Awkward things.

Don't you hate it when you go to work and you're in a meting, and your boss says, lets all go around and explain something.. Maybe its specific to the group your support or a project you're working on..

But i swear.. im always last. And i am thinking the whole time.. cant wait till they get to me... i have such a good answer Im so prepared...

And without fail.. they get to the person before me and say, "Im not sure we need to do everyone" orrrr "I think i get the picture"

I mean, whhhhhhaaaaattt!? 

How awkward is that!? 

I'm the only one you don't want to hear aboout!?

So.. in honor of having a buncha awkward stuff happen at work.. i came home and awkwardly took photos of myself for the blog!

ENJOY! :)

hiiii.

Hi there. Its me. Shannon.

So it is summertime now. 

And you know what I think about summertime? 

Its annoying when you work full time...

But is also the best time ever.

See.. the thing is.. being an adult with a full time real job, is really the best and the worst. It is the best because you finally have enough money to do all the things you want to do!! yayyyy!

But.. you don't have any of the time.. 

What is that all about???

I think.. it is all about perspective. 

I mean, everyone can have a crappy day.. whats stopping you from having a great one?

I mean...

As i sit here on the back porch, drinking my beer, i am thinking about all the little things that make me happy right now.

First off, i really like my deck chairs, they are the perfect height where my feet hit perfectly on the ground, and they have the perfect backrest with a pillow so i can just sit back and relax. 

From my perch in my amazing lawn chair, i can see the lights i just put up on my back porch, i strung them just right so i have a miniature backyard wonderland at my condo that it almost makes me think of the backyard that they have on parenthood.. (is anyone else upset that they made them sell that amazing house?? i mean WHAT IS THAT)

But back to my back porch... I am sitting here.. in my perfect chairs with my freaking amazing lights drinking a cold beer and watching as my dog sprints around after squirrels that she cant get because she is on a rope because she likes to run away and it is just amazing weather.

And you have to think to yourself.. life is pretty good.

Life is pretty good.

Its all about perspective? Why do i let myself get so down about stupid stuff when all i gotta do is walk outside, take a few breaths and relish in the fact, that I.. Shannon... am an amazing lawn chair picker. 

Hope you all are enjoying summer!! :)

Yogi

'

My friend Amanda and I went to yoga last night, and i just have to say one thing... Yoga is my new crush.

The hour and a half we spent at the studio was just so peaceful, you focus completely on yourself and just stretch your body to places you didn't know it could go.

Last night, I choose my intention to be looking forward into the near year. And as I took a breath in, i breathed in 2014 and as the exhale left my body, i thought 2013. 

This year is going to be different, this year, my new years resolution is to take care of me, stop worrying so much about everyone and everything else. If you don't take are of yourself first, you cannot even hope to take care of others.

So thats my intention, breathe in, breathe out. Be mindful, take your time, live for yourself so you can be healthy enough to live for others.

Polly and I went on a walk tonight because when I got home from work.. I just felt like it. 

The thought crosses my mind a few times a week, but then I think that I am too tired or too stressed or just have too much to do. Today I decided to just be here. Just take the moment and realize that my body and mind are probably telling me I need a break.

I have to say, it was one of the best choices I have made in awhile, while it was a very small choice, it made a big impact. Instead of trudging through the door, being irritated with polly for jumping on me and eventually finding my place to sit on the couch.. I instead took a long walk and listened to music. Now, we are sitting here, she is tired out and I feel all peaceful. 

Pretty sweet deal, just be in the now, they say... everything else will work out. 

When I first saw this.. I thought, that is amazing. It is a new year, a fresh start. There is no reason to bring everything that happened in 2013 into the new year. In our society we have made such a big deal of the new year.. and before this year I never really thought about it being a fresh start, a reset button.

 But, 2013 was one hard year for me. 

So 2014, brings new beginnings, brings that choice.. that you can choose to just embrace the new year as a new start and leave everything behind that hurt you. Just chalk it up to learning and push forward into the new year.

So that's what I want to do. Take 2014 and run with it.

Let's do this.

To Getcha through your Monday...

My cutie niece! Partyin' it up!

Love these ladies.

Please someone buy this....

Hi- Could someone please buy this and wear it? Because it is AMAZING and i have no where to wear it, but someone fabulous... please do and let me live vicariously through you.. 

Thanks, bye! 

