Emilia Kate

I have some serious catching up to do. To start I am now a mom. Emilia Kate Griggs story started about 3 1/2 years ago when we decided to start trying for a baby.  After a year of trying and a miscarriage we started looking into the reasons why. We went to a fertility specialist and got news that it would be very difficult for us to conceive on our own, but we weren't giving up that easily. We decided to try a round if IUI (Intrauterine insemination) Even though the odds were against us... I mean really it would have been a miracle kind of odds, we did in fact get our miracle. I was very apprehensive to be excited for this baby because of my previous miscarriage... I bought a LOT of pregnancy tests... like a lot. Things stayed good for us though and I had a fairly easy pregnancy. I didn't have a lot a nausea I got maybe one migraine but I didn't need to take any tylenol for it. Towards the half way mark I kept getting horrible heartburn though. At 29 weeks my one foot swelled up like a balloon and my blood pressure had been slightly elevated, so my doctor ordered a blood test and urine test to check for preeclampsia, which I got diagnosed with and had to stop working. I had a lot more doctor visits to check up on my blood pressure which steadily went up. Baby girl was doing just fine in there which was great news but the way things were going they knew she was going to be early, and Dr. Anderson just wanted to avoid how early we had to take her out for my safety. 

I made it to 36 weeks and by then I was over the twice a week Non stress tests and weekly doctor visits and being on semi bed rest for almost 2 months. So I took myself off bedrest since my doctor was happy I got to 36 weeks. On April 11th I had a mild headache (A warning sign for hyper tension) but I usually had a headache til I ate some real food and drank lots of water so I did those things and went about my day, went out to lunch and to a bridal shower. At the end of the shower I still had that headache so I figured that it wouldn't be long now and I better get the last things we need for baby. I walked around walmart and got the last items. While I was there I took my blood pressure at the pharmacy and it was 160/110 which is incredibly high. I sat for a few minutes and took deep breaths and re checked and it was still as high as it was. I called Dave to get home so we could go to the hospital and get checked out. Baby had been moving around great that day so I wasn't too worried about her safety. (Side note I had been told at my first OBGYN appointment that the bones in my hips were very narrow and a possible c section might be in my future.) Anyways we got to L&D and they called my doctor with the news of my high blood pressure and they admitted me to get started on laboring. I was 36 weeks and 4 days. I was only dilated to a 1 and my cervix was not even ripened they said so they ordered some Cytotec I think... I dunno this was all around 1 in the morning and I still had a miserable headache so the night was a bit fuzzy to me. Dave and I didn't sleep with the uncomfortable beds and the nurses checking in on me every couple hours to test my blood and check in the blood pressure cuff that was permanently around my arm the whole night set off to check my BP every hour. My doctor got there around 7 fully prepared to break my water and all that mumbo jumbo and when he went to check my dilation he told me there is a VERY small space for a baby head to come through, like so small that even if I was fully dilated and ready to push that I may need an emergency c section anyway. So he offered me to labor even with the probably possibly of a c section so I opted to avoid the long and difficult labor part and move forward with a c section. 

It was pretty surreal at that point everyone and their mom came into the room to have me sign forms get the epidural and a round of other things.. The only thing about the epidural part I hated was the cold part on my back they sprayed and I felt like a fish getting flipped around but other then that it was a breeze. in just an hour or so they wheeled me into the c section room had my arms stretched out on the sides of me while Dave sat next to my head. I didn't feel anything like incision wise but when they started pulling her out I felt like a toilet getting plunged. The most weird experience of my life. Then I heard her screaming and I started to cry. I have never heard something so beautiful... it's lost it's appeal now though ;)

They took her right away to get cleaned up and checked out and then Dave got to bring her back to me and I got to see her for the first time. She was so tiny I remember thinking and thinking holy shit that just came out of me and is totally alive. I was then left to get stitched up and I was doped up but I am sure my doctor thought I was hilarious because I asked him to put my placenta in the garbage cause I don't want to eat it. (Seriously I am glad that only the people in the hospital were in that room I probably sounded like a looney toon) After I was done they wheeled me back in L&D to wait for my postpartum room, and Dave came back and told me that they took my girl up to NICU to get monitored. I remember being terrified and upset that my baby wasn't with me and wasn't okay enough to be with me, but I didn't say anything. They wheeled me up to the NICU to see my girl and I just wanted to snuggle her but she had her iv in and all hooked up to monitors. What happened was she just held her breath for a second and they wanted to make sure her lungs were fully developed and they did just fine so after 5 hours they brought her back and didn't even have to admit her to the NICU. 

