Taking Care of Your Body

I wrote this a week ago and never published it: I did go to the gym last night.  I got off of work at 9 PM and was able to dash over to make it for the hip hop class. I love hip hop dancing as a form of getting my heart rate up and burning some calories.  It just makes me feel so great!  I find myself hitting hard and throwing myself into moves while I imagine I am actually really good and performing on So You Think You Can Dance.  I absolutely looove that show!  I convinced hubby to get a DVR specifically for that show (but don't worry I record lots of other great ones too, haha).  Do any of you watch it?  I love watching dancers bust a move with an incredible amount of talent and athleticism.  I wish that I could dance like that.

I think that a big part of taking care of yourself means taking care of your body.  The easiest way to take care of your body is by doing active things that are fun!  It's so easy to get in the habit of watching shows like So You Think You Can Dance and remembering the days that you use to have energy.  That is one reason why I recommitted to the gym, to increase my energy so that I could start having fun being more active again.  When

Your body is the home of your spirit and your soul.  In order to have balance physically, emotionally, and spiritually you have to make sure you are taking care of yourself.  Be active, eat fruits and veggies, drink lots of water, and then suddenly as your more aware of your physical needs your spirit and soul become more and more alive!

During this time of year, I think it is really hard for people to slow down and take care of number one.  Are you remembering to take care of yourself?  Are you trying to create a balance physically, emotionally, and spiritually?  If you've been neglecting your own needs, I recommend you jump-start your recommitment to your own well-being.  Do something like go for a walk, drink more water, go get a massage, take time to relax or meditate. I wish you a balanced December :)

Wednesday, December 9, 2009 update:
I just wanted to let you know that I have been going to the gym every day (except I took the weekend off) woo hoo!  It feels SO good to be more active.  My body is a little bit sore, but I can feel it thanking me every day.  I believe more and more that in order that my physical health affects me emotionally and spiritually.

Today is the First Day of My Commitment

I have been on a health program for over a month that has allowed me to feel really good about myself.  Let's just say I was able to lose a comfortable amount of weight and inches.  Maybe someday I will be brave enough to post my before and after pictures?  But honestly, probably not because I took them for myself not ever planning on sharing them.  Needless to say, now that I have lost the weight I gained over the summer (remember that little freak out I had?) and a pound or two extra, I am excited to keep my momentum going.  Today I am going to the gym, and now that I have the hang of healthy eating I cannot wait to get toned muscles and a flat tummy!  Usually once I commit to going to the gym I am pretty good at going.  However, I haven't really been to the gym since before I got married!  Therefore, I am a little nervous about my new commitment.  That is why I am telling you, my friends, because since I have said I will do it out loud I now have to keep my commitment.

The hottest I have ever felt in my entire life was when I lived in Hawaii and spent every free day at the beach in a swimming suit.  I'm going on a cruise over Christmas break, and I hope to "relive" that feeling!  Wish me luck!

Image taken from a Women's Heath Article.

Giveaway! Blog Designs Etc.

April Showers Blog Design is having a HUGE giveaway and celebrating her OPEN waiting list that starts January 1st! April not only does blogs - but also invitations, announcements, calendars, cards, business cards, custom illustrations, and so much more! Just by pasting this paragraph on my blog I'm a winner! www.aprilshowersblogdesign.com




I am so excited about this!! The sooner you comment, the better your prize!! So hurry!


Love,
Newlyidentified

Never to Late to Give Thanks

Thank you everyone for the Happy Anniversary wishes :) you made me smile.  November seemed to go by SO quickly!  Hubby and I were able to go "home" to spend Thanksgiving holiday with my family, which was wonderful.  I always love the feeling I get when I go home.  It always helps remind me of things that I am grateful for, and it really jump-started the whole "holiday spirit" for me.

I am thankful for:
My husband
My family
My in-laws
My friends
Our neighbors and friends we have made together as newlywedsOur health
My employment offers
My bachelor's degree from BYU
My blog
My twitter/blogger friends
Our Christmas decorations
The diet I just did that was incredibly successful (I'll tell you more later)
Our beautiful first "home" aka the 1 bedroom apt we live in
Our dishwasher and washer/dryer
The memories I made and experiences I had while I was single
My passions and future passions
My entrepreneur drive and ambition
The knowledge that I am a daughter of God, and He loves me and He loves you.
Forgiveness, so that I can start over and strive to be a better person every day.

Seriously, my list goes on forever.  I know that this post is a little bit belated, but ever since Thanksgiving day when I began thinking of my blessings I can't help but express gratitude.  What are you grateful for?

1 Year Anniversary!

I can't believe that hubby and I celebrated our one year anniversary this past weekend.  It just seems like the last year has gone by SO fast!  Not only that but it seems like we are still trying to learn the same lessons over and over again.  That's just the way life is right?  Nonetheless, I am so grateful that we have had such a wonderful year together.  We have been able to create so many memories: our wedding day/receptions,

moving in to our first "home,"

honeymoon in the Caribbean,

our first Christmas,

first New Years,

a trip to Canada,

a romantic first Valentine's Day, hubby meeting my brother for the first time when he came home from his mission, hubby getting into the Golden Key Association and business school,

my college graduation,

a road trip for my birthday,

first family reunions on both sides,

4th of July fireworks, a month in Washington working, tons of game nights and hang outs with our new group of newlywed friends,

hubby getting accepted to the business strategy program, hubby's birthday,

my first career offer, a Halloween party,

and a fantastic Anniversary celebration!!  For our Anniversary we went to the Marriott in Park City and loved having a weekend away.  But it gets better, my hubby got us tickets to go to the So You Think You Can Dance Live Tour!  He knows how much I love the show so it was so awesome!  We even had second row seats.  Our Anniversary was the most amazing weekend ever.  I love my husband so much! I am filled with joy looking back at this last year and seeing all of the wonderful memories we have made.

