Every Other Week

We try to set goals as a couple every once in awhile. We aren't perfect at it, but we try. When we first got married, we set a goal to go to the temple at least once a month for date night. And for the first year of our marriage, we did it! 

Photo by Scott Sumner

A few months ago we decided to try and go every other week for date night. It has truly been an amazing blessing in our marriage. My self esteem is highest when I'm regularly attending the temple. Our marriage is happiest when we're regularly attending the temple. I get answers to my gospel questions when I attend the temple. And it's a free date night that brings us closer together, and closer to God. 

Do you set goals as a couple? 

Eternal Titles

In this last General Conference, I loved the talk Parents-The Prime Gospel Teachers of Their Children by Tad R. Callister. This was the topic of Relief Society yesterday. 

In that talk he said this, "In the life to come, I do not know if titles such as bishop or Relief Society president will survive, but I do know that the titles of husband and wife, father and mother, will continue and be revered, worlds without end."

I spent some time yesterday and this morning pondering on that quote. What are MY eternal titles? I'm not yet a mother, but I'm a wife. I'm a daughter, and a sister, and a child of God. Those are my eternal titles. The titles I'll get to keep with me forever. Not hairstylist, or mathematician, or accountant, or education major, college student, or any of those earthly titles we get to have while here. But wife, mother, daughter, sister, child of God, I get to be those things FOREVER. 

How can we best prepare for the next life? By honoring our eternal titles, and working to improve ourselves in those facets. 

I'm grateful for my Eternal Titles. And I'm excited to be those things... forever. 

If I were to make a Mix Tape...

Image Source: Matt E / Flickr

Hello there, A Little Too Jolley readers! I’m Jae, and I blog over at SCATTERBRAIN. I am taking over Brooklyn’s blog today to talk about something we both have in common—our love for everything Disney-related.

I grew up in the 90s, and my recollection of my early childhood includes watching Disney movies on Betamax while Mom did her household chores. Does anyone in this generation still know what a Betamax is? Let’s just say that it is the ‘mother of Blu-Ray discs’.

Anyway, I’ll let you in a little secret. My college girlfriends and I call ourselves the Disney Princesses. We are a group of six, each representing a Disney Princess: Princess Aurora of Sleeping Beauty, Princess Jasmine of Aladdin, Princess Ariel of The Little Mermaid, Princess Snow White of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, Princess Cinderella of Cinderella, and myself as Princess Belle of the Beauty and The Beast. It’s crazy, but I don’t think we could ever outgrow that.

Alongside my affinity with Disney classics is my penchant for its original soundtrack. If I were to make a mix-tape out of some of my all-time [and ever-growing] favorite Disney songs that remind me of a particular memory in my life, it will include the following: 

• Colors of the Wind from Pocahontas. This was my song piece when I first performed in front of an audience other than my family. It was a pretty awesome experience!
• Beauty and The Beast from Beauty and The Beast. Remember that I am Princess Belle, so it’s rather self-explanatory why this has to be in the mix-tape. Ha!
• Can You Feel The Love Tonight? from The Lion King. I used to own a cassette tape of this movie’s OST, and this particular track is my brother’s favorite. When he was younger, he’d often ask me to play it over and over again.
• Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid, A Whole New World from Aladdin, and Reflections from Mulan. These were three of the songs I used to always sing in preparation for our recital when I joined the Center for Pop Music Philippines a little more than ten years ago.
• Go The Distance from Hercules. This song reminds me so much of my youngest brother’s performance as Hercules during high school. He won Best Actor for his outstanding act!
• Let It Go from Frozen. Unlike most people I know, I don’t get tired of listening to this song. In fact, there was a time when I watched/listened several different versions of this song in YouTube, mostly covered by little girls! Can it get more adorable than that?

Now it’s your time to share.  If you were to do same, what songs will make it to your Disney mix-tape?

Jae • Blogger SCATTERBRAIN • Manila Email • Twitter • Instagram

Cute Workout Clothes + Albion Fit Giveaway

I wrote the other day about how I decided to Quit the Gym. Why the gym didn't work for me, and why I'm finally ready to bring my fitness home for good. So that's why I decided to take these pictures INSIDE my house, to show you where you'll find me working out each day. Don't forget to enter at the bottom of the post to win your own Albion gear!

