Melissa's story

“Just when the caterpillar thought the world was ending, he turned into a butterfly.” (Proverb) I came across this quote on Pinterest and suddenly loved it. I think it's so great and has such a good meaning behind it. I feel like it fits me well with where I'm at right now. I have grown so much over this past year. With starting a healthier lifestyle and taking more time to care for myself I have gained a confidence and happiness with myself that I haven't had in such a long time. I have found that if I'm not truly happy with myself I can't make the people around me happy. I have also found that I need to love myself the way I am and to be proud of myself for all of my accomplishments. #learningtolovemyselfagain  #loveyourcurves

Recently I have been trying to focus on myself and what I need to do to make myself feel better and have the confidence I have lacked for a really long time ▲ Travel:  While I have been to many wonderful/beautiful places, there is so much more of this world that I would like to see. I love being able to see new cultures and architectures. What are some of your favorite places you have traveled to? ◉ Read:  I love to read. I love to be able to escape and to all different places and see all sorts of people and use your imagination to create what the author is describing. Who are your favorite authors and books? ◊ Exercise:  I have been so proud of myself with how far I have come on my weight loss journey. I have lost 25 pounds. And while I know that is good I really need to be better with my fitness and exercise routine. Its not that I don't enjoy it, I just find it hard to do it each day. I must say though after I do it I feel so good and have so much energy. Wh...

🍂   My favorite season has always been Fall......... I love Fall everything about it makes me so happy! I love that the weather gets just a little cooler, especially when you can feel the crispness in the air. I love to see the leaves change colors and fall to the ground. I think all of the Fall colors are so pretty. I grew up watching BYU football with my dad and grandpa, so I enjoy watching them play each season. When it gets chillier outside I love to make and eat soup I always get such a comforting warm feeling when I eat soup. I really like hot chocolate as well. I also get so excited when I can start wearing long sleeve shirts and sweaters. 🎃  Last but not least I love Halloween all the fun decorations and costumes! I think it's such a fun holiday. After the fourth of July I always want to put up my Fall decorations. I know it's crazy but I really do.

I have always been a girly girl. I enjoy getting dolled up doing my hair and make up nice and putting on a nice outfit. It always makes me feel good. Don't get me wrong, most of the products I use I get from the grocery store. So it's not like I'm breaking the bank to support my habit. I wanted to share what my favorite items to use are.... These are in no specific order * I love the Paul Mitchell hair spray (Freeze and Shine). My mom introduced me to this when I was younger and I always loved the smell of it plus it's not a heavy hairspray so it doesn't weigh your hair down and it holds all day. It is a little more expensive but it's worth it! 💄 * I was trying to find a good foundation and I had been asking around to all of my friends what brand they like and use. Someone I work with suggested  L'Oréal's Infallible Pro-Matte . This foundation is great! It doesn't feel heavy and it lasts all day, and it looks so good. I have found that I on...

I have been thinking that I need to make some changes, not just for my physical health but also for my emotional and spiritual health as well. ↠ I need to go out of my way once a day to compliment myself. Just something simple but I want to make sure I am giving myself praise and encouragement. Instead of always putting myself down and picking out all my flaws and things I am doing wrong. ➼ I am proud of myself for my weight loss that I have had so far, but I know that I really need to step up my game if I want to see the results that I am wanting. I have been really good with changing my diet and eating habits. I just need to be better with my exercise routine and get it to where its more of a daily habit not just an occasional thing I do. ⤖ Practice gratitude, every night as I say my prayers before bed I need to be extra grateful and thankful for all of the blessings in my life. And for all of the wonderful things that happened that day.

I had this dream when I was in kindergarten (over 20 years ago) and I remember it like it was yesterday. The dream started out looking at my grandparents house from the front yard. And in the center of the grass there was a hill that wasn't normally there. Come to find out I was buried in the front yard and the hill was from me. I had been outside with my grandma and an ear-wig crawled in my ear and killed me. (I thought that is what would happen if an ear-wig crawled inside your ear). 🐛 That is all I remember about the dream but that is enough to have made me terrified of ear-wigs since then. They are just so gross and creepy looking..RIGHT?!!!

This week has been very challenging for me. I have had to make some tough decisions. I have learned that I can stand up for myself and that I need to stand up for myself. I have always had a hard time standing up for myself, I have always felt like I can't do anything on my own and that I need the help from other people.  Although for the past few weeks I have realized that I need to be able to be on my own and not feel like I can't do anything without the help of other people. I have always been a people pleaser and I know that I need to do what is best for me. I always feel like I have to put my best face forward and try to hide my real feelings from the world. But you can only take so much before it becomes too draining on your soul and mental state.  I have had to do a lot of soul searching and I feel like I have grown. Sometimes what we think is the best thing for us turns out to be a stepping stone in becoming the best person you can be. I do know that wit...

Once again I am super late on getting this post out. This is the last week for my photo challenge, I have had so much fun doing this! Saturday July 22nd 😃 Fireworks: I love the 4th of July! And in Utah we also get to celebrate the 24th of July. Which is when Utah became a state. So we get more days to celebrate and watch fireworks. Sunday July 23rd 😇 Classy: As I get older I have found that I like dressing up a lot more than I did when I was younger. I really enjoy putting on a nice outfit, shoes, do my hair and make-up nice. It's fun to look pretty! Monday July 24th 😉 Finger nails: I like painting my finger nails. I used to always get manicures and the fake acrylic nails which were super fun to have. I tried having them again a few months ago and I felt like I was crippled lol. I couldn't do anything, so I've decided to just paint them myself or if I feel like I want them again I will just do shellac. My favorite brand of polish that I have fo...

  I just got done reading the Book "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brene Brown. While it was a good book it was hard for me to get into it. It's a self help book with really good information and quotes. One quote that really stuck out to me was,  The Thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself. -Anna Quindlen  I don't know why I had such a hard time reading it. Usually I enjoy books like this but for some reason I just didn't this time. But you should check it out for yourself and see what you think.

Over the years I have had to find ways to cheer myself up if I'm ever feeling low. As I think we all have had to do. Here is a list of some of my favorite things to do. ♬ I will usually listen to music. Listening to the right songs can put you in such a better mood and even bring back a whole bunch of memories. I love music and always have it on. ♣♤ Another thing I like to do that will always cheer me up is playing games. I love to play all kinds of games. Card games, board games, anything really. ☏ If I'm ever down I can always call my mom and talk to her she always knows what to say to put me in a good mood and make me feel better. Or I can text my dad and talk to him. I also have several cousins and friends that I can call or text to help brighten up my day. I am so grateful to have them in my life and that I have such a good relationship with all of them. ✄🎨 I love to do crafts and being able to do a craft and use your creativity and imagination is so soothing an...

I tried yoga for the first time earlier this month and I really enjoyed it!    I just found a you-tube video and followed along with it. I did it at the end of the day right before bed and felt so relaxed after wards. The only thing I don't know about is if it will help with weight loss or if it's just meant to be more for relaxation, meditation and to help with flexibility? I really liked it though because I feel like it worked some muscles that sometimes get missed with other workouts. I also liked that a lot of the stretches reminded me of my dance days so it felt comfortable to do them again. Don't get me wrong I was sore the next day, but it was a good sore for sure. I know for me sometimes I get stuck in a rutt with my fitness routine, so I enjoy doing new workouts.  What are some of your favorite workouts?

Sorry guys this post is super late. I'll try to be better with my last photo challenge post next week. 📷 Saturday July 15th ↦First Photo on Phone: This picture was taken while David and I were still dating. I love going to the Fair I think it is so fun to see all the animals, booths and fun things people have to show there. Plus it's a great way to kick off the Fall season (and I love Fall). Sunday July 16th ↣Mug: David has had this cup forever and I love it! I have always been a big Jazz fan. I remember going to games with my dad when I was younger and I still enjoy going to games now. I have really liked that the Jazz have gone back to using a similar logo to this on their jerseys again. Monday July 17th ↠Written words: I loved the quote on my work calender this month!! Tuesday July 18th ↔Frames: We have been in our house for almost two years now and ever since we moved in I have wanted to do a gallery wall. I finally got some fram...

We have done so many fun this recently. It has been great! We had my annual work party at Boondocks amusement park. David loved the batting cages of course. We did the go-carts, mini golf and the bumper boats (David got me soaking wet on that one). We had such a good time, I feel so lucky to work with such great people!   We also took a drive to Brigham City and drove around the temple and decided to stop at the Tabernacle and take a tour. The Tabernacle is so gorgeous I loved it. I went swimming over at my sisters house with my little niece and nephew. They are the cutest kids ever and could've stayed in the pool all night.   We also went to the Mormon Tabernacle summer concert with some of our neighbor friends. It was such a good evening we went to dinner at Red Robin and then drove to downtown Salt Lake to go to the concert, Alex Boye was the guest singer. They did such a great job and we all had a very good time.   ...

I'm a few days late but here is my week two picture re-cap! Enjoy Saturday July 8th ◌Clouds: I thought  this was a pretty picture, especially since it was taken with my phone! Sunday July 9th ◍Something Old: I love our globe! I think it works perfectly in our living room. Monday July 10th ●Architecture: We went for a drive to Brigham City and decided to walk around the tabernacle. We also decided to take a tour while we were there. I thought it was a very gorgeous building. Tuesday July 11th ◑Toes: I just thought this would be a fun picture post for the summer! Wednesday July 12th ◯Grass- I love our yard and our house it is so perfect for us! Thursday July 13th ◒Pattern; This is an apron I got from one of David's relatives at one of my bridal showers. And it matches perfectly with my kitchen them/decor. Friday July 14th ◔Sweet Treat: We went to Menchies a self serve frozen yogurt shop. It is so good, we love ...

A- Everything I have A chieved so far in my life! I am so grateful for everything I have done in my life. I know at times I may think I don't have everything I want, but I am working towards greater things! B- A B ig family. I am so glad to have such close relationships with my relatives. I love my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins I look up to all of them so much! I love that I have always had a close relationship with my family. C- C oming home to a C omfy bed each day and being able to rest my head each night!! D- D avid, I love my husband so much and I am so grateful to have him as my eternal companion!! E- My E ducation, it may have been super expensive but it has helped me so much! I am so glad that I am able to do what I do today! F- My F aja, my dad is the greatest! He has the biggest heart and is such a great man! G-  My G arden! I have loved having a g arden this year being able to watch the things I plant grow into beautiful flowers. H- Knowing that I...

I decided it might be fun to do a 30 day photography challenge. So what I'm going to do is take a picture every day for the month of July and post them. I'm going to do them as a week review though so I will just have four posts for this month. It should be fun!! Saturday July 1st: ▲Selfie- I might just be the selfie queen! This day I decided to try something new with my hair, so I did a side bun. I think for my first attempt at it, it turned out pretty good. Sunday July 2nd: ▷Watermelon- I love watermelon, I was a little surprised though to be given watermelon at the end of our Chinese meal the other day. I must admit it was very refreshing! Monday July 3rd: ◊The sun- I just thought this was a pretty picture! Tuesday July 4th 🎆: ◈Action photo- This is a picture from the 4th of the kids running to catch the parachutes. It was such a great day!! Wednesday July 5th: ◅Where I sleep- I love my bed and bedding set. The mattress is so comfy a...

I love the fourth of July!🎇 It has always been one of my favorite holidays. I enjoy going to the parades, barbeque's, watching fireworks and spending time with family and friends. Unfortunately David had to work this year so I had to go to all of the activities solo. I still had a good time I just wish he could've been there to enjoy it all too. I went to a parade with my sister-in-laws family and my in-laws which was super fun! After the parade we went back to my sister-in-laws house for a barbecue, and David's grandma ended up coming over. It was great to catch up with everyone, I haven't seen them in a while so it was nice to see all of them. After that I went over to my sister's house and spent the rest of the day with her family. I had a ton of fun there with them as well as I always do. We ate more food, the kids swam in the pool, we all chit-chatted and watched fireworks all while trying not to get caught on fire from my sister's ...