It's a Man's Job

It's that time of year. The time of year where I change my car tires to studded snow tires.  My sweet husband made an appointment for me to go to Les Schwab to do both my tire changeover and the free alignment we won from them at the BYU football game on Saturday.  My appointment starts about now.  I went a little early and learned that it will take and hour and a half!  What the!?  I don't have an hour and a half to sit around at the tire place, and no one is available to pick me up.  How sweet of my husband to schedule it when he isn't around to help me (by making sure I'm not stranded), and even sweeter that he didn't tell me it was going to be an hour and a half!  haha, I don't really mind I'm just giving him a hard time.  I came home because (1) I didn't have a cell phone to entertain me that whole time, and (2) we all know it always takes longer than they say.  Besides....isn't this a man's job?  I thought I was off the hook once I got married ;)

Again, I am just teasing.  But seriously, it got me thinking about things that are the "man's job" versus the "woman's job."  What are some things that you think are definitely "a man's job."


Ugh, hubby just called...I guess I'm going to get my tires changed.

What I Have Been Up To

I have been neglecting you for a very long time.  It's funny because I started this blog to help me "rediscover myself" by trying to define my new identity out-loud (or in writing) with you, my readers.  But, the funny part is that the ambiguity of my blog caused me to take a break from writing to sort out my blogging identity. haha! It all seems very silly really.  Ultimately, I have decided that my uncertainty in all of this has been rather unnecessary.  The fact that I am trying to determine my new "place" in life really is what defines me.  So, I guess I have found my temporary identity:
I am a "blogger having an identity crisis." ha! :)

Professional Life

Now that we have determined that, I guess I will tell you everything that I have been up to.  I have been smack in the middle of the long post-college interview process with a few companies.  I am applying to Retail Management Training Programs.  I am excited about it, and think that it's a position I would do really well in.  I am amazed at how long the application process really is. While I was a student all I did was apply, interview, and then I either had the job or I didn't.  Now I do a pre-screen questionnaire, interview, post-screen test, second interview, receive an offer, accept the offer or negotiate, and basically it takes forever!  I am having a great experience though and things are going very well.  I have also joined the BYU Recent Graduate Alumni board and I am having a blast being involved with that.  We plan and implement activities like Professional Networking Luncheons, social/culturalal events, lecture series, and it is so fun!  I have also started running my Mary Kay business again, which has been tons of fun.  I love the positive influence that Mary Kay has on my life.  If you are interested, you are welcome to visit my website here.  I have been thinking a lot about the Mary Kay Foundation, which is a charity that gives tons of grants to help research cancers that affect women and to help fight against domestic violence.  I am totally interested in both of these causes, and I think I will start a fundraiser soon.

Personal Life

I have been having a blast celebrating birthdays lately.  My brother's was last weekend and my husbands is next weekend.  I have planned something I am really excited about for next weekend but I can't tell you yet.  It is a surprise and I have no idea if my hubby reads this blog or not.  I don't think he does, but just in case!  Other than birthdays, we are also celebrating marriages! We are going to my cousin's wedding this week.  In addition to birthdays and weddings, we have just been loving the game nights that we have every week with our friends.  It is such a blast getting together with other couple's for games.  It's also entertaining to see how each of us interacts with our spouse when the competition gets tough!  Soon we will be celebrating a year of marriage! Holy cow that went by fast! So that is a very summarized version of what I have been up to.

I'm not going to lie, I have missed blogging and tweeting like crazy!  If you read this, please comment and say hello :)  I hope to be delivering some blog posts with substance very soon.

The Next Step

I have been sick for the last few days, which makes looking for employment not very enticing. Part of me wants to stop looking so hard and just "settle" for a job so I appear as though I am being productive. I strongly dislike appearing as though I am unproductive. My husband is sitting at our kitchen table listening to his music through his headphones while doing his homework. I have no idea how he does both at the same time, I could never pull that off while I was in school. Occasionally he even busts out in song, which makes me smile and sometimes even laugh out loud. Meanwhile, I am browsing through job through postings. It's hard to know exactly what I am looking for. Too bad my job as a "housewife" doesn't really count for much until I have children...and that isn't happening anytime soon. Nonetheless, I will gladly keep my home clean and try to have dinner on the table when my husband gets home anyway.

I'm not going to lie, part of me misses being a student. Not the whole homework part of it...but the working for International Study Programs, and being on the American Studies Council part of it. Trying to find where I will "fit" next is slightly tricky! Wish me luck as I continue on.

Women's Expo--Just For Women

I went to a Women's Expo over the weekend with my sister-in-law. We had so much fun! I had no idea how many great booths there would be, I could have spent not only all day Saturday there but all day Friday also!

We jumped right in shopping at the Shade Clothing area first. They were selling everything for $5 and then shorts and capris were $3! Can you believe that!? I was totally excited because they sell really cute modest shirts that I love. I got one shirt, and some black bikini bottoms to wear with all of the tankini tops I already have. I felt very good about that purchase.



As we came inside, we saw a row full of vendors lining each side. We started walking through and briefly talking to each one. Some of the vendors were boutique types, selling cute things. I saw a hat I really loved, but it was $18 and I didn't things that was a killer deal so I opted out of that one.

I did, however, get some Bumble & Bumble hair powder from a salon that was there. Have you ever tried that stuff? It is awesome, it is tinted to match the color of your hair and all you do is spray it in your roots to help you last through your second day hair. Washing your hair every other day helps (especially long hair) stay healthy.

