The EveryGirl!

Okay, so I got this book called The EveryGirl's Guide to Life by Maria Menounos, and it is so good!  I got it because I really like Maria and I saw her promoting her book and she talked about all the recipes she included in the food section...and I am a sucker for a good recipe...Well anyways, I have read the whole thing, and while some of it is definitely things I know and have heard a hundred times, she has some incredible ideas about managing your life and keeping it all together.  After reading it, I have decided that it would be fun...especially on my blog, to go through her book and apply all of her hints and skills in my own life...so here goes!

Chapter 1: Organization
Maria's motto: Organization is the key to happiness...meaning that you cannot truly experience full happiness if your mind is always elsewhere...thinking about the things you need to do or fix or organize.  She says to start with organizing your physical house. 
My Work Part 1: Bedroom. So, considering that I have moved my stuff around quite a bit in the last three years, I feel like I have been pretty good about getting rid of stuff...I also have had a lot of time to organize different parts of my house...however, sometimes it is not sustainable...and I end up re-organizing every few weeks, with chaos in between...another Maria motto...Lazy people always end up working the hardest...and yep that can definitely be me...so I need to organize my house in a way that is sustainable, in a way that is easy upkeep!..
Therefore, yesterday I went to work...thus far I have only did my bedroom, but what a difference.  I got rid of so much...that I didn't even know I had...and sometimes I tend to add clutter, thinking that it is decoration...nope got rid of it! A cleaner life is a life better lived(another Maria motto)...So anyways, my closet is still in the works but it already looks 100 times better...and I even talked Jordon into helping me make a shoe rack...it was seriously so easy, and took him only a few hours! I was also able to turn a lot of my old things into organization boxes...so I didn't even have to spend much money!! plus! I also got a few long boxes for under the bed for wrapping stuff and winter clothes...made a huge difference in my closet...Now I know some may ask, why don't I put extra stuff in any of my spare bedrooms, well my absolute pet peeve is when people are visiting and there is a full closet of stuff, and stuff all around the bedroom....I want them to feel like they are at a hotel :)....however, I did take this to heart, because I do not have an office and three extra bedrooms, so the back room I will convert into some office/storage area...since it is a very rare occasion where all three bedrooms are full! So, I hope I have inspired you...girls go get this book, you will be happy you did...Ridding your bedroom and bathroom, where you spend so much of your day, of clutter will lead you to be more stress-free!
Here is some pics of the process...

Really, Champ...

What I turned around to wake up to this morning....

Little Chelsea Lesson

I learned in a book recently, and I also have learned through my bible study, that people aren't always who they seem to be, and they do not always want the best for you.  I think that girls especially tend to think of everyone in their lives as being kind-hearted, and looking out for their best interest.  Nothing could be further from the truth. I have come to this realization over the last five years after dealing with friends and people I thought were close to me, and Jordon for that matter.  In the book I am reading, the author refers to these people as vampires, who suck the life out of you.  They may be friends with a negative outlook, jealous friends, or people who are two-faced(acting like your bestie, but really praying for your downfall).  Women tend to hold onto these people and believe that they are truly going to change, or that deep down they love or like you.  They won't, trust me.  In order for me to finally explain this to myself, after realizing it for years, I began to go back to my roots and think of it in terms of sports.  I will share this insight with you.

Everyone can group the people around them into two groups. One group is the supporters.  These people genuinely support your life and effort.  Lets take for example one of my athletes, Julia, who is the best jumper on the team, if not best athlete, and is only a freshman. Her support team consists of her three coaches, a few upper classmen teammates who help her, her parents, and her two best friends who come to watch her each week.  The other group, "the vampires" can be called the competition.  Julia's competition is the other team, teammates who want to beat her, and other random friends.  Now Julia is so sweet, that if you asked her, she would say everyone is her friend, i.e. everyone is on her support team.  Little does she know the jealousy that is raging around her from her abilities. 

Now, where we women fall is when we seek out help and support or even just friendship from the competition.  We wouldn't ask them to tell us what we are doing wrong when we run, or ask them how to be faster.  They would most likely tell us the opposite.  We are asking for a let down.  Then, on the other hand, we sometimes don't seek out our support team until its too late because we tend to think we already  know what they will say (which is probably your answer)...So sum up my little lesson, I challenge you to build your support system and let go of the vampires!  Now I don't want you to get on the phone and de-friend all of the people in your life who you wouldn't consider a support member.  Try to strengthen the relationships of your supporters, and lesson those of vampires.  Be kind, but don't invest in them.  They are not worth it, and will only waste your time and energy, making you less capable of being the rockstar you are!  I wish I would have known this years ago!