She was born at 9:16 and weighed 5lbs 3oz and 17 inches long. She is the light of my life and I can't imagine that we went so long without her. I am so happy that I am her mom and she is my girl.

Quick update

I always blog stalk and wait for my friends to post new updates but then I NEVER update my own blog, so I guess I will do a quick update so my friends will post and I can read all about their lives.

Dave is going to school and has 2 more years left. I wish it was 2 more minutes because I hate being a broke college student but hey we won't have mountains of debt when he is done so thank you Marine Corps. He is still wanting to do stuff with the water department for the city. We shall see two years is a long time.
I am working for a new salon called The Retreat in Springville. I LOVE it! It's literally a night and day difference from the old job. I am already way busier. BUT I would love to be way more busier so if you are reading this send your friends my way because I would simply love to have more friends visit me! I am also doing Gel polish on nails and Pedicures with Gel as well. The best part is Gel polish should last 2-3 weeks, Mine lasts about half way through 2 and 3 weeks but we can guarantee that it will stay on for the full week.
My salon did something really amazing tonight, every year they hold a cut a thon and donate all the money we make to usually something related to finding a cure for cancer but this year we donated all the money towards Believe in Bre. Click here to read and donate. It was a great success and it's amazing to do something for someone in the community and to see how other small business come together for something like this. There were a lot of donations for us to raffle off and we donated the whole days business towards this cause. I heard we did over 2 thousand dollars to donate to her and that is just an AMAZING number to see especially when our haircuts for the day were only 10$ a piece, and the raffle tickets were 1 dollar to win.
I know this is a small update but it's something. Here's some pictures of the last few weeks.

Starting somewhere

I started talking to a Dr. about infertility and we have started the whole process of elimination. That has been my top priority anyways so if you want to know more just follow my other blog
I have been loving my job at the salon, I have been getting busier and having more and more request of people that are not just family. It's been great I love this career i have chosen.
I decided after a long day and (a murdered smurf) that I decided I need to focus more on my salon job and no longer work at Brickoven. It was a hard decision until Dave asked me to quit so I can actually see him more than I do now. A girl I worked at the salon put in her two weeks so we are all getting extra shifts, which is good but if i continued to work at brickoven and the salon I would work a double on monday, thursday, friday, saturday, work at night tuesday and morning wednesday and every other sunday. I would not have a life, well I don't now so it's going to be amazing to have a weekend night off. I am nervous for not having the extra money but I know as long as we are careful we will be okay.
I also found out today that a cute lil guy named Lucas passed away last night. Lucas was living at Best Friends animal sanctuary and he was a prized fighting dog owned by Michael Vicks. I got to walk Lucas one day while volunteering at best friends last year. He was a sweet boy and because the courts demanded he not be adoptable the sanctuary loved him like they would their own dog. He was such a sweet guy and loved treats and the walk we went on. I know one day I will see him over rainbow bridge no longer scarred

Gather strengths from life's storms

I haven't really wrote much this month because it's been a pretty crappy month.
I want to direct you to my blog where I talk about these things, but I want to warn anyone who doesn't want to read about women problems you should just direct yourself somewhere else because you won't like this blog. Please no negativity either please, and thank you.
This is where I wrote about what has been happening this month...I will want to make it private so please post your email address so that I can make it private within the week.
http://trialsofconceptionhlg.blogspot.com/

Life Lately

So I haven't really gotten to update a whole lot that has been going on, so now that I am off work for the day I shall post something.
So I have been working at the Regis salon and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It has been a great experience and I love getting to use my knowledge on cutting and coloring and see the finished result without someone else telling me what to do. I LOVE being the creative one and figuring out the colors that I should use to give someone the best result, and foiling has been one of my all time favorite thing to do lately. I am also working at Brickoven again. Mostly taking food out, but I am doing a couple nights of serving... so if you're around come in and see me.
The best of all we are MOVING!! We couldn't be more excited to be in our own place again. It's gonna be tight money of course but its going to be fun to have it be us again. I will miss coming home to my mom and dads every night, and visiting, and just being around to hang out and they have been too good to us letting us live here for free, but we are very excited for this next chapter.
I will post lots of pictures as soon as we move in.