While standing at one booth with my sister-in-law, I looked over at the next booth and read, "Do you want a free ring cleaning?" I thought to myself, heck yeah I want a free ring clean! I gave walked over and gave the lady my ring. She showed me how she polished it to get rid of all of the oxidation and black grime that collects on all jewelry. I was amazed how much black came off my ring because I clean it at home. Then she cleaned it with her product and a toothbrush. When she handed it back to me I couldn't believe how beautiful my ring looked! It was brand new like the day hubby gave it to me. So of course I bought some of that stuff too! haha. It's called "Something New Professional Jewelry Cleaner."



This is the part of my blog that is a little more "adult." One of the other fun things I came across was a "Pure Romance" consultant. "Pure Romance" is a company that features tasteful things for the bedroom for you and your hubby. I was impressed with this company--especially compared to another that I saw--because it was very tasteful and had a classy appeal. Micah, the consultant, was very friendly and fun. She had two catalogs: one mild, and one not. I took the mild catalog, and on it were classy women dressed like everyday wives. The inside of the catalog was nice and bright, and visually looked a lot like a Mary Kay catalog would. It made me feel comfortable about it, and I thought it would be fun to host a girls night for all of my married girlfriends. So I booked an appointment, and got a gift! If you want to see Micah's website because you're curious, or you want make an order that will help me earn more free stuff send me an email newlyidentified[at]gmail. I will send you an E-vite. But be mindful, although most things are...not everything on the site is mild.



There were tons of other things there. I won a free cellulite/skin tightening treatment from Elase Medical Spa, woo! I also got a coupon to use for facials at Aveda's Remedez Salon & Spa. I totally want to get my husband a facial and a massage for his birthday, I think he would really enjoy being pampered. I learned that there you can have personal trainers come to your house. I learned about PureWorks which is a really awesome hand/everything sanitizer that does not use alcohol and protects your for 3 hours after application. He even put it on my sister-in-law's baby's binky and she had it in her mouth right afterwards. I learned about this really cool thing called the Belly Button, I've heard about it before but had never seen one. It basically is a band you can wear with your jeans to make them fit throughout your whole pregnancy and after so you don't have to buy maternity clothes, very cool! I saw Scentsy, a soy based candle company, and Pampered Chef there.

I also talked to several different food storage companies. I have kind of started a small food storage for my hubby and I, but I'm interested in adding a few more things. I think it would be a really great thing to have just in case times ever get tough or there is some sort of disaster.

Speaking of food, one of my favorite vendors was Winder Farms. They are a company that delivers fresh food to your house weekly. They get everything local, except of course exotic fruits etc., and everything is organic and non-processed. Hubby and I are really interested in the idea of eating better, plus Winder Farms says their customers actually save money often. The way it works is you pay a one-time membership fee (kind of like costco, except it isn't annual it's lifetime) and then you can go on their website and order direct. If you ever get a bruised apple, or a pot pie that you don't like all you have to do is call them and tell them then they will refund you. Cool huh?! I think we are going to try it out.

I was also impressed with Dream Dinners, where you go and put dinners together that you can keep in your freezer than just cook when you want them. Talk about easy dinner!



I finally got my very first "green" grocery bag, free from the Sunflower Market. They are an organic friendly grocery store. I was super excited because this month students get 20% off their groceries on Thursdays, woo hoo! I'm glad my hubby is still a student, haha.

Lastly, one of my other favorite vendors was a Heritage Makers consultant. I had heard of them before, but had not really had time to look into it too much. I was excited to learn a little bit more about making your own photobooks, custom canvas and other prints, and having access to all sorts of great online scrapbooking tools. I made a photobook for our wedding guest book and just love it! I would love to put more pictures into photobooks, so this is something I am thinking about getting into.

Ultimately, I had a fantastic time at the Women's Expo! I loved learning about so many different things, sampling great products, and of course winning free stuff! Have you ever been to a women's expo? Of the things I told you about, what is your favorite?

And the Winner Is...

Thanks for random.org I was able to find a winner from commenter #12. Congratulations FutureMama for being the winner of my first giveaway! You must be getting karma for all of the giveaways you are doing, haha. I hope you love your new Mary Kay products perfect for your eyes, and perfect for traveling. Don't forget you also get a 50% off coupon for one item on my Mary Kay website, www.marykay.com/analeehjelm, which will never expire.


Are you sad you didn't win? Don't worry, I already thought about another way I could say thank you to the rest of my readers. For ONE WEEK I am going to allow ALL of my readers to get 50% off their entire order by mentioning "Newlyidentified" in the comments section of your order. This offer expires Friday, September 18th, 2009. I'm so excited to share this with you, I don't even care if you share this deal with your friends!

Thank you everyone for your participation in my first giveaway, and for all of the advice that you gave me. You guys are great! I look forward to future giveaways.

Personality Types

Growing up in my generation--where woman are significantly more empowered than my mother's generation and especially more than my grandmother's generation--sometimes it is really hard for me to let my husband be a great leader. We are both born leaders, grew up thriving on leadership positions and opportunities like Student Council etc. Anyone who has the slightest bit of knowledge about personality types from The Color Code knows that red personalities (dominant, leader type) can really butt heads if they are not careful. We are both red personalities, but luckily we are really careful and considerate of each other.


