My last Happening, posted July 26th, 2015, was right before I headed into a bit of a depression that I can only now admit to. I'd been through a bad experience and was wanting to forget it. I struggled to find my footing, plunged into a period of depression, and ultimately started down a path that was instrumental in changing my life, and shaping me.
If it weren't for my mentors, and the wonderful self development program that Doterra has, I am not sure how the last year and a half would have gone. My dedication to self development is what really carried me through the tough times and helped me to enjoy the good times.
July-August 2015
Last bit of July I took my little sister's maternity pictures. We did them just in time before her little guy came.
August was all about working out and getting healthy. The workouts became a great anti-depressant for me, and it was nice as I began to reclaim my life through health and fitness. I was continuing on a weight loss journey I'd been struggling my way through for months but my determination was strong.
A night out at the Idaho Fall's Chukars game with my dad was a nice little memory to be made. I started to enjoy sports more after attending the live event, when I'd never taken much interest in it before.
And with the tail-end of August, we welcomed my newest nephew into the clan. It was fun to visit him in the hospital and see him on his first day.
Azer's first Nephew Selfie with one of his favorite aunts.
September 2015
Took my first trip to Dallas, TX to visit my bestie, Annaleese and her wonderful family. It was a trip full of memories and I absolutely fell in love with the place. While there I made some new friends that Annaleese introduced me to and we all had a fun filled weekend at a Supernatural Convention.
Trying to squeeze in as much nephew time with the little guy, I joined him and his mom to listen to LDS General Conference.
And also satisfied some baby snuggle cravings at his baby blessing when I also got some time with my 2nd youngest nephew, Toby, that I hadn't seen in a while.
December 2015
Started the month off by spending time with some friends in St. George, Utah. It was a small weekend try-out while I made my decision to move in the coming year. While there I enjoyed visiting the general store where they had all the kinds of soda you'd ever dream of and we learned just how difficult it is to take a selfie on a moving carousel.
But so fun to look at the outtakes after. When the ride finished, the nice elderly man operating the ride offered to take our picture for us. Guess he noticed how much trouble we had.
While still in St. George I drove to one of the impressive homes that decorates for Christmas. And added blonde into my hair! It was the last time that I did anything with the color of my hair, as I decided to let my hair grow out natural.
Closed out the year with a blue and silver tree, Christmas village and all the Christmas cards received displayed on the piano; and I got ready for my new adventure.
Rang in the New Year with my family at an epic party at my brother's house. We got to enjoy a little performance from a little boy band I'm partial to.
I also started the year off by turning the big "3-0". Which was a little hard for me. Struggling with depression still and faith. I didn't believe in myself, and I didn't believe in my dreams. Turning 30 meant the end of a lot of possibilities for me. It played into my decision to move. I was searching for new scenery, a change of pace, and trying to hide from my fears. I was running from what I was so afraid to face in exactly 12 months (my 31st birthday). I didn't want to know what life at 31 and being single would be like for me.
And so my adventure began. The big move. I left my home and my family to join a house full of roommates of all kinds (cats, a dog, & some favorite humans) in a city I'd fallen in love with over the past several years as I visited friends that I love so well that I rather consider them sisters.
30th Birthday, here I was.
New home, new best friend.
This little kitty and I spent a lot of time together, and we adored each other.
Went home at the end of January for a visit, and broke up the long drive by crashing at my brother's house where I got in some fun time with the nieces and nephews.
March 2016
After losing an entire month in February to the flu (influenza is nasty) and a Netflix marathon of the X-files (interesting show to watch with a fever and sickness fog), I headed back to St. George to resume my adventure. Mars and Greg took me for a nice drive out to the beautiful scenery of Ivins where we saw a beautiful rainbow peeking out after a storm.
Then Annaleese, Kim, and I took on Las Vegas. We were joined by Maggie, and the four of us made some incredible memories at another Supernatural Convention.
We passed the time in line for karaoke night by taking some crazy selfies.
And went viral on the internet after our epic photo op with one, Jensen Ackles (Dean Winchester, Supernatural, CW). Let's be honest. It was Kim's face that made us all famous.
The pic that launched 1,000 retweets. (Ha!)
Annaleese and I took the next weekend to follow the convention tour to Seattle, WA. Yet another city I just had to go and fall in love with. I'd been wanting to see the place ever since I was a little girl because it is where my mom is from. The city already held a special place in my heart that was locked in when I finally got to visit the place.
