Sharing is Caring

You guys I have a secret. I have to spill it's guts because it's overflowing. Each week I pin things to a board on my Pinterest  page that no one can see. Then I plan on sharing all of the goodies on Friday {I promise I do, I have the best intentions}. Then I do not make time for a consistent Friday Favorite post. The links are getting out of hand. I have to purge. They weigh on me. So, because I care about you, I am going to share all my hidden morsels.

I hope you enjoy! { some are old and some are new}

Who doesn't love Maroon 5? ~ PopSugar

I too have a lesson obsession  ~Chatting at the Sky

Just where does our fat go? ~LifeHack

100 years of beauty { girls we can be silly}~ Cut.com

What do you say to a hurting friend? ~Bronlea

Ouch!! I realized I sleep too much ~ Jen Thorn

Could you forgive? ~MSN {BTK Killer}

Former Stripper takes on a Sex Trafficker in the US {That's one bad chick}~ Fox News

Now you know and I feel so much better.

Friday Favorites {link ups}

{UPDATE: I received a comment today on the blog. You can scroll down and see it. These are the comments I love. They make you think a little differently. I have been on the other side of drug addiction. Watching my family members drown and feeling helpless. My heart aching  every time there is a relapse. I saw something other things  this week that I failed to post. They shook me at my core and made me ugly cry. The child of the addict and the addict themselves. sometimes I do not know how much is too much or not enough to post. The story of drug addiction seems to be still to near to my heart.  A place I have not fully healed from. So, I seem to pick and choose what i post and share. i am srry if I offend or have offended. Please know I love them all and appreciate each of you. Scroll down to see the new links}

This weekend I will be spending my days and nights with a large group of teenagers. I am a little frightened {what if I am a huge nerd? what if I offer to much advice? I am imagining all of the eye rolling I  might get}

Although, I have to admit the teenage years have been my favorite. I relished and miss the days that my toddlers would crawl up in  my lap and ask me to read to them. However, I delight in seeing the young adults emerging. I relish in the times I get to eavesdrop  over hear their grown up conversations. I enjoy watching them navigate relationships and profess their own faith. Oh, the passions that are developing. I can't wait to see where God takes them.

Don't get me started on the funny that goes on around here. From the witty come backs to the silly Instagram posts. They keep me laughing. They have brought an extra amount of drama, unsatisfied hunger and teasing. Yet,  I have a deep fondness for them and want to keep them around  longer.

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Friday link ups for your weekend reading enjoyment:

Does Big Foot really exist? ~ National Geographic

I hate drugs!! They have been a legacy of heartache in my family. I like how this family shared their story~ aol.com

The story of a child of an addict~ Speak Up Against Meth

THE other side of the addiction story~Walk a Day in the Life of an Addict

This left me giggling about my career choice~ Lighter side of Real Estate

In a way I feel the same way. The closer I inch to the big "40" the harder it is to stay in a size 4. Joni Edelman

I ordered this book and I am waiting for it's arrival ~ Fatherless Generation

Friday Favorites (month of LOVE link up)

welcome to the "month of LOVE" challenge!  share with me what you did for LOVE and we can inspire each other!  i started this to go beyond just the norm in "loving" those around me.  i’d love for you to join me!

This week flew by. However, I accomplished 2.75 out of 5 of my goals. Kind of. Let me explain.

 1. I am going to make each of the boys their favorite meal this week. Hayden ~Teriyaki Salmon. Taylor ~ pulled pork sandwiches. Kolten~ Tacos. {Koltens dinner ended up being Meatball sandwiches. His other favorite} The lady upstairs made dinner the night I was making dinner for Hayden. {I didn't complain and let her LOVE on us}. We will have Chinese tonight for Hayden and Pulled pork sandwiches will be Sunday night. 

2. I am going to call my Grandma just to say "hi" She didn't answer. I left a message.

3.I am going to send a handwritten card to my aunt who lives far away from our family. This is in my purse. Mailing it today. 

4. I am going to give a hand written love note to my MountainMan when he gets home.  {TMI?} Does a text message count? 

5. I am going to mail a small gift to my SIL. She has been working so hard at school. A full time mother, job and getting a 3.9 in school is pretty amazing!! She deserves a little treat. She totally deserves a treat! I have not made time to put the gift together. 

Needless to say my goals did not get accomplished like I had hoped. I still have the weekend. Dinners will be made and gifts mailed.

{Don't forget about the link up at the bottom of the post. If you don't have a blog leave me a comment.Let's inspire one another.}

Speaking of the weekend. Here are some of my favorite links for your reading/ entertainment. 