My hubby and I really admire each others' talents, ambitions, and drive. But occasionally, we can be slightly competitive. When he asks if I will do something that I was already planning on doing, I have been found getting offended or flustered because I didn't want to be told to do something I was already going to be doing. When I was a teenager all of my friends use to call me on Friday to find out what the plans were, they nicknamed me "the coordinator." I loved being the person that everyone turned to for direction. For me, I almost feel that I will not receive recognition or credit for something I have done if hubby told me to do it. Therefore, I get flustered because as a red personality I love coming up with the ideas being praised when I perform well!

On the other hand, I am also very sensitive, loyal, and compassionate. I know I am 43% red but I can't remember what my secondary is (maybe blue?)...I have the test somewhere I'll have to look for it. Anyway, throughout my life my dad has always told me that I am unique because I'm both a leader and sensitive/people pleaser. I am genuinely interested in others, and have always been very loyal. It's definitely my sensitive side that contributes to my reactions with others sometimes. How silly for me to feel like I'm being undermined because hubby and I both came up with the same great idea? So silly! haha. Nonetheless, it is amazing to me how much you can begin to understand yourself and other people in your life better by simply understanding how they tick because of their personality type. I think the whole concept is very intriguing, and I love using that understanding to capitalize on my strengths and my hubby's.

Have you ever taken any type of personality test (if not click on the color code link and take it)? What were your results like? Have you seen ways that understanding different personality types has helped you be more effective in your relationships with other people? I'm very curious!

Don't forget to enter my very first giveaway! You can enter to win a Mary Kay gift many times, and it doesn't end until September 9th!

Home Again - First Giveaway!

It feels really good to be home again, especially after being away for nearly a month. Everything is jumping right into full swing. My husband is back in school and has started work already, and I am frantically running errands and trying to get everything in order again. I am extremely grateful that I have not lined up a job yet, because somehow I am filling every single minute of my time. How does that happen so easily? It seems that no matter how hard you try to avoid exactly that, it still happens.

I want to share some great advice that I received when I was running my own successful business as a Mary Kay Consultant, going to school full-time, and working another job.

Instead of making a huge To-Do list that never seems to get done, every night plan your "6 Most Important Things" list for the next day. It helps you focus on the important things, rather than fill your time with the less important ones. Plus, you feel great when you actually accomplish your list!

I'm always looking for great tips on how to stay organized, be healthy, or be financially smart when life is busy! This little tip has helped me many times. Today my list read (in no particular order of importance): 1. Workout, 2. Redo My Resume, 3. Get organized with Credit Cards, 4. Take Chair to Grandma's House, 5. Buy Fertilizer and Bug Killer for my Flowers, and 6. Shop for New Bedding. That list is totally manageable, right!?

In celebration of the "going back to school" or "things are chaotic" season, I have decided to sponsor my very first giveaway. I have recently relaunched my Mary Kay business! In celebration--and because I love you and think you deserve to be pampered--I am going to giveaway a Mary Kay gift AND a 50% OFF Coupon to one of my followers. You can flip through the latest catalog here. Most of all, I just want to say thank you to everyone who reads this blog and bounces their thoughts around with me.

Do you want some awesome FREE product that will make you feel pampered?! This Giveaway will end on Wednesday, September 9th, 2009. I will select the winner using Random.org. Here is how you enter:

To qualify you must:
1. Follow my blog, comment for your first entry.
2. Leave a comment sharing some advice on "how to stay organized, be healthy, or be financially smart when life is busy!"

For additional entries comment again if:
3. You tweet/facebook about this giveaway (each day you get an extra entry!), please say:
"I just entered to win a Mary Kay gift on @newlyidentified's first #giveaway!! New Blogger=Great Odds! Enter here http://tinyurl.com/nd3r9g"
4. You become a fan on Facebook.
5. You favor me on Technorati.
6. You subscribe to my blog.

Time Traveler's Wife

I can't imagine what it would be like to have the love of your life slip in and out of your life all of the time, leaving you to just wait. When your husband is a "time traveler," that is exactly what happens. I went to see a matinee of The Time Traveler's Wife with my mother- and sisters-in-law Saturday. As you know, I love going to movies! It is very unusual that I have been able to go see so many recently (Julie & Julia a couple of weeks ago, and G.I. Joe with hubby earlier this week). When I saw the preview for this movie I was very intrigued and knew it was something I was interested in seeing. I hadn't read any of the reviews before I saw the movie, but now that I am looking at what Rotten Tomatoe's says I am shocked to see only a 36% rating. Obviously there are some people who didn't like the movie, but I actually really liked it. It brought all four of us girls to tears by the end, be sure to bring some kleenex! I would recommend this movie for two reasons: (1) the concept of "time traveling" is something every person has been interested in at one point in their lives; and (2) it teaches you some good life lessons-- you can't change the past, and knowing you will see your spouse again brings a lot of hope.

Time Traveler's Wife is based on a novel. The 1 hour 47 minute flick seemed a little long at one point, but I overall think the time was filled very well. Mostly it was filled well because of the different scenarios in which being a "time traveler" was both a blessing and a curse. It would show him traveling backward and even forward in time. I was really surprised at what happened when he traveled, unlike any other time traveling I've seen in movies his clothes would not travel with him! Therefore, you see a lot of butt in this movie.

The movie included a great life lesson showing that he could see people in his life (past and future), but never change what had happened or was meant to happen. That's just how life is! Don't get me wrong, I totally believe that you can make decisions every day that determine a lot of your future. However, I thought it was a little more believable knowing that this time traveler couldn't change things.

As much as I can't imagine having my husband slip in and out all of the time, it was really sweet seeing how she had so much hope knowing that she would see him again in only a matter of time. It made me think about life after death, I know that I will be with my husband again. This knowledge comes from my testimony that "families can be together forever," which I gain through my religion.

