Day 23- Something you crave for a lot

I CRAVE CARBS!!!

Oh my heck I love bread and pasta. I could live on it alone. I guess if I had to choose just one thing in this area it would be pasta. But really, I love my bread too.  

Protein? Whats that? Oh just teasing. I like some protein here and there...as long as there is pasta or bread to accompany it. 

Protein just doesn't compare to bread. 

 I feel so bad for my SIL that has celiacs disease. I think she is the strongest woman in the world to be able to give up carbs.

Amber, you are my HERO!

Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else

What makes me different? This is hard. Sometimes, I honestly feel like everyone else in this state.

I could say that I can be a pretty decent photographer, but then so is half of Utah. I could say that I am really crafty, but then again, so is half of Utah. I could say that I have a talent for decorating and making a house look like a home, but then again, so can a lot of people.

I sing, I bake, I craft, I renovate, I take picture, I try to dance...I pretty much do whatever seems fun and interesting. 

Maybe that is what makes me different. I can do whatever I put my mind to. If I see a renovation project or a craft that I like, I go out and get the supplies and then recreate the project.  It is very satisfying to accomplish tasks like this. Just being able to have a finished project and know that I did it by myself with my own skill is very gratifying.  

I think another thing that makes me different from some is that I am truly genuine. If I offer to help you it is because I actually want to help you and not for the praise or outward rewards but because I want to do for  others what they cannot do for themselves.  I like to do nice things for people so that they might have a little more happiness. You will never find me doing something just for the title or praise. This is a huge pet peeve of mine actually. I have known people that tell everyone they are leaders or take up volunteer opportunities just to tell everyone how many places they volunteer and more or less express how wonderful they are. I get severely annoyed by this attitude. *SIGH* I guess I should just be glad that they are volunteering in the first place and not care about the reasons behind the work. 

Any way, this has turned into some kind of entrance essay for a scholarship on why I am so amazing. LOL. 

I'm just a normal person with eclectic interest. 

The End.

Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy

                                       source


Ok this picture represents something that makes me happy in two ways. 
A: It is Loui Freaken Vuitton!
B: Luggage=Travel. 
I LOVE TO TRAVEL! I am so freaken happy when I am traveling to different places. My favorite destination is Europe. There is just so much to discover! Oh my heck I wish I was in Europe right now! I am having travel withdrawals!

                                      Source

PUPPIES! So I know it only asked for one picture but I LOVE PUPPIES! I really, really, really want an Alaskan Malamute. However, recently I started considering an American Cocker Spaniel. I know they are totally opposite dogs but they are both super adorable! Plus Cocker Spaniels might make a better indoor dog...

Friday Confessional

Wahoo, its FRIDAY!!!! Yay! I just love Friday because I get to "come clean". Confessing feels great. You should try it!


I confess:

• I sometimes feel like I should move into Walmart. I hate Walmart but it is, unfortunately, the closest grocery store to my house. I feel like I spend all my time there. 
• I pretty sure my neighbors think all I do is shop. 
• Probably because the only time I leave the house during the day is to shop.
• I am a mole. I sleep all day...and not only when I have worked all night. Even on my days off I have been known to sleep until 2pm.
• The only time I get my Vitamin D is when I walk from my car through the parking lot to the store...or when I take a supplement. 
• But since all I do is shop, I think I am ok in that department. =)
• I was thinking about it and I'm pretty sure I haven't consumed water this week.
• HOLY CRAP! I haven't had any water this week!
• I am totally drinking a huge bottle of water right now!
• I have become a vitamin whore. Ginseng, Ginko Biloba, B Complex, Prenatal, Cranberry, Vitamin D, ETC. 
• I totally recommend the Ginko, Ginseng, B complex combo. Can you say ENERGY!
• I have a room dedicated to crafts but I prefer to lug all of my supplies downstairs to the living room.
• My living room floor is, as we speak, covered in 3 different craft projects.
• For this reason, if any of you have the desire to come visit me, please give me a warning call before. 

Well, that's all for now.  Until next time, Ciao!

Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future

Well, seeing as I am already married I cant exactly write about who I see myself marrying. However, if I'm going to be honest, I never expected myself marrying someone like Jeff. I don't know exactly what that means but I do know that all the guys I went out with or thought I was interested in were nothing like Jeff. He totally took me by surprise. Jeff was genuine, strong, funny, and incredibly patient. 

I remember thinking, "this kid does not give up!". I always seemed to run from commitment because it never felt right. Other guys always tried to push relationships but Jeff just waited. He kept asking me out and never pushed my commitment on anything. He took everything very slow and basically let me make all the moves. He was honest from the beginning and told me where he wanted the relationship to go but stuck around even when I said I hadn't thought that far. 