Champers!

So I forgot to tell you guys about Champ in my last post! We got him booties for hiking! When we put them on....it was hilarious...please ignore the giggling on my part...you know me! haha

Joshua Tree!

SO, we just got back from our annual trip to Joshua Tree with my amazing family. And while we seemed to have some strange and unfortunate things happen, we had a great time.  For those of you who are not familiar with Joshua Tree, it is an incredible rock mountain in the middle of the desert...The average temperature was about 95 degrees, so we definitely got our heat fix for awhile.  Although, Jordon did tell me, while complaining about the heat, that I would soon be complaining about the cold...and he was right...it got cold when we got home :)!So...the unfortunate things.  Well, let me tell you, I always new my husband would be an incredible fireman. However, this weekend he showed that if you were injured you definitely want him on your side, as his football speed really payed off.....On our way up to Joshua Tree we were right behind a car that had cruise control on going up hill.  It was behind a good size tow truck with a few cars in tow.  This truck was going about 40 up the hill...the car going about 80... she didn't see the truck and slammed into the back of the truck, she then flung across the road and slammed into the center divide. Now I have seen a car wreck before and witnessed minor ones....but I had never been this close to the actual accident.  Well Jordon stayed calm parked our car in a position that would ensure safety of the victim, put on the hazard lights, and had the girl's door open before I even had time to call 911. Not to mention the door was dented shut...but since the car was smoking pretty badly he wanted to have it open so he put his feet on the side and pulled until it came off....unfortunately, the girl was hurt pretty badly and we were in an area where there was not a town for many miles.  We..or Jordon had to sit with her for about 12 minutes until the cop came...I remained at a good distance...Jordon however had to keep her awake as she was in an out of consciousness...not to mention her femur had come through her skin and jeans...and her teeth were missing...so we were all a little shaken up...but we made it and then finally got to Joshua Tree! We had a great time on Saturday and were all celebrating one of the women's 50th birthday...right as we brought the cake over....one of the kids came running through the campsite screaming that one of the other kids had fallen and hit his head....everyone took off....but I will tell you, Jordon got there a good 30 seconds before everyone....I had never seen anybody move so fast...he already had wrapped gauze on the kids head and had inspected him by the time everybody else got there...fortunately the boy had a only a minor concussion and fractured collar bone...as it looked and could have been much worse...so by Sunday, we were ready to head home...driving and being very safe! Although Sunday morning we hiked to an oasis and it was amazing!!

CHARACTER!

So I heard this fabulous little quote yesturday..."it's about striving to do your best, to be your best, CHARACTER, it's about the try"...

I believe that Character is everything in life...in all of my little notebooks and journals and bible studies, if you look, somewhere you will find something along the lines of, "Character, what happens when nobody is looking"...this is because I am always thinking about Character.  It is so important in the way we live...and the way we become better Christians. Both of these lines help me know that I will never be perfect, I will never be sin-free, but I can still yearn and try my best to be the best I can be in all areas of my life!

Educational woes....

So the life of the educator in Southern California is hard. There is a story going around right now that is making a lot of San Diego teachers extremely mad.  For me, it does not make me mad, but more saddened that this is the way of the world.  Recently the county of San Diego has decided to lay off more than 2,000 teachers.  This isn't office personal or bus drivers, this is classroom teachers...the educators of America's youth.  If even one or two teachers from a school gets laid off, which doesn't seem like much, that can severely impact classroom size...if there are 90 4th graders split between 3 teachers, its 30 in a class, which is a lot, but can be done....90 fourth graders split between 2 teachers....45 students is not really do-able, and all students will suffer(this is what is happening in inner cities, like LA, Detroit, etc, where some classroom sizes are upwards of 55 students...in elementary, trust me if you think they are getting educated, 55 8 or 9 year olds is not do-able for any one teacher)...So as you can see laying off 2,000 teachers is an incredibly harmful amount. But where is the story...aren't teachers are always getting laid off? Well, the thing is that the county just finished completion on a foot bridge over a bigger road downtown, it will lead people from the gas lamp to the ocean, without having to use the cross walk...because the cross walk is hard for some, I suppose.  While it is a nice bridge, visually appealing, and I am sure very useful...it cost the city $3 Million...Now I am not a mathematician...but if San Diego has 3 million laying around for a foot bridge, it seems as though they would have a little bit more laying around for education...So, I am not complaining, just presenting the facts...and seeing if it all adds up...because I know stories like this are all-over the U.S....Jordon read an article that said that California Spends more on its prison system than its education system each year...that seems ironic...don't ya think :)

