i wish i were a farmer...

....Or at least I do until I think about how much work it would be to wake up at 5 am to milk the cows every day and how my livelihood would depend on my diligence and work every second of every day and how I would never get a break and how animals smell and stuff...

And then I decide I'm content for now to go to the farmer's market and just buy the stuff... 

(Although someday I will own a garden! Mark my words)

What's this sudden interest in farmers? Well, today I discovered a local farmer's market. Maybe it's because I grew up in a household where 99% of the food was homegrown 99% of the year...I don't know...but I can't bring myself to buy eat a grocery store tomato. In fact, I bought three about a week ago, and they still rest, completely unaffected by a week of neglect. That is just not right. Their glossy, waxy, plastic outer surface make me want to gag. What a disgrace to food!

Ok so maybe I'm weird. Maybe I'm a freak. Maybe I just really loooooooooove homegrown tomatoes.

And I haven't even started on peaches. Or zucchini. Or pears. 

I swear, I'll never buy produce from a grocery store again.

But for real - it's amazing what this does for my level of happiness. 

----------------------------

This morning the day started out by J and I going to the baptism of one of my current students. He was my student that cried at recess a couple of weeks ago because he hadn't seen his parents in a week and they apparently always drop him off at his grandparents' house (newly divorced). I feel bad for the kid. Really bad for him. Kids are amazingly resilient though. His baptism brought a beautiful spirit into my life - one of newness, childlike simplicity, hope, and gratitude.


I am so grateful for so many of the simple, beautiful things in life that don't change--

homegrown, red red tomatoes

windy Saturday mornings

open-the-doors-and-windows fall weather

gigantic mountains with snowy tips

fresh, juicy peaches 

spandex pants (yes, in all sincerity; don't judge me)

uplifting and edifying instruction from inspired leaders (RS General Broadcast=gold)

 the gospel in it's raw form - simple enough for a child to understand

a child's happiness 

covenants.

 

Lost in the Living Room

We tried to find this pretty hike called "The Living Room" in Salt Lake City. We didn't find it, but we found some pretty awesome things in the meantime. :) I love where I live.

a state affair

I've always loved state fairs. Maybe it's the weird food? The nasty, greasy food I only eat once a year? The rides that they assembled in five minutes? The hoochie teenagers? It's all part of the appeal. I grew up going to them, drawing about the Zipper and the Gravitron in my journal when I was 8 yrs old. Let's be honest, I can't remember most things about my childhood, but the Zipper I do remember. The Pirate ship? Clear as day. 

This year I went to the Utah State Fair. It did not disappoint!

 

 We saw lots of weird things/people...

Toll: is this a man or a woman?

 And lots of weird foods....

 And lots of fried (good?) foods...

 But my favorite, I think, was the Utah sheep ugly-sweater-contest-gone-eights-spandex party. This sheep had my vote, for sure:

 I told Jacob all about my favorite rides and just as we turned the corner, there it was. Shining brightly, carts twirling, people puking, and squeaking machinery - THE ZIPPER, ablaze in glory.

Needless to say, I realized I don't quite have the eight-year-old resilience I had the last time I rode it. We were both sick-tired for a good hour after.

24 Hair Ideas you probably don't wish you had!

 I got off work early today. So what do I do? Post 3 posts that probably no one cares about. 

This one includes far too many pictures of me. 

But..I've been wanting to post about this for a while. After all, I've kind of been obsessed with hair and hairstyles for quite some time. I think part of it is I kind of get bored with doing the same thing every day (whether that be running the same route, eating the same foods, doing the same hairstyles, having a boring monotonous job - it all gets to me). 

Whatever it is, I kind of have hairADD. If you have the same problem, here are some ideas for hairstyles if you get bored with doing the same thing. (NJP- no judgement policy and no questions about why I have all of these photos of myself...I lead a lonely life, okay...)

For long hair:

1. Long, straightened, side part

2. Facial hair/hobo style

3. The side pony with loose curls

4. Braid all the way around and end on other side with side pony (creepy smile to boot)

5. The makeshift mustache/long curls with front hair pulled up

6. The side fishtail with bangs you hate/love/hate/love/hate

7. Half up with front pulled up as well

8. The sock bun (put in ponytail, cut off end of sock, roll up and wrap hair around it)

9. Loose curls with 1 inch or bigger barrel curling iron

10. Wavy - with smaller barrel curling iron, don't wrap the hair around just make it "bent" with curling iron

11. Pretend like your hair has some natural curl and diffuse it. Then realize that this never works and do it again in 2 months with the same result. 

 For Shorter Hair:

1. Down, natural but curl edges with curling iron to make it look more "round"; warning: can become "mom" haircut real quick

2. Twist one side back and then barrett in it.

3. Straightened, half up with no bangs

4. Bangs + scarf (in pony or bun in back)

5. Braid and then tie on the side with small rubberband

6. Missionary helmet bun. Not actually cute, but some days you don't care about cute

7. Short braid with straightened hair, bobbypin at top

8. Half up, bangs, straightened

10. Side braid

11. Down, side part, loose curls with big barrel curling iron

12. Polygamist wife twisted ponytail

recent wonderfulness!

 I have had some great past couple of weeks. To be honest, I've been busy sick. Well, not sick literally (knock on wood, can't believe I've lasted this 3 weeks throughout the school year without getting sick, yes!) but just busy I guess. My weeks have been full (let's be honest, stressful, not just full) with work work work and the past few weekends have been play play play. I keep feeling like I wish there was just one more hour in the day. I'm guessing that feeling never goes away (?) so I should just get used to it?  And I guess it's better than being bored. My weekends have been full and wonderful.

Including a trip to Zion with Jacob to do a canyon with sis Ang as well as lots of good quality time with Jacob in SLC. Life has been good. I've been neglectful with pictures, so here is my photovomit post of the month: (you know you like it)

Best/Worst photobomb in history

Zion with the man

My awesome, athletic, hip, cool, intense sister Angela

My adorbs, adventurous, cute, spunky niece Liesel and I

My cute, chill, supernatural strong, beady-eyed niece Hannah

Chocolate pools & sistermother/child

My wonderul, kind, spontaneous, understanding boyfriend Jacob and I eating MONGOLIAN food

Us at a (free) James Taylor concert. Oh and Motab was there, too (but lezz be honest, everyone was there for J. Taylor. no offence Motab)

With my J in front of the business buildlings. Oh and temple....

Online Class

 This is how I feel about having a 3-hr online seminar/class after 8 hrs of work. Gag. ME.