This was my FAVORITE commercial from the Super Bowl. I had such a great time chatting it up with a friend at the Super Bowl party, I missed the commercials. I had to watch them on the web. 

I really LOVEd watching how fashion and hair styles have changed over the last 100 years. ~CUT.com

A new way to help out our schools ~ Schoola

LOVE sometimes looks like bunk beds ~ the Mangine Many

This link up party has me nervous. However, I feel like it's one step in the direction I am aiming for. Ready or not I am going to start paddling ~ Storyline, Shana Niequist

AND I have a give away at my FaceBoook page. Go "like" me.

DON'T FORGET TO LINK UP

An InLinkz Link-up

Friday Favorites {{ FOODIE}}

My Favorite Instagram

I am a total foodie. When we are preparing to go out of town, the first thing I do is check out all the food joints. I look forward to each season because this means new flavors and textures. New spices and recipes. I can't wait to bake up some of the tried and true recipes each Fall. OR Simmer up some delicious soup. Winter means bread and stew.Spring brings salads. Summer, barbecue. Don't even get me started with all of the beverage options.

This week the Mother In Law made some delicious Brown Butter cookies. I silently told myself that if I had to choose one dessert before dying, it would probably be these Brown Butter cookies. I ate way too many.

•  Ever wondered what the last meal someone had before dying was? I found this interesting. 
•  Reading this and this right now. 
•  My heart went out to this mother and all of the people who lost a loved one this week in Canada
• Now that the cold weather is setting in, all of the sheep have left the mountain. I often wonder how boring it would be to be a shepherd. This made me think twice. 
•  New diet trend coming? Why not eat what the Gladiators ate?
• Did anyone loose their eyesight while watching the Solar Eclipse yesterday? Next time follow the Do's & Dont's
• Cranberry Pork Loin sounds like a delicious Sunday dinner
• Searching for a secondhand comfortable sweatshirt
• Having an open house for this beautiful home
• Planning on crafting this diddy up with all the chicken feathers I have flying around outside
• I LOVE my coffee. Now I know what to do with all my left over grounds.
• I feel the dark creeping in again this week. This was a good reminder.
• MountainMan and I just celebrated our 17th anniversary. Which means our 20th is just around the corner. This made me want to start planning.
• This won't stop playing in my head. Thanks to the father in law who thinks it is saying "It's all about the BaeBae"

Have a beautiful weekend!!

Friday Favorites { pulling the log from my eye}

I asked for some quiet time. I got it. This week I had time to do some self evaluation. I have realized that I might be disillusioned because of some things that I have read into or not read enough.

I realized that if I want change in the church. Then I have to be the change. I have to start right where I am. Loving those around me. Haven't I had this epiphany before. Argh!! 

My Favorite Instagram of the week. Mmm.. Biscoff. 

However, before the quiet. There was distraction. Lot's of it. 

There was anxiety attacks. A few too many. I feel like I am relapsing a bit. I am in a dark hole. Holding my tongue. Trying not to write ugly things. 

There was work to be done. 

Prayers to be prayed. My heart is aching for the children and families of Central America. 

People of Facebook had me pissed at one point. Sometimes, I think that place is full of freaks. 

Working on pulling the log out of my eye before I go and get all judgey. 

I am also working on simplifying... I'll let you know how that goes.  

For your weekend viewing pleasure:

Anxiety. The story of my life. Learning to give it to God and try to control it. ~ buzzfeed

Thinking of a new tattoo. I found these interesting. ~The San Francisco Globe

Like I said, the children and families coming from Central America are breaking my heart. The response from some people have me outraged and sick. This gave me a little hope. ~ MSNBC

This house is a listing nightmare. Here's to wishing their Realtor luck! ~ The San Francisco Globe

I'm in love with this look. ~ Madamedrosa

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This weekend. I am trying to hold it together while not crawling in a hole and never coming out. 

Friday favorites {mash up}

Wowza!! We have been busy. The real estate market has heated up for the summer. We listed a house and we received an offer in 5 hours. The key to it going so quick? They listened to us. Really. They took a week and got the house ready to show. They decluttered. Depersonalized. Painted.

Are you ready to  list your house? Going to sell in the future? You might be surprised how the little details help with your value.  ~ ELLE Decor

The MountainBoys were gone all week to summer camp. My baby turned 13 while away and it's no secret, I shed a few tears that morning.

5 minutes after picking them up the oldest told me he forgot what I looked like. WHAT!? How could you forget your mother's face?

I am at a weird spot in my walk with God. A little disenchanted. Not with God. Not at all. Disenchanted with Jesus Entertainment. Finding this did NOT help. Really a bowling alley?
Disenchanted with people making Jesus a business. Just What Would Jesus Do?