Catching up

I am having a hard time sitting down and writing anything going on knowing that only Rachelle reads this, but I am going to post something before the end of this year.
I have graduated Paul Mitchell in September, and I am now working at a salon called Regis in the provo towne center. I really love it and when I am busy doing hair it feels like I am not even working, but having fun instead of a job. When it's slow it's SLOW. I am making  hourly so that's really nice that no matter what I will be making money, but I hope to eventually be so popular that I am getting commission. So until then I am working at Brickoven again... bleh. It wasn't my first choice but it's a great job with money and I have a great manager who was willing to help me out when we are so desperately trying to move out of my parents basement.
I will try and post more with pictures and such but until then here are some photos from the last few months.

Forties fingerwaves

my graduation model

First time voter

My new Niece

final phase

kristy graduated

Finishing my hours

my core I started with 

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

I got an incredible opportunity to visit Kanab, UT and volunteer at Best Friends. It is a huge no kill animal sanctuary and I got to experience it for 2 days. I honestly could have stayed the week but school calls...
The first day of volunteering we got to work with the puppies and sit in for a puppy training session. I learned a lot about training and have been putting it to good use on Payton. He knows lay down now :) SO PROUD! We then got to walk the pups and then do some socializing. That means they want the puppies to get used to different humans so that when they go to a home they are used to people being around and lovin on them. I loved every second and I wish I could have taken all the puppies home, but my mommy said no so...
That afternoon we got to visit the kitty houses, and I was seriously amazed at how clean everything was. They had several houses for all the kitties they had to have over 200 kitties while we were there. The houses that we visited did not even smell like over 50 kitties lived in one house. They kept everything so clean and organized and were trying to give each kitty a quality life even if they had medical needs like paralized in the back legs or kitty leukemia, they even had a house for kitties doing the "biggest loser." Haha seriously one of the Kitties Milly was 30 lbs!! Seriously the fattest kitty I have ever seen in my whole life!
The next day we got to visit the bunny house, the bunnies weren't as much fun because they did not want love or to be held. so we cleaned out their cages because it had rained on them the night before and gave them new blankies to lay on and new toys to chew on. Again so clean and giving the bunnies so much love and a better life.

That afternoon we got to visit another dog town area, we were doing walks and scooping poop. (well at least I was scooping poop my group had other plans...whatever) I also got to walk one of the Michael Vicks dogs who was rescued from his dog fighting operation. His name was Lucas and he had just had surgery, I am not sure for what, but he was seriously the sweetest guy I met. He was so mild mannered and loved pets and treats... LOVED treats :)
The only thing I was instructed to not under any circumstance get him anywhere near another dog. There was an area for the dogs who had dog agressions and I am sure that is why he had not been adopted because people want more than one dog. In all honesty if I didn't have other pets I would want to take him home. Such a sweetie. Its amazing to me that the Best friends sanctuary saves these dogs that otherwise would be killed just for the idea of being untrainable and they have adopted out I think 15 of the 20 they saved. Don't quote me on those numbers but I was amazed at the training they did and how they rehabilitated the animals to be able to live inside a home and live normal lives even after the hell they had endured.

I seriously want to go back every year and volunteer I was so moved and my heart melted with every tail wag and purr noise. I am glad I went and I feel like I made a difference in the animals lives even if it's a small way. If you are an animal lover I say you come with me next year to volunteer!

Part of me

(Hi Rachelle, I think you are the only person that reads my blog anymore haha)

Anyways I am feeling very overwhelmed (in a good way) about my life. As I was driving home after a long day of school and then gym I decided I was very proud of myself for the person that I am. I may not always have it all together or do the right thing, I can be hard to get along with, but I am proud of the person I am. I am an honest person, I always try to do the right thing even if I don't want to, I work hard on my education and try to make the most out of all the situations that have been thrown my way, I am a pretty good wife, I think I am a very loyal person, I have a good sense of humor and try to make those around me laugh, even if it's at my expense. To me I am pretty proud of myself.
Today I finished my Cutting honors at Paul Mitchell. That is mostly a binder full of pictures of haircuts and it gives me more of an understanding of the fundamentals of the cutting system. I am really glad I did this, I have always loved cutting the most of all at school, and I think now that I finished it I really understand the information so much better and can teach others around me because I now own that information. I believe you can understand something but when you are able to teach it to others that is when you really own that information. I now have 3 ish weeks to finish Makeup Honors, basically the same things as cutting honors just with makeup. Lots of pictures of before and afters and applying the techniques that paul mitchell has created, and for me to own that information.
So I am finishing up my hours this month some time. No idea what day yet but I am having my graduation ceremony this month on the 21 at 8. I am so so excited. We do a model that we get to talk about and I am doing a updated retro fingerwave with a pinup like makeup and wardrobe. It's going to be a more updated version but I am very anxious to try something I haven't really done much of. I have a serious love for anything to do with pinup. I can't wait to keep learning more and expanding my skills on that particular look.
I also wanted to write on here because I need to set a new goal, I am currently around 175 lbs and want to loose 35 lbs by Christmas, not a tough goal and once I do that my next goal will be another 15-20 lbs. I am TRYING to eat better and I am going to commit to at least 3 gym sessions a week. It's a good start and if I am up for it I can probably do 4 gym times a week. We shall see but I will keep posting on my progress. I pinky promise.