Basically, Jeff ended up being the kind of guy that let me keep my independent personality but was still around to be a man that could take care of me and  my emotional breakdowns. He is the perfect percentage of patience and strength. 

All in all, I never would have guessed I would marry Jeff the first time I met him, but I am so glad he stuck around and showed me how great it is to be loved. I cannot imagine my life without him. In the future, I see myself with him. I hope he is by my side for many, many years. I want to grow old with him and more. He is my life. I honestly never thought you could be so consumed by feelings for someone else but I now  know you can. 

We have had a seriously hard first year of marriage. He has been by my side every step of the way. I wouldn't trade him for anything. I can't say that I have loved all the trials we have faced but I would never give up Jeff to have less drama. I love him completely. 

Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them

Nickname time! Here are some of my nicknames I have acquired over the years.  

• Melissaface: Don't ask me why because I don't know. My brother takes every name and adds face to it... He came up with Melissaface years ago.
• MissyMoo: My friend's mom has called me this since 2nd grade. I guess it just rhymes. 
• Missy: Anyone in my extended family or anyone that has known me since elementary school calls me this. It is just a normal, common nickname for Melissa. 
• Missa: My dad calls me this...its just a really condensed version of Melissa. 
• Babe: This is the only thing Jeff calls me...I think he forgot my name...:-)
• Doll face: Well, my last name WAS Dahl...so there you have it.

That is all I have...that are worth reporting any way.

Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have

Oh boy! This might be a long post. I have millions of dreams and plans...of course not all of them will happen...but that is why they are dreams, right?

Ok, here we go!

GOALS:

The goal on top of my list is to LOSE WEIGHT! Ha! No seriously. I really want to lose the weight I gained over the past year. I really feel like this will make my attitude a bit more positive. I would also like to be able to run a 5k...um I know that seems super easy but I want to be able to do it without wanting to die.

Next on my list would be to refinish my antique chairs. I have totally been slacking! I need these extra 4 chairs so I can have a dinner party!

 Chandeliers brought to you by French Bedroom Company  and Layla Grayce.

 

I have this dream of putting chandeliers in every room. Unfortunately, I really like my ceiling fans. I get so warm and I rely on them to cool me off....otherwise I would have a really high AC bill. I guess I will just have to settle for having one over the dining room table and in the nursery. (NURSERY IS FAR IN THE FUTURE)

 

I have done a lot of traveling in my life, BUT I haven't done it with Jeff! I really want to travel with him and show him how amazing these other countries are. I also really just want to go back and there are so many places I haven't been yet. SO, my goal is to go back to London, travel through Italy (I only saw Rome the first time), and of course, I need to see Paris.

Man, I could probably go on for days, but these are the current big ones.

Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

 I have thought long and hard about this. I originally considered making this post very deep and thought provoking, but then I decided that I was WAY too lazy to put that much effort into it. 

So, instead I am informing you all that I would want to be Sherlock Holmes for a day. I know that would mean me being a man...however, HE IS SO COOL! 

I would LOVE to solve mysteries and be that intelligent and creative and sneaky. I mean, all of Scotland Yard relies on him...he solves the crimes that no one else can! I could totally do that! Or at least I would totally love to try...for a day.

Day 16- Another picture of yourself

So I know this picture isn't just of ME and it is a few years old, BUT I love this picture. It reminds me of a great time in my life. I had good friends, we were tan, we were HOT, we on a singles cruise... I was so happy in this picture. I was in a great period of my life. I was confident and I felt beautiful. *SIGH* Good times. 

Now, this picture is also a few years old but it is just me. =) I love this picture of me. It is hilarious. It showcases one of my many facial expressions. This was taken at Mt. Rainier in Washington. Some friends and I took a little hike to this lake. My camera captured some fantastic colors. Plus, my skin looks flawless.

Love these pictures...love memories.

ITS FRIDAY, AND YOU ALL KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!!!!!

I confess my guilty pleasures: 

• I love kitkats! I could eat them and eat them and eat them.... Without getting sick of them! After Christmas Jeff and I stumbled across the 70% off Christmas candy and stocked up on Kitkats and Cherry Chocolates. Mmmmmmm!
• BACON, and ham and salt pork and pork chops and pork roast and pulled pork and...Pretty much the whole pig. I just really like pork. I am pretty sure bacon goes on everything. Its a good thing I don't have to eat kosher.
• Dream shopping at Layla Grayce. Oh how I covet pretty much all the stuff on this site. *Drool* If only I were a billionaire.
• Blog Stalking. I cant help it. I just like peaking into other peoples lives.
• Sometimes I add people on FB just so I can look at their pictures and then I delete them....Is that creepy?
• I record Toddlers and Tiaras and Bridal Plasty.... I'm a little obsessed.
• Scrapbook supplies are my weakness. I pretty much buy them even if I don't need them...I figure I might need them eventually. I LOVE YOU CRAFT STORES!
• I like to go on etsy or handmade boutiques and steal their ideas and then make it myself....I just can't bring myself to pay for something I could do myself. Like this, or this, or this. 

