Snow Day!

I want you to think back on a happy memory, maybe even the happiest of memories, now times that by a million. That is how I felt getting the text stating that the heavens had opened up and dumped enough snow on the ground for Granite District to call a snow day. I was so happy I couldn’t fall back asleep, which was frustrating because I was so excited to sleep in…I attempted to sleep for a couple more hours and then we decided to do what Trent and Eliza would do on a snow day, go snowmobiling!

Its been a weird winter, meaning that I haven’t been able to go snowmobiling with T as much as I would have like to, so this snow day was a happy miracle. Not to mention I’ve been run ragged this year and I really needed a day with T. Tender mercies are REAL people.

We grabbed breakfast and drove up to Midway. It was still stormy down in Salt Lake, but it was blue skies and perfect up there. We bundled up and hit the mountain. It was absolutely incredible! The snow was fresh, we were cutting trails the entire way. No one was around and it felt like we owned the mountain. At one point we saw a Mama moose with her baby only a couple yards away. (Trent wanted to take a picture and I wanted to get the heck out of there….) Everything was perfect. I’m still quite inexperienced when it comes to these scary big machines but I’m so grateful for a patient husband who slowly leads the way as I follow along.

I’m reminded of the people in life who lead the way. They guide and direct us in so many aspects of our lives, creating the path for us to carefully follow. Other times, we’re the ones cutting the trail and guiding others to success. I’m so grateful for the leaders in my life that have set the example for me to follow. My hope is to continue to find them as well as be them.

The day was perfect, even with bumps and bruises and snowmobiles stuck in the snow. I woke up sore and exhausted the next day as I returned to work but it was 100% worth it.

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Beginnings

2019 is already a month shorter and I can’t believe it! Time seems to be flying by quicker than I can manage and I’m always so shocked by how quickly it slips away. Life, as usual, has been a tad crazy but we have learned so much and I’m already excited for the changes that are coming up. 2019 is going to be a wonderful year for the Ward family!

 

We began this year full of time with family and I hope the rest of the year will be no different. I feel like just within the past  2 months I’ve heard story after story of families being separated by tragedy and loved ones lost. It makes me want to hug my loved ones a little tighter and remind myself just how fragile life is.

This year, I hope for a couple things. I hope to be present. Whether it be in conversation with my coworkers, family or with Trent, I want to be present and involved. There is so much distraction in this world and I want others to make sure they feel listened to and loved when they are around me.

Second, I hope to choose what’s best for me. This may sound odd, but I have a tendency to put all others feelings and wants before whats best for me and my family. This has often led to unnecessary feelings of guilt and mixed up priorities. This year, I hope to make decisions based on what I feel is best for me and my little family unit.

Lastly, I hope to be sharer of light and goodness. This little space has been so fun for me to put my thoughts and feelings down. I hope to continue to be a reminder that there is goodness and light in the world.

May your year be full of wonderful beginnings and hope fulfilled.

Thanksgiving in Junction

Thanksgiving is one of my absolute favorite holidays. It’s always been a holiday full of time with family and a break before the chaos of the Holiday season really hits. I’ve always loved it and this year was no exception.

Thanksgiving Day was spent with Trent. Holidays aren’t always the easiest when you’re trying to figure out how to share families and figure out new traditions. We’ve learned lots over these past couple years and I’m always so grateful for how gracious and loving Trent is. I love building new traditions with him each year.

The day after Thanksgiving we took off to Junction Utah with my mom’s side of the family for a little weekend away. Junction is quite the tiny town and it was so refreshing to be off the grid and connecting with one another. We arrived on Friday afternoon and spent the day playing games and walking around the town. On one of our walks we were followed by a darling dog who we quickly grew to love. She had about 10 different names by the time we left and if I didn’t live in an apartment that had a no dog policy, she would definitely be ours.

