tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22880730551298218812024-03-13T10:36:41.243-07:00Life According to AlexisAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-6791055295633614732016-09-09T12:44:00.002-07:002016-09-09T12:48:46.263-07:00UTAH HIGH SCHOOL TRANSFER RULE<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">So I haven't blogged in a few months... Going back to school full time, working full time, and coaching has consumed my life from 4:30am-10:00pm to say the least. I like to think I'm a pretty busy individual and a lot of times I wonder why I do try to cram 100 different things into a 24 hour day but its because that's how I function best. I'm like Michelle, I do better under pressure and with my days scheduled out and jam packed. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOb1pgUwortztgrOLBCCX7ufOPRg3PX0UKN2v_OZL_HT_q7VPHew3Uqqewfx5H2Iy-bbPpHyMFpWANhS5Pl2x0ctHcN-tpfPy9579JpTpUhScwOldJgGrH6r2KT5IK6NTc4JZYkZF-LU/s1600/uco_sportscover_031110%257E1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOb1pgUwortztgrOLBCCX7ufOPRg3PX0UKN2v_OZL_HT_q7VPHew3Uqqewfx5H2Iy-bbPpHyMFpWANhS5Pl2x0ctHcN-tpfPy9579JpTpUhScwOldJgGrH6r2KT5IK6NTc4JZYkZF-LU/s320/uco_sportscover_031110%257E1.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">A quick update on this post and whats brought it about... Lately I've had a lot on my mind and have been quite opinionated and writing really helps ease my thoughts. So here's the situation... In the state of Utah they're currently discussing this new transfer rule that would all together eliminate transfer rules. Right now in order to transfer high schools you have to go through a long process and sometimes, the transfer doesn't always get approved. Obviously moving into the school's boundaries is your best bet, but some kids try to switch schools without moving. There's nothing wrong with this, if its for the right reasons. Here's some situations just from within my own team:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">1. I have kid on my team now who transferred to Mountain View last year. They live out of boundaries and to spare you the full details of the transfer, it was for 100% legit reasons, all being non-athletic. This is a hardship transfer (from my understanding, I could be wrong). She was enrolled at a different school, then transferred out of boundaries to another. As a coach, I lucked out on getting her to be a part of the team. As I said though, her reasons were legit. Some kids transfer to because of playing time, they think they're the star, they want to be the only star, and so naturally since the grass is greener on the other side ALWAYS (not really) they transfer. Simple truth to it all:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Legit reasons = Transfer approved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">2. I have another kid who moved from another state and enrolled at Mountain View. Guess what... her transfer got approved. She moved, literally moved across the country to Mt. View boundaries and enrolled at Mt. View as her first school. So yes, it was approved. The whole open enrollment thing is really enough I think. Kids can go to whichever school they want, as long as they start there from day 1. I have another kid who is out of boundaries but she attended the Jr. High that fed into Mt. View and now she's currently enrolled at Mt. View. Smooth and easy, no problems when you FOLLOW THE RULES for going to an out-of-boundary school. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">3. I know of kids who started at an out-of-boundary school and ended up transferring to the school whose boundaries they actually live in. I had a teammate at Timpview who started at Centennial Middle School (Timpview's feeder school), attended Timpview, then transferred to Provo because she actually lived in Provo boundaries. Her transfer was approved.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0a9IVjpfpsz4xEc6fBvxNubotMOmbVmCBKOQ0MzQG3_wjMROymUleDnQrJ11T2DbELtLfu4La825Sw3spbceitbBY2O5ejJ7rWQyMLE-wk1uMWb0dQk86Zj65P_WuY4zk5juW7i8tmcU/s1600/486310_515295345183752_1780678756_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0a9IVjpfpsz4xEc6fBvxNubotMOmbVmCBKOQ0MzQG3_wjMROymUleDnQrJ11T2DbELtLfu4La825Sw3spbceitbBY2O5ejJ7rWQyMLE-wk1uMWb0dQk86Zj65P_WuY4zk5juW7i8tmcU/s320/486310_515295345183752_1780678756_n.jpg" width="160" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">All of these situations they followed the rules and look what happened, transfers were granted. Yes I am a high school coach and I have transfers and out-of-boundary kids, but they did it the right way. I won't lie, at one point of my high school career I thought it would be so fun to transfer to Lone Peak or Skyline and play ball with my club ball teammates. We all did summer ball together and we all wanted to win state; therefore, transferring would guarantee more fun and a state championship... right? False. When I asked Michelle she literally laughed at me. Just laughed and told me no and that I was staying at Timpview. My stupid 15-yr-old mind really thought that transferring was going to solve all my dreams and goals. As it turns out... I spent more than half of high school on crutches, still won a state championship, still won region championships, and still went to college on a D1 scholarship. Steve has been a college coach forever and has seen it all. He's a great mentor to me as far as dealing with kids and pares and he always tells me two things:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">If you're good enough, the colleges will find you. If they don't, what does that say? Well, you probably need to go spend some time in the gym. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I hear of so many kids transferring because they aren't getting playing time, they want to be the star, the coach is rude to them. Frankly if a team is winning, you're getting playing time, and you're filling a stat sheet why transfer? Because you want to win state? Because you're not THE star, you're A star, but you're not THE star? As a coach I want loyal kids who want to win; who care more about the Wins and Losses column as opposed to their own stat line. Being on the star on a team who's 2-19 says something too. Going to a high school with a power house football team people always complained about Timpview recruiting. Just in my 4 years there lets talk about the top kids who were in boundary kids: Harvey Unga, Stephen Paea, Stephen and Britain Covey, the Reynolds brothers, the Bills brothers, and my personal favorites the Kaufusi brothers. All these boys were Timpview boundary kids. It's fun looking at pictures of Corbin and Bronson from flag football up to their state championship teams. Why? Well, the kids who won it are the kids they grew up with. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq8-qRxoRymfiGhL0arNKBves5Q4tN8VuHj5sfY8gCvf7sDDgv3bIrx3EkD6yevg_xGiLfwYGNVOo6RbjCgXH1HVJdEnAWZyCbjj4ernKv-PT8-Otp6GF4MqGh2WaMod8yl4lq72saPE/s1600/690236740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq8-qRxoRymfiGhL0arNKBves5Q4tN8VuHj5sfY8gCvf7sDDgv3bIrx3EkD6yevg_xGiLfwYGNVOo6RbjCgXH1HVJdEnAWZyCbjj4ernKv-PT8-Otp6GF4MqGh2WaMod8yl4lq72saPE/s320/690236740.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Lets say they pass this ridiculous rule, no more transfer rules. So lets make a bet. I bet every football player is going to want to transfer to Bingham or Timpview, every boy basketball player is going to want to transfer to Lone Peak, and every girl soccer player is going to want to go to Davis. Every good athlete is going to want to go to the top school in their sport. Some schools will drop in enrollment, and high school coaches will be stuck coaching virtually a club team; A team of All-Stars pulled from all over. If I wanted to coach a club team I would, but I don't. I enjoy high school sports. I enjoy the concept of a team, the concept of winning, of building a program. I did club ball and it brought great memories. None of which are documented. There's no building with banners for your club ball achievements. There's no newspaper articles about winning some random tournament in Portland that one summer. In high school if you win you get the banner hung in the school, you get the trophies, you get your name in the paper, etc. You can't take that away. You look on college athlete's profiles and it usually doesn't mention the club team you played for. It does mention your high school team. As Urban Meyer puts it, "What means something is the recommendation of the high school (football) coach." I think I speak for all high school coaches in Utah when I say we don't want to coach a club team. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Utah high school sports need to be kept the way they are, ok maybe a shot clock is desperately needed, but transfer rules are there for a reason. I'm sure the people who want this are the charter schools who are recruiting the 5A and 4A kids </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">(how many violations have they already had?)</span>, and the parents and kids who think they're some grand exception to the rules. If I have the choice to go to a 2A charter school and a 5A public school and I have some promising athletic ability you better believe I'm going to the 5A school. Nothing against smaller schools or charter schools they serve their purpose, but yes if my parents had sent my brothers and I to a smaller school we would look like all stars too. Accept the challenge high school sports and bigger schools bring. Going 15 and 10 against a fellow 4A team looks a lot better than going 30 and 20 against 2A teams. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95zEzc7QbVkORLumiC1uSWyQyPu2zAe_5VH9Z9GTaHRh0_qI6s_keJwnYJdxpiUx67OcLfr8Gife3c8Xuw2X5jtkDZEUfhOGqqQhch4D22vsiNk03VB6abHmTUgbyRXHF7lpS8IQsy3Y/s1600/12687858_1019380334775248_9111604039739523553_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95zEzc7QbVkORLumiC1uSWyQyPu2zAe_5VH9Z9GTaHRh0_qI6s_keJwnYJdxpiUx67OcLfr8Gife3c8Xuw2X5jtkDZEUfhOGqqQhch4D22vsiNk03VB6abHmTUgbyRXHF7lpS8IQsy3Y/s320/12687858_1019380334775248_9111604039739523553_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> At the end of the day, open enrollment gives you the freedom to start where you want. If you have legit reasons to transfer and you take it to the board they're going to approve it. If your reasons aren't and the motivation behind the transfer isn't reasonable (aka athletics) then maybe you need to take some advice from my Dad and go spend more time in the gym. Fingers crossed they leave high school sports the way they are. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-30847985155543526492016-05-08T18:24:00.001-07:002016-05-08T18:25:32.428-07:00My Famous "Little" Brothers<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnXDET4MMd7q4PyX55S1petDuP4CwhNrJUwTSDugYNAuWqViRnM0PjRzfmuMPMBebICc0EvVYOO-Lpjy400jUoxyqr45-vzKJICp-YVjoQPf4X2_RX_VsAIk2WsNGeNC0ZqsrpbsT4Cw/s1600/531721_515419231838030_1598591325_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnXDET4MMd7q4PyX55S1petDuP4CwhNrJUwTSDugYNAuWqViRnM0PjRzfmuMPMBebICc0EvVYOO-Lpjy400jUoxyqr45-vzKJICp-YVjoQPf4X2_RX_VsAIk2WsNGeNC0ZqsrpbsT4Cw/s320/531721_515419231838030_1598591325_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">At the ripe age of 26 and half… I’ve spent 22 of those years here in the lovely state of Utah. Of those 22 years, my family has been affiliated in one way or another with BYU or Utah football. Now in this world there’s different kinds of people. There's cat people and dog people. There’s Nike people and Under Armor people. There’s Brick Oven Pizza people and Little Caesar’s people. And there’s even Swig people and Sodalicious people. Well, growing up in the state of Utah there also two kinds of people (sorry Sara Reale, Utah State didn’t make the cut)… There’s BYU people and there’s University of Utah people. Most people in Utah are die hard BYU fans, or die hard UofU fans. Just the way it is. Any given weekend in the fall time and people in Utah either have a blue flag hanging from their front porch or a red. In the situation of my cousin Hillary they have both (her husband is a Ute but we still love him). Now both universities are great schools, but we bleed blue for BYU. So in this smaller state of two main local football teams and basketball teams, you could imagine how well known the players are. Lucky me, I not only have a dad who coaches but also three brothers who play/played/will play sports at BYU. We are going to focus on my two brothers Bronson and Corbin, and what it's like having famous LITTLE brothers.