here's to fifty...

...pounds lost. thanks to weight watchers, an incredibly supportive family (most especially jayson and joy), and a daughter who keeps me active.

i can't tell you how much better i feel.

and i still eat ice cream. several times a week.

truthfully, i never thought i'd make it. i cried one week on the scale, i just couldn't believe it. i always thought i'd be overweight--it was my genes, destiny, trial...whatever. i've learned that's bologna. if you want it, you can achieve it.

here's to healthy living!

ode to summer

Do you ever feel like everyone else besides you is having fun?

Do you ever feel like summer is slipping away, even though it has just barely started?

Do you ever feel like you're so focused on getting the things you need to get done that you forget about the things that you want to get done?

I do.

This has all been on my mind a lot lately. I've been waiting for summer since... last summer. I've been so anxious for its arrival, I feel like I've put so many things off because they seem so much easier in the summer. I kept telling myself that summer would be our time to have fun.

And now summer's here, and I don't feel any different. I don't feel like our family has enjoyed any of the wonderful things summer has to offer. And I have been panicking this week, because I feel like summer is almost over. I know that's totally irrational, but after Jayson gets back from Scout camp this week, I'll leave in two weeks for girls camp (plus a few prep days before), and then two weeks later we go to youth conference which is at my parents cabin (so add a few days at the cabin getting it ready). Then its AUGUST and things get busy again at J Dawgs. So really, we only have a few weeks to capitalize on all of the wonderful things of summer. Do you see my panic?

Last week at Weight Watchers they encouraged us to make a "want to" list instead of a "have to" list. This morning I embarked on such a project. I made myself a summer music playlist, took my music outside and sat under my tree and wrote. I made a "things I love about summer" list for myself and I started one for Jayson and Mae. We have to take summer into our own hands, or it will be gone and we'll still be missing out.

Here is my list:

*bocce ball (this is one of our favorite games. we have a set, and are up for playing whenever)

*listening to summer music (i'm doing that right now!)

*baseball games (I went to a couple innings of the orem owlz game and i can't wait to go back)

*happy hour at sonic (3-5 every afternoon. best slushes, period)

*swimming (i could do this everyday)

*hiking (anyone know any good hikes around?)

*mowing the lawn (i don't think jayson will let me mow our own lawn, so i'll have to mow elda's)

*THE CABIN (my parents and my grandparents)

*hot air balloons (bring on the freedom festival!)

*bike rides (we have two bikes and a bike trailer, so we're ready)

*parades (this one is set up for the fourth of july at the smoots. yes!)

*painted toenails (i need to take more initiative in this area. anyone want to go polish shopping?)

*homemade ice cream (i love the old crank style makers. anyone have one?)

*carnivals--ferris wheels (we missed art city days, and i'm so sad about it)

*outdoor concerts (august, listening to katy compete in the celebrity competition)

*evenings sitting outside my house (i could do this everyday)

*snow cones (i totally missed ella good last year, which is pretty sad because they're the best and they're only 50 yards from j dawgs)

*sunglasses (something funky this year)

*fireworks (one show never is enough. i want lots and lots of fireworks)

*vacation with my 2 fav's (j and mae, or course. our toronto trip was the best thing of last summer. chicago this summer?)

*corn on the cob, fresh tomatoes, strawberries, watermelon.... (i love summer produce)

*demolition derbies (thank you kirk and wasatch search and rescue)

*riding in a convertible car (anyone know where we could find one of these)

*camping (did we miss the ward campout?)

*flavored lemonade (ideally on the patio of red robin, eating a hamburger)

*rodeos (oakley?)

*bonfires (can't beat that smell)

I'm sure if I (a total yellow) struggle with this, you might be too. I know Joy is (she's made her list already). And I want us all to have a rocking summer.

So here's what I'm gonna do. If you do any of these things this summer, take a picture doing it. Put it on your blog (if you have one) under the title "ode to summer." Send me a copy of the picture (heidizinha@gmail.com) and I'll put it on my blog, and I'll send you a J Dawgs gift certificate (because that should be on everyone's list). If you make your own list, I'll send you a gift certificate too.

I want this summer to be unforgettable!

happy birthday j dawgs!!

J Dawgs celebrated it's 4th birthday June 9, 2008. Four years! What a ride it's been!

To celebrate the birthday, we had balloons and handed out cupcakes during lunch. Mae wore her hot dog shirt.


We had dawgs for lunch. Mae, or course, devoured her dawg.


Now onto more serious stuff....

Owning your own business is an exhilarating, exhausting, empowering, frustrating, hilarious, draining, and life-dominating experience. Some days a 9 to 5 job with paid vacation, sick leave, overtime, etc sounds so so so appealing. But then we realize how much we love J Dawgs. It has helped us to meet some of our best friends and associates. Our customers are the best bunch of people around. Everything that J Dawgs has become is due to the hard work and dedication of Jayson. He has poured his heart and soul into this business. And at the end of the day, it still makes him smile like this:

Happy 4th birthday J Dawgs! And congratulations Jayson, for having the guts and determination to make it happen. And thank you everyone, for cheering us on along the way.

katy belts!

Sadie

It's not everyday you run into someone who was born the same day and in the same hospital as you. Tonight, we ran into Sadie who shares her special day with Mae. They had a blast running around Mimi's at half past bedtime tonight.


Sadie's mom (Michelle) and her family live in my parents home ward. It was great to run into them tonight! Hope to see you again!

missed me?

Mae got to hang out with her friend Andie (and the entire Garner family) last night at the opening Owlz game. Judging from the pictures, do you think she missed us?


I think she wants us to be busy more often. She had a blast. Thanks Garner family!!!

Stella!

My favorite cousin Stella came to town, and she was here for almost three months! We had the best time together...

We went shopping together...

We went on wagon rides together...

and bike rides...


and we went swimming together....




I liked to push you on the swing...

and go to the farm together.


I really loved your dog bunny too.


Stellie, I miss you. Please come visit me again soon!

I love you!

xoxo, mae

just the girls

We sent Jayson off early this morning to Scout Camp. He will be gone until Saturday. Until then, it's just the girls: Mae and I. We'll miss da-da lots.


Mae will spend her afternoons at different family and friend's homes while I fill in at J Dawgs. Maybe we'll find some time to paint our toes, braid our hair, and do all things girly. We did our hair matching today!

Most importantly, I hope to spend my evenings catching up our blog on the last month. It has been a great one--I have lots to share!

patience.

i knew i waited for a reason.

(that and my contract is up july 15th) 

we're so stoked.

no words...

...to describe how adorable I think my daughter is.

I heart...

This ad made me buy this song.



And if I didn't already own two macs and about 17 iPods, I would after watching this ad. I heart mac.

Now that I own the song, I listen to it about 39 times a day. I listen to it at least four times at the gym each morning, and when I do, I really feel like I can do anything. I heart Coldplay. I've been a fan for a long long time. They're coming in November. I heart life.