Lucky for us, Junction is about an hour away from Bryce Canyon National Park! I’ve never been to Bryce and it was absolutely incredible. The red rocks and amazing formations blew me away. I’ve lived in Utah my entire life and have never gotten out here. There are so many unique National Parks in Utah and I want to do a better job of getting out and seeing all of them.

After Bryce, we went back to Junction for an delicious Thanksgiving feast and then began our journey home. It was a much needed weekend and I’m so grateful to be surrounded by such incredible people. It can be so easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others but it’s important to remember how blessed and lucky we are.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Adventure Buddy

The Fall weather in Utah this year has been nothing short of glorious! The leaves have lasted for so long and the days are still perfectly pleasant. I definitely prefer the warmth over the cold so I’m holding on to every last minute of warmth until winter hits. I’m always so happy when fall hangs on just a bit longer and this year has been the best. The leaves are stunning and the mountains are covered with color. Trent and I try to find time outside together and we always talk about how life’s problems seem to get a little smaller when you get outside and enjoy the world around you. The other night we went on a bike ride out by Farmington bay and almost died by mosquitoes but it was still a blast. 🙂 I’m so lucky to have married a man who loves to adventure and even though I sometimes need to be convinced of an idea, it always ends up being just what I needed. I love my adventurous life and adventures call for Thread Wallets.

I wear a lanyard everyday for work and usually people know when I’m coming down the hall because it jingles as I walk. It holds everything that I need for the school day and I always freak out a little bit when I misplace it. When my old lanyard broke a couple weeks ago, I was so bummed! Luckily, Thread Wallets came in to save the day! Thread Wallets is a company that makes wallets, phone cases and lanyards. They have full length lanyards as well as wrist length lanyards and their wallets are simple and perfect. All the patterns are unique and stylish, not to mention they are local! I love supporting local Utah brands and feel like they always have such great quality products. Thread Wallets is no exception and I’ve loved my new lanyard.

Whether I’m wandering around the classroom or adventuring with T, this lanyard has been a perfect addition. Here’s to enjoying this wonderful fall weather while it lasts!

10 Easy Breakfast Ideas

Mornings have always been hard for me. I press snooze until the very last minute, jump out of bed and then rush to work. With that in mind, breakfast is usually an afterthought. My mom always talked about breakfast being the most important meal and I often reflect on that when my stomach is growling at 10:00 that morning. I started thinking about how I could up my breakfast game. I’ve been making muffins that Trent and I can eat as we rush out the door but I’m struggling to find other things to do. Luckily I have some great friends and an awesome family that pitched in some incredible ideas and I wanted to share my top ten suggestions with you!

 

10 AWESOME AND EASY BREAKFAST IDEAS

 

1. Cut peppers, onions and your favorite sausage and put them in a tupperware. In the mornings, pour some into a pan with two eggs and you’ve got the perfect morning mix.
2. Make a bunch of mini waffles and then freeze them. Pop into the toaster in the mornings. Genius!
3. Yogurt Parfaits. Store in mason jars or little containers and throw fruit and granola in each morning.
4. Eggs Muffins. Eggs, milk, veggies, protein, bake in a muffin tin. Grab and go in the mornings.
5. Make bags of ready to make smoothies. Put everything you need in little ziplock bags except the liquid. Stick them in a freezer for ready to make smoothie packages. (I’m a fan of this one!)
6. Cereal in a Mason jar for a totally “on-the-go” approach.
7. Muffins. Muffins. Muffins.
8. Overnight oats. Use the pioneer woman recipe found here.
9. Like the waffle idea but instead of waffles make protein packed pancakes. Make a big batch on the weekend and warm up throughout the week.
10. Ready to go breakfast burritos. Make them the weekend before with your favorite fillings, eggs, sausage, bacon, peppers etc. Individually wrap in tinfoil and store in the fridge. Unwrap and reheat in the mornings for an easy breakfast out the door.

 

Hopefully this helps spice up your morning routines! If you have any other suggestions, please drop them in the comments. I need all the help I can get!