Wedding Bells

I was so thrilled to be my friend Laura’s maid of honor last month! Her wedding was so beautiful at a garden in Rockford, IL. She was a stunning bride. Congratulations Laura and Brian!!!

Roots and Wings

There are days that I get homesick for Arizona…I miss the cactus  and the mountains, my family, friends that I have grown up with, and yes…even the 100 + degree weather sometimes. There are also times that I love Cheyenne and it feels more like home to me now. I love making new friends, experiencing four seasons, enjoying small town living without traffic or waits at restaurants…and of course, ERIC! My sister gets really upset when she realizes that I won’t be moving back to Arizona again. It breaks my heart when she tells me how sad she is that I am gone…mainly because my sister does not have “heart- felt” conversations very often.  I thought really hard about this the past few weeks…I was having a hard time explaining to Sara how I felt. Then, when I was talking to my mom one night she gave me some great insight. She said that it is ok to have roots and wings. My roots will always be in Arizona but my wings took my on a new adventure to Wyoming!  I will always love my family and friends in Arizona…it is where I grew up and made me who I am! Moving away doesn’t have to mean that you are leaving people. Sure, you may be further away but your relationship can stay just as close as ever…you just have to put in a little more phone time! Thanks for the insight, Mom! It really eased my heart! <3

Fall is in the air!

The weather is getting cooler, the leaves are changing, and my house smells like cinnamon! Fall is officially here and I couldn’t be more excited! There is something about this time of year that takes me back…to high school football games on Friday nights, driving home on college breaks to see my family, carving pumpkins and buying ridiculous costumes, sipping hot apple cider, and indulging in Thanksgiving dinner!  It is my favorite time of year; I hope everyone has a blessed fall season! XOXO

Some things get better with time...

Today is my 26^th birthday! I don’t know where the time from 18 to 26 has gone but it has FLOWN by! I was a little sad this morning thinking that I am now closer to 30 than 20!  I read an article today that was titled 53 Things That Get Better With Age…here were the top 10:

1.    Wisdom: Sure, it's a little fortune cookie-ish, but consider this: You can acquire knowledge from a book, but only by living can you acquire wisdom

2.    Life stories: The longer you live, the more stories you have and the richer they become.

3.    Body image: You finally start appreciating the body you have

4.    Self-awareness: You become more attuned to both your mind and body. (The good and the bad!)

5.    Patience: You've learned that all good things come with time. So what's the hurry?

6.    Self-esteem: The longer you live, the more things you accomplish (big and small) and the more you have to be proud of.

7.    Common sense: It keeps developing as you survive the dares and risks you take throughout life.

8.    Admiration: Not only do you admire the accomplishments of others, you also garner their admiration.

9.    Humor: Your sense of humor gets better with age. And what's a long life without a lot of good laughs?

10.  Family: Families continue to grow with every generation, bringing in new members and extending the family line.

I am going to embrace this new year in my life and appreciate the qualities in myself that get better with age. Bring it on 2-6, let’s make it the best year yet!

Book Worm



Emily Giffin is my all time favorite author. Giffin’s novels revolve around relationship and change. Her talent lies in making her characters believable and relatable.  There are five books in her series: Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Baby Proof, Love the One You’re With, and Heart of the Matter.  My sister, my mom and I all read Something Borrowed a few years ago and were hooked instantly! If you’re looking for a good read this Fall I would suggest getting started on this series…it's my favorite!

It's a love-hate relationship.

Since moving to Wyoming I have taken on some new eating habits…battered, fried, buttered and salted! It makes for a tasty meal BUT an unfavorable number on the scale. I’m turning 26 this week and realizing that I am not a spring chicken anymore! I find myself having to spend more and more time on the treadmill. I have begun to develop a real love hate relationship with it! I love the way I feel after a good run but hate huffing and puffing on the dreaded machine staring at the same wall for 30 minutes at a time. I feel the best when I am the healthiest that I can be, so I made a commitment to myself to get there.  Mixing up my workouts keeps me motivated because I don’t get so bored. Running, spinning, walking, and jumping rope is a good mixture of cardio. Having some self discipline...easier said than done but I have to realize that I can’t eat the same way as my fiancé’. That’s not to say I have to starve myself but littler portions and adding some fruits and vegetables in there doesn’t hurt. Setting small goals: I have always been very athletic and I love to compete, even if it is against myself.  Signing up for a run, even a 5K is a great way to give yourself a goal to work towards.  Living a healthy life style and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your risk of cancer, and heart disease by up to 80%, that’s huge!  So here’s the challenge…be the best you! Get motivated, take charge and reach your goals! J

Welcome to the world, James Daniel!

My beautiful and amazing friend Heidi and her husband Josh just welcomed a new baby boy into the world. James Daniel (JD) was born this Tuesday September, 21^st.  Everyone is healthy and doing great! I can’t wait to meet this new little guy! Congratulations to the Gladden family!