Ultimately, The Time Traveler's Wife is a great flick for the ladies. It lets your imagination wander as you see the "time traveling" experience. You will be uplifted (and probably a little teary) by the messages within the story. I hope that you enjoy the movie, too. When you see it, come back and tell me what you thought! If you have already seen it, I'd love to hear your opinion (even if you disagree)!

P.S. I have some good news, I have already lost 3 lbs since I wrote this post!

P.P.S. Shutterfly is offering 8x8 photobooks for FREE until 8/26/09,
promo code: SUMMERBOOK.

I Just Wanted to Feel Pretty

This morning I woke up and went to the bathroom, and brushed my teethe. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a scale. I thought to myself, "I haven't weighed myself in about a month I should see where I'm at." Over the last two weeks I have been really feeling like I was gaining weight. So I did it, I got on the scale and learned that I had gained 11 pounds in one month! Not only that, but the last time I weighed myself I had gained some weight. It was nothing to make me really concerned at the time, but now it adds up to about 18 pounds in about three months. Psh, whaaaaaaaat!?! I have never gained that much weight so quickly.

The last two weeks I have been working on a construction job. I know you're thinking, "But she has been pulling wallpaper off the walls, painting, pulling up carpet, and doing other active things during her long--sometimes 12 hour--work days." Yes, it's true I have been fairly active. However, what do construction guys eat throughout the day to keep their energy up? They eat cookies, and chocolate! Plus, on top of that I have been drinking Dr. Pepper way more than usual too. The last two weeks my sugar intake just got way out of control. It's like once I started I just couldn't stop! Oh that's not all though, we've also been staying in a hotel near the job site which means we eat out every meal! Ultimately, the whole situation is a lethal combination.

The sad news motivated me to pay closer attention, so I decided to start tracking my food on Livestrong again. I'm at my in-law's home for the weekend, we have a few days off of work. I knew that I needed to choose the non-sugar cereal, and watch portion size. I began frantically looking around the kitchen, "where in the world are the measuring cups?!" I finally just guessed what 1 cup was. That is supposed to fill me up? Then I went to get the milk, they only have 2% which adds some extra calories. I started pouring it into my bowl of cereal and some it spilled out so I had to go get a rag to clean up my mess. Overall, this fresh start with breakfast was starting to be a lot of work. That's just how it goes though, getting started on something new always takes a little more effort. At least cinnamon is a spice that boosts the metabolism, I was grateful to have it on my breakfast.

Needless to say, I was feeling really ugly this morning after all of that. Especially since I was wearing work clothes, little make-up, and dirty hair (from the construction site) all week. Here's a picture of me working (with hubby working behind me).

Today I just wanted to feel like I was still pretty. So I curled my hair, chose a cute outfit, and put a smile on my face.

I feel so much better now! Thank goodness for that, it gave me hope! I typically wouldn't announce something as embarrassing as my unusually dramatic weight gain on my blog. But I figured, I'm probably not the only one this has happened to. I've seen a couple of friends gain weight in their first year of marriage, however, most of my friends still look amazing. Besides that, when I tell you about it then I will kind of be accountable to you. I'm confident I can get the 11 off almost as fast as it came on, just by cutting out the cookies and Dr. Pepper. Hopefully I will have happy news to report back soon!

Do you think it's common to gain weight in your first year of marriage? How do you keep your weight in check?

Texting Typos

Have you ever sent a text without rereading it to check for errors, only to find later that you really messed up? Today I was texting my mother-in-law, she had just gotten a cortisone shot yesterday. I was asking how she was feeling and if she thought the shot would work. Suddenly I got a text back from her, asking if it was Ana Lee texting. I was thinking to myself, "of course it is, who else would it be?" Then I saw the text I had accidentally sent her. It said, "Do you think the sh*t will work?" NOT do you think the shOt will work?. Oh man, oh man! I never swear so it was a little shocking to my poor mother-in-law. She was completely understanding--and it could have been worse--but I was still embarrassed!

The funny thing is, this has happened to me a few times before! One time I was texting a guy to tell him I would be over in a "sec" and it turned into "sex." Geez! I sent texts to correct that so quickly!

Sometimes texting typos can be so awkward. Have you had any personal experiences with this kind of thing? Or am I the only moron that doesn't check before sending?

Sent from my iPhone

Julie & Julia

I went to see Julie & Julia with my mother this afternoon.  Going to movies is like a tradition in my family.  It's one of those things I can't miss out on when I come home to visit.  Mom picked the movie, I hadn't even seen the preview for it before we went.  But I was very happy with the selection.  It is not a chick flick that every girl would enjoy, but it will especially appeal to women that are wives, bloggers, or cooks.

As a married woman and college graduate who loves to blog, I could totally relate to some parts of the movie.  I loved how Julie's husband helped motivate her to write the blog.  He was so encouraging and proud of her for accomplishing her goal in addition to working full time and being a wife.  I could related to the process of her blog growth.  At first you just start writing for yourself to get things out there.  Then you start wondering if anyone is actually reading it.  Your first comment is super exciting and motivating.  Then you just keep going and it grows from there!  I love blogging, I love the blogging community and it made me happy watching her find happiness in it.  I also enjoyed the interactions between Julie and her husband, it reminded me somewhat of my marriage.  They were so adorable and loving.  At first he was very supportive, followed by being annoyed, and then he was loving again.  The movie was just easy to connect with.

However, I never expected a movie could be made about a blog.  I only think this one was successful is because it incorporated two true stories.  Julie, the blogger, was fun.  But the story of Julia Childs is really amazing, especially if you like to cook.  It is neat to learn her story, and I thought it was very cool she went to Cordon Bleu Culinary Academy.