Last but not least....

• NORDSTROM. I love this place and you can find affordable stuff there...on clearance or in the juniors department...that is where I got my leggings.

Day 15- What are your favorite songs

I have a very eclectic taste in music. I Like a little bit of everything. I mean there is pretty much at least one good song in every genre. 


Here are some of my favorites....at the moment.

• Paint It Black by Rolling Stones (just Classic)
• Supermassive Black Hole by Muse (and not because it was in Twilight...although that song pretty much was the ONLY redeeming part of that horrible movie.)
• Chasing Pavements by Adele
• Separate Ways by Journey (Jeff and I joke that this is OUR song because we both love it so much.)
• Don't Trust Me by 3OH'3 (because who doesn't want to "do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips") 
• Pink by Aerosmith ( I LOVE AEROSMITH! This song is awesome! Takes me right on back to middle school...we use to watch the BOX for hours waiting for Backstreet Boys music videos to be played and this song was on ALL the time.)
• Foundations by Kate Nash
• Painting Her Portrait from Jane Eyre
• Bad Romance by Lady Gaga

Well, there you have it. A long list of some of my favorite songs...I could have probably made it even longer. You can thank me later. ;-)

Day 14- A picture of you and your family

Ok so I know you have all seen a million and a half pictures from my wedding, BUT it just happens that these are the most recent family pictures I have. 

My cute SIL and I are conspiring together to hire my photographer from the wedding to do some family pics this summer...like after I lose a million pounds. =) 

I just LOVE Darla and her photo skills! She is AWESOME! You should check out her website. She does super cute baby, family and wedding photography. 

Any way, until we get new ones, please enjoy these. 

Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you

So...I'm not gonna lie, sometimes I really don't want to blog everyday. This whole challenge is...well, challenging. =)  

This particular topic is a hard one. I have had someone hurt me pretty recently but I don't want this person to show up on my blog and...well, get hurt. *sigh* It's just not worth saying something I might regret. 

For this reason, I am going to still right a letter but I am going to write it to SOMETHING instead of someone. 

(WARNING: I may be very blunt and I hope I don't offend with TMI)

Dear Mr. Multiple Sclerosis, 

I hate you.

I am sorry that I need to start out so harshly but I wish we had never met.

You just crept into my life and screwed everything up. I am so angry that you are able to mess up my vision, give me random pain, keep me up all night with trips to the bathroom, making me gain 30 pounds, sap all my energy away and kill my sex drive. I hate when you make me forget things. Its so frustrating to be having a conversations and not be able to remember a perfectly obvious word.  I feel as though I aged 30 years in just under one.

Who do you think you are? You know just the things to do to get me down and make me question who I  am any more. I don't feel like the same person since meeting you.

I am constantly worried that you will pay me an unexpected visit. Everyday I wonder when you will come to call and what damage you will do. It scares me that my future with you is so UNKNOWN. I hate the unknown and I hate feeling that you have control over all of it. Am I going to be in a wheel chair, Or am I going to be one of the lucky ones that only has to see you a handful of times with minimum damage? I hope for the latter.

If I never saw you again I would be the happiest person alive. As it is, sometimes just knowing you makes me the saddest person alive. Some days, with the potential for situational depression, medication induced depression, and actual disease induced depression, I wonder if I will ever be happy again. Since meeting you I have had some of the darkest days of my life. Thanks a lot.
However, as much as I hate you and despise you, as much as I fear you and dread a visit from you, I need to accept you. For, I know you will NEVER go away. That is why I have decided to dig deep inside myself and find courage to face you and live with you. I am going to use you and the unknown as inspiration to live each day to the fullest, because I don't know how long I will be this healthy. Every challenge will be faced with the knowledge that it may be the last time I can accomplish it.

Isn't fear just a rush of adrenalin? Isn't adrenalin equivalent to a form of energy? Then why couldn't I channel my fear for you into the motivation I need to be...ME! I can and I will. No, I will not let you control my life. I am in control of my life! I am the one that chooses to react to you NOT the other way around. I may not be able to run away from you but I can learn to adapt to whatever changes you throw at me. I WILL WIN THIS BATTLE AGAINST YOU! I WILL NOT GIVE UP!


