Everyone needs a vacation

The Importance of Vacations, for Stress Relief, Productivity and Health
Vacations Are Important For More Than Just Fun...

Many people don’t take vacations often enough. In fact, according to a recent poll, around half of readers don't take annual vacations; in fact, many readers never take them! And now with increasing frequency, when we do take vacations, we often bring work along with us, keeping ourselves essentially still in the work mindset we’re trying to escape. This is unfortunate for several reasons:

Vacations Promote Creativity: A good vacation can help us to reconnect with ourselves, operating as a vehicle for self-discovery and helping us get back to feeling our best.

Vacations Stave Off Burnout: Workers who take regular time to relax are less likely to experience burnout, making them more creative and productive than their overworked, under-rested counterparts.

Vacations Can Keep Us Healthy: Taking regular time off to ‘recharge your batteries’, thereby keeping stress levels lower, can keep you healthier.

Vacations Can Strengthen Bonds: Spending time enjoying life with loved ones can keep relationships strong, helping you enjoy the good times more and helping you through the stress of the hard times. In fact, a study by the Arizona Department of Health and Human Services found that women who took vacations were more satisfied with their marriages.

Vacations Can Help With Your Job Performance: As the authors of the above study suggest, the psychological benefits that come with more frequent vacations lead to increased quality of life, and that can lead to increased quality of work on the job.

Who wants to take a vacation??

Life Style Change

With my parents off playing in Paris and London this week I have been left to fend for myself. I am a very capable 26 year old (just two weeks from 27) doing great alone. Staying alone for a night or two is cake but when the house makes noises you've never heard can become a little weary and nerve racking. I am a tough girl and the house is standing and all taken care of. I manged to leave my camera packed away this weekend as I threw yet another party. The theme this time was in celebration of National Grilled Cheese Month. I set out three grills and the bread and cheese and let everyone enjoy making their own sandwiches. It was a great turn out with the usual ratios 2 to 1 guys for every girl around 50ish in attendance. The jokes began to fly that evening wondering where all the females were. It may seem like a dream come true but there is nothing worse then guys complaining and not hanging around very long. I seem to say after every party that it was my last one but really I don't know when my last party will be. It does get old cleaning the house and hoping I have come close to my mothers expectations on tidiness and cleanest. It was one evening that I was able to provide a wholesome activity where people could mingle and enjoy being social.

The reason for this blog title is I am ready for a life style change and am working on doing the small things in hope my faith and determination will carry me onto bigger things. I am 9 weeks away from attending my younger brothers wedding in Portland. Out of sher motivation to look great and feel amazing I decided April 1st that my diet coke drinking was going to be cut down and out one day. Just 17 days in and normally I would have had 18 Diet Cokes by now. I have only had 5. If there is any one up to do a biggest looser with me and see how much weight we can loose in the next 10 weeks I have got $20 bucks to throw in a pot for the winner. For anyone that really reads this please offer any suggestions or ways to change the thought process and find a way to make changes in life. What have you been trying to cut back on and have not been able to do? I have always had determination and done really well when I set out to accomplish whatever is set in front but this time I have not found it so easy. Here is to you being great in 2008!

Sunday March 30th New York City

Sunday morning we got up early and packed to spend the last few hours sightseeing. We headed off to the Subway to catch the train down to Ground Zero. This was my first trip since 9/11 and I was anxious to see where the Twin Towers once stood. We located a tiny deli and got some hot chocolate and began the walk around ground zero. I can't even began to explain the feelings felt that morning and being able to remember my day back on 9/11/01 as a junior in college at Utah State. This was a very peaceful hour reflecting life and how quickly it all changes. I am so blessed and grateful for my life with a family and amazing friends. We jumped back on the Subway headed up to Canal Street to find a great buy on some knock off hand bags. I found a Couch and D & B bag. Aubrey picked out a Couch and Prada bag. We had to follow a lady down a few streets and up a long staircase in an old building to a room filled with bags. It was off to meet up with Jackie, Mark and Steve for brunch. We ate at Devin Tavern and enjoyed the tasty food and cozy warm atmosphere. We were dropped back off at the hotel to pick our bags and off to catch the trains to JFK. The flight home was pretty uneventful sleeping, reading my book and listened to music on the ipod. We had a layover in Atlanta and grabbed food and met the baseball team from Boston College. I will never forget this weekend and the lessons and friendships developed in just a few short hours.

