travel

i've been traveling a lot lately. it's super fun, but also really exhausting. i feel like i can't even keep my head on straight. this post was supposed to go up last week, but i was traveling again. the traveling wasn't really the problem. the real problem was food poisoning. last week amy over at thecharmingblog.com hosted a travel series. the series ended with a little paypal cash and ad space on her blog. check out all the posts from the week and enter the giveaway with the rafflecopter below.

The Charming - Travel Packing Essentials: Carry-on Luggage Bella Vida - The Most Helpful Travel Apps Whispering Sweet Nothings - How to Prepare for a Big Trip (like moving to Australia for a year!) The Charming - Travel Packing Essentials: The Personal Item Aubrey Zaruba - How to Plan Activities as Your Destination A Yank in Yorkshire - Life as an Ex-Pat - An American in England The Charming - How to Pack Your Camera Gear

We Do: Wellness week is June 9 and if you would like to sign up for that series or any other one, click here and fill out the form.

   

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

blogging the bach 10.1

it seems like we were just saying adios to juan pablo, and now it's time for andi's season of the bach. i'm super excited for this season. she seems like she'll be a great bachelorette. i read that chris harrison compared her to sean lowe, who was my favorite ever. i can't wait to see if she lives up to that comparison.

let's start the season by saying this isn't a place for spoilers. they ruin all the fun. please comment and discuss, but keep the spoilers out. the first few weeks are always a little hard for me. it takes a while to remember who everyone is and really get into the season. every season i think i will read the bios before it starts, but i never seem to find the time. the guys are a little harder because i can't remember them by their dresses like the girls. being from utah, the person who obviously stands out is eric hill. i didn't know him, but i have friends who did. the whole thing is so sad, and i'm glad the bach is handling it with class. we start out with an intro to andi, and i already know this season is going to be better than the last. andi is really excited and seems to have a great attitude about the whole thing. she was one of the best dressed last season so i'm also really excited to see what she wears. week 1 is mostly about meeting all the guys. i've read several times that first night actually takes all the way through the night into the early morning. no wonder people get so nervous and do dumb things (not so many dumb things this time) marcus-up first and so nervous. that's all i wrote about him until later when she talked to him. i think he'll be around for a while. chris-cutest farmer i've ever seen. i thought for a minute she was going to give him the first impression rose. jj-he lost me as soon as he said lovequest. goofy guys are usually really good, nice guys, but i just can't.. marquel- aka cookie monster tasos-did he just come on the show to travel? because that's basically all he talked about cody-personal trainer. i thought for sure he would be gone, but it looks like he actually stays a while from watching the promos for the season.  carl-can't remember a thing about him except i wrote down he is a firefighter and gave her a globe. nick v- gets the first impression. i remember his polka dot tie and not much else. dylan-personal space is for real but maybe less real on the bach. patrick-starting with a soccer ball is risky after last season, but it worked out ok. brett-brings a lamp and everyone is confused but remembers him. craig-the party starter=entertainment of the season ron- can't remember a thing about him bradley-opera singer--->probably going to drive me crazy nick s-golfer in a golf cart brian-basketball coach andrew-social media martketer. i think that means you're on twitter and instagram all day. can i get his job? eric-i'm curious to see how they're going to handle him this season. he's so cute, and even though i didn't know him, knowing people who knew him makes me feel like i did. josh m-baseball player some guys obviously stood out a little more than others. so far my first impressions go to  marcus chris i always give myself a couple of weeks to figure out who everyone is before picking the final 4. who did you like tonight?  we all know there are a few famous bach words. i keep a tally mostly because it's funny. journey...2 (did i miss a few? i expected to hear that word a lot more on night 1) amazing...6 love...27 are you blogging the bach this season? make sure to link up below and let me know if you want to jump in as co-host one week.