Soul Surfer

So...I also wanted to tell you about this truly amazing movie I watched yesturday.  Jordon and I went to see Soul Surfer.  It was so amazing that I tried to get my husband to go back today! This movie is so incredible and so spiritual.  It taught me so many wonderful things about life and living your life through Christ.  This young girl faces adversity with such Faith and integrity that is an inspiration to watch her. In the movie they constantly refer to the fact that you can do "all things through Christ who strengthens you".  This is incredibly motivating because at one point this young girl thinks that because she cannot win the competition that she is being let down, that she can't do it.  When in actuality, she is surfing, and the Lord has allowed her to do all things.  She soon realizes this fact and then embraces it.  In this movie they also talk a lot about perspective.  When you take a really close look at something, like a situation in your life, you may only see failure, heartbreak, or discontent.  However when you get a broader perspective, you see that your hardships or struggles may have brought someone into your life, they may have brought your family closer together, they may have given you a more compassionate heart, or they may have made you lean more on Jesus.  In this way you can see that the struggle, while difficult, had a positive result! So....see this movie! It was so good, and had a great cast as well!

*And then, later that night we watched 127 hours...so needless to say...we are very thankful for our limbs :)

Jordamp!

Have I told you how much I love my husband and Champ (Jordamp)! They are so amazing! My husband is such a hard worker, and even though he is on strike right now, he is never lazy, nor does he ever complain.  He does his best everyday and loves his family!  His attitude is an inspiration to me! and...well...Champ is kind of cranky right now so I won't go on and on about him ;) We find out tomorrow about whether or not they have to go back soon, so pray that whatever happens is the best scenerio!

LEMONADE

Cliche' for the day...When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!
I am in a period in my life where I feel like I am at a complete standstill.  It isn't necessarily bad, nor is it bubblegum and lollipops.  I have an amazing family, many friends, a beautiful home, and a healthy body.  When in my life did begin to think I need more?   Instead of soaking in all my blessings each and every day and thanking God for this beautiful life, I think of what it could become or what it will be.  Currently, I am teaching, and I am also coaching hurdles at the high school to a group of great kids.  This results in long days without a lot of pay.  Therefore, while I like what I do, I dream of the days when my paycheck exceeds my gas bill for the month.  This makes me ancy in the things I am doing, instead of enjoying them and doing them with passion and enthusiasm.  I have been influenced by monetary goals, instead of happiness and life's passion.  My goal for the next few months is to simply be content with the place I am in right now, not with the place we may be in next month.  Please do this with me and share the blessings that come from it!! Also, I am doing a great bible study with my mom about letting go of my plans and giving them to God.  This is a blessing for this time in my life...and really suits for the problems that I have on a day to day basis. 
So...The things in my life are the lemons God has handed me...and I am going to make some D*#@ good lemonade :)
Not too mention....one of my favorite things is lemonade!

And since we are on the topic of Lemonade...I have some agave syrup in my pantry that I have been going to put into fresh squeezed lemon juice to try to make a  healthy lemonade...I will keep you informed of how it turns out!

Yay!

So... my friends came recently and we had the most incredible time...we did like everything and we had a blast!!! The two that came were Allison & Julie and they are the most fun, hip chicks I know! They brought their boyfriends this time, AJ & Barry and woohoo they were a great time too!!! We may have over done it a few times but we got some rest too ;)...Now, the three of us have decided to do a triathlon in Folsom in August! I can't wait!...girls it's on!

Aren't they the most....to say the least!!!

Okay, so I know I always say I am going to start blogging more....so in order to make sure that happens I am going to be leaving facebook to have more time to work on my blog and writing :)...so farewell my facebook friends! I love you & I'll be back again someday, I need a break!