Saturday March 29th New York City

After a long exciting day on Friday going on zero hours of sleep I was feeling more rested and ready to spend my day out on the town. It was Aubrey birthday and I was so happy just to spend it with her doing whatever our heart desired. The morning began with a delightful brunch with Brittany, Clinton, Ryan, Aubrey and I at Norma's. After brunch we said good-bye to the others and we walked down to 5th Avenue for a little shopping. We met up with Jackie, Mark and Steve. We spent some time in Rockefeller plaza for a little ice skating session followed up with some food. It was back to the hotel briefly to prep for dinner reservations at Pipa at 9pm. The entire evening was filled with laughs, fun conversations, tasty food and an overall fantastic restaurant. After dinner Erin had an acquittance who invited us to a club for drinks, which we all had to decline and some fun dancing. The evening didn't end when we left the club because we found ourself in a cab ride home that would scare you from getting in another cab for a long time. Saturday was a great day filled with wonderful memories for me and Aubrey. I decided more weekend trips this year are going to be mandatory in gaining life experiences. Enjoy the photos.

Top Three Moments for Saturday

1. Brunch at Norma's
2. Skating in Rockefeller
3. Dinner at Pipa

I realize two of the three involve eating but when you love food and eat wonderful food surrounded with great company the memory is lasting.

For The Beauty

This weekend as I sat and watched conference soaking up all wonderful counsel I couldn't help but notice the beautiful flowers in front and behind the podium. I hope each of you took a piece of each talk and plan to make changes to grow spiritually and heed to the council we have all been taught. I am grateful for my family and the plan of happiness the gospel offers to everyone who will come unto Christ. I love the gospel in my life and the blessing that come from being a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. With love, ke

Friday March 28th 2008 New York City

The trip began with a flight from Orange County 6:45 pm to Salt Lake City Thursday night. Aubrey and I were on the red eye out of Salt Lake and arrived in New York City Friday at 5:15 am. That flight was pretty rough since I was only able to sleep for about 20 minutes. After waiting 45 minutes for the bags to find the right carousel we rushed off to catch a few trains arriving in the city around 7:30. That experience on trains was not the best experience walking thru Penn Station with a large suitcase while it is rush hour for everyone else to catch trains to work. We got off in Time square and walked up a few blocks to our hotel the Crowne Plaza. We were told we could not do an early check in so we sat in the lobby for a half hour till cleaning up and changing before heading up to the temple. Check in was three o'clock so off we went exploring for the day. It was worth the wait since we were given a room over looking times square on the 28th floor. Here are the photos from Friday.

Sitting in SLC waiting to board the flight to NYC

A Session at the Manhattan Temple

Walking around the city

Dinner at POP burger

A Musical

After the show

Hanging out in the W hotel enjoying a few drinks (Diet Coke) and great company.

Top three Moments for Friday

1. Walking up to the Temple and doing a session
2. Seeing the Musical Curtains
3. Getting a room over time square

Grad School Update

For all those that have been reading my blog you might remember my post about applying to grad school. On March 3rd I drove up to Long Beach before work and dropped off my application at California State University Long Beach. I only applied to CSULB since I was set on staying in the area and liked the Master's Program they had. I received an email on March 25th that I had not been accepted. They had 110 student's applying for Fall 2008 and had 25 spots open. The entire process was a great learning opportunity and I am really grateful to have gone through the process of applying. This just means that I have something even bigger and better to accomplish in 2008.

New York Moment

I have been thinking a lot about an experience I had this weekend in New York that I feel is blog worthy. Photos and the rest of the weekend are coming soon. It was all in the matter of about 4 minutes that this took place while walking along fifth avenue. Fifth avenue is packed with tourist, taxi's, large building's and the best shopping. I noticed this family of four just a head of me with two young kids, a boy and girl. As everyone stops at the intersection waiting for the green light this family attempts to cross early not really paying close attention. They get half way across and turn around as they see a car approaching the intersection. The light changes and we all cross the street. Once across the father is very angered and I hear him turn to his daughter and yell "Stupid Girl" and my heart just sank.
I am really not sure why he was so mad at her other than I believe she suggested crossing too soon. He grabs his son hand and rushes off leaving his wife and daughter to follow behind who looks about 9. At this point I am near the mother who is trying to explain to her daughter that she is not to tell him what to do as well as consoling her feelings. She was obliviously not doing a good job because she is in tears. If I might add who would not be sad if your own father just called you a "stupid girl". We begin to separate from them and I find myself deep in thought and with a little tear in my eye. I am thinking so many thoughts by now horrible father, poor girl and wife, and who gave him the right to treat her that way. I am trying to pay close attention to everything else going on around me. I am walking with Erin and Aubrey talking to them, listening to this family, trying to watch were I am walking, and looking at everything going on around me. We are on our way to see a hotel and check out more stores and find dinner at this point. My question for you is how often have you been quick to anger at someone you love and respect so dearly? No need to answer this question just remember that we all need to speak a little kinder to each other. Whether it be between husband/wife, parent/child, sibling/sibling and just our friends. I have a great quote from President Hinckley on the matter of being slow to anger.
" Brethren, let us, each of us, watch ourselves. Whenever we have within us a little temper, go outside, breathe some fresh air, and come in with a smile and throw your arms around your wife and tell her you love her. Look to your children and let them know that you love them. Live with them kindly, and graciously, as Latter-day Saints should do."