Disenchanted folks. Yet, it's okay. Just working through it. Good for the soul to ask some questions and not follow blindly.

This made me laugh HARD and  think of  our friend Tim.

I really enjoyed these two posts about photoshop!! and this one about our bodies not being your masterpiece.

Tired of being PhotoShopped ~ ELLE

Before & After ~ Esther Honig

Your body is the paintbrush used to create your masterpiece ~ Momastry

This left me rolling on the floor. I could totally see the MountainBoys doing something like this. 

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This weekend I am showing some more homes. Helping some amazing people find "the one". It's good. Makes me miss having my home in the valley... *sigh*

Making a BiRtHdAy breakfast and going out for a BiRtHdAy dinner.

Hanging out at Grace Bible Sunday morning and attending a Bridal Shower that I wouldn't miss for the world!!

Friday Favorites {sisterhood}

Sisterhood. Priceless.

I was brought up to think women are evil and not friends. We can be emotional and at times catty. Yet, we LOVE. We love deep and strong like only an emotional being can. Which means we get hurt deep. A wise sister once told me "We are going to get hurt by people we are in relationship with. We have to decide if we would want to be hurt by that person. If so, then it's worth having them in your life" {I may have botched that whole quote, but that's what I remember from it}

At this point in  my life, I really think about that. If you are in my life. I want you here. I love you. We may not talk as much as we want or meet on the regular like we should. You are my sister. {OR brother} Please know, you have a piece of my heart.

Today I received a gift in the mail. A beautiful Turquoise ring!!! My sweet friend saw it and thought of me. She left me a little note letting me know that Turquoise is the gem of friendship and that it is usually given as a gift. Do I need to tell you I teared up?



I have had heart wrenching conversations with some of my sister's this week. One as recent as tonight that is just pulling at my heart strings. She gives it to me straight forward. I have always loved her for that. She is an answer to a prayer that I had not prayed but 2 minutes before our phone call. I am left with hard choices before me, as does she and we promise to pray for each other.

I chat with another sister who has a hard move in front of her. She has been wronged! In my eyes. I want to be vengeful. She reminds me that we are not in control and that she is learning from this situation.

I get a prayer request for another sister. I have been praying often for her. I hear the situation has changed, I rejoice.

Another sister joined the Salt Lake Valley. I am so excited she, her husband, 5 boys and 1 beautiful baby girl have come to Utah. It was a journey to get here. She was patient and passionate. Her twinkle in her eye this week left me staring. Her peace like a river... inspiring.

I am thinking of another sister I have had coffee with. It's been too long. Please, let's do it again.

Another sister battling divorce and cancer at the same time.

They comment on my blog posts.

She emails me invites for the 4th of July.

How did I get so lucky to have these women in my life?

This week I dedicate it to my sister's. Near and far.

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My favorite Instagram:

This is my favorite because we went 3 days with muddy water. MountainMan fixed it!! Like always, he saves the day.

Loved this commercial {I apologize for silly things too}- Pantene

This Mama recognizes there is a difference in the way boys and girls communicates. She and I adore the language of boys- Huffington Post

I really enjoy this news anchor. She is bold and truthful. Go girl!- Megyn Kelly

This weekend I am going to take a breather. I am going to finally finish Jesus Feminist. Go to the gym for a run. Menu plan. Clean the camper. Give all the males in this house a haircut. Take a drive up the canyon with Grace Bible to set up camp. 

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What about you? Do you have a community of sister's you can't do with out? Do you have someone you need to forgive and realize that to be in relationship you are going to get hurt?

What's your weekend look like?

Friday Favorites { Be YOU tee edition}

Beauty. It's really a frame of mind. It's a genuine smile. Words of wisdom from life experience. It's the silver hair, worn proudly. It's sharing your story. It's being open and honest. It's about letting it go. It's about growing.

I believe it is the sweetness in your soul that makes you beautiful.

 As I age, my skin gets wrinkly and saggy. I pray my inside is being renewed and that I am only becoming more and more beautiful.

Over the years, I have come to terms with my own kind of beauty. I will never have long legs. Yet, I have strong legs. These legs take me running, hiking, climbing, and walking. These legs have taken me on many adventures. God willing they will take me on more.

I have a bump on the bridge of my nose. I use to think it would be the first thing on my face to go. Now, I realize it is a part of my heritage. Something my Great Grandfather {full blooded Choctaw Indian} passed down.

I appreciate my olive skin, thick dark hair, green eyes and my smile. My wonky teeth, I take pride in their splits. Another family trait.