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqoNL9Esbkv5vdX5mKM6lsTmLZWSiMbsoGXoIc-kkzzzgj2Z1htpMm4GJUBIF8sKexJhtAgadhQQatEV1pK0vliB23r0UcdrEAa8kGQ_gd-fgAFDx1TS5xF7Da2-cxLMtor5LPbV8NUw/s1600/11811287_926208314092451_6374369402685043707_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqoNL9Esbkv5vdX5mKM6lsTmLZWSiMbsoGXoIc-kkzzzgj2Z1htpMm4GJUBIF8sKexJhtAgadhQQatEV1pK0vliB23r0UcdrEAa8kGQ_gd-fgAFDx1TS5xF7Da2-cxLMtor5LPbV8NUw/s320/11811287_926208314092451_6374369402685043707_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Going anywhere with Bronson or Corbin is always entertaining. They always get a handful of people asking for photographs. They even get some kids asking for autographs</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">and signing anything from their t-shirt or their arm. You would think I’m hanging out with Kobe Bryant with the publicity these two get when we are around town. But the boys handle it well. They grew up loving BYU and love all the fans who are always so supportive. Now always in the background of these encounters you'll usually find me snapping a pic or two to send Michelle with a smart-Alec comment like “big time” or “goals.” I had my moment of fame in the state of Utah. People enjoyed me because I got cancer and was bald and blah blah it's a boring story really. But at the end of the day, I can't help but giggle all while my brothers are busy being famous. So, here are the thoughts that I have while my “famous” little brothers are signing autographs while we are out and about:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilW4WrDv33m6DuFgd4i3q5-CsjBuwrqNaIKU8zrENbrBFGlQ_1RVynVaMEixJUsEbTJLBCt9SbqBLWFqWf-Us47Cpz5_7paNOknF3P5NoaxCjndvNDjZJhm9itN2h2YEa6qipbZsAfnYI/s1600/11133708_876954799017803_6368643369379733536_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilW4WrDv33m6DuFgd4i3q5-CsjBuwrqNaIKU8zrENbrBFGlQ_1RVynVaMEixJUsEbTJLBCt9SbqBLWFqWf-Us47Cpz5_7paNOknF3P5NoaxCjndvNDjZJhm9itN2h2YEa6qipbZsAfnYI/s320/11133708_876954799017803_6368643369379733536_n.jpg" width="179" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“If only these people saw how Brons and Corb eat at home and not in public.” – Poor Steve and Michelle. Not only have they had to change our diapers and take us countless times to the ER, they've had to supply food to feed these giants. Just so you have an idea. Daryl is probably 5’7” and the smallest by far. Devin is 6’6” 250lbs. Corbin is 6’10” 260lbs. Bronson is 6’8” 285lbs. And I’m 6’0 215lbs. We are quite larger than normal people. Each one, Bronson and Corbin, consume I would guess we'll over 5,000 calories a day. Now when my brothers eat in public they’re pretty good about using napkins, wiping up their messes, even using utensils. When they eat at the comfort of their own home you would think they’re a starving child straight from a third world country. They’re ravenous. You learn to eat fast around here because chances of you getting seconds if you eat slow aren’t too good. They eat right off your plate if you’re dumb enough to fall for the old “whoa look at that” trick. Utensils are optional, and mixing your whole plate of food into one big pile of lord knows what is a must. You can always tell where Bronson and Corbin sat at the dinner table due to the mess around their spot. They’re like Hansel and Gretel, leaving a nice little trail all around the table where they ate and usually all over their face as well.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe9MKNYf44ci4eUfmpfbPyD_2V1HDzlOtcdiySTFlw-s8C7H6F9qqhJK06kwNVCsPklepXysw2_Brar-AoWWdm0xOPDTj3QT2dHB83lTZ3wBlz9pKw_p-9z3L2tVI3uKeM690buVMl4o/s1600/10456036_732997513413533_1037573691413492343_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe9MKNYf44ci4eUfmpfbPyD_2V1HDzlOtcdiySTFlw-s8C7H6F9qqhJK06kwNVCsPklepXysw2_Brar-AoWWdm0xOPDTj3QT2dHB83lTZ3wBlz9pKw_p-9z3L2tVI3uKeM690buVMl4o/s320/10456036_732997513413533_1037573691413492343_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“If only these kids knew that Corbin got grounded this morning for not making his bed.” – Yes you read that right… Sometimes Corbin still gets grounded. Sometimes I still get grounded. And sometimes Bronson gets grounded and he doesn’t even live at the house anymore! This is the thing, you step into the Gypsy’s house you are now the Gypsy’s property. Our cousin Jared gets grounded and was spanked as a small child at our house many of times. Just the way it is. Keep in mind. I’m 26. Bronson’s 24. Married, and 6’8. Corbin's 22 and 6’10. Michelle is a whopping 5’10”. Weighs virtually nothing. And she can boss the lot of us around better than anyone I know.Saturday chores are a must, and taking turns helping clean up Sunday dinner is required. The thing is though, these two boys love their mother and have learned to respect her and all women and hold them in the highest regard. So yes they may be BYU sports stars, but yes they must still make their beds and do the dishes just like you or they get grounded.