Ultimately, Julie & Julie is a very fun feel-good movie.  It's not being added to my favorites list by any means.  But I enjoyed the laughs I got out of it, and the connections I felt.

Have you seen it?  Tell me what you think!  If you go and see it, come back and tell me what you think.  I'm really interested in your opinion.

Anticipation

My hubby called tonight very nervous and excited to ask me something.  After a pause, he asked me if he could spend half of our 1 Year Anniversary budget on an event (which is still undisclosed) that he is fully confident I would love.  His question then made me both nervous and excited!

Of course I was nervous because he was asking to use half of the money we were planning on spending.  That would leave only half for the potential hotel or dinner costs.  We only decided on our budget last week while driving home from our Moab, UT trip.  I initially expected the hotel to be the majority of our cost for our anniversary.

However, excitement rushed through me because I can't wait to have something to look forward to!  I started attempting to brainstorm with hubby weeks ago.  We will be celebrating our first year together in early November.  I know many people don't plan nearly that far in advanced, and that we still have plenty of time.  Nonetheless, half of the fun of great events is the planning and anticipation!  Remember anticipating things like your first date, graduating, going to college, and getting married?  Anticipation is a key ingredient to help keep things fun and exciting!

I think that sometimes we forget how important it is to give ourselves something to look forward to.  Life isn't always fun, it is frequently exhausting and sometimes overwhelming.  Having something to look forward to is motivating, and even helps relieve stress.  Even if you don't have anything coming up, existing special occasions aren't requirements for planning something.  Often simply planning in advanced is what makes the occasion special, because the excitement builds up.   It is so easy to neglect the "anticipation factor," especially because life is busy!  I think that making a point to continue dating even after getting married, and planning a few special things every now and then has a huge positive impact on relationships.  Knowing that my husband is thinking about our celebration three months out makes it feel extra special.  Thinking about going to a fun event is making my face light up.  My heart is beating faster because I can't wait to plan the rest of the details with him.  Ultimately, the anticipation of it all is making me feel closer to my hubby.  

Do you think anticipation helps things become more special, meaningful, or romantic?

The (Good) Little Things

The little things always add up after a while, even the good ones. Yesterday you learned about how the bad little things were affecting me, and today I want to tell you about the good ones. My husband is so romantic sometimes. For example: I love to travel and I had been dying to go on a mini-vaca, so for my birthday he planned a surprise road trip for me! He secretly plotted how he was going to get me out of work, pack my bags, sneak me out of town (I seriously didn't know until we started heading the "wrong direction" on the freeway), and all of the fun things to go with it. The fun things included a nice hotel in Vegas, accompanied by a fabulous birthday dinner and show. Then he surprised me again when the road trip continued down to California to see one of my best friends. I am still blown away that he planned that whole surprise trip a month in advance and I didn't even know until we were on it! Ok, so that is not a little thing...I know that! It's a big thing! I still have no idea what I am going to do for his October birthday (any tip is welcomed). But, the big romantic things my husband does are not what I wanted to talk about.

I want to talk about the little romantic things. My husband is in Seattle right now with his family, while I am here in Boise spending some time with my family until Saturday when I fly up to meet him. Last night as I was laying in bed, I received a text message informing me hubby had emailed me. So I checked my email and found this:

He had found the DoodleBuddy app on his iPhone and made me something special. My heart melted, I thought it was so great. I love the little things that make you feel important, special, and loved. I wanted him to feel the same way I did, so I downloaded the app and played around myself. This is what I send him (the picture is from when he proposed):


I am so grateful for the good little things in my marriage, and other relationships. What are some of the favorite little things in your life?

Discouraged, Determined, Devoted

I guess I'm not a very devoted blogger yet because I still haven't gotten to the point where I will blog from my mobile device while I am on vacation, haha. If you follow me on Twitter (@newlyidentified) then you know exactly what I have been up to for the last two weeks, traveling with my family and then traveling again with my husband's family. I seem to have no problem taking a few seconds to update you in 140 characters or less on Twitter. I may have to convert to blogging-on-the-go because next month is crazy, too. While I haven't been writing blogs, I've been thinking a lot about something important I have been learning recently. I've never really blogged about a personal lesson I'm in the middle of learning. But I have decided to, because that is the whole reason I started this blog. I wanted a place to share the things I was learning, and hopefully receive support from you, as I become "newlyidentified."

After writing my last post, hubby and I finished up our last day of working together (see this post). Following work, we went to spend time with his mother who was in town. Our time was spent having lunch and enjoying shopping at Tai Pan Trading Company, a wholesale home decor store, which I absolutely love. Hubby helped me pick some great things for our home. Later, hubby and I headed back home for a BBQ with our neighbors since it was a holiday. Then after eating we went out to watch the celebratory firework show! I absolutely love fireworks, and we had a great time with our fun friends!

My story really begins on Saturday morning, the 25th, when hubby and I woke up early and he drove me to the airport to catch my 7AM flight home to Boise. I had originally planned to fly out in the afternoon so I could spend a few days at home (once your married any days home are hard to come by), but an unexpected change in my family's plans led me to leave sooner. Hubby was not happy about that. I think partly because he's not a huge fan of spontaneity? Maybe he felt a little left out? He had responsibilities keeping him home.