An InLinkz Link-up

random rambling...not a mom part 2...things you should never say.

as promised last week, I'm back for part 2 of not a mom. before we get to that, a few items of business... 1. if you're new around here, welcome. i'm so happy you're here. i would love to know more about you so please introduce yourself in the comments.  2. i love comments and try to respond to everyone. if you don't get a response, it's because you're a no reply blogger. if you think you fixed it, it might be an issue with google +. 3. bachelorette starts tonight. of course i'll be blogging the bach. i'm looking for co-hosts so comment or email me if you're interested. 

after we got off this ride at disneyland, karlee asked if people thought i was her mom. i'm sure they did. i really think people don't mean to be insensitive, but sometimes they just are. i hear some things over and over about being single/not having kids that just aren't the best things to say. in case you've ever wondered what you should or maybe should not say, here are the top 5 things you should never say to someone who isn't a mom.

1. you're so lucky...

yes, i am lucky i get to travel, can spend my money how i want, etc, but telling me i'm so lucky i don't have kids most likely isn't really what you mean and hopefully isn't what you think about your own kids.

2. i'll trade you

i sincerely hope people don't mean they would trade their kids for my latest trip, race, career, or whatever else i just did. i'm pretty sure they don't actually mean that so it's probably best to just not say it. 

3. complain incessantly about your kids, your pregnancy, etc.

i'm sure being sick 24/7 for an indefinite period of time is quite terrible. i'm also sure kids are difficult much of the time. i try to be understanding, but it doesn't always or often work.

4. you're not old

yes, i actually am. if/when i have kids i will automatically be considered high risk due to advanced maternal age. it's just life. it's ok to agree when i express concerns about my age

5. it will happen

i know people mean well, but the truth is, it might not happen.  

maybe i sound bitter, but i promise i'm not. i know people are trying to be nice, but it really is a sensitive subject. my life is really great, but it is also missing some really important things. i still have hope that one day i will be a mom, but in the meantime, try to avoid saying these to me. i don't always have the nicest response. did i miss anything? what things do you hear that drive you crazy?

disney in a day

Hello Dreaming of Someday readers! I'm Brooklyn from A Little Too Jolley.  

I'm here today because Aubrey asked me to share some of my tips for how to do Disneyland in a day while she is off enjoying the happiest place on earth!

1. If you're not there at rope drop, you're late. The park is SO much slower in the morning.

2. If you plan on Character Dining, book ahead by calling 714-781-DINE. This will help you cut down on the time you are waiting around to eat.

3. If you're okay to miss parades and fireworks, those are perfect times to hit up some of the busier rides.

4. Snap a pic in front of Sleeping Beauty castle on your way in. I meant to do this on our honeymoon but then we got so busy it never happened. So get it done first, even though it's tempting to get to the rides asap!

5. Utilize the Fastpass system for busier rides. Plan your day around the Fastpasses, they are SO worth it.

6. Pack lunches. Lines for lunch can take FOREVER. 

7. Pick what snacks are important and get those during an off time. (10 AM, 3 PM, 7 PM)

8.  Buy your tickets before getting there.

9. Don't bother with park hopping if you only have one day. Between the lines and getting to and from California Adventures and Disneyland it can take up to an hour of your day just to switch parks. 

10. Stay in a hotel close to the park so you can get there early and stay late!

What other tips do you have for doing Disneyland in a day? Come visit me and be sure to read all my other posts about Disney!

mega thanks to brooklyn for taking over for the day. i'm off to disneyland today so these tips are definitely helpful. any other tips?

what would you do...8.0

it's the second monday of the month which means kimberly and i are teaming up for another round of 

WHAT WOULD YOU DO...

this month we want to know

WHAT WOULD YOU DO...with flowers?

the possibilities are endless...crafts, clothes, gardens, home decor.

flowers always makes me think of brynn and her darling flower shop blooms and co. she is a super talented floral designer, and her pieces really are art. what would i do with flowers??? call blooms and co immediately.

i love them all so much! let's hear it. WHAT WOULD YOU DO...with flowers? link up below.

and come back next month for 

WHAT WOULD YOU DO...with gold?

An InLinkz Link-up

we do:travel...how to plan activities at your location

have you ever gone on a trip and spent the first few days trying to decide what to do? or waste 2 hours every morning figuring out where to go for breakfast? or come home from a trip a little disappointed you didn't do the things you really wanted to do?

no one wants to have those frustrations while traveling so to try and avoid it i'm joining amy's we do series to talk about travel.