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-fXCthLW1SJgr8Lt9pPtKQJpKdkcYMkdGy1jo3EEC-o7ZgES0bCcpeQ6JQa9iZa4tHfLDrKIZDaAVmhxyqxc9hwag5Z24pw27lUrr9P_j4WxVQY8teJpqv6mfJRnZqUejotc6GyK2jk/s1600/7956_515419165171370_690178231_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-fXCthLW1SJgr8Lt9pPtKQJpKdkcYMkdGy1jo3EEC-o7ZgES0bCcpeQ6JQa9iZa4tHfLDrKIZDaAVmhxyqxc9hwag5Z24pw27lUrr9P_j4WxVQY8teJpqv6mfJRnZqUejotc6GyK2jk/s320/7956_515419165171370_690178231_n.jpg" width="217" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“These children think Brons and Corb probably do something cool in their free time.” -- It's true though. I know for a fact people assume Bronson and Corbin in their free time must live some awesome life. Like they wrestle bears or something in the back woods of Provo Canyon. This is so false. These two are about as normal as normal can get for teenage boys. Notice how I said teenage boys… More like young boys. First of all these two get together and they all the sudden are 10 and 8 again playing Smash Brothers on the N64 or ping pong. They fight over Xbox controllers, as well as which games they want next (Yes this happens and did the other day at Game Stop) and sometimes even fight over food. They’re quite normal nerdy guys. They love Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit and can tell you anything you want to know about any character, especially Corbin. They both have an awesome Pokemon collection and could quote all of Twilight. They know the ins and out of every Star Wars movie and love the old Godzilla movies subtitles and all. They also know the words to every Sound of Music song, ABBA, and Cher songs.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_iO7lVWE-wflaNQhluOqkyJjSnRuTtrrPET2HDddCI6nIagDyhIh0YUE3St5neAkjtEA6MZ5OXW6bYiVMICW1K8DXcFCkR2ttw1MVJY4m2NnDn_Z2q5804mfVn4MwdJSD6l4FEezAKk/s1600/1737_515419735171313_1034465453_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_iO7lVWE-wflaNQhluOqkyJjSnRuTtrrPET2HDddCI6nIagDyhIh0YUE3St5neAkjtEA6MZ5OXW6bYiVMICW1K8DXcFCkR2ttw1MVJY4m2NnDn_Z2q5804mfVn4MwdJSD6l4FEezAKk/s320/1737_515419735171313_1034465453_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“If only these people knew how these two learned their work ethic.” – Located up on the Eastern side of Provo is a lovely neighborhood grocery store. It's owned by the Day family, naturally it's called Days Market. I’ve heard so many people ask my brothers and myself what our parents did to help us “excel” in athletics. Well for starters, we didn’t spend all our time doing sports. So many people think we spent hours training and doing those speed training coaches and everything but no. The second high school practice was over the 3 of us rushed over the Days, threw on our aprons, and that's when the real fun began.This is where Bronson and Corbin and I spent many hours in our high school years. There came a time where the three of us would get to work together on an occasional Saturday or Thursday night. The three of us worked at Days Market 3 sometimes 4 times a week closing shifts and sometimes 12 hour shifts on Saturdays to pay for our sports. I remember Bronson calling everyone at the store begging them to let him take extra shifts so he could pay for his state championship ring and his Hawaii trip for football. These two not only worked at the grocery store, but they also did yard for our neighbor. Not just normal yard work, hard yard work. I went and helped them one day because they needed it and well I lasted about an hour. They worked so hard for every little thing they wanted. Sports are expensive. High school and club teams. Working and paying for our own sports made us not only appreciate them but we learned so much. I know those two especially learned how to work hard doing all that yard work for good ole’ Joe Armstrong. But, mostly I just enjoyed the late nights at Days Market with the boys playing way more than working.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_PzzF_RP23nB-g-2jjQPnlAb_Nmq2yQtAPqrlIggBm028e06SfMVO9vfPtLQ1Ss3SRb52s9gh_ETUuYJotiejHw4mCo7K1QF9dF9z8-D7LjV_B_wWlqN50FyJuQWMSWcSGrd3GeR-ZQ/s1600/482226_515418818504738_1758420429_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_PzzF_RP23nB-g-2jjQPnlAb_Nmq2yQtAPqrlIggBm028e06SfMVO9vfPtLQ1Ss3SRb52s9gh_ETUuYJotiejHw4mCo7K1QF9dF9z8-D7LjV_B_wWlqN50FyJuQWMSWcSGrd3GeR-ZQ/s320/482226_515418818504738_1758420429_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“These people think these two are so tough. Please.” – Ok so one would think that my boys are the toughest kids you’d ever meet. They’re huge and both weigh well over 260lbs. But here’s a secret. They’re both quite softies. And that's what makes them the best, they’re like big teddy bears. Growing up I wasn’t he nicest big sister and I was actually taller than them. I distinctly remember once I caught Bronson lying. Keep in mind this is when I as taller than them. I tackled him, pulled his pants off, and threw them up on the power line. I continued to chant “Liar liar pants on fire hanging from the telephone wire.” Bronson was in tears. I got in trouble, but that didn't stop me. I soon learned the game keep away. And Corbin was quite the easy target. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QZd08s9l4aG81Jsd5734aHvmSFyq32LrJatbaY1KpQuF2Yyic5zU6_ROFpmjw3g5KbFu_09k9GnK0eTaWvMmXiOISZmmaDGPBG-1VUlqjQQJhAuROy8QeqJI_6Qr0EyHIngAAlhLomw/s1600/230191_515419085171378_1942035619_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QZd08s9l4aG81Jsd5734aHvmSFyq32LrJatbaY1KpQuF2Yyic5zU6_ROFpmjw3g5KbFu_09k9GnK0eTaWvMmXiOISZmmaDGPBG-1VUlqjQQJhAuROy8QeqJI_6Qr0EyHIngAAlhLomw/s320/230191_515419085171378_1942035619_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">He was much smaller than Bronson and I, and he was always sucking his thumb so he only had one hand available. Corbin was always the monkey in the middle and always was until Michelle would make us stop and find something new to play. Corbin was also our target for everything though. When we would play 007 on the N64. We would see how many times we could kill him a 20 minute game. We used to make him run under the trampoline while we would jump on it and he would have to dodge our jumps (Don’t judge us I know it's dangerous but we were young and dumb). We once even tied him up in an inner tube, flipped it upside down and timed him while he escaped. Corbin’s terrified of heights. Bronson is terrified of spiders and still makes Corbin kill them. My younger large brothers are quite normal and at the end of the day aren’t as tough and rough as they appear on the field or court. Let’s just be honest, they’re lucky they’re taller than me now!