Baby Baby Baby -- Gunner Love

OH. MY. GOODNESS GRACIOUS LORD IN HEAVEN.


This pup truly is the dang cutest thing I've ever seen.

He is 90 percent fur, and 10 percent big black eyes.

He's also 100 percent loooove :)

He likes to scootch his way under the wire coffee table to take naps - I can't believe he fits under there!!

His schedule consists of this: play for 15 minutes, poop out. play for 15 more minutes, poop out for two more hours. eat. literally poop. smack some love on your face with his tongue, then poop out some more.

He sleeps more than I do and I'm a bit jealous.

His bark sounds like a grasshopper chirping 50 feet behind you - was that even a noise?

He loves everyone who walks in the door, and I love that about him.

He acts all rough-and-tumble, when in reality he weighs barely a pound.



He is the darn tootinest little darlin and I love him to death already :)

I will post pictures as soon as I have more than five minutes to spare!! I gotta get up for work tomorrow at 4:20am...wish me luck!

*ps. i hope you all had a wonderful weekend, because I sure did! I will tell you all about it soon...

Baby Puppy Love

I'm getting a new puppy tomorrow!!! Aww, baby puppy love.

I'm just unbelievably excited for this right now.

This dog.....oh this dog. He is so cute!


And his name is going to be Gunner.

Click here to find out what he looks like!! He's a dang cute little thing, lemme tell you what :) That is my other dog, Gabe, sniffing his bum haha. I would put up the actual pic on here, but it was a mobile upload from a different phone so...Let's just say I'm not as tech savvy as some. You might not be able to see it if you don't have a facebook user and password. Hmm.....well this is what he would look like:




I'm SO excited!!!

My Coaster Life

Like those fateful words of Cameron Diaz, life is like a rollercoaster..."it goes UP, and back down...then it goes UP, and back down. See? See? Upppp, and back dowwwwn."



I love riding the rollercoaster of life - the thrill is amazing, but right now I just want to get off the ride for a while. You can only ride the coasters so long before the mellow dumbo ride and cotton candy calls your name. It doesn't take long either - two or three coaster rides, and I'm ready for the bench. Gimme a bench...anywhere!

And so, here I am, still stuck on this coaster with my fingers fearfully gripping the rubber handle in front of me - I can't see a thing. We're going too fast... I can't even see where I'm going! Is that a turn coming up?? Wait, it's another drop...AAAHHH! I'm wee-ing and laughing and crying all at the same time.

My life has been so crazy and I apologize for not posting about it sooner. I've just been unbelievably busy. Busy, and stressed out for the most part. Just when life seems to give me a break, something else comes up and steals my attention from the tv screen. I just want to watch 5 MINUTES! Five measely minutes of my show!

But no, ol' life has its' way with me and here I am again on this rollercoaster ride. I'm locked in.

Will it ever stop?

Simple Truth

Where is simplicity?

Where did truth come from, and can we chase it?

Will it disappear?

Will it run far away?

Will it keep us at a distance like we wish it sometimes would?

Or will it beckon us with love...

Will it chase us back...

Will it surprise us with simplicity...

Yes, yes, and yes.

Truth always knows our hearts, doesn't it?

...well the truth is, sometimes I just wish life were simpler...

Long Lost Pics!!!

WOO!! I finally found the missing camera! It was in my room...I know, lame. My room has been sooo messy since I got back from my trip that I had no idea the camera was still in my bag! I mean, messy messy. Like classic teenager messy with an ADDED bonus of bachelor pad messy. I finally decided that I couldn't live with it anymore, so last night I cleaned it ALL up. That was when I found it...Yay!

Anyways, I took a bunch of "out of the car" photos throughout our trip so you'll get a lot of landscapey pics. What can I say?? We were in the car for NINE AND A HALF hours! Oh yeah, and the girl with the blonde hair is my sis, Jess :)








*above: Pismo Beach, CA + some cute asian kid.

*Just as I promised!! The crazy shark attack warning sign. Yeah, let's just say I didn't get in the water.