That day I could tell that he wasn't happy with me, or the situation (leaving he and Mom #2 earlier than planned), or something. Even though he was playing it off really well, it was obvious to me that something wasn't right. I haven't been married that long--only 9 months on Saturday--but I know my husband well enough to read his signals. I arrived in Boise by 8AM but was only there a few hours before Mom, my brother and I left for a road trip across the whole Northwest. Our first stop was Portland, OR and then over the next few days we visited Seattle, WA and Northern Idaho. We even did a little afternoon trip across the Canadian border and back. Canada has some great candy not sold in the U.S. and it made the trip totally worth it! Meanwhile, as each day passed I started to feel more distance between my husband and I. Even though we were being cordial in our conversations, I wasn't very happy with the mediocrity and I felt like we were losing our closeness.

I finally made it back home to him a few days later. I had gotten a ride back to Utah with family. Hubby was supposed to come pick me up from their relative's house when we got to town, but due to a miscommunication he was a little late. Unfortunately, that killed my buzz of excitement that I had anticipating seeing him again. It was just little things that were happening.

The next day we left on our own little road trip to Moab, UT for his family reunion. We had a great time! We laid out by the pool, went swimming, went on a boat ride, and just had fun with family. However, I felt we were just dealing with each other rather than really enjoying one another. In addition, I was witnessing other couples getting stressed and frustrated with each other occasionally (lots of traveling plus heat didn't help them). I was beginning to feel extremely discouraged about marriage! Had I hit the point in my marriage where the "honeymoon's over" and now we just deal with each other!? After the reunion, when we made it back home I finally got up the courage to tell him how I was feeling. He didn't really respond to my plea very much at first. I wrote a desperate tweet, "I'm very discouraged. I poured my heart out and was left humiliated and alone." I was feeling horrible knowing in that moment we were settling with being just kind of happy instead of super happy. The next day continued, and again it wasn't a bad day...it just wasn't as good as it could be and I didn't want to settle anymore.

Finally, the that night I got up the courage to wear my heart on my sleeve again. I was determined to get him to do the same so that we could have a real conversation and understand each other. He finally opened up expressing his feelings, and we began to close the gap that had grown between us. Obviously, there is more to the both sides of the story than I shared. Nonetheless, I'm glad it wasn't a bigger issue because it was resolved early.

What I am in the middle of learning now, is that just because you were super happy yesterday it doesn't mean that you are going to automatically be super happy tomorrow. I was really confused over the last two weeks while going through this minor situation, because hubby and I had been really happy the last few months. I didn't understand how we had regressed. It wasn't even like things were that bad, they just weren't as great as they could have been and I didn't want to just be ok with that. As each day passed, I became more frustrated with the mediocrity that was slowly creeping into our marriage. Then finally I realized, duh...once you achieve "super happy" you have to continue to make that decision every day. You each have to be devoted to the selflessness, the conversations, the patience, the sense of humor, and the spouse that help you achieve that goal daily. I'm glad I started figuring it out while we were just kind of happy, rather than waiting until we weren't even happy anymore and wondering what in the world had happened. Finding the courage to speak the feelings that were making me scream inside was worth it.

Have you noticed cycles in your marriage, or other relationships? I am pleased to inform you, that not only are we super happy again...we are the happiest we have been so far!

Pioneer Women

Today, July 24th, in Utah is a state holiday to celebrate our ancestors, the pioneers. There are tons of festivities going on all over the state: parades, carnivals, craft fairs, rodeos, great food, and best of all... firework shows! After hubby and I finish our last day of work, we are excited to go spend some time with family and friends while enjoying some of these things. I absolutely love family and fireworks, it doesn't get much better than that.

As I have been thinking about what Utah is celebrating today, Pioneer Day, I couldn't help but think about what it would have been like to be a pioneer woman.



I, for one, really like being a modern woman. I'm not sure I would have made it to the West, or even to America, if I had to spend months on a boat and then months walking across the plains in harsh conditions with a cart or a wagon. Pioneer women walked across the plains from dawn to dusk, often in the extreme heat or bitter cold. A lot of them carried a child while walking. They went without food, so that their children could have more (however, there wasn't much to begin with). Sometimes someone in their family, in their company, or even they themselves were stuck with severe illness. Frequently those illnesses took lives. I don't know about you, but I don't think anything about being a pioneer woman sounds fun!

I have great admiration for pioneer women, though. I admire their faith and perseverance. I particularly admire my ancestors, who were Mormon pioneers that made the trek West to escape persecution. I admire their strength and good attitudes. I admire them for the sacrifices they made to find something better for their families. I admire them as homemakers, and that they were selfless. As a modern woman it is easy to get caught up in yourself.

There are a lot of people who made great sacrifices to travel West. As a graduate in American Studies, I recognize what an influence the West and the frontier as a whole had on American Culture. Overall, I think celebrating pioneers is a lot of fun. I am grateful I can take the time to reflect on how good I have it as a modern woman.

Do you have ancestors that came West? Can you imagine being a pioneer woman?

Two Weeks Notice

My husband and I put in our two weeks notice last Monday. Now tomorrow is our last day working at our current job. We have an opportunity to intern up in Washington with his dad's company for the month of August. It will be a unique experience we did not want to miss out on. The change of scenery will be refreshing.

I am having mixed feelings about tomorrow being our last day. I am extremely excited, because we have been working here since September and I'm looking forward to a change. Although this has been the perfect job while being a student, I look forward to new opportunities now that I am a college graduate. For this reason, I am celebrating the fact that tomorrow is our last day of work.

On the other hand, I am feeling somewhat sad that tomorrow is our last day. Tomorrow will probably be the last day my husband and I will have the same job, and enjoy the privilege of working together outside of the home. It has been so fun to come to work together, and know all of the same people. I love being able to see my husband all day long. I feel sorry for young married couples who hardly see each other early in their marriage because of work. I am grateful that we have had the opportunity to work together our first several months being married.