5 TIPS FOR PLANNING ACTIVITIES  1. determinie the purpose of the trip  relax, site see, food, sleep, etc.  plan activities that support the purpose 2. decide where to save and where to spend food, lodging, activities plan to spend more money on things that are most important to you and plan to skimp a little on less important things. 3.  research start with social media. where is the best place to eat? what are the must do activities? where is the good shopping? 4. make a plan outline what you want to do, where you want to go, food, etc for each day 5. stick to the plan (if that's what everyone really wants) or not
even though travel is supposed to be fun, it can be stressful at times. having a plan always seems to take the stress away for me. speaking of traveling, i'm outta here again. check my instagram if you want to see what i'm up to the next several days.
how do you plan activities when you travel? or do you fly by the seat of your pants?

summer is coming

summer is definitely my favorite time of year. yes it's hot, but that's partly what i like about it. i love being outside enjoying the sunshine. i love pool days and tennis games and bike rides. sometimes i even love sweating to freaking death. my summer saturdays consist of a long run, a few quick chores, spending most of the day at the pool, getting ready late in the day, and usually dinner plans. it's not very often that i let responsibility go, but for some reason on saturdays in the summer i can. i love it!

other people like summer for other reasons like the big blockbusters that come out in the summer! if we're being honest, i have no idea what is coming out this summer, but i'm sure most of you do. if you're really dying to see one of these for a date night, GNO, whatever, you should thank the lovely ladies below. why? because we have all teamed up to give one of YOU the perfect summer movie date night, on us! There's a $25 Cinemark or AMC Theatres Gift Card (winner's choice!) as well as a $10 Cold Stone Creamery Gift Card (because what good is a hot summer date night without ice cream!?).

so, what movies are you dying to see? what's your favorite part of summer. enter with rafflecopter below.

Dreaming About Someday - The Best F Words - Life with Amberly & Joe
Mrs. Harr - Ready or Not - A Little Too Jolley

The giveaway will run from 12:00 am MST on May 13 until 11:59 pm MST on May 19. All entries will be verified so please be honest! All entries will be verified. Gift cards will be delivered electronically.

Best of luck!

ps...come back tomorrow and link up your flower posts for what would you do with flowers a Rafflecopter giveaway

random rambling...not a mom

yesterday was mother's day. it's an interesting day for a single girl with no kids. emotions can be all over the place. the lds church ran a media campaign this week #itwasmom
mother's day isn't just about being a mom. it's about having a mom. mint arrow posted last year about moms and despite the lack of children, we all have a mom. mother's day is a day to celebrate moms. i am a lucky girl. i have the best mom. she taught me everything i know about being good. she taught me to love and serve others, to stop worrying so much, to get more sleep, to give gifts and send cards. if i am ever a mother i hope to be half the mother she is. even though it is a day to celebrate our moms, it is also a day to celebrate being a mom...something that can be a little rough when you're not a mom and want to be. one of my dear friends posted on facebook, and her words are so beautiful and touching. "Happy Mother's Day!! I am wishing ALL the amazing women in my life a Happy Mother's Day. Not just those who have kids but each of youu. Sometimes I struggle with this day because I know many of the friends and family I love so dearly are not actual moms. For some of you that is a conscious choice. Raising a child just isn't your cup of tea. For others of you I know you struggle with circumstances in your lives that do not permit you to raise children as you would desire. So for each of you I want to say this.
Motherhood is not something that just happens when you have or adopt a child. Motherhood is acting compassionately toward others. It is being a friend, a hug, a listening ear and shoulder to cry on as well as being that only person who understands some things 
When you take the time to truly BE THERE. To show respect to others and be an example of goodness. When you truly experience a moment and share it with a friend or when you help a struggling mom out or when you take the time to show respect to a child by getting down on their level.
Whenever you open up your heart and share your life, you are being a mother because simply by being a woman you have a compassionate nature. And that is what should be celebrated.
So thank you all. I love each one of you and appreciate everything you have done to enrich my life."
i echo her words. although giving birth technically makes someone a mother, being a mother means so much more. although it is not the same as raising a child of your own, we all have opportunities to influence children and others around us. i'm so grateful for those opportunities in my life and for the wonderful friends i have you acknowledge that not being a mom is hard. come back next week for my top 5 things you should never say to someone who is not a mom.

go green swap

during the blue polish swap for autism, ashley emailed me about hosting a green accessories swap for mental health awareness month. i already love accessories so combining it with a good cause is a total win win. ashley shared a few facts about mental health. over 57.7 people have diagnosable mental health illness. luckily the stigma associated with mental health is lessening, and people are getting appropriate help.

this week has been so crazy. i was so excited to home home to this fun package from sarah. i love good mail!  thanks to ashley for organizing and thanks to sarah for the fun mail.