*above: Our nasty road trip-ness. I just had to document it for you. Isn't that gross??








*above: the Josh Gracin advertisement poster in the Sequoia Dorm. I felt so touristy taking this pic. It's all for you. All for you.


I will be posting a video or two of the concert soon. Well, just as soon as I have the patience to wait for it to load... :)

XOXO
Jourdan

I Wish I Were A Mac

This virus is a bugger.

At one point, I thought I was going to die...not like "oh my god, I hate throwing up so much I wish I were dead" but more like "oh my god if I could actually get up off this bed I would head straight for the knife drawer and kill myself because I can't take it anymore."

I don't usually get colds, but I have the feeling this is a real bugger of a cold. My dad just got it too, poor guy. He said it was worse than a regular cold. Which is great for me, because I just thought I was a wussy. But no, this really is a bugger of a cold.

My whole body feels like it has been filled with adamantium metal (not unlike the way Wolverine was injected in the movie X-men Origins.)

I think the universe is laughing at me, saying "Oh if Hugh Jackman can do it without sedatives, so can Jourdan."

Yeah, THINK AGAIN universe!!! I might just go overdose on Nyquil on purpose just to spite you...

I need something to punch.

If only I had the energy to lift my arms from this dang keyboard.

Sick Day

I'm sick.


I'm sick, and I'm moping.


I have schoolwork to do, I have to get someone to cover my shifts at work, and I have to find someone to teach my classes. Ughhhhhhh. *wipes runny nose*


The doctor said I will be contagious for the next 2 to 3 days.


I haven't gotten a cold for YEARS...now I know what I was missing...so not cool.


I am going to finish my online classes for the day, then pop in You've Got Mail. I'm already in my pj's.



Now I'm just going to wipe down this keyboard with some lysol. Be back in a few days....that is if I haven't died by then :)


Told you I was mopey...

XOXO
Sick Jourdan

Opposite Day

My "Well I've Never" post turned out really great...I love writing random hilarious facts that entertain people. So I've decided to do another one, but this time it will be a wee bit different :) I did a list with a few of these on it a while ago for my facebook, but I've added some new ones.

I'd like to call it,

"Random Facts & Hilariosity About Jourdan"

Enjoy!



i love fruit but hate the thought of eating it.

i am a hopeless romantic but won't admit it to myself.

i hate defining people but always wonder how i would be defined.

i love running outside when it's cold, especially if it's on a mountain.

i can't eat french toast or milk without wanting to wretch.

i want kids someday but at the same time i really really don't.

i don't really like summer because i think it's unimaginative. Winter brings out the creativity of nature.

i feel like people look at me weird when i'm walking in public...i might just be paranoid :)

i want to live in Ireland for a while.

country/indie music keeps me alive..

i have a lipgloss addiction

but i hate girls who use it too often.

i love to play the piano, but rarely make time to do so.

i love to cook dinner for people - seriously, i love it. I love to watch their reaction to the food; I love to please others with my culinary creativity lol

i love a good hoedown...linedancing is grrreat. RODEO is a thrill : ) you take me to a rodeo, i'm yours.

my family makes me laugh all the time and i love them more than anything.

i drive too fast but i've never been pulled over. i'm a speed junkie. i love driving in the snow because it makes things interesting.

i get bored pretty easily.

i love a good musician. they fascinate me.

by the way, if you can play the guitar i already love you.

i can't sleep without a fan on.

i can't sleep without brushing, flossing, washing my face, and putting on lotion. Seriously, I honestly can't. I've tried. Doesn't matter how tired I am, my conscience gets the best of me.

i can watch Pride and Prejudice (the new one), Fired Up, You've Got Mail, The X-Men Trilogy, The Wedding Date, The Lion King, A Walk to Remember, and Tristan and Isolde over and over again without getting sick of them...and I have!

i can't not dance when i hear a really loud rap song.

i love salsa dancing - and am pretty dang good at it, if i don't say so myself.

i have been a blonde, a redhead, a brunette, all in one year. now i have black hair.

i loooove fruit leather.