BUT, my skin... It's the real culprit. I have not been able to fall in love with idea that I have adolescent skin at 35. I found a solution. About two years ago, I ran across a blog post. I wish I could find it, so I could give credit. If you find it, let me know. Anyway, she was talking about how she had adult acne. That she had tried everything {so had I. Doctors. Prescriptions. Well known face washes}. Then she gave up dairy. Her skin cleared up!! I thought "I should give that a try". I did. It worked!! My skin totally cleared up.

I forgot about it in the midst of life's changes. I went back to milk in my morning coffee. My face was a mess. Again. Then a friend reminded me. "hey, aren't you suppose to stay off the milk?". {light bulb}  So, I am off the milk and on the soy. As well as using coconut oil as my nightly moisturizer. My skin. Amazing. Radiant, even. Now if I could get rid of these scars...

Adult acne? Give this little trick a try and let me know what happens.

On to my favorites:

My Favorite Instagrams:

Summer is getting hot. You can tell by the Mountainboys faces they are ready to have some friends up to the Mountain. 

Tim, the other white meat... :) It was so sweet to have our friends home from Ghana for a short time.                          

For your weekend reading:

This one is an oldie but goodie on being beautiful - Momastry

If you listen long enough to all the loud voices about who you should be, you grow deaf to the beauty of who you are. -Ann VosKamp

This weekend I am going to be doing:

I am going to making these to go in the camper {I am going to have it say Happy Camper} - Andrea B

I am going to be searching for two or three of these  - 

I can't find the original link

Friday Favorites { biz-A}

Life is biz-A. I am learning about distractions right now. How I really load my plate, thinking I am doing a world of good. When in reality, I am falling for the big lie... if your busy your important. Slowing down to take in the sun this coming week. Prioritizing. Learning to live more simple.

This last week... not so much. I had a few moments to pin or read or relax.

We fixed the "plumbing up here on the mountain. This consists of 1) finding the spring 2) uncovering the spring 3) dig out the mud 4) finding the hole that leads to hoses 5) unplugging the hole that is probably covered by more mud 6) let the water drain 7) putting our brains together to find a new way to cover the hole so that his doesn't happen again 8) gathering rocks 9) building a new cover 10) covering the spring 11) covering the spring again 12) hiking home as the sun is going down 13) taking a shower that comes from the spring that you just uncovered dug out and recovered. This means you get to take a refreshing mud bath...

On top of maintenance there has been dark. ugly. stress. that you can't put your finger on around here. I think that may be warfare...

Ruthie has been home all week... I have seen her twice :( However, I got an incredible manicure with some of the best girls I know. That leads me to my favorites of the week.

Favorite Instagram:

This weekend we are : Going to a summer party. Showing some homes. Going on a date. Planning some marketing for Kairos. Prioritizing. DINNER with FRIENDS!!

What about you?

Friday favorites { half hearted}

this weeks Friday favorites is half hearted. my whole heart has been in this week. this three year old has me sleepy... all day long. Thursday i forgot my clients closing gift for the second time.

i tried to keep up with the times. i prayed for each girl name by name. mostly, i just tried to keep my head above water.

here are this weeks favorites:

favorite instagram:

did you know that Ty Burrell LOVES Salt Lake City? AND he owns a local beer joint? - Huffington Post

Your email may show others whether you like them or not. My emails and texts are always brief. Don't take it personal. -Lifehack

Some real estate news you find interesting- Realtor Mag

AND I am pretty much in love with everything about this entry.

Apartment Therapy

I hope you have a very restful weekend. I pray you take sometime to remember those who have sacrificed for us and those we have lost. 

Friday Favorites {Name Them}

This time last week, I was enjoying the hot sun and a beautiful hike with some fun loving family. I started counting my gifts again. Worshiping God throughout the day. Thanking Him for His beauty. For the gift of second chances. Gifts of conversation. Gifts of silence. When Saturday night came around, I shed a few tears. Knowing that we would be headed back to reality in the morning. I wanted to stay forever. Right there. No responsibilities {except for feeding the MountainBoys}. Staring out at the incredible scenery. Wind blowing. Fire smoldering. I didn't want to come home.

Yet, Monday rolled around as it always does. I reminded myself to name my blessings. One. by. One. Isn't it funny that when you put a name on something, it has a place in your heart? We are not as apathetic.

All week I kept reminding myself. Count your blessing. Each gift. Take nothing for granted. Not the people in your life or no longer in your life. Not the food prepared. Not the cold that left you tired. Not the rain and sleet that turned to sunshine. Not being awakened by a rowdy three year old. Gifts. All of them.