Sincerely,

ME....Ms. Motivated 

Day 12- How you found out about blogging and why you made one

In this day and age, who doesn't know about blogging? 
I have known about it for years but always thought that blogs were just for married people or families. 
A few years back I started noticing lots of single people my age creating blogs. Some were to keep people informed of what was new in their lives, and some were just random musings. I think this is when I actually began toying with the idea of creating my own. 
Not much later I created my blog. I did it mostly because I was planning a volunteer trip to Romania. I just wanted everyone back home to be able to see all the sweet children I was helping at the orphanage. 
It just evolved from there. I began to really enjoy blogging.  It was fun to share bits of my travel adventures and random interests.
I plan on blogging for a long time to come...whether or not anyone reads it.

HAVE I MENTIONED THAT...

I LOVE TEAL!!! 

Oh my heck, its my new favorite color.

Here are some of my teal picks of the day:

This throw pillow is so ADORABLE! You can find it here.

 This is THE camera bag. I LOVE THIS! I NEED THIS! If you feel like you need it too, go here.

Super cute block letters. Find here.

You can find this frame in a bunch of different colors here.

These would be great for decorating. Find here. 

Well, I think I need to go do some shopping!

Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends

Friends, friends, friends.... When you get older the meaning of the word seems to change. When you are in HS you think the more "friends" you have, the better off you are. Well, let me tell you something, when you "grow up" you learn really fast that the closest friends you have are usually related to you and those that aren't related to you are usually few and far between. I LOVE MY FRIENDS! 

 Amber and I doing what we do best... Shopping the day after Thanksgiving! (It was REALLY COLD outside while we waited to get in Target...hence the bright red nose.)

 Cute Millie and I at a friend's wedding in San Diego. 

Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad

 I LOVE MUSIC! 

When I am happy I like to sing along with the music. I just happen to prefer to sing along with Broadway. So, when I am happy, I listen to a lot of Broadway.  Jane Eyre is my favorite. I think because I have this secret desire to be Jane in a musical. 

When I am sad, I listen to music that is upbeat and makes me happy. I love to listen to Kate Nash. Her music always lifts my spirits. Listen Here.  Or I also like Adele. I think it's something about the sound her soulful music.  Listen Here.

When I'm bored I tend to listen to random rock music. I like Aerosmith, MUSE, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Coldplay, and ACDC. You know the good stuff. 

As for when I 'm angry, I tend to like silence. I have a tendency to feel sensory overload when I'm upset so I turn down or turn off the music.

Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days

So, the first thing that came to mind was....

Christmas is put away! 

TaDA!

I even vacuumed AND I also decorated one of my shelves. This means that I have almost completed my goal!

Woohoo! 

 

Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why

Oh I am such a list maker and goal maker. I am ALWAYS creating lists of things to accomplish...someday. So this is a good topic. 

I think my first goal would be...getting the rest of Christmas put away and the bins organized down stairs.

It started out easy enough. Most of the stuff comes down so easily but then you run out of bins or your new tree is too big to fit in any bins or you bought too much Christmas clearance and now have to find a place to put it. (exhale)

Any way, so that is my first goal. 

Get Christmas Gone. 

Next, I would really like to decorate the now bare shelves. 

We put the shelves up just before the holidays so I haven't had to decorate them for the off season. This means shopping!

I would also like to finish putting our master bedroom together. I pretty much just need to find an awesome mirror and hang pictures. 

I like this mirror...

Ok so basically my goal is to get the rooms of my house finally put together. Yeesh! I mean its practically been a year already!

Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

I would have to say that my dad has had a MASSIVE impact on me. He gave me my travel bug. He gave me the desire to be a great cook...starting with Norwegian cuisine. He inspired my Christmas craziness. He definitely inspired my green thumb. He ALWAYS pushed me to be great and supported my career choices, even when it involved fashion design. He has always wanted me to be the best me I can be. 
Thanks dad!
I am definitely impacted by you and who you are. 

 

Day 6- Favorite super hero and why

My CURRENT favorite super hero is Iron Man. I say "Current" because it really depends on what the newest movie is... Like it will probably change to Thor over the summer because...HOLY HOTTNESS! 
Any way, back to Iron Man. I love him because he is Tony Stark. Hello, he is fashionable, hot, rich, slightly arrogant...in a good way,  AND he has a really cool flying suit that gives him the ability to keep America safe. WHATS NOT TO LOVE?

Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to

 

Well, since I have been a lot of different places it was hard to choose just one.  I have chosen two of my favorites. 