i feel like i use ellipses a lot but i can't help it!!

i love taking pictures of people and making them look cool afterwards.

firepits are my late night weakness. i get all giddy when there's a campfire at night. I love the smell of campfire on my clothes - or on someone else's :)

i love hot chocolate more than water.

i will do almost anything if it's dangerous and a thrill.

i am conflicted on whether i want to live in the city or the country. the pro con list is surprisingly equal for each.

sometimes i wish i was more complex but i know i am already so complicated it irritates people.

i love seeing god's heart poured out on people, and i love being used in this way.

i think prophetic song is healing to human hearts. i DO believe god still speaks today.

i am really stubborn when it comes to what i think is right, and sometimes it can be a bad thing.

i love to look at expensive houses and imagine living there : )

i want to make everywhere i go a different atmosphere...a good one.

cotton candy is delicious and i can eat more of it than your dog.

wit is a winner.

i tend to overdo things. if i like something, i do it too much. if i like a song, i can listen to it on repeat for hours.

if i can imagine doing something cool, i usually end up doing it in one way or another. basically, if i want something i get it.

i feel hotter in a good'ol pair of holey jeans then i do wearing a million dollar gown, but i'm not a tomboy by far...

i love tattoos and piercings, and plan to get more of each in my lifetime.

i never know what to do with my hair in the morning, especially for fancy occasions (those are a nightmare for me).

i like garlic more than the average person, and i use it alot.

i HATE heated theology conversations. don't talk to me about what you think church should look like, i'll kick you in the shins.

im a classic all-or-nothing kind of girl. i won't settle for anything but the real thing.

Well I've Never

(Idea stolen from Nanny Goats in Panties)

I love making lists, and this one seemed to have some potential comedy to it...so here you go - a list of things I've never done:

*I've never eaten my own boogers...or anyone else's for that matter. No, not even when I was six :)

*I've never gotten a massage...or a pedicure. Bummer, right??

*I've never had the desire to go to Asia. Or Mexico.

*I've never eaten caviar, but I've tried goat (from Africa), bush rat (also from Africa), and calamari.

*I've never been able to watch the movie 'Fired Up' without laughing so hard, I cry.

*I've never been skydiving, but went bungee jumping over the Nile in Africa. I hope I get to do it sometime!

*I've never read a whole book in one day...Twilight took me two :)

*I've never written an "I've never list"

*I've never wanted to write an "I've never list"

*I've never been jealous of PC people.

*I've never seen Titanic.

*I've never gotten my hair professionally colored, but I've had pretty much every haircolor imaginable...red, brown, blond, black...actually I got a little smidgen of pink put in professionally, but that doesn't count.

*I've never wanted to go to Washington DC or the grand canyon...yawn.

*I've never been technically asked out on a date.

*I've never had white zinfandel...and don't plan to :)

*I've never been on a diet of any kind.

*I've never felt like I wasn't good enough...thanks mom and dad. Yeah, that one's a tear jerker :)

*I've never met a celebrity, or just randomly seen one on the streets.

*I've never finished a knitting project.

*I've never successfully built a fire.

*I've never run away from home, even though I contemplated it once. I was young...lol.

*I've never been to middle school.

*I've never broken a bone, but I haven't had milk since I was about six or seven. Milk makes me gag!

*I've never had the chickenpox.

*I've never not had fun at a rodeo.

*I've never had red bull.

*I've never owned an instrument, but I play a lot.

*I've never owned a yearbook.

*I've never smoked.

*I've never stapled my finger, but I did staple my brother's.

*I've never seen Star Trek.

*I've never celebrated St.Patrick's Day.

*I've never written a check in my checkbook. Ever.

*I've never watched Dane Cook without being completely entertained.

*I've never taken Transformers seriously. Don't think I ever will. Sorry, Shia Labeouf.

*I've never understood why men thought Shania Twain was hot.

*I've never cheated.

*I've never stalked anyone. Except for that one time in 1st grade.

*I've never finished a whole piece of corn on the cob.

*I've never owned a pair of espadrilles.

