A Funny + Inspiring Look at the Twists + Turns We Call Life

Today I went to lunch with my dad and what started as a simple lunch at DQ turned into some needed motivation for the rest of my day (and week). We started talking about how working hard now really does set you up for a future of having the freedom to do what you want to do, and not just what you have to do. This turned into my dad telling me some of the practices he has always and continues to follow. To start he has always worked hard at what he does, whether that be a job, a sport, anything. He is always nice to people. He starts out everyday by being positive. For example he told me that he had just filled up a coffee punch card from the gas station that was good for a free coffee. Instead of redeeming it himself he gave it to the girl working there so she could enjoy this. Random acts of kindness are such a great thing in my eyes and something I have tried to participate in on a regular basis in many ways. It's so easy to get caught up in my own life that it is very refresh...

Once upon a time when I still had my red convertible it decided to turn into a transformer. This may not make a ton of sense, so let me explain. At the time I was working at a clothing store in the mall and I was scheduled to work that night. Before I went into work I decided to run a few errands. My last errand before I headed into work was up at the college. After I was finished there I decided since it was such a nice afternoon out I would put my convertible top down, especially with there being only a few months in Montana that are actually warm enough to do this. I did the usual and pushed the button for the top to go down automatically. It started out like every other time and the trunk came open for the top to go inside of it. Only this time, it just quit after this step. I glared back at the trunk open towards me, in disbelief that the top was still on. This had never happened before so I started pressing the same button many more times trying to get the top to cooperate. I ...

I used to go out on the town allll the time. I got into the routine of loving the commotion that came with loud music and #shotsshotsshots as Lil Jon would say. I have many crazy stories that I can look back at, laugh out loud about (even if I'm laughing out loud by myself in public like a crazy person 😮) and usually think how equally ridiculous they were. 9 pm used to be the starting time for those crazy nights which by now very I will very likely be half asleep by. 😴 Over time those kinds of fun nights turn into a different, much more fun kind of night. "Netflix and Chillin' " with my bf, dinner and wine nights with my girl friends accompanied by long, meaningful conversations are the new norm. I still like the occasional wild night out or that fun night at a rock concert 🤘 although hanging out with dogs at home watching some reality tv has become much more of my reality 🐶. I think I am officially living the ...

I have always found doors to be very intriguing.  They are objects that can seem so plain and boring and necessary, but once you really start paying attention to them, there are some really quite interesting doors. For example, I started looking on Pinterest and the images of different door designs that continuously pop up in my newsfeed are fascinating. In my eyes they quickly turn from just another boring object to something that can be turned into a work of art. During travel to other cities and states, I especially like to pay close attention to the different masterpieces that lead into someone's home or workplace. I also love what doors resemble. They are the entry way into everything in life. Into someone's whole world that you may  have never known about before. They hold memories behind them and open up for future opportunities. I think by paying attention to the little details it relates directly to the notion in life of it being the little things in life that rea...

Working in marketing has opened a new door where I have entered into the world of blogging. Writing has always been something I have enjoyed and seemed to excel at compared to other subjects. From school to the workplace it has always been there. As I started thinking about the ways I would like to personally grow in the new year I thought writing could also take a bigger role in my daily, personal life. When looking for additional hobbies to take on and skills that can be sharpened, writing is the perfect match. Being able to write about life and all of the interests it comes with is fascinating to me in a few ways. You not only get to see into the minds of others, but you also get to give a different perspective of yourself and learn aspects about yourself that you may have never known. It is appealing to me that this type of deal can be done for fun and many types of work revolve around writing and communication. I love that it can be done from home, on the road or an office giv...

It's funny to me when you start to see the resemblances you have to family members without even realizing it. One person I have come to realize I am very much alike is my father, Bill. For this to make sense, let me tell you about some of the more funny resemblances. I went to dinner with my family but we drove two separate vehicles. We were going to go look at some Christmas lights together afterwards so we met in a different parking lot so I could drive along (and not get my truck hit in the psychotic Buffalo Wild Wings parking lot). My mom rode with me to go park. As we got to the mall parking lot I didn't see my dad's truck yet, so I headed to where I usually park at (I am a creature of habit). All of a sudden my mom starts pointing to a different area of the parking lot, saying I should go park over there, it'll be much easier, and that's where she normally parks. I shook my head because I was driving and that was not where I was going to park. I kept going m...

As 2018 approaches I don't recall ever being quite as optimistic and looking forward to 365 fresh pages to write my story on, as I do right now. (Plus, 8 is my favorite number so that has to be some sort of sign🤔) 2017 was an equally tough as well as amazing year. Here are a few of my favorite positive things last year brought: A lot of the first part of the year was spent turning life around and straightening out the stubborn curves that seemed to get set in their ways. I feel more on the path that I'm meant to be on than ever before. Great opportunities bloomed in my personal as well as professional relationships. Having an amazing, supportive boyfriend is such a blessing that I make sure not to take for granted every day. Knowing who my true friends are by who sticks around through the good and bad sides of life and who always go out of their way to put a smile on my face. As far as professionally, by joining volunteer groups I have greatly expanded my connections by ne...