NORWAY:

 

ROME: 

 

 So many places to see, not enough time...or money. ;-)

Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have

Ah, I have so many bad habits. So, so, so many. Just ask Jeff. ;-) I guess the one I would really like to work on would be... SWEARING.

I have such a potty mouth. Mostly when having to share the road with idiot drivers. *Sigh* Ok, I say naughty words when I stub my toe and when I drop a plate and.... etc.  So I guess, I should get a swear jar or something.

TGIF

Day 03- A picture of you and your friends

Jeff is my best friend in the whole world! But I know you are all thinking, "that doesn't count". 

So, ...

I would just like to give a shout out to my "A" team. Friends are SO important and you are LOVED! 

Amelia and Amber you two really were there for me when I was feeling down with my new diagnosis. THANK YOU!!!!

On another note... 

I Confess:

•           When I was diagnosed with MS I gained about 30lbs. Thank you steroids, new birth control, and depression. I found the weight gain way more difficult to deal with than the MS diagnosis...
•           "crop dusting"...Need I say more?
•           I am deathly afraid of childbirth! The thought of having to go through childbirth makes me ill. I have decided that the only way I could do it is with a scheduled c-section. True story. 
•           I think about eternity way too much. I am constantly bringing up questions that no one has answers to. It makes me crazy... 
•          But really, doesn't  progressing through eternity to become a God or Goddess and create your own universe sound like a lot of work? It makes me tired just thinking about it....A LOT OF WORK... FOREVER! Aren't you feeling tired?
•          I am very selfish person...I don't like to share Jeff...not even with his family. I pretty much hold him hostage.
•         When I drink hot chocolate I get mini hot flashes. 
•          I steal Jeff's sweat shirts and make them mine. 
•          I am totally writing this while I am at work

             

             

Day 02- The meaning behind your Blog name

   

The idea for the title "Adventure Is Out There", came from the awesome movie, UP. I LOVE THIS MOVIE! I freaken cry every time I watch it. It is just the perfect movie.  I originally had pictures from the movie but have since redesigned it. 

 

I guess I figured that with all the craziness  you face in life, it is one big adventure. You really never know what trials or excitement you will experience from one year to the next. 

That is why, ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE!

30 Day Challenge

ITS MY BIRTHDAY!!! Remember back when you were little and it seemed like it took FOREVER for another year to pass... Yeah, now days I blink and the year is over. 

So, I am starting a new year and I am starting it at the ripe ol' age of 27. 

I feel kind of old. 

I'm like 187 in Mormon years...or is that dog years... I should have like 5 kids already, right? WRONG!

Last year was the best year and the worst year... I got married to my favorite person in the world but I also was given A LOT of challenges. MS, total knee replacement, depression, major weight gain, new house, financial strain, etc.   Ah well, C'est la vie. Here is hoping my 27th year is a little less eventful.

As a little birthday/new years resolution, I have decided to take up my dear SILs suggestion and take the 30 Day Blog Challenge. 

So, here goes the first day of 30.

Day 1: A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself

 

1.      I have been to 9 different countries...and I plan on going to more!
2.      The summer before my senior year of HS my dad took me to Norway. I cried when I saw the green land of Norway. It was a dream come true. It gave me the travel bug. 
3.      I was diagnosed with MS the month after my wedding. Worst time of my life!
4.      I honestly think Disneyland is the happiest place on earth. I LOVE DISNEYLAND!
5.      I probably own around 60+ pairs of shoes. 
6.      I was adopted at 6 weeks of age. Most of you already know this.
7.      I drive really fast....I drove 138+mph on the autobahn...my dad made me slow down. RUDE! I was just trying to see how fast I could go in my new car.
8.      I use to bellydance. I am thinking of taking it back up. 
9.      I LOVE bread. If I had to give it up I think I would die. SERIOUSLY DIE!
10.      When I was younger I always wanted to be a fashion designer...my mother thought that was a bad idea...so, at age 11 I decided to be a NICU nurse. 
11.      I have a knack for decorating and love making old things look new and trendy. 
12.      I worked full time all through nursing school...Work was pretty much the only place I did my homework. 
13.     Christmas is my FAVORITE time of year. I am known as the Christmas Elf.
14.     I hate clutter...if I am feeling irritable and I see clutter it pushes me over the edge
15.     I am a pretty type A and independent person and have a tendency to believe in the saying, "if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.

Drool Worthy

So, I happen to have a lot of down time at work.... In other words, I surf the web...A LOT! In my many web travels I come across things that I dream of owning...or creating...or wearing. 

Here are a few that have recently caught my attention.

 

 

Ok, so some of these things may never be....BUT some of them could TOTALLY happen.