Pants c/o: Albion Fit

Shirt: Nordstrom

Benny felt like it was important he was in many of the pictures, and really, working out at home means dodging this cute pup during pushups.

Top: c/o Albion Fit

Yoga Pants: c/o Albion Fit

How stinking cute are these yoga pants? They are SO comfy. I love them for yoga, biking, and 30 Day Shredding with Jillian! They also come in pink color! 

Yes that was a different picture than the first one with the yoga mat. His tongue isn't out in this one.

If you have stairs, run up and down them. It's a big workout!

If you're looking for a way to motivate yourself, buy yourself something from Albion and leave it in the cute bag until you reach a goal. I'm completing the 30 Day Shred & once I finish I get these Petal Pants!  You can see them in this blog post. 

A few other items I'm eying:
Alta Tunic in Pink 

Show Stopper Swim Suit

Go Capri in Heather Violet

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Surprise is Coming....

If you haven't heard of Albion Fit, you're in for a treat! Be sure to check back Thursday for a surprise!

I Quit The Gym

My husband was a member of Gold's Gym when we got married. We added me onto his account on a month-to-month basis while he finished out his membership. 2 months later his contract was over and we went to cancel mine, apparently it was only month-to-month after 3 months. So we paid the extra $20 for the next month and then got the heck away from there.

We then signed up for Planet Fitness.Because we were so close, we did the Black Membership for Colten, which allows you to bring a guest. So we figured we were scoring by only paying for one membership. Then one of us would get sick, and it'd be 3 weeks before we got back to the gym. And then sometimes 3 weeks would turn into 2 months. Then we recommitted to working out, but we bought a house and moved 15 minutes from a Planet Fitness, which might not sound a lot, but it means 30 minutes travel time just for a workout, which usually wasn't over 30 minutes. We canceled our membership after last month. 

Then I tried a personal trainer at my city rec center that is 2 minutes from my house. It seemed really pointless. I didn't work out any harder with her, she didn't teach me anything I didn't know, and I couldn't fathom paying the amount I did every week for something that wasn't going to get me results. 

Long story short, I've quit the gym. 

I'm determined to get fit & healthy AT HOME. One of my New Year's Resolutions is to complete Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred, and then set a new fitness goal. Right now my husband and I are doing the shred together. It kicks your butt! I feel like I get a better workout in those 20 minutes than I ever did at the gym. On the days that I don't do the 30 Day Shred with Colten, I write up a workout from Pinterest. That place is a GOLD MINE for at home workouts. I even created a Pinterest board for At Home Workouts if you're interested. I pick & choose what I want to work on that day, write it in my notepad and get it done!

We also bought a used stationary bike & my inlaws gave us an old treadmill. We've been slowly adding equipment: weights, a jump rope, yoga mat, weighted ball, etc. Although it can seem harder to workout at home, I found it harder to drive all the way to the gym to workout. I'm more likely to do an at home workout. 

It's a lot cheaper. You save on a gym membership, gas & time. And we all know time is precious. I'm excited to keep sharing my journey of getting fit & healthy at home with all of you.

Tell me what workouts you do at home!

New Year's Resolution Ideas for Your Marriage

Hey there A Little Too Jolley readers! I’m Amanda, a crazy cat lady and reality TV fanatic. I blog at Notes from a Newlywed, where I write all about my life as a new(ish) wife. I’ve written about wedding planning tips, what I’ve learned about marriage, having in-laws and trying to be a better wife, and even a few recipes and randoms thrown in there. I’m so glad to meet you!

It’s that time when we’re all thinking about our resolutions for the New Year. Have you made your list yet? Typically, most lists include personal goals, which are great, but if you’re married, it’s so important to make sure you work some relationship goals into your list.

 I’m a believer that our marriages should come first over everything else – above our jobs, kids, friends and even ourselves most times. To have a happy, successful marriage, it needs to be a priority, and so outlining ways to actively work on your marriage can be really helpful.

 Here’s a list of some ideas to plug into your list of resolutions this year: 

 -Ask your husband once a month how you can be a better wife to him. Really listen and then take his answer to heart.

 -Pray for your husband and your marriage regularly.

