts make me tear up, books make me cry, and even commercials can get my goat. Well, TV is art too my friends.

For me, "One Tree Hill" inspired me to improve my relationships, live each moment to the fullest, and to ultimately fight for my dreams. And here I go!

And let's be real... it's going to be AWESOME!

Can't Nobody Hold Me Down!

People have often commented on how positive I am and how happy I seem all the time. Lately, I feel like I am really trying to use the power of this positive energy for good in my life. Reading Jillian's "Unlimited" probably helped. :) Also, my quest for fabulous things has also inspired me to try and harness all the positive energy that I can towards my goal. I keep picturing what I want to happen, and not focusing on what I don't want, what I am afraid of, or even on "Plan B." So far, I think my mom might think I'm a little nutty, but I think it's working! Well, I let you know when I really find out. ;)

I have also felt the oppression of being surrounded by so much negative lately. My work place is ooooozing with negativity (extra ooo's needed!), and the world in general can just blow sometimes.

I'M OVER IT! 


Josh and I went to this Asian/sushi restaurant across the street from our house recently, and it is GOOD! It is totally affordable and delicious! We've been there twice in the last week! Last night I was like, "I've gotta write a review for this place!"

I think that positive thinking in any area of your life, can lead to good ju-ju in other areas of your life! Maybe like a "pay it forward" mentality-- benefits others and yourself.

So, today, I signed up for YELP! And I wrote a raving review about Imperial Asian Cuisine & Sushi Bar, and I plan on sharing the love to some of my other favorite places. Negative opinions tend to vocalized more frequently and more loudly, than happy, content ones, so here's to spreading the love!

And on that note...

-M

Have I Found You... Flightless Bird...

So, this blog has turned into my own personal book club. I'll have to shake it up pretty soon. But in the meantime... welcome to BOOK CLUB!

So, I read "Matched" and the day I finished it my cousin brought me "Crossed" and then I finished that the other night. BAM! I think it took me less than two weeks for those books-- pretty good for a busy gal! :)

"Matched" is the first book in the series written by Ally Condie, who also happens to live in Utah. Let me just say-- OBVIOUSLY I liked these books since I read through them so fast. That is always the sign of a good one for me. If I can't get into it, I hardly ever go back to it. I used the lyrics to a song from the first "Twilight" movie as the title to this blog, because as I was thinking about these books, I kept referring back to "Twilight." I also read all of those books super-fast... ooey-gooey romance with a crazy back story ALWAYS gets me. And it is totally the same thing with "Matched" and "Crossed!" "Matched" is just like "Twilight" in the sense that it is very much about building the love story (stories?) and teasing you with conspiracy and a great back story. My mom did not read past the first "Twilight" because of all the lovey-cheese that was pervasive throughout the book. I didn't let that hold me back. That being said, I don't think my mom would like "Matched." It's all from the 17-year old Cassia's perspective, which is a key reason why I stayed sucked in. The unveiling of the story is gradual, and it's almost as if the reader learns new information as the main character learns it. It definitely makes you stay up 'til your eyes close, because as you end each chapter you think, "What is going to happen next??"

See... cheese! Just eat it up. :) 

Now, this book ALSO reminds me of "Hunger Games." All of the people in The Society are very controlled by Society. Food portions, length of exercise, careers, recreation time, even when you die-- are all controlled and monitored by The Society. You learn as you read that after "The Warming" people decided to get rid of cancer, limit "footprints," and just maximize everything. This book is very dystopian, but the people in the world aren't as miserable as they seem to be in "The Hunger Games." Anyway-- even just that part of the story is very interesting, hence the "Twilight" reference! I loved reading about the vampire/werewolf history, and in "The Hunger Games" I thought the districts and all that stuff was fascinating. Way to suck you in to a mooshy-gooshy love story! I'm sold!

Yes, the colors of the books relate to the story!!! 

And then "Crossed" follows the Twilight novels in similar fashion-- it is more action-centered, with the quest for love propelling the action. OH! And did I mention the love triangle?? There is one, and I'm not sure who I'm rooting for. I was mosdef Team Edward... but this one is a little tricky. And now after finishing "Crossed" I don't know what to think!

I definitely recommend these books. They are a fun read, and can be quick depending on how late you stay up reading them. ;) There are lots of fun supporting characters, and the themes of the books make you really think about the things we take for granted. Things that you would never think you would need to take for granted! Writing with a pencil or pen?? Painting? Reading any poem or any book you want? In The Society, they simplified EVERYTHING and chose 100 poems, 100 books, 100 paintings, and 100 songs. Everything else was incinerated... except some stuff was able to stick around. You'll find out!!!

The last book in the series won't be released until November. Laaaaame. But that's what you get for NOT waiting for a series to end before reading all of the books.

ENJOY!
~M

Take a Look, It's in a(n)... iPod...

I finished LISTENING to ''Unlimited" by Jillian Michaels the other day. This was all thanks to my mama's Christmas gift to me of a three month audible.com membership. She is ADDICTED to Audible, so why shouldn't I be?

It was great to actually have the voice of Jillian reading her book to me, rather then just my own inner voice. Jillian definitely has a way to get you pumped up, fired up, mad in a motivating way, and then feeling reflective, all in the same moment. I really enjoyed this book for several reasons:

#1: Working it Out- Throughout the book there are sections where you get to answer Jillian's tough questions to really get at your own inner answers, dreams, problems, etc. Unfortunately, as I was "reading" I was usually driving, therefore I could not be writing. But on her website you can access all of the "Working it Out" pages, which I have done, and am continuing to do.
#2: I really enjoyed all of Jillian's examples. She has LOTS of great examples from her time on "The Biggest Loser" and also from her personal life. These really help drive  her principles and lessons home.
#3: She mosdef keeps it real. She admits her faults, and that is still working on a lot of the things she preaches about in the book. She admits that this will be HARD, but totally worth it. I like that honesty/humility in an author, especially one who has experienced so much success and has such a hot bod.

Jillian definitely asks tough questions and really forces you to dig deep. I would recommend reading this book when you are really ready to be motivated and face some of your demons. I might even listen to certain chapters again as I continue going through the "Working it Out" pages. I truly enjoyed this book and will continue to use it as a personal resource. Jillian uses a lot of quotes from Khalil Gibran's "The Prophet," so I think I'm going to have to read that book now, too! All in all, I highly recommend this book!

And now I am reading "Matched" by Ally Condie, thanks to a recommendation from my lovely cousin, who always recommends so many great books. I just started the book on Saturday and I am HOOKED! I can't wait to snuggle up in my bed and read it. Pretty sure that's what I am going to do right now...

Au Revoir!
M