Happy New Year!

Source: flickr.com via Shannon on Pinterest

baby overload...

So, my new niece, Harper Joyce is just the cutest thing. She is so smart and working so hard at rolling over already and she is only 2 months old! 

She loves it when you do lunges and buzz around the room holding her and just all around is a joy to be around...Most All of the time. :) 

She is so super cute, so I thought, as an auntie, I am allowed to overload you with her cuteness.

Christmas Time

It is Christmas at the Reed household! 

We are so excited! 

Christmas is such an amazing time of the year. But, I think this is the first year I have really embraced it. This is the first year that Erik and I have our own home for Christmas and it just makes me realize how lucky we are. We are so lucky to have found each other and built a home and family together. Christmas time can get hijacked so quickly by stress of finding presents and being overwhelmed by all the family gatherings and trying to schedule everything down to the minutes. 

But this year, Christmas started early, we got our tree right after Thanksgiving and just jumped into being cheery. Who knew that just have a Christmas tree in your own little  house would be enough? It really is. Just sitting by the tree with my little family is enough, we are just so lucky, so so lucky. 

Hope everyone is feeling happy about the holiday, if not, remind yourself what its about... family, love, living with Jesus and believing in miracles.

wish i was here...

Linking up with Olivia at For Me today... Wish I was here Wednesday.

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What could be better than a picnic at the beach? 

This setting is so beautiful! 

I would give anything to be relaxing in the warm sun while reading a good book or just being in good company. Not to mention the beautiful ambiance of this romantic beach tepee. 

Where do you wish you were today?

A little perspective for a Monday...

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Inspiration: Yoga

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Do you ever feel overwhelmed by life? Not just overwhelmed by work or by relationships, but just by everything? Feel burnt out and crabby and useless?

 That is how I have been feeling lately. It seems like every time you turn around and every time you finish one thing... another pops up, either by email or by text or by request of loved ones. You want to do them all but you just feel so overwhelmed and like you have not had time to just rest? Not meaning sleep... meaning resting in yourself, resting in time and thought. 

Lately, I have realized that when I do yoga or meditate.. this is exactly what I need.. time not only for myself but to dwell in myself and in my life. It has been a comfort and a creative relaxing outlet.

 Take from this time and space what you need. Love yourself, love your life. 

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I'm An Auntie!

Presenting... Harper Joyce Dart-McLean!

My little niece!

Check out more about her at my sister, Jessyka's,  blog, Life at Latitude 60.56!  

Wish i was here Wednesday...

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It's Official!

It is official!

 I am going back to Alaska in November!!

 I cannot wait! My older sister and brother in law live there and I am going to meet my new little niece that is due any day now! I cannot wait! I love the day after you book airline tickets somewhere... it is just a countdown until you get to go on a mini adventure. So Happy! Now only if i could convince Erik to skip school and join me....

Just breathe...

Its the weekend in a few short hours. Its a great feeling to know that for two days, you can do whatever you want, be whoever you want and put your worries behind you. I am going to try this weekend to do just that, breathe a little more, enjoy a little more, and just... relax.

Turn your face up toward the sunshine and just be.

Dreaming...

As some of you know, Erik is in chiropractic school. It is no joke.. one of the hardest things we have gone through. He ALWAYS has to study and has an hour commute both ways to school everyday. But, it is also an amazing experience. To be able to see someone you love doing something that challenges them and enlivens them is one of God's greatest gifts. I get to hear all about his studies and it is amazing to see how his smile lights his face when he is talking about work he loves.

BUT... at the same time.. I am SUPER ready for him to graduate and get to go back to normal living hours. :) It will be nice to get my husband back from his constant study schedule and long commutes. One way we have been getting through all this is by DREAMING... dreaming of the amazing vacation we are going to go on as soon as he graduates. So today, I thought I would show you some of the contenders...

Maine

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Capri, Italy

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St. Lucia

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Skye, Scotland

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9/11



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I cannot believe it has been 11 years. This day is something that will never be forgotten. I remember getting to school, second week of freshman year of high school. We all walked around the halls talking about what had happened, until we were all asked to find a classroom to go into. We watched the news coverage with our friends we just newly made. To this day, I think that this experience is something that cemented us together, it is something that changed us all. Made us all realize how precious life is. My heart goes out to all the families affected by this tragedy. This is a day of remembrance, hug your loved ones.