I am also feeling a little bit anxious, both in a good and bad way. I'm anxious to move on! Yes I'm anxious about what is next, since I have not figured that out yet. My husband received a phone call this morning and was offered the best/highest paying job on campus. He is really excited for the opportunity, it will be perfect for his schedule and fun. I am feeling less anxious knowing that he has his future plans squared away. However, I don't know what is next for me yet. I know I will be able to figure it out, I always do. I would just be nice to have things planned in advanced like my husband does.

Have you ever worked with your husband? What "two weeks notice" memories do you have?

Newlywed Sociality

When we first got married making friends was difficult. Not because my husband and I aren't outgoing or social, we are. We were just starting from ground zero all over again. We moved to a new apartment complex where we didn't really know anyone. It was something I had done several times in my adult life (move to a new apartment complex where I didn't know anyone). But this time the technique to making new friends was not the same. When you're single you get to know and really bond with other girls often through late nights of pillow talk. Now that I am married, the only person who I share pillow talk with is my adorable husband. The conversation at night is wonderful, but it wasn't necessarily contributing to my bond with others socially.

The first few months of marriage we were really motivated to get to know our neighbors and members of our church, who are also young married couples. We would have people over occasionally, and always showed genuine interest in others. Meanwhile, our busy work and school schedules were hindering our opportunities for social networking and bonding. The occasional hang out just wasn't making the cut. We were forming acquaintances, but there wasn't enough time invested to foster true friendships.

Since classes ended last semester--and both my husband and my schedules have lightened up--everything has started to change. We have started to have time to hang out with others more frequently, and the increased exposure to our acquaintances is really beginning to transform them into deeper friendships.




I had 6 bridesmaids at my wedding, and each one was one of my best friends from a certain time in my life: childhood, junior high/early high school, later high school, early college, and later college. I have been looking for the best friend that I would make at this point in my life, early marriage. It is the best feeling in the world to start becoming closer to these new girls. I'm excited to see what these new friendships will turn into as we continue to put time and energy into them. What makes it even better is that my husband and I get to make these friends together. It is so rewarding being able to have friends over, or go over to their place, or go out together and be creating new bonds together. Often times, these friends we are making are going through the same thing we are. Each of us are trying to figure out how we fit into this new identity, "newlywed," and what that means for our social lives.

This is a unique time in our lives. All I can say is, now that we are catching on to "newlywed sociality," I couldn't ask for any more. In the last two weeks we have done so many fun things with our new friends, and it just keeps getting better and better. We have been invited to a BBQ with two couples; had one couple over for dinner; had a campfire in the mountains with several couples; gone to Seven Peaks water park with another couple; had a game night with a few more couples; then were invited over for dinner and games with one couple. The best is that the attendees of many of these events have overlapped, which is what is making our new friendships grow deeper. It is getting to be so fun having more time to cultivate these friendships from this time in our lives.






Do you have different friends from different times of your life? Have you noticed if the way you made those friends changed as your identities did? I'm curious about your experiences.

The Remodel

I was fortunate enough to WIN this beautiful blog design by The Design Girl (TDG). I participated in the giveaway BabyMakinMachin was having last week, and was the lucky winner of a blog remodel! I love it! The new look feel fresh, and makes me feel more at home with my blog. I feel a little inspired, and I can't wait to get this rolling.

Are you proud of your blog design? Would you like a remodel yourself? Lucky for you, TDG is doing a giveaway of her own right now! I recommend you zip on over there and make sure you're entered in it!

Follow Friday

Jen from Family Affair has started the Twitter #followfriday trend for bloggers. I think it's a great idea and I am excited to participate!

I decided to spotlight Samantha from MamaNotes. I just started following her and reading recently but so far I am loving what I read. First of all I think her blog design is so cute. We're pretty close in age, and both married (her longer than me) and college graduates. She is a mother -which I am not- to a handsome little boy. But somehow I can still relate to her. Right now she is hosting what is called Body After Baby (#bodyafterbaby for tweeters), which is a group effort for I think over 50 moms and dads trying to get fit by labor day. I haven't had a baby, but I'm motivated by everyone participating. Go check out her blog, of course following and commenting is always encouraged!

Leave a comment here and let me know what you think of her blog!

The Twitter Wedge

If you follow me on Twitter, then you know that I love to tweet a little before laying my head on my pillow for the night. I have had the habit of doing something on my phone right before I fall asleep for years. I've just always done that to wind down, and then I fall asleep really fast afterward. I use to play TextTwist on my Palm Treo. The first year that I had the iPhone I got really into Sudoku, or a game of Solitair before catching some zzz's. Recently I have been thinking my little habit is more fit for a single woman, and it needs to be kicked to the curb now that I am married.

The few minutes between when you climb into bed and actually fall asleep are prime time for husband and wife bonding. It's the perfect time to cuddle, to talk, and to just feel connected to one another. Right now we are spoiled because we actually get to see each other a lot. We work together, and don't have any children yet so there isnt' too much coming between us. However, it won't always be like that. Life will get busier and throw more distractions our way that may put a wedge between us as we lose more of those minutes together.

I am creating an unnecessary "Twitter Wedge," that keeps us from being connected and winding down together right before we fall asleep. My husband brought it to my attention. At first I was annoyed, but now that I think about it I know it is true. I should be taking advantage or this time that we have to wind down together. I should be creating good habits with my husband, so that it will already be a habit for us later when we really don't have that many minutes together. Of course I won't stop tweeting. I'll just make better decisions as to when I will tweet. I don't ever want my husband to think he is second to something like Twitter or a game.

Do you have any habits that fill your pockets of time, and keep you from connecting with the important people in your life?