On iPad

I am typing this blog post on my new iPad
I got it hrough school added to my tuition but I still count it as a graduation present.
Since I only have 200 hours to go at school I wanted to post what my goals at school are before my time is done

1. Finish cutting honors
2. Finish makeup honors
3. Find job while finishing hours
4. Pass state practical and written exam (by the way I signed up for my practical exam for the 9th so any luck and support appreciated!)
5. Go to knab with the school and volunteer with the best friends foundation (I am already signed up for this the end of August)
6. Participate in one photoshoot whether at home or school
7. Finish hours
8. ENJOY the rest of my time being a full time student

I still think it is crazy I am already about to finish cosmetology school, since I first went to a salon I knew my place should be behind a chair and now it is my passion and I hope I can find a salon that will suit my needs. If you hear of a salon in the area hiring let me know! Also it has been one year since I started school on July 26 2012 here is most of my class. I will miss these guys!

400 hours to go

I am roughly at 1600 hours at school now... and the fact remains I can only stay until I am at 2000 hours. I will be honest I do not want to be done. I love school and the future freaks me out... I got thinking about it and YES it will be great to do hair without getting my learning leaders to approve something but then again I won't have learning leaders to ask questions to. It's the next chapter in my school adventure and I am excited but just a tad nervous. Can you blame me?
So anyways aside from working on my honors packet at school I have decided to start putting out my resume and getting a job lined up. I have a 3 page list of places I am interested in working at and going to slowly work my way through them as I get my resume out into the world. Wish me luck. Also if there is any place you have gone to get your hair done tell me about it and why you liked it. ETC.
I haven't done much else since I last blogged. Sorry I am kind of lame. I am not very good at keeping you up with the family parties we have. We have so many that I forget to write about them.

Discoveries

Mommy and I

Yesterday was a not so good day. I won't go into much detail about it...but I made a LOT of Discoveries. At Paul Mitchell we don't make mistakes but discoveries, but last night I felt like one big awful no good mistake and I was really upset with myself. I didn't know who I could talk to who would understand hair at that hour but I texted Haley anyways. She said some really nice things and made me able to sleep that night. Well I was determined to go to school and go about my day like I am fine, I was okay until Haley and Brittany asked me what happened and cue the water works. I didn't realize what they thought of me though and the things they said to me made me feel so much better about myself. What happened the other day wasn't much my fault but a product fault, and anyways it was an all day process that was time consuming and tiring. I was disappointed with myself for not doing the job I thought I was capable of and they lifted me up with their words of encourage ment and just being there for me to listen to me in the bathroom (haha) Next person I saw was my Mommy since I was doing her hair and AGAIN with the water works, You know that one person that you are trying to hide your emotions from and as soon as you see them you just burst into hysterics...ya that was me... reallllly cute. But I calmed down and did her hair, while I was applying the color my cute learning leader Lyndsey brought me some munchies and a kit kat and said to me I am sorry I hope you feel better. SOOO amazingly sweet! It made me cry a little at how sweet someone can be. And my sweet friend Sarah talked me from the ledge (Not really a ledge but I was sprinkling a bit) and helped me realize that there was nothing I could do and I can either grow from it or dwell on what happened. I realize that I did learn a lot from the process I did yesterday and yes I still feel sad like I didn't do enough, but I learned a lot and I am glad I had that now instead of in a salon, where it is just on my head. So thank you to everyone who said something great about me today, it boosted me back up from a very low, low. I am happy I have all these people in my life. Paul Mitchell has done so much for me already but I also got some amazing friends that I get to know and help lift me up when I am down. So thank you again I love you all!!