 -Make a plan to always have at least one monthly date night. 

 -Be intentional with time together. Try going unplugged one night a week. 

 -Do something spontaneous for him once a month to show your appreciation. (Ideas: Wake up early and make him breakfast in bed one weekend morning; Wash and gas up his car one day; Give him a nice back rub without him having to ask; Do one of his usual chores.) 

 -Walk around your neighborhood together regularly. 

 -Eat together at the table…without TV or cell phones.

 -Initiate intimacy on your own once a week. 

 -Read a marriage book together and discuss it. 

 -Be aware of, and thank him, for all the big and small things he does for you and your family. 

 -Treat him to his dream date … even if it is something you would hate, like watching football in the woods.

 -Pack his lunch and tuck in some love notes to brighten his day at least once a week. 

 -Let him pick out a new meal once a month that you will learn to cook.

 -Try something new (to both of you) together. -Tell him “I love you” every single day, no matter what.

What other marriage resolutions would you add to the list?

2015 Goals + Agnes & Dora + Giveaway

I'm grateful for 2015. I'm glad it's here. I've set my New Year's Resolutions (because I'm one of those people!) and I'm excited to be working on improving myself. I think there's something therapeudic about a blank slate. We get to leave 2014 behind, the good and the bad, and we get to start over fresh. Colten & I sat down and wrote out our goals last night and hung them up in our room so we can see them every day. 

Skirt c/o: Agnes & Dora

Top: JC Penny

Tights: Target

Booties: LoloElle Boutique

Some of my goals are tangible, and some of them are just more focused on a general idea. 

-Complete the 30 Day Shred & then set a new fitness goal

-Pay off motorcycle by the end of May

-Graduate with my associates in May

-Read my scriptures personally 5 minutes every day

-Be a more intentional wife & Continue to attend the temple every other week for date night

I'm personally inspired by reading other people's goals, so if you wrote out a goal post for 2015 share the link in the comments and I'll come visit. 

In the meantime, go check out the leggings, pencil skirts, and midi skirts that Agnes & Dora has to offer. After getting this midi skirt I went back and order this leopard print pencil skirt... I don't regret it. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dying to buy an item? Agnes & Dora was kind enough to offer 15% off any purchase using code BROOKLYN15. Go get yourself a new church skirt, some comfy leggings, or whatever your heart desires! & Happy 2015. I hope all your dreams come true. 

Saving Memories Using Gramzies

Ever worry about how you'll save all those important moments you've shared on Instagram? I can't even remember the last time I went to the store and printed off photos of Colten & I. So when I heard about Gramzies I thought, "Why didn't I think of that?"

Here's how it works...

1. Tell Gramzies where to send your prints. 

2. Prioritize your prints. 

Most likes or most recent pics, if you don't take ten pictures a month they'll print some old ones too!

3. Give Instagram Permission to to share your photos with Gramzies for printing. 

4. Gramzies takes your 10 photos, prints them and ships them to you in a pack.

If one of your New Year's Resolutions is to keep a journal, scrapbook, or print more photos, Gramzies makes it SO easy. 

You can learn more about them HERE. The best part is, this only costs $4.99 a month. Which is less than the price of many Starbucks drinks! 

Do something for yourself this year, save your most important memories and do it on a budget. Check out Gramzies and let me know what you think! 

(Disclaimer: I received monetary compensation in exchange for this post)

Mixing Patterns + Oasap

I've seen these hats around blog land & wondered if I'd be able to pull it off. So when I saw this one from Oasap I decided to try it out! 

I wore it around while doing some errands and even though I felt like I stood out, I loved that I didn't have to wash my hair and I still looked cute! I'm also a sucker for some good pattern mixing, so this bold striped skirt and polka dot top are the perfect combo. Do you enjoy pattern mixing?

Hat- c/o Oasap

Top- H&M

Skirt- Mikarose

Why Do We Hate New Year Resolutioners?

I'm pretty sure Resolutioners isn't a word, but you know what I'm talking about right? Those people who decide that January 1 will be a "New Year, New Me." They seem to spend a couple of weeks consistently in the gym, and then mid February the gyms start to clear out. The stories go on and on. 

My question to you is why do we hate them? Why do we decide to LAUGH at them? To say, "It's okay, they'll only be here a few weeks then we can get back to our normal routine." Why do we quote statistics? "75% of New Years Resolutions Fail. 90% of New Years Resolutions Fail"? Why do we say, "I don't set New Years Resolutions because I like to set goals all year"? Good for you! But...

Do you not celebrate the 4th of July just because you're grateful to live in America all year?

Do you not celebrate Christmas just because you're celebrating Christ's birth all year?

Do you not do anything for Valentines Day because you love your husband/wife all year?

Why can't we just be grateful that someone somewhere said, "Ya know what, if you hate the direction your life is headed, change that, and here's a date to do it." I'll admit, even I tried to get into my personal trainer in mid-December because I didn't want it to look like  New Year's Resolution, so I'm not perfect. I'm guilty of the same feelings. But the truth is, I feel more motivated to reach my goals during the month of January than any other month. I think a lot of other people are the same way too.

This year, let's choose to CHEER on the New Year's Resolutioners crowding our gym. Let's share Whole30 recipes with those starting their own journey. Let's CELEBRATE those people who saw that there was something they wanted to change about themselves, and against all odds (New Year Resolutions "statistics") they are TRYING. 

New Year's is a sentiment to me. It's a time set aside for us to evaluate our lives, evaluate ourselves, and evaluate our relationships. So what if it's cliche? So is wearing white to a wedding, yet no one tells the bride, "You know that wearing a white dress doesn't make you a bride right?" We just celebrate that the bride chose tradition, and we move on with our lives. 

Let's do the same for New Year's Resolutioners. I'm one of them! If you could see the list I've made for all I want to accomplish this year you'd laugh in my face. But I set 3 specific January goals, and so far I'm kicking butt. Maybe in February I won't be, but for now, can't you choose to encourage me instead of talk about me behind your back? 

If this world needs anything, it's more cheerleaders, and less coaches. We need more people RAH-RAHing us on, and less people telling us all the reasons we might fail. 

What side will you be on this year? The cheerleaders or the coaches?

Better Than You Think You Are

I was given this gorgeous cardigan by Shop Nayeli, so naturally I asked my husband to take pictures as I awkwardly tried to look cute for the camera. I was feeling comfy cute, so I chose to cuddle up in a chair for the pics. Afterwards, I didn't feel amazing about these pictures and I even said, "Well, that's as good as it's gonna get." I went ahead and posted the following picture on Instagram.

Cardigan c/o Shop Nayeli: HERE

My phone started blowing up with notifications. People saying how much they loved my hair, how my skin looked like it was glowing, and that I looked so pretty in this picture. I read the comments over and over. Why was everyone else seeing a different picture than I was? 

Cardigan c/o Shop Nayeli: HERE

We are our own worst critics. We judge ourselves too harshly, too quickly, and too indefinitely. We box ourselves in, we tell ourselves we aren't pretty enough, or skinny enough, or smart enough or whatever else enough. And when we tell ourselves that enough, we begin to believe it. 

You and me, we're doing better than we think. We are conquering tasks, and crossing items off our to do lists. We are lifting the broken-hearted, and being listening ears to the desperate. We are waking up each day, and facing the challenges, trials, and hardships that come with being human, and we are doing it with a smile. 

This year as I'm working on myself, I'm going to try and be a little kinder to myself. You're doing better than you think you are. 

Head over to my Instagram to enter a really great giveaway from Shop Nayeli!

The Perfect Time to Set Goals

photo credit kaycie eddie photography i'm aubrey, and i'm happy to be back. last time i was here i talked about avoiding the comparison trap. one suggestion i gave is to set goals. with a brand new year, now is the perfect time to set goals. we're all probably a little guilty at times of setting goals that are way out of reach. it leads to frustration and makes the comparison trap very real. what's the best way to set goals? a lot depends on individual preference, but these tips should be fairly universally applicable. 1. make goals measurable (give yourself a marker to know you accomplished the goal) 2. set short term goals to help you reach your long range goals (quicker success will give you the motivation to stick with the goal) 3. build in rewards (sometimes the satisfaction of accomplishment isn't enough) i would love to know what you think. do you think these tips will work? what helps you stick to your goals?