A joke? But also real. And fun.

Lacy and I decided we wanted to start a bit of a "lifestyle" blog, but in the style of real life.  As in, our real lives that are not glamorous or full of fancy photography and what not.  So we did just that.  You can find us at:

simpleflavorsarekey.blogspot.com

We're gonna be funny, and still try to be informative with recipes and crafts and outfit posts and whatever else seems lifestyle worthy to us.  And you know that also means cat posts and movies and music we like, and things of that sort.  Check, check-it-out.

And if any of you waaaaaant, maybe you can also guest post!

Two

I spent Saturday morning shoveling snow.  Just shoveling and shoveling.  So much snow.

It's crazy how much snow last weekend brought us.  And you'd think a foot and a half of snow would make me curse winter and blizzards and this stupid frozen water... but I actually just love it.
I weirdly love shoveling snow.  It's hard manual work that has a real, visual pay-off.  And I enjoy pay-offs quite a bit.

Our snow boots have gotten a good work out.  Also, see Ray's boots up there? Let me introduce you to the first men's clothing/footwear item I have ever purchased for another man (aside from, like, socks and ties for my Dad, which doesn't count).  I'm feeling pretty great about it.  Ray loves them, they look rather dashing on him, and they were on sale.  Looks like I CAN do this wife thing.

I've been thinking a lot lately about trying to manage my time now that another person gets to lay claim to so much of it.  I was able to see Megan and Allison yesterday, whom I haven't seen since November time-frame.  And I get to see Kristin tonight, whom I haven't seen since mid-December.  And I know there's a few of you who I don't get to see nearly as often as I would like.  But being married suddenly takes up so much of my time!  It doesn't seem like it should make a difference.  The essentials, eating, sleeping, working... those still take the same amount of time.  But somehow my extra time is filled with so many little things.  Making sure there's extra food for Ray's lunches (and snacking).  Going to the gym together (which takes a LOT longer because Ray, bless his heart, sure likes to take his time).  Spending time watching TV together, just to be together.

The thing is, I really love spending time with Ray.  I love just being with him.  And that makes it a whole lot easier to lose days doing menial things like grocery shopping together.  I want to be better at calling up my friends and making time for girls' nights, and I sincerely regret if any of my friends feel neglected.  I hope you know that I'm trying and I think about all of you SO much!  And in the meantime, while I'm figuring out this whole living my life with someone else's schedule, just please give me a teensy bit of leeway?  I promise I'm not abandoning any of you!  Just... trying to work on it.

Do not save this for tomorrow

First and foremost.  I didn't get offered the job, which was actually a blessing in disguise.  I was agonizing over what choice to make, and I was so glad to have that decision made for me.  So, despite a bruised ego, I'm extremely happy over how that turned out.

2012 was an incredible year, pretty much entirely revolving around my relationship with Ray.  Obviously, other things happened, too.  But 2012 was the year I fell in love with, and married, my husband.  So all those other things are kind of trumped by that BIG occasion.

That being said, I'm really excited for 2013.  I love the energy that comes with a new year, the drive to be better.  And I'm excited to meet that challenge this year.  I haven't really made any resolutions.  But I've been pondering a lot on what I want my life to be and how I want to be better.  So I'm going to go ahead and record the goals I have for this year.

First, I want to treat my body like the wonder it is.  We've been blessed with the incredible ability to move and live, to breathe and eat, to dance and run.  I want to thank my body by being better to it.  I want to go to yoga once a week.  I want to eat only things I like eating. (I read this goal from a blogger, and I think it's brilliant.  What a great method of listening to your body!)  I want to exercise when my body calls for it, and relax and sleep when it asks, too.  I'm excited to make this step.

Secondly, my relationship with God has seemed to stall a bit as I've spent time focused on marriage.  I want to re-embrace my love for God.  I want to praise Him daily, and study the scriptures with more understanding.  I want to pray with greater fervor, and live with Christ in my heart.  I want to attend the temple and be more dedicated to my covenants.  I'm excited to re-focus on God this year!

Last,  I want to be a more loving and tender person.  This goal applies to my relationship with Ray as well as my relationship with my family and friends.  I want to be the best wife possible to Ray.  I want to respect his opinion more fully and treat him with greater kindness.  I want to laugh with him and put aside my criticisms and defeating frustrations.  I want him to feel open and able to share his thoughts with me, about anything.
I want my family and friends to feel my love for them.  I want them to always feel that I have an open ear and shoulder for them.  I want them to call when they're sad or happy, and I need to reach out to them first to let them know I'm available.  I want to be more available, whether to hang out, cheer them on, or just take their calls.

I know these goals are many, and not very well defined.  I know that means I'm setting myself up to fail.  But I'm excited to focus on creating a better life.  And maybe throughout the next couple weeks, I'll be able to make these goals more well-defined.  In the meantime, I feel pretty good about this.  2013, I'm so excited for you!