Me, Haley, and Brittany

Sarah, Lyndsey, and I (Kind of blurry but the only one I have them both in ) 

I am a Day Maker

I wonder if you know that I am a Day Maker. Its true I have seen it. It says so on my Paul mitchell the schools future professional name badge. I didn't really understand what that was supposed to mean for the longest time. I usually referenced it to being part of going to Day school. Well it's got nothing to do with it.

I am seriously so proud going to Paul Mitchell the School, it's such an amazing culture, that I can't imagine going anywhere else. At Caper one of my favorite motivational speakers, Giulio Veglio, pulled out a 100$ bill and crinkled it up and asked us who still wanted it, we all raised out hands, he then threw it on the ground and smooshed it, asked again and we all said we wanted it, he then spat on it and asked if we still wanted it and of course we said yes. He then proceeded to say we are that 100 dollar bill, that no matter what happens to us if we are smooshed up, or crumpled, or spat on we are still valuable, we will never loose our value, just because someone steps on us. To me that was an amazing speech, I forget sometimes that my value doesn't decrease just because someone has stepped on me or made me feel badly, and I am glad he reminded me, I remind myself every day.

A day maker is someone who makes someone elses day. Remember me posting about National free hug day, well we wanted to make someone's day, and we may have creeped out a couple college students but I saw several people get a genuine hug and left smiling. I am sure they went home and told their friends or family that they got a hug from a random stranger today, and in some way it made their day.
I see it all the time while taking guests at the school, how some ladies (mostly ladies but some men too) come in very soft spoken or looking down or away or upset about their hair, and I get to talk to them and listen and help with problem areas and when they leave with a beautiful style, and colored locks, or a few inches less of hair I can see what a difference I have personally made in their day. It's amazing and puts a lump in my throat thinking about it. I am blessed to know I have the power to make someones day just a little brighter.

Another thing about Paul Mitchell is the picture above, the one size fits all, it's so true how anyone from any background or culture can come in to the school and fit in and we are all a weird, disfunctional but loving paul mitchell family. I love going to the school and interacting with the learning leaders and the future professionals all on the same level, we are all still learning and it makes me happy to be apart of it.

I'm a bit overly emotional about the school today because of women things I suspect, but I just cant begin to describe the joy I get being at the school, or how lucky I am to have this culture in my life where I feel so loved by the people there. Thank you Paul Mitchell for putting something so beautiful into my life and letting me share that with everyone around me. I hope I can make your day.

What is...

mo·ti·va·tion/ˌmōtəˈvāSHən/

Noun:

The reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way. The general desire or willingness of someone to do something.

How many posts have I made about losing weight, how many times have I done this to myself. Why I just quit I don't understand, because then it involves starting over. Which no one likes.

I love me and my body I am thankful for all limbs/fingers/toes, but I worry about my health. Which is something I know my momma worries about too. I have been known to put away a whole box of coco puffs without milk or kaptn krunch in a day. OR a whole box of popsicles. Pretty much over eater right here.

Well here I am again today. Saying no more.. even if I don't go to the gym every day or anything, I am going to be making an effort to portion control my food. I can't give up everything that I love but I can choose to only have a serving size of cereal. Or one popsicle. or one serving of chips. 

I already have diabetes in the family and that isn't something that I want to deal with in my life. I need to take care of what I got to be able to live a long life, and looking good in a bikini wont hurt either. 

I will keep posted on what my future goals are but for now we are starting with portion control. 

Get inspired

This is the video of the Caper event I went to this February with 40 other future professionals from my school, there were future professionals from all over the country from every paul mitchell school. I hope what you see on this video can inspire you some way,
NO it's not all about hairdressing, its about our fundraisers and getting inspired and making you feel like the most important person in the world. I hope you enjoy because I sure did.

Caper 2012

Ya I know I have not even been on the computer for what seems like forever. I have but it's usually to look up a recipe or look at others blogs, so yes I stink at bloggin, but I will try and catch you up.
So I went to Paul Mitchells Caper in February. I had the time of my life, I learned so much about color in just a 2 hour class that I haven't learned in the 1000 hours I have been in school. I got a sexy male doll head to practice beard cutting.. YES the doll has facial hair. I got to see Takashi, Robert Cromeans, Winn Claybaugh, John Paul Dejoria, Stephanie Kechawlski (SPeLLING), Tabitha Coffeey, Magic Johnson, Robert Lobetta, and my all time favorite person Kathy Buckley.