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSpsDws231OGAJOPawV0kRmgA5s3VMfE9CiEjaImiyzi1AxWR5bWVNOwB40fHnx2zatXUzi8qzcM0P8PZJ2fn_pHKnb_jrtIZBHNQAKux_nHzUZz80tkq0GowwxRRaPp_0DCL1gtqCiA/s1600/12115708_965622840150998_6650718284101500988_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSpsDws231OGAJOPawV0kRmgA5s3VMfE9CiEjaImiyzi1AxWR5bWVNOwB40fHnx2zatXUzi8qzcM0P8PZJ2fn_pHKnb_jrtIZBHNQAKux_nHzUZz80tkq0GowwxRRaPp_0DCL1gtqCiA/s320/12115708_965622840150998_6650718284101500988_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgox20kMoKKUPU6mfXzzsaag096FDi-V38grvyY_qRkONXzf0x8HU2yk1GJVuanVbc8hptXG8NE1N7G7z2brk9HJUpXPJ6rbEYEUohGe0npCP4_BikHPdM8hyhuLuiGuMdFAwpE9P316a4/s1600/11226190_916230001756949_3096244346262325259_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgox20kMoKKUPU6mfXzzsaag096FDi-V38grvyY_qRkONXzf0x8HU2yk1GJVuanVbc8hptXG8NE1N7G7z2brk9HJUpXPJ6rbEYEUohGe0npCP4_BikHPdM8hyhuLuiGuMdFAwpE9P316a4/s320/11226190_916230001756949_3096244346262325259_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Now my brothers Bronson and Corbin really are all stars (Sorry Dev, you’re on a mission and are the youngest and spoiled) not only in their sports but in life. You can learn so much from them! They may eat like animals from time to time but they love to eat and make sure their bodies are always fueled. They eat good (for the most part) and make sure they are always fed and fueled for their practices, games, and weekend spike ball tournaments. They learned house hold chores and can both clean a bathroom better than most people I know, and they learned to respect their mother while doing so. They are both the biggest nerds. Playing their Call of Duty and Diablo and arguing about Lord of the Rings theories. They weren’t completely sport oriented. Michelle made sure we were well rounded. They held jobs all through high school even during sport season, took piano lessons, sang in Timpview’s choir, and both took guitar lessons. I think what makes them such special boys is when they’re off the field and court. They love doing service for people in the community and are both quite tender boys. They might be sport all stars and BYU famous but my baby brothers are quite normal. With the exception of their caloric intake and height and weight, they are just normal boys. They understand the important things like friends, family, and treating others kindly. And they know that at the end of the day, there's more to life than football and basketball. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">How lucky am I to have such great examples for younger, larger brothers?</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-79309881606655037742016-04-18T10:19:00.000-07:002016-04-18T10:28:20.219-07:00The L Word<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6nMtND29YhX4BWvqafz5FOtdVaiJP3GQQohZ6Fv16m9ppcMfLVN_Uar_cmcyPSnxz_I1rAkko20PahbJzWrahsDtu7tXnCEBeHKT2msM8CPU_wLuK1jkPYYn2ZYTt7G_egXsgi1yJT4/s1600/Julia-Child_Print_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6nMtND29YhX4BWvqafz5FOtdVaiJP3GQQohZ6Fv16m9ppcMfLVN_Uar_cmcyPSnxz_I1rAkko20PahbJzWrahsDtu7tXnCEBeHKT2msM8CPU_wLuK1jkPYYn2ZYTt7G_egXsgi1yJT4/s320/Julia-Child_Print_1.jpg" width="288" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Love is a strong word and used to show a deep adoration, fondness, affection, attachment, and sometimes even a strange obsession for someone or something. So yes the word love is a big word. Some people like to hand out the word love like Michelle hands out gummy bears and skittles to small children, but it's not a word to just be said about anyone or anything. It should be saved for special people, special occasions, all at the opportune moment and right time. So with that all being said…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">My name is Alexis Kaufusi. And I love Food.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This is probably the truest statement I’ve said in a long time. I love food. Without a doubt in my mind. I don’t understand how people can just not love food. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Food makes me happy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Food makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Food is always there and never talks back</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Food is dependable and guaranteed to make me smile</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I could go on and on for days about the reason as as to why I love food but I think you get the idea. I’m that person who wakes up at 3:00am because I’m hungry and craving an omelette. I’m that person who would drive 45 minutes from Provo to Salt Lake to get Chipotle. And I’m that person who when I travel I immediately Google to see if there are any restaurants in the city that were on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. Yes I am a bit of a fatty I can’t help it. But as my father always says,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">“I would much rather die fat and full of yummy delicious food than die skinny wishing I had ate that piece of apple pie.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> I find that as a great motto to live by. Now a few years ago I discovered I had this stupid intolerance to gluten. Did that hold me back from loving and eating food??? Absolutely not. If anyone knows me they know I clearly love food and I love to travel. So without further adieu… Here are my top 5 favorite restaurants. Ever. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>#1: Wahoos Tacos; Laguna, CA</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWb6Ya3ut_BSdnjJ7LGnow9BM9lSN6PGRZlUHIZye-7xk0Gsf-ax3p0Y2ga5-GN1aDnkSjHTizM_5S4irYPulECpMfyL8y-SmBnRE_w03iHpRGtaTBAi1zAh3AJimVSyxlbyekqtUGIh0/s1600/wahoos01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWb6Ya3ut_BSdnjJ7LGnow9BM9lSN6PGRZlUHIZye-7xk0Gsf-ax3p0Y2ga5-GN1aDnkSjHTizM_5S4irYPulECpMfyL8y-SmBnRE_w03iHpRGtaTBAi1zAh3AJimVSyxlbyekqtUGIh0/s200/wahoos01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndAO2LbkDm0aupBImR8o6g90Q-iEJsi31_pSj7Z9uVnqEVpV3_MsSRs0MVOsWv95qLqKljr7T_5vHg6f-HqBskCyrJlDBf_2nw57RAxnK0lC9l7kllXMJuSwHsBamZuEd2EmNXsKHktU/s1600/wahoos0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndAO2LbkDm0aupBImR8o6g90Q-iEJsi31_pSj7Z9uVnqEVpV3_MsSRs0MVOsWv95qLqKljr7T_5vHg6f-HqBskCyrJlDBf_2nw57RAxnK0lC9l7kllXMJuSwHsBamZuEd2EmNXsKHktU/s200/wahoos0.