I was able to squeeze in a quick tour of the city when Marcela met up with me and took me to the top of the Space Needle (crossed that off the bucket list)
Top of the Space Needle. (Marcela was there, I swear. I don't know why I don't have a photo w/her)
April 2016
Took an epic "hike" near the house. We left right from our front door. But met with some challenges on the way when we found the trail was full of mud. All we were trying to do was get some exercise and achieve our goal of walking to Harmon's! I think we were trying to walk a mile and a half or so? #FitGoals. We sank in a lot of places, the mud sucked off our shoes, and I was lucky to be wearing black yoga pants for when I actually fell into the mud while trying to yank out my missing shoe. This red mud was like a distant cousin to quicksand, I swear. Those white socks never recovered. Neither did my shoes.
I did get to head back to Idaho to watch my sweet cousin get married. And to catch up on missing baby snuggles from Azer. We documented the event with a mandatory wedding selfie.
May 2016
Celebrated my sister's birthday. And had so much fun taking her family photos. The little guy wasn't into it as much as the rest of us. He'd rather play with the grass as he discovered the fun of the outdoors.
Back in St. George, it was time for another road trip. Girls Date Night with Mars in Las Vegas. We both were excited to eat at the Rainforest Cafe and while we were there we got to take pictures with the hottest hunk there. Mars was nice enough to share Joe with me for the night. #CreepsOfLVStrip
And then we attempted a walking selfie on the strip as it was way too crowded to stop, nor did we want to.
June 2016
Middle of summer, and we chose to go to Phoenix, the week after they were having record highs in a crazy heat wave. 115 Degrees. It was still pretty hot when we got there, but the heat was dry so it was bearable. And in case you didn't guess the reason we were there already? Why else would Annaleese and Tay hit up Phoenix? Besides our red carpet makeovers?
Just another Supernatural Convention where we got this gem of a photo that inspired a sitcom we wrote on our long drive back to St. George.
Right after my Phoenix adventure I returned to Idaho Falls to help with costumes for the Sounds Summer Musical. This year they did Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. And while my dad was involved on stage as one of Joseph's brothers, my mom and I hung out backstage (in my opinion, the best spot), and watched everything behind the scenes.
July 2016
4th of July weekend, I spent back in Utah, at my brother's new home he bought. We lit some fireworks, and had a Ninja Turtle pajama party. Well, just Auntie Tiffany and the boys that is.
Matching outfits with Seamus and Toby (and a Constance photo bomb)
July was my busiest traveling month. In fact I was rarely at home. Not only did I take too many trips for one month, but I added in a move back to Idaho Falls. Leaving behind some of the greatest roommates I had, Mars' kitty that I fell in love with, and a city that I still miss. But I felt strongly that the move was right for me. I just didn't know why at the time.
Trips included a weekend in Dallas, TX to celebrate a friend's birthday and meet another friend's adorable "big" puppy. My first meeting with an English Mastiff. My first visit to Lewiston, ID and Clarkston, WA with a fun planetarium show with one of my best friends, Megan. We learned about the Juno project that NASA launched to learn more about Jupiter. And then from Lewiston I headed over to Seattle again to revisit it properly with Marcela. She played tour guide to me again but this time we fit in a lot more sights and discovered the Columbia Tower observatory offered much more impressive views of Seattle than the dated Space Needle.
At the advice of my friend, Cinthanie, I checked out Alki Beach and decided that if I ever struck it rich, I'd move into an Alki Beach Condo to live out my days.
No Seattle trip is complete without a ferry ride.
August 2016
One more Supernatural Convention with Annaleese. Our last one. And this one we spent in Minneapolis, MN. I've been wanting to return to Minneapolis ever since the 5th grade when my family took a trip there. To my disappointment this year, the Mall of America wasn't as grand as I'd remembered. The Lego Store wasn't near as epic as when I was a kid. And the saddest part was finding that Camp Snoopy, the theme park in the middle of the mall, was now turned into a Nickelodeon themed park. But I did go on the ride "Fly Over America" and saw the sights, sounds, and smells of America. (All part of the ride).
The end of an era for this Supernatural Touring Duo.
It was time to stop travelling. I'd done so much of it in 2016 that I was starting to feel a little displaced. Even with all the self development I'd done, I still felt there was something missing and as much as I tried to find that happiness, nothing I tried was filling that hole. The past year I'd taken strength from these internet memes and inspiration posts and I didn't know just how close I was to the biggest change of my life.
Looking back on it reminds me of a quote from one of my favorite movies.
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