This is Kathy Buckley it is super old but she has some of the same lines.
I learned some things about color that was and is so beneficial to my education. Seriously it was just amazing and changed my outlook on career path. In fact that is an understatement. I am actually wanting to be a learning leader at my school that I am going to right now, and eventually go on to the Advanced Academy for Paul Mitchell Systems. If you are wondering what that is you can read all about it HERE.
It would be a great schedule for when I have a family because I do have to be a learning leader at the school and I would get to travel for training and teaching and shows. (Not traveling like every weekend but still enough)
It'll take me a while to get there but I think with determination I will get there.

Other than Caper and I am sorry I suck at posting at all! I just been lovin life with my cute Husby, just going to school, and being happy.

I also just went to The Hunger Games, If you love the books go see it, if you have never read the books go see it. It followed the books fairly well, I mean YES they obviously have to change things, there are some things I noticed and wished they would have left but it's a movie and just for entertainment purposes, but the casting was amazing and I was happy with the movie, I can't wait to see how the next 2 turn out.


Anyways I am sorry I don't post much I will try to more often. <3

Nothing to blog about.

I realized today it's been a month since I blogged, not that anyone but Rachelle reads this but hey I like writing things that are going on sometimes.
My Birthday is in like 40 days so everyone better start shopping ;) just kidding, I am doing another photoshoot soon with some different ideas which I am excited, I will post pictures most likely.
I am getting busy writing my resume for Beacon which is just a bigger version of Caper and they're more picky and you have to apply to go Soo working on that. Caper is only a month away! Craziness I am sooooooooooo excited and cannot wait ti get there and learn and soak up as much as I can.
I am soo excited for the hunger games movie. If you cannot tell
I have been making some yummy dinners that you should all try but I ate them all so they're no longer here. If you want recipes then I will totally share.
I don't remember sharing my pictures from my photoshoot but I will post a few that I loved

My cousin is Beautiful and my sister in law is amazing with the camera. LOVED working with them and glad I got these photos. They turned out lovely
I am not sure what else I should say but I promise to write more often <3

10%

So You know those new years resolutions that everyone makes and after 3-4 weeks fails miserably. I have done it so nobody reading this better deny it. I have learned that nothing can switch over in a day. You can tell yourself that you are going to the gym every day at 5am but if you aren't already waking up that early or going to the gym at all then how is that going to automatically switch. Now I know there are those who stop what they're doing right then and there and change everything, but I know that's not me.
I have proven myself time and time again with hard work and dedication that I can loose the weight I have managed to keep around my midsection for the past few years. It keeps coming back because I fall into my routine again, and I am sick of it. I am still making it a goal to get fit this year but instead of making this big huge deal and making my goal every day gym morning I know that if I even fail the one time that I might fall back into that same routine. So I am going to be making a few smaller goals every month and when I feel like I have made my goal I will move on. I am going to make a lifestyle change. With hard work and dedication I can make a 10% shift into that new lifestyle.
Therefore my goals for this January month is to be waking up an hour earlier 3 days a week to go to the gym. I hate going to the gym after school so I know if I go in the morning I will start getting used to waking up earlier.
Another goal is to save treats for one day a week. So I won't be tempted to throw any treat into my mouth I will save something special to a different day because I feel like if I do this I won't be shoving all the candy in my mouth daily I will really think of what a special treat it will be.
My next goal is to sit down and eat my meals in a chair with a table in front of me. Not driving!

So there you have it 3 times working out in the morning, a treat day (probably saturday) and no driving and eating, sitting down and eating my meal in front of a table.

Bullying

So at my AMAZING school and I say amazing loudly because it's in all caps and because I truly believe this was the BEST decision I have ever made for myself (again with the caps) We have some great Learning Leaders and some Amazing Front desk associates who teach us lots of important skills and things you should know not only in the world of Cosmetology but in life. Paul Mitchell teaches us lifestyles like the "be nice or else" club, I could name a few more but that one today really stood out to me. I'll be honest this week hasn't been one I have wanted to be awake for. You know those days where you want nothing more than to crawl back into bed with nothing but yourself a book maybe several movies and a LARGE soda or coffee or cocoa. That's been me all this week. I have no motivation to want to go to school. I do because I know it's best for me to not miss a thing. You never know when that life changing moment will be waiting there for you. Now I have done lots of great things with Production team and it's been amazing to do but today I told my cute friend Kelli that I was in a funk and I was going to take a longer lunch to just sit at brickoven and relax and drink as much rootbeer as I could put into my tummy, she said that's fine but want to do something for me and come to the be nice or else team event where we are going to the boys and girls club in provo and talking to them about bullying. I said sure, she's always so good to me so I could do something for her. So I enjoyed my brickoven, went to class, went to a production team meeting then to theory then to this class Kelli had. Now I am not saying that I got a lot out of it and I am not saying the kids who were clearly not paying attention got anything out of it, but I am glad I went.
Lots of you may not know this but I was bullyed, I would come home and tell my mom how no one wanted to be my friend or something mean and hurtful someone else said to me. Now I think I was just an odd child and didn't fit in but I know what it felt like and I know that some of those kids that were truly listening had been bullied because they did what I did, I could see it in their eyes that they wished only to be accepted. I wanted to reach out and hug them and tell them that things will change, that people will accept them for who they are one day and that none of this adolencence garbage will matter when they get older, but does it really ever end??
We had a class about creating Magic with my good friend Rhi and it was so good. We all went around the room and introduced the person sitting next to us and talked about who they were and made them all feel special. I am glad that I had people say such nice things about me and that I am accepted. Sometimes I don't feel accepted all the time, but I know now that those things don't matter anymore. So what if someone doesn't like the way you styled your hair, or doesn't like your shoes. If they have to go around bothering you then not only are they overly obsessed with everything you do but they don't have a life worth talking about so they pick on someone else.
I know I am sort of rambling but I just wanted to say how important it is to start instilling this thought into your children, how it shouldn't matter what people think of you but it's how you feel about yourself. If you are in love with yourself than this petty bullying will not matter to you down the road.
I love myself and I know that I am accepted, not only by other students, but by my family (who are obviously most important) The teachers at paul mitchell, and old friends.
I hope anyone dealing with bullys even if it's not a direct to your face bullying that they can shake it off and rise above it.

One Month

So I haven't blogged in a month, I am sorry. I just don't think that my life is all that exciting, but I will post some of my personal successes so there is something to post about.
I did my first haircut that my learning leaders did not have to fix.
I have been practicing my blowdry techniques and I feel like I get a lot more volume now, and now my mom wants me to wake up and do her hair like that every day.
For production team we did an event called Photopalooza which there were photography students taking photos for their portfolios, models who were looking to enhance their portfolios, and the Production team girls doing hair and make up for our portfolios. I did 2 models hair and got to follow them around and keep their lips glossed and fix hair as I see it needed to be. I don't know when those pictures will be posted of the hair I did but when it does I will post them. I was very happy with how they turned out. Special thanks to my model Lani who also goes to Paul Mitchell because a lot of the models didn't show up for the Photopalooza.
I have been making new friends at school, it makes me sad a lot of them are going to be graduating sooner than I am but I am grateful I am getting to know them, and I am excited to go to Caper with them.
I am so so so excited to go to Caper this February, I wish it would hurry up!

Military Reminders.

So these last few days have been kind of crazy. Yesterday was the Marine Corps 236th birthday which reminds me how I am not with my "marine corps family" It's funny how close all us girls got because most of our families weren't in the area, and we had each other to lean on in times of hardships and successes. Today is Veterans day, and I can't stop thinking about how these men and women devote their lives to the service. It's amazing to me and I am so truly grateful for the past, present, future service men and women and I pay special tribute to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. It makes me teary eyed as I write this because I think of my amazing friend Stacia, and her husband Larry D. (every time I hear Party in the USA I think of Larry D and Stacia.) Larry was a true hero and saved his brother in the middle of a firefight and I am grateful to have known him and his beautiful wife.
Tomorrow will be one year since I picked my husband up from his seven months in Afghanistan. I still to this day know that day was the best day of my whole life. When I saw Dave's face for the first time in seven months and knew that he was as safe as any civilian gets I just started crying and smiling at the same time. I am so grateful that he is home now and I get to see his shiny, happy (well not all the time happy) face. He is still my best friend and I am so happy to have found him.
But it still seems so weird to be starting a civilian life, I see my friends facebook and posting pictures of homecomings, Marine Corps balls, and it feels weird to not be in that family anymore, don't get me wrong I am grateful to be home with my own family and away from deployments and field ops, but it still seems weird.