Here it is Friday. I still feel rested. Feeling more content and clear minded. Thanking God for each gift. If I had chose not to NAME my gifts. They would have been forgotten. They would have been taken for granted. I would have become apathetic. They would not have been personal.
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IndianExpress.com

The girls taken from their families in Nigeria.  They have names. Each of them a gift to each other and their families. Each a gift to this world. Will you join me in praying over each of these girls by name this week?- Rolling Out by Yvette Caslin



After reading this and watching this. The necessity of praying for these beautiful young women was pressed on my heart ever more...

Pause would you? Pray for these girls before you move on.

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My Favorite Instagrams of the week:

Youngest MountainBoy sent me this link. It blew my mind how it had my personality pinned. Except I DO FINISH THINGS... :) - Kabalarian Philosphy

This reminded me of how important encouragement is. It reminded me of Kairos. You ( now say your name) can make a difference.- The Chronicle Of Higher Education. 

Are you afraid you won't qualify for a new home in this new market? Your not alone. I hope I can encourage you to try. Home ownership... need I say more?

This made me thankful for my partner in crime and my concealed weapon's permit.

Eating this and this over the weekend. 

While obsessing about 1st world problems such as these, this and of course this. 

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What are you up to? Will you be praying for the Nigerian girls name by name? 

Will you be naming your gifts? 

 OR maybe calling out to the ONE name that will save you? 

Tell me all about it. I would love to hear. 

Friday Favorites {Good Enough}

The end of this week has got me frazzled. MountainMan left for an extended stay in the wild. That leaves me with slow internet service. No Bueno for schooling and work. We are just doing the best we can. Schooling at the Starbucks. Playing at the Park. I was hoping to  be all prepared for our big camp trip next week. Having a three year old with me has made my list shrink. We are settling with good enough this week.

In other news: KAIROS has an official location this week!!! We have girls enrolled. I am looking for media spots. 

Favorite Instagrams of the week:

For Your Weekend Reading Pleasure:

My Favorite Healthy Treat ~ Rachel Schultz

I am looking forward to going to this party in the next couple of weeks. I am already pinning some beautiful jewelry ~ StarFish Project

Someone find this woman and take her out for coffee. I think she needs some grown up time. ~ Huffington Post {parents section}

Thinking if I find some time this weekend I might make a few of these for the trailer~ Refresh Restyle

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Cleaning out the camp trailer. Writing lists of what needs to get done before we leave on our big camp trip next week. What are you up to?

Friday Favorites {things that make you go Hmm..}

It's Friday. I am winding down. This week took me to all sorts of places. Places I had not imagined on Monday. All week I found myself going hmm...

Homes under contract. Listings coming soon. Searching for "the one's" most of the week. Amazing conversations. Watching God work RIGHT HERE in Utah. It was such a full week. I kept thanking God all week for the people God has placed around me. Conversations that were had. Prayers that were said. All I could do was sweetly hum hmm... God you are good

In all this looking I have seen more and more lowered commissions. It made me wonder what is going on in this industry. Made me think hmm... Are we lowering our industries standards. Hurting everyone in the process?

Realized that some people maybe didn't remember that I am a full time Realtor. Ready to help you with ALL your real estate needs. Made me go hmm... Better start marketing better.

News about the Lobster and her boys stopped me in my tracks. Made my cry hmm.. God why?

A blog post and conversation with someone close to home about aborted babies being incinerated for " green energy" made me go hmm... puke. right. in. my. mouth. Even if this story is not real, the responses near and far, left me with my mouth wide open.

A couple of doctor's appointments with a few other family members left me saying hmm... I am getting old.

We picked up a trucker hitchhiker in the canyon this week. He kept using phrases my Dad used all the time. It took my breath away and took everything I had not to break down and cry. Left me crying hmm... Oh. Sweet. Heaven.

Conversation with Bestie and her mini over What'sapp left me saying hmm... How could I get $12,000 dropped into my lap so I can go to Africa?? ASAP!

A long drawn out conversation, emails and re-code writing left me saying hmm... Will Kairos really open this year?

Then great texts, emails and conversations reminded me that hmm... If God want's it to happen, it will.

By now you are probably thinking hmm... what happened to your favorites!!

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Favorite Instagram Photo's

My favorite treat of the week. These easy peanut butter, coconut oil and chocolate mix.  Peanut butter and coconut = my new favorite flavor. I know it sounds weird. Just give it a try.

This gross post left me saying hmm.. how do you get meat in a jar like that?

This was my favorite book of the week

This article left me saying hmm... that is soo cool

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and you experience a lot that makes you stop and say hmm..