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Oh my goodness… We all know I love tacos. They are the staple to my diet and I could eat them everyday with ease. Finding a good fish taco in the state of Utah is a little difficult sometimes considering we are land locked and the fish isn’t all that fresh. So if you ever find yourself in Laguna wander over to Laguna main and get yourself some Wahoos! My favorites are the grilled fish tacos or the carne asada tacos, along with a side of chicken tortilla soup. Don't forget the chips and salsa and guac too! Now their fish tacos are the best. They use Mahi-Mahi but you can also get salmon. I love both grilled to be honest. Their tacos are amazing 2 is so not enough so just plan on getting 3-4. The food is light, fresh, yet so comforting. Something about tacos and a bowl of warm chicken tortilla soup after a long day at the beach just makes your life 100% better than it was before. Apparently there are some Wahoos in Vegas and some in Colorado… Currently thinking about driving to either locations…</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFYvk5BUmSJ9KcZmHFw6oa7aOs4VcjfoAt27kNJvh_fa0VNOfpmSoBTBbsnQJJ5-StkWae2cINmOEiPgH3NCy-8CCbVLnPrV5kVnsaJecZtp94onAqT0iIWy1SL0qH5U_RQLi4O9YTlc/s1600/frankpepe01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFYvk5BUmSJ9KcZmHFw6oa7aOs4VcjfoAt27kNJvh_fa0VNOfpmSoBTBbsnQJJ5-StkWae2cINmOEiPgH3NCy-8CCbVLnPrV5kVnsaJecZtp94onAqT0iIWy1SL0qH5U_RQLi4O9YTlc/s200/frankpepe01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>#2: Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana; West Hartford, CT</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwSpCeLUhCQKXQbq-1EgfPzmlJFN8AuStb0C85d2Vp7y-MpP_x9gDSPIc4HoLY9Rnu1OaNvqafC-YZtjtvjIUNqRDdDKyWJLTI9JbdfgEnnqdTxa5ZfeMaB8V8u4cBL3N05gL9F4_-vE/s1600/frank+pepe02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwSpCeLUhCQKXQbq-1EgfPzmlJFN8AuStb0C85d2Vp7y-MpP_x9gDSPIc4HoLY9Rnu1OaNvqafC-YZtjtvjIUNqRDdDKyWJLTI9JbdfgEnnqdTxa5ZfeMaB8V8u4cBL3N05gL9F4_-vE/s200/frank+pepe02.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">So once upon a time I went to Connecticut and got to watch the American Conference Tournament aka UCONN Women’s Basketball.. While I was there I was privileged enough to get to partake of the best pizza I’ve ever had in my freaking life. For me, I’m over American pizza. The thick crust, the obscenely ridiculous amount of cheese… No thank you. It's heavy and just not all that appetizing. While I was in Italy I fell in love with thin crust traditional Italian pizza where the sauce to cheese ratio favors the sauce. There’s a restaurant in Salt lake called Setebello that always was my favorite thin crust pizza, but then I tried Frank Pepe’s. Talk about mind blowing experience. I just got, well you know, an original pizza. Tomato sauce, mozzarella, some basil. The typical margherita pizza. Best pizza I’ve ever had in my life. </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">First they bring the pizza out on a big tray, yes they're that big. Then you take a bite and t</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">he tomato sauce is fresh, the cheese is melted all the way through, and the crust is thin yet crispy. So, wander up to the New England area, find a Frank Pepe’s and treat yourself to the best pizza you’ll ever have. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>#3: Lucky 13; Salt Lake City, UT</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Look at this. My hometown making a showing with the good food! So I actually first heard of Lucky 13 while reading a Buzzfeed or something like that’s post about some of the best burgers around and fancy that, Salt Lake City, UT had one of the burger joints. So I made my way to Lucky 13. It's this little dive looking bar next to the baseball stadium in downtown Salt Lake City and well, their burgers and heavenly. Before you even devour your burger, do yourself a favor and first order some chips and salsa. Why? Because everyone loves some good chips and salsa as your pre-meal snack! Now my personal favorite burger is The Real Double. Double meat, double the cheese. The trick is to get it with Swiss cheese. I’m not a huge cheddar person and the Swiss just adds a different level of taste. Now Lucky 13 has all kinds of burgers. They have one that has peanut butter one it, one that's a foot tall. Yes a foot tall aka 12 inches. They also have a burger that's between two grilled cheese and even a burger challenge. You finish the foot tall burger along with the grilled cheese bun burger (also smothered in some habaneros) with a side of fries all in one hour and you get $200 and the food is completely free as well. So, if huge burgers are what you crave head to Lucky 13 in the 801 and prepare your stomach to be so full but so happy all at the same time. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJ2XhgslFtwaaGXodxpXCUzL4jhzHq8BSXUheGWRnP3zljJHZRT38SAdbO1HQGtMIc2DPlJ0GlsEVQZWDFuaWHIXPI31IvqTfxAhcYLJRlSFMjPMdR4i0s3MNkTi1W7JG0g0jTgZdw84/s1600/pinestat02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJ2XhgslFtwaaGXodxpXCUzL4jhzHq8BSXUheGWRnP3zljJHZRT38SAdbO1HQGtMIc2DPlJ0GlsEVQZWDFuaWHIXPI31IvqTfxAhcYLJRlSFMjPMdR4i0s3MNkTi1W7JG0g0jTgZdw84/s200/pinestat02.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>#4: Pine State Biscuits; Portland, OR</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVrmcGWfB1DHb0_ULmzD3a0Si9-LYFKQV4FnnkILVeJg6SUFjU7sThqBaqhZGo8STWDc-rODs3Kz8P5N3wo1908HA-WH64XoDRy-Z8lcviClff42IbKJYMjL4ghAbHTtKtM_JiyZscyE/s1600/pinestate01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVrmcGWfB1DHb0_ULmzD3a0Si9-LYFKQV4FnnkILVeJg6SUFjU7sThqBaqhZGo8STWDc-rODs3Kz8P5N3wo1908HA-WH64XoDRy-Z8lcviClff42IbKJYMjL4ghAbHTtKtM_JiyZscyE/s200/pinestate01.