lets catch up

well, it has been a while since i have engulfed myself in the blog world, and boy have i missed it. i was quite overwhelmed for a while there, as any of you who read this little story of mine know, and although things haven't necessarily calmed down, i do feel like i've gotten my groove back (if you will). i have regained some positivity at work, i have found my stamina, and the consistency of my physical activity has returned.
for that, i feel good.
i think the best way to catch up with you all is to give you a little picture story of the important going-ons i have failed to post recently.
a while back i shared my 27th birthday celebration with my beautiful friend marli. we are birthday twins. well, not exactly twins, she is younger and her birthday actually falls a day after mine, but for the past 5 years consecutively we have celebrated our special day together. for that, i am grateful.

this is us showing off our sweet presents

i officially became an aunt all over again. my sweet sister had her second sweet baby boy. i have gotten the chance to spend time holding this precious little guy, listening to his baby coo's, and smelling is wonderful baby scent. for that, i am lucky.



and, i can't forget to mention that my beloved mavericks have advanced themselves along in the nba playoffs. we have had lots of fun watching them make their way to the western conference finals, with the the sweetest victory being a sweep of the ever dominant and overly confident la lakers. for that, i am happy.
we've also had a few watching parties

and celebratory after parties

now i'm off to catch up on all your lovely blog posts, and i hope to find you doing well.

a garden variety

i think it has all finally caught up with me. lately i have been severely struggling with leaving work at work. as i have mentioned before things have been pretty stressful in the workplace recently and i have found that it is not just affecting my 8 hours at the office, but also my home time, my zach time, my workouts, and my sleep. i think about and worry about my work struggles 24 hours a day. i have always been pretty confident in my ability to get things done, whatever the challenge or problem i have always felt as though i have had the confidence, or pride, to complete it, or figure it out, however, i have been second guessing myself lately, wondering if i have done enough, if i am doing enough or if i should have done things different. i imagine that anyone working in a family business has some difficulty making the distinction between work and home, but i seem to be having an extraordinarily hard time with it these days. with that being said, i woke up this morning with a terrible head and ear ache, and a significant enough lack of energy to take the day off of work. i feel as though the stress of it all finally won the health battle. i hope to soon find a better way to separate my work life and home life more effectively, and to somehow regain my confidence... any tips, or words of advice are welcomed.
but,
for now,
i am going to reflect on some of the positive things i have neglected to blog about here recently.

*i have found needed release at a new (to me) yoga studio. the past three weeks of practice have taught me a successful crow pose, a few different head stands, a held forearm stand, a full wheel (which for some reason took me forever to accomplish), and more effective breathing techniques. during the hour + at padma, my mind is present in the moment, my body is challenged, and i feel accomplished. i am very grateful for that release.


*we planted our garden complete with tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, bell peppers, okra, squash, zucchini, watermelon and cantaloupe. we decided to mix it up this year. i also potted basil, oregano, and citronella plants. my thumbs are by no means 'green' but hopefully with the help of my more gardening prone husband, we will eat the freshest of vegetables in the near future.



*we planted a fruit bearing pear tree in the back yard. i is awfully small now, but i can't wait to watch it grow to become a large, beautiful, white blossoming shade tree.


*my dad and i completed a 100k (65mile) bike ride last weekend. we rode along a bluebonnet trail that was absolutely breath taking. this was our first rally this year and it sure will be hard to top.

picture via

*zach and i confirmed (with ourselves and our boss) that we are taking a long weekend in May to get away. we plan to spend an uninterrupted weekend at my parents lakehouse with nothing to do but lay in the sun and fish off the dock. it may not be a colorado vacation, but it is certainly something to look forward to!

longing to go

i am longing to go to a place where house facades are vibrantly colored,

beautiful photograph from this etsy seller

where windows are open and breezes are warm,

beautiful photograph from this etsy seller

where a bicycle is the main means of travel,

beautiful photograph from this etsy seller

and afternoon naps are taken on over sized hammocks.

beautiful photograph from this etsy seller

momma's girl

bella, our youngest pup, is a momma's girl. her favorite thing to do is get as close to me as possible. it doesn't matter if i am on the couch, in bed, laying down or sitting up, she is usually right by my side. while resting on the couch the other night our oldest dog, dirk, decided to grace me with his presence, and little bella couldn't handle him being closer to me than she, so...she climbed right up...

she grows big babies.

evidently my sweet sister grows big babies. although she is six weeks from delivery a recent doctor's appointment revealed that she is definitely measuring ahead of schedule. her first born was 9.8 lbs at delivery, and if he is any indication of the kind of offspring the bonner's produce, this new baby will not only be big, but cute, and funny, and super smart as well. she has joked throughout this pregnancy that 'crosby' (baby -in- womb) craves pancakes. during the first half of her pregnancy she ate lots of them, so when cort's best friend, marcy and I started talking about hosting a baby shower for her we decided that a brunch of pancakes and fixin's would be just perfect. the menu included fruit salad, muffins, bacon, petit fours, and of course pancakes with all the fixin's (choc. chips, blueberries, whipped cream, strawberries, and syrup).

cort's closet friends showed and gifted her with lots of diapers and a few fun 'mom' treats! i hope she enjoyed it! ~you certainly can't tell by looking at her that she grows big babies...isn't she pretty!?!~

carefree

remember when playing inside boxes was the most. fun. ever! i hope i remember to remind my future kids to cherish those moments.

i am also reminding myself that sometimes happiness is found in the most unexpected places.

-this picture is of my cousin kami and nephew ben loving life inside a box.-

(i wonder if zach would think i was crazy if i came home with an 'adult size' box of my own to play in!)

surrender

picture via
today i feel defeated. i've been working towards something for weeks now, unadmittedly allowing myself to count on it, and then today, when it doesn't happen as i wanted (needed) it to, i am deflated. my mind's voice keeps telling me that it will all work out, that all my work wasn't for nothing, but at this moment i sure don't believe what i am telling myself.