*I've never had a Wendy's Frosty. I think I've had a chocolate chip cookie dough milkshake from there, but never a frosty.

*I've never done anything I didn't want to do, unless it was forced upon me :)


Ta-daaaa! There you go. Like a billion things I've never done. Now you know me a little better...or, I guess, the opposite of me!

Have a wonderful day!

XOXO
Jourdan

Beautiful Creation

- A Song For The Times -

The flowers dance to lively music
Of wind and water, jumbling about.
He created all;
He is in all.

- JEM



This song is amazing...and very timely, I think. Thanks Jess for showing it to me!

"Awakened - Ian Mcintosh"

Rest

Things are finally on the up-and-up for Jourdan. She has a secure job (or a few), a settled family life, and trustworthy friends to call her own. She is doing just fabulous. But sometimes she feels a bit out of control...Time will only be your friend until you smash your schedule into its' mouth.

I am the most busy I've ever been! But hey, I'm fortunate I actually have things to do. It didn't used to be this way...

Oh no, I used to be the least busy person in the whole entire world! I swear. At least it feels that way. Let me tell ya, it is NOT fun to NOT have anything to do. I mean, I would find at least something to fill my time with...I was never completely bored out of my mind, but still. I am sooo glad I've been gettin' busy (in the literal sense of the term).

I just have to remember how to rest. See, I've never really had this problem. I've never been so busy that I've had to force myself to take time off from my schedule. I've never forgotten what it's like to rest. (Well I've never had a real steady job before, so that sort of explains it!) Now I'm realizing just how important it is to give yourself a break every once in a while.

"Oh yeah, but she's young" you say. Yes this is true, but youth is still human. Youth still gets tired when it's stretched too thin, or the stress becomes too much to bear.

Trust me, I know. I have classes to teach with parents and kids all relying on me; I have kids to watch with their safety in my hands, and I have a company that I work for. It feels as though I am in demand all the time. Everybody taking a little piece of Jourdan.

"I need a recharge!"

"Gimme those pieces back! They're mine!"

Sometimes I just need some "me time". I have yet to find the go-to me time activity...reading a book, blogging, running, playing the piano - I've tried it all. Those activities put me at about a half-battery recharge status. I still need to find the big kahuna of recharging. Possibly reading my bible. If only I could be more consistent with it.

I'm working on it :)

Rest is so important. It allows you to reflect on all you've done in the past, and gives you the perspective you need for the future. It's the part where God says,

"Hold on there a minute, why don't you just take a break for a bit? Talk to me..."

Why is it so hard for us to just relax for a little while - take our heads out of the game for a split second? The line between not busy and way too busy is blurred. For some people it is perfectly normal not to have a minute to themselves all day long. For others, a normal day means everyone around you knows that you are not up for sale and that you can't just give give give. I am the latter.

I'll work hard, but don't expect me to keep that smile plastered on my face for weeks on end without a break. I need breaks. I need time to plan. I need time to reset my head - my internal time clock.

So as I head off on this new adventure-of-a-life, I'm laughing and learning my way into time management skills. Maybe there is no perfect time management; maybe there never will be. Either way, I am trying. I will try to be the best me...for all of you. I'm still figuring out the best way to manage my busy schedule and still make time for rest. It is a learning curve for sure.

Thank you God for being patient with me - you always are.


"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:3 "God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full." - Matthew 5:6, NLT

A Magical Land

She goes there every once in a while
When things get too tough
Or she faces a trial

Twas a place full of comfort
A room, no - a land
A whole town was for her
It was all in His plan

Her eyes were alive
Every sense was awakened
Never did it back then but
This habit turned to trend

She created that land,
With sugarplum fairies
Reflective like mom's eyes
They danced and were merry

The clouds looked so heavy
With snow falling down
All around that sleepy goodnight little town

"He's coming!" she said.
With a shiver and smile
"he's coming...." with the excitement of only a child.

Her comfort was found in that sleepy little town
The rain in the night
And the stars all around
Where no one could hear her
And silence was found,
Where there were no boundaries
But wood fences abound.

Like a book on her shelf
That rickety old thing
She blows dust off the pages
And magic comes round

The night was so young
But was getting too late
To be sitting out there
Out there on that gate

But she liked to just wait
To feel stillness, oh fate
Sarcastic cold winters
With the slap in the face

She's sitting and waiting
For her love to be found
Sitting up there
To be rescued and crowned

A queen of her beautiful mystery land
A land she created, a land that will stand.
Time cannot free love,

But it won't be secured;
She will follow with songs
And she'll sing you the words.

She's safe in a world where things never go wrong
A place in her heart, a place she belongs...

She goes there sometimes
Where it's safe and it's cozy
It's a calm winter wind
And her hair simply blows free.

Post-It Mania

I swear I would die without those little adhesive-backed pieces of paper. Or at least get miserably disoriented and a bit wacky. My computer looks almost like that one up there.

I would take a picture of it to show you all, but the camera is STILL not found. I have absolutely no idea where it could have gone! Anyways, you should really see it; a plethora of scattered pink and yellow post it notes with scribbled to-do's. all. over. my computer monitor. My life and schedule is one big post-it note.

It's the only way I stay sane.

I swear, if I ran out of post-it notes, to-do lists, or really paper of any kind I would go utterly bonkers. My LIFE is on those post-it notes.

"Work today from 7:30 to 1:00, Razmataz @ 10, Fit Kids @ 4pm"

"Explore vegetarianism"

"Do laundry tonight!!! Do it, Jourdan! Doooo it! Seriously. Just do it."

"Don't forget to be home for the dinner guests at 6:30"

"Drink water today. Remember what happened last time you didn't??"

"Buy more post-it notes. Maybe with some cute little designs on them."

That's right, really spice up your life. Get a doodely post it note.
Wow, I have fallen oh so far...

How will I get back up again? The cliff is so so high! Work, work, work, school, eat, school, exercise, blog, call this person, email that person, do laundry, wipe the snot off your work shirt - "eeew, germs!"

I think I've gotten into a much deeper hole than I first imagined. But surprisingly, I'm handling these big life changes with finesse and flexibility. I could be a ballerina, I'm so flexible. Oh wait, I sort of am.

How do I do it? I listen to music to rewind, or go for runs at night. Ahh, relaxation. Here, do yourselves a favor and listen to some of my favorites...they may not be of your personal taste, but then, isn't that the fun of it? You just gotta explore other pathways, or you'll never change :) Don't worry, they aren't of that uncreative rap genre (for all you people over fifty...or forty...hehe). Most of it doesn't really have a genre, per se.

It's just good.

1- Emarosa - "The past should stay dead"
2- Mae - "The sun and the moon"
3- Cary Brothers - "Honestly" OOOOOH this one is SOO good. mm, love it.
4- Wilco - "Either way" this one will totally put you in a happy mood no matter what..
5- Sigur Ros - "Saeglopur" now this is a little on the weirder side, but i like it :)
6- The Kooks - "She moves in her own way" Okay, you just HAVE to listen to this song, it is one of my favorites of all time because, well, it's just awesome. I'm giving nothing away.

All right, well I think that those pretty much cover it for now. I am surprisingly ahead of schedule today, what with my finishing school before six pm...so I am off to help my momma in the kitchen. We have some dinner guests tonight and we are making salmon, chicken on the barbie (lol), and boiled red potatoes. The dessert will be fabulous; I got the recipe from Proud Italian Cook who never fails to astound me with creativeness. I am so excited to try this!! It's called 'roasted peaches with amaretto ricotta'. You will be amazed.

I will leave you with that savory peace of goodness to chew on...have a wonderful day!

XOXO
Jourdan

Frazzled on Day One

Sometimes life just throws you a curve ball...and sometimes it's a really mean, nasty one. I don't usually experience these often, so when it happens I get all flustered, helpless, and utterly confused.

You all know that I started teaching my classes at the health club yesterday. The first day of many. Mondays are 'Razmataz', the crazy little kids (2-5) tumbling/yoga class. Mondays are also 'working in the kids club all the times I'm not teaching said class' and also 'helping out with kids camp all the times I'm not working in kids club'. Yes, I am a busy girl!

Well Sunday night was my preparation night...didn't want to leave anything forgotten, or god forbid, not written down on my lesson plan. I had my music burned and my lesson planned. I was pretty much ready to teach the class before I went to bed that night.

Well thank GOD for that!

Turns out there's something wrong with my alarm clock that JUST now, *insert godfather voice* on the day of my daughters wedding, decides show itself. Monday is a very important day for me! I absolutely can't afford to wake up late!

But guess what happened. My alarm didn't go off until ten minutes before I had to be at work. Yeah, AT work. That means *beep beep* at 7:20am of my 7:30am scheduled clock in time. If I were a guy, it would be slightly less overwhelmed. But alas, last time I checked, I am a girl. Bummer.

Well, at least now I have to necessary skills to join the military.

But seriously, can you IMAGINE?? Waking up on one of the most important days in your career with only ten, count em, TEN minutes to ready yourself and actually be at the front desk clocking in? I can't. I still can't believe I did it! And no, I'm not making this up...although if I were, it would be very clever because everyone likes to read about someone's crazy mishaps throughout life.

The minutes:

7:20am - look at clock, look at phone, sprint upstairs to look at other clock, run back down with an exasperated sigh.

7:21am - already putting my socks on, and...where in the heck is my phone?

oh yeah, i just looked at it. it's on the windowsill.

7:22am - brushing teeth with a renowned vigor and fury. I hate using my manual. But if i used my beloved electric toothbrush, I would be in there for the timed two minutes, which is entirely too long for a morning like today.

*approximately 30 seconds of brush time

7:23am - "MOOOOM!!!!! MAKE ME COFFEE, A SNACK, AND A TIME REWIND...TO GO!" Miraculously, (and oh how much I love this woman) she had a hot coffee, a luna bar, and some fruit (no time rewind though, damn!) put in a plastic baggy for me and into my hands by the time I left. Dear, sweet woman.

7:24am - slap a little mascara on those tired eyes, a little a this, a little a that, whabam! okay, that took waaaay too long. I still need to find my belt.

MAN I wish I kept this room cleaner...where in the world is my belt?

Oh right. In my closet. With all my other work clothes that I set out the night before. I really am brilliant sometimes.

7:25am - rushing upstairs again to find my purse, forgetting that my pajama pants are still on with my work shirt and nametag. Classy.

7:26am - leaping back down the stairs to grab my oh-so-unflattering khaki cropped shorts and belt. Whippin those suckers on in three seconds flat.

7:27am - running back upstairs with my lesson plan, cd, and yoga outfit in tow. Ready to get in the car!

(Now keep in mind, I live literally two blocks away from the club, so I'm still making good time here)

7:28am - frantically grabbing at the plastic bag my mother is handing to me - why can't I grab it? ugh! motor skills are SO overrated! - jogging out the door with the keys I just plucked off the wall.

CD-check. Lesson plan-check. Brain-check. Teeth brushed-check. Real pants on my bottom half-check. Purse-check. Check, Check, Check. Sanity-uncheck, but oh well...nobody's perfect, right?

So I run to the car, race down the two blocks, park, briskly walk into the club, and clock in at exactly 7:30am.

Phew!

And what do you know, the class went beautifully. My CD worked in their player, no crazy error messages telling me that my burning wasn't successful. The kids absolutely loved it, and the parents were pleased. Ohhh yeah. I am SO conking out and watching Gilmore Girls when I get off tonight. Probably the most hectic day of my life.

But it was worth it! I had so much fun with the kids, and I have some great new ideas that I want to try out for next time.

Hopefully next time won't end with me sitting at the computer appalled at myself, and my alarm clock, telling you a ridiculous story that you can hardly believe.

Anyways, I hope you got at least some comedic pleasure out of my story telling skills...not that I had to embellish...at all!! But still. I enjoy writing about my crazy life experiences.

Until next time, folks!
XOXO

Jourdan