5 little confessions...running edition

before i get started on today's light hearted post, i can't avoid mentioning the love in blogland. social media exploded (to the point of crashing the website with the story) yesterday for a family that tragically lost their son. there are so many good things about social media and blogging. one of the very best is seeing people come together to support each other. as much as my heart is broken for this poor family, my heart is also warmed by the goodness of people. to learn more or to help, go to thrive moms or indienook.
there's no easy transition from that...

we're back for another round of 5 little confessions. in case you're new around here (welcome) or forgot the details...

we've all seen the posts going around blogland and social media about being honest and keeping things real. bloggers often get accused of posting only the parts of our lives we want to show off. we know we all have those less than bloggable moments in life. as readers, we all love reading those posts, but as writers we sometimes avoid spilling the dirt. in the spirit of keeping things real, we bring you 5 little confessions. did you go 5 days without washing your hair? did your clean laundry sit on your floor until it was time to wash again? did you spend all weekend keeping up with the kardashians? did you eat cake for breakfast? dig up a few of your secrets and link up below.

Your Hosts

Carrie from Curly Crafty Mom

Follow Carrie: Bloglovin' • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram 

   

Aubrey from Dreaming About Someday

Follow Aubrey: Bloglovin' • Twitter • Instagram

Jacq from Justjacq

Follow Jacq: Bloglovin' • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram

Kimberly from Olive the Things

Follow Kimberly: Bloglovin' • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram

if you've been around here or my other social media for more than 1 minute you know i'm a runner. sometimes i wish people didn't know that, but it's kind of hard to avoid something that takes up such a huge chunk of my life. people assume i love running and must run every day...wrong!

i don't actually love running. in fact i don't even really like it all that much. what i do love is the group of people i run with and the major accomplishment at crossing the finish line.

i really only run once a week-long runs on saturday. i go to the gym 5 other days a week, but i don't usually run. don't ask me how i survive marathon training on once a week runs.

 

whenever i post a mileage picture of my garmin i hide the time on purpose. i am super slow, and i would be pretty embarrassed for you to know how long it takes me to run. when people ask my times for races, i usually won't say. i get really self conscious about my ultra slow pace.

at the bitter end of a race when people are trying to be so nice and supportive and encouraging, i just feel dumb. i get super emotional about it. i always feel like they must be thinking...oh that poor girl. this is probably her first time, and she's really struggling. little do they know...

 

even though the nashville marathon was pretty miserable, i already signed up for the st. george marathon in the fall. i need to prove to myself that i can do better. plus i knew i would have major missing out syndrome if i didn't sign up.

   

   i can't even wait to hear what everyone else has to confess this month. spill it, and then link up below. 

An InLinkz Link-up

a few days in missouri

one of the perks of running a marathon in nashville (more to come later) was spending a few days in missouri first. nashville is only a few hours from my family. i was really happy to get to spend some time with them before the race. i flew to st. louis on tuesday afternoon and spent the afternoon with my sister, ashley. i totally failed to take pictures of anything except our food which was pretty amazing.

my mom came up on wednesday morning. we went to the temple in the morning. even though i have been to the st. louis temple a few times, it seemed so small compared to what i am use to.

 ever since i "met" carrie doing spring 30x30 last year, we've been so excited to actually meet in person. since she lives in st. louis i knew it would happen eventually. it's always so fun meeting blog friends in real life.

we spent a little more time in st. louis relaxing, eating, and doing a little shopping. we decided at the last minute to head down to my parents' house on thursday night to spend a few hours with my brothers and my dad. it was a pretty quick trip down there but totally worth it to see them.

the missouri part of the trip was great. i caught up a little bit on sleep and enjoyed time with my family. 5 little confessions is tomorrow. come link up your deep dark secrets.