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">For anyone who knows my family knows that the Kaufusi kids love egg sandwiches. Steve has made us egg sandwiches since we were kids and now that we are all grown up we make our own with our own little twists. Example: I always add chicken sausage to my eggs and top it with some avocado. Corbin sometimes puts peanut butter and jelly between 6 egg stacks. The bottom line, I love egg sandwiches. Steve always has been the front runner of the egg sandwich race until I went to Pine State Biscuits. While wandering Portland I stumbled upon this place and fell in love. Now don’t waste your time getting anything but the Reggie Deluxe. It's fried chicken, bacon, cheese, and an egg all between this heavenly biscuit. The biscuit is what really does it for me. They’re homemade and just really make a difference for that egg sandwich. But it gets better. All that delightful press stuffed between a homemade biscuit is now covered in gravy. If you’re still hungry after your Reggie Deluxe then you need to order some of their blueberry corn meal pancakes. Now they do have other yummy options but just get the Reggie Deluxe and some pancakes and be ready to have the best breakfast sandwich of your life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>#5: Wailua Bakery; Haleiwa, HI</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlpT66BBG-qiB-Lwqq8uGy0YnrU1QBU3WGK2LtSGdJp4t1cQ2Bj0vrJd8ey3shHFX6dtuAlGHWe_J6qUS5CiTMitDL2k4_lmjGHNiNz5Wo0btHpIi6ZZRy-D2d4Pos3Qpc1LIIuYb2tg/s1600/wailaluabakery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlpT66BBG-qiB-Lwqq8uGy0YnrU1QBU3WGK2LtSGdJp4t1cQ2Bj0vrJd8ey3shHFX6dtuAlGHWe_J6qUS5CiTMitDL2k4_lmjGHNiNz5Wo0btHpIi6ZZRy-D2d4Pos3Qpc1LIIuYb2tg/s320/wailaluabakery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgme5DboskZdldJWe_wHgkNXtBpUQH4U1trd34W2J4HfBsnYThKkBOi1h_ykSchmlklHrMQkr6ggDj3BJSnYmlQjvNcBsA1xPJM6k1Uze73IbVlVGpSQO1x1pchqLE7ao1xaphkmKKK710/s1600/restaurants-in-haleiwa-waialua-bakery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgme5DboskZdldJWe_wHgkNXtBpUQH4U1trd34W2J4HfBsnYThKkBOi1h_ykSchmlklHrMQkr6ggDj3BJSnYmlQjvNcBsA1xPJM6k1Uze73IbVlVGpSQO1x1pchqLE7ao1xaphkmKKK710/s200/restaurants-in-haleiwa-waialua-bakery.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Now anytime I go to Hawaii, this little place is a MUST!! You all need to go. Right now. It's a cute little shop in Haleiwa and be prepared to want to buy and eat everything. I think I spent a solid $30 just for myself last time I was here. First of all everything is homemade and fresh. It's super healthy (for those of us trying to eat better) and it's so refreshing. So whenever I go I always get the bakery club. It has turkey, cheese, Wailua avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and sprouts. ITS AMAZING! And it's huge. This isn’t some dinky turkey sandwich. It's a hefty sandwich! Along with my sandwich I always get a min Acai bowl. It comes with homemade granola, organic honey, shredded coconut, and homegrown bananas all on top of some Acai sorbet. Now you must also try the following at one point of another: A Hot Hunk of Bread. It's $3 and you get a slice of their fresh hot bread with butter. I always get honey on mine. Also try their cookie ice cream sandwich. It's the best you’ll have. Lastly, you have to get their Banana Bread Pudding. Talk about the best bread pudding you will ever have and its homemade with fresh bananas grown right in Haleiwa. I know this all sounds too good to be true, but it's not. Go to the North Shore. Go to Wailua Bakery and check it out for yourself. It's the #2 reason I love going to Hawaii besides the ocean. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Now I know that's 5 different restaurants... but I have to add in a surprise plus one feature to this list. Think if it like when you're preggers and you find out you're having twins instead of just 1 baby. This is that extra surprise and you're just so happy! So, I covered the basics but I forgot dessert. Now dessert is a very important part of any meal. And sometimes as normal human beings we can't help it but get those sugary cravings. So here is my favorite stop for desserts:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zcQPjTleyROc8uiPzJ9326jkcuc-yRPPt_HkQkMAqVEWvHXn5D01HP8grA_7ASo8C94RP3e0zdqPCZaUNGyGYUs1zQnZVsKxdy6WhLGqUMR1frG7Lxxq-ZKvG-j6xhmXrYQNKyQmfI8/s1600/9255312_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zcQPjTleyROc8uiPzJ9326jkcuc-yRPPt_HkQkMAqVEWvHXn5D01HP8grA_7ASo8C94RP3e0zdqPCZaUNGyGYUs1zQnZVsKxdy6WhLGqUMR1frG7Lxxq-ZKvG-j6xhmXrYQNKyQmfI8/s200/9255312_orig.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>#6: Clark's Island Donuts; Utah County/SLC County, UT</b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6xrifF8-YLSMxq8n9c_FPfVEsOl0D34mmz1Wta2R9LPdPAASDOJTf_cQRsPn3dSEuD13-lifzJ5L9IwjVUGw24PN-mNvWtVM1im32fWahiUvfnwcSP00B7-O6CAtq6vY_uXKvLAGN_M/s1600/IMG_9332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6xrifF8-YLSMxq8n9c_FPfVEsOl0D34mmz1Wta2R9LPdPAASDOJTf_cQRsPn3dSEuD13-lifzJ5L9IwjVUGw24PN-mNvWtVM1im32fWahiUvfnwcSP00B7-O6CAtq6vY_uXKvLAGN_M/s200/IMG_9332.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Now Clark's Island Donuts is this orange food truck ran by the Clark family. It used to be parked in Provo on 900 E. and I would find myself always going here to get donuts. It then moved to Center St. in Orem. Everyday on my way to basketball I would drive by and of course stop and get one. These little donuts are a piece of heaven covered in sugar. There's the regular non-filled donuts that you can get </span><span style="clear: right; color: black; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">covered in sugar or cinnamon </span></span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">and sugar. Or there's filled donuts that can be filled with cream, or coconut, or chocolate, or whatever flavor they have at the time. Coming from donut expert Miss Carlie McCall, she claims these are the best donuts she's ever had. Carlie is my friend who travels a ton working for ESPN and who has had every donut and been to every donut shop there is in this country and she agrees, Clark's Island Donuts are the BEST donuts ever! Lately they're parked at the Soho Food Park up in Holladay, UT so make sure you check them out. Your mouth deserves the greatness that comes with these donuts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">So as I’ve been doing this blog I have gotten quite hungry. As pathetic as it is yes my mouth is currently salivating and I just want some of everything I’ve talked about. Now I love food. Food has a way of bringing people together and making potentially awkward social situations not nearly as awkward. And it tastes amazing. Don’t forget, it's better to die fat and full of yummy food than regretting you didn’t eat that dessert that one time. Anyways, people who love to eat food really are the best kind of people. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-63272332226469160142016-04-07T08:58:00.003-07:002016-04-07T09:06:43.840-07:00Dreams. Dreams. Dreams. <div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-o82iYCbzKxZUYMaAwJQOdPw_ZmhCfr_gcL2hKwO8ZXd9NjqCgmAG2SCOrv3CLJ-HB5hXhO3gYmwr5_jcFQT0HL2e_Bc19Gkx82w4vgRJvbEMbAsqlo20Kttboa_z-oHk-ByMcyNHjI/s1600/dreams-quotes-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-o82iYCbzKxZUYMaAwJQOdPw_ZmhCfr_gcL2hKwO8ZXd9NjqCgmAG2SCOrv3CLJ-HB5hXhO3gYmwr5_jcFQT0HL2e_Bc19Gkx82w4vgRJvbEMbAsqlo20Kttboa_z-oHk-ByMcyNHjI/s320/dreams-quotes-06.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="225" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I'm not sure what is more depressing. The fact I haven't blogged since October 15, or that its Kobe's last season in the NBA and the Lakers are sucking. Add in Duke losing to Oregon, Abby Wambach retiring, and the lack of a Panera in the state of Utah and all are valid reasons to be quite depressed. Since October my life got crazy busy. Being a head basketball coach, working full time, being a single mother (dog/cat moms are moms too), on top of trying to get skinny I can honestly say I haven't had time to sit and blog my thoughts. Ok that's a lie. I have had time. But the little free time I have I have been reading. Plot twist... I love to read. People act to surprised when I say this. When I say I love to read I legitimately mean I love reading books. The fact I can read 2 paragraphs and the following happen:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">1. I end up in a whole new world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">2. I forget the problems of my life and the sometimes crazy world we live in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">And 3. I manage to come up with so many different voices for the characters that my creativity just blow my mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">So I've been reading. And I've read quite a lot actually. I'm trying to average a book every 10 days... I don't just read, I read fast as well. Need a good book? Well I have a ton I could recommend and will even give you a synopsis free of charge. I swear some days I think I need to become a publisher or a writer of some sorts just because I love to read and write. But I also am afraid that will ruin it for me you know? It's like growing up and you have your best friend everyone thinks you're dating and you're not. And you end up thinking well maybe I should date them they're my best friend, but you don't want to ruin it with kissing and all that relationship crap. That's how I feel sometimes when I feel the need to actually do something besides reading and blogging for entertainment. I don't want to ruin it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiEJrnXc5N53w0necpxEmZuNLJJF2VsXp6bU185umO8Vv53n3VhKHw85stbxHdC3yQGY9EDSfb4Fr7AAb85Byp1ivcNKXeDUMMsoJVnVZJk2p89Z-0-WOiCKEFTUBC7AO99t35qtQgpU/s1600/156009_515323338514286_1376782595_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiEJrnXc5N53w0necpxEmZuNLJJF2VsXp6bU185umO8Vv53n3VhKHw85stbxHdC3yQGY9EDSfb4Fr7AAb85Byp1ivcNKXeDUMMsoJVnVZJk2p89Z-0-WOiCKEFTUBC7AO99t35qtQgpU/s320/156009_515323338514286_1376782595_n.jpg" width="223" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Anyways... I'm currently sitting on an airplane flying home from Indianapolis and I wanted to talk about dreams. Not like the dreams you have at night. My dreams usually consist of me owning many animals usually a dragon, sloth, lion, bear, multiple St. Bernard's, etc. But dreams. Like how Michelle (my biological mother) dreams that one day Lavell Edwards Stadium will have caffeinated Diet Coke so we don't have to sneak them into BYU Football games anymore. Or like my brother Corbin wishes to have biceps like former Senator Schwarzenegger. Dreams. Some dreams are realistic. Some aren't. Some dreams come true exactly how we wanted, and some don't quite take the path we expected. That's the dream I want to talk about right now. The dream you have... That doesn't work out. It happens, just in a round about way that you probably aren't too happy about. So this all makes sense we are going to use my dreams. The dreams of 14 year old Alexis because those dreams are a lot more exciting and realistic than the dreams of my 26 year old self (pet dragon, acceptance letter to Hogwarts, finding out Lagertha Lothbrook is my great great grandma...). When I was 14 years old I as a freshman at Timpview. I was sitting at this banquet for the Nike Tournament of Champions. I didn't really know anything about women's college basketball. All I knew was Steve went through a job change and my family had just converted from Utah to BYU fans and I wasn't happy. Steve didn’t really consider my future plans into this whole job change. I was going to play for Elaine Elliott at the University of Utah because she had been telling me since I was 7 that I was going to play for her. That's all I knew. So sitting at this banquet the key note speaker who was some great basketball player I hadn’t heard of. And that the speaker was none other than Diana Taurasi. Well I honestly couldn't tell you the details of what Diana said in her speech. All I remember was by the time she was done, I wanted to be her. I wanted to go to the University of Connecticut. I wanted to play for Coach Geno Auriemma. And I wanted to go to the final four and win national championships and go to the WNBA. While at this tournament I had a good showing and a not too shabby freshman high school season. Started every game. Had a few double doubles. Made it to the state championship and lost. That summer I worked hard. I traveled with a club team. Played with my high school team. I was set on going to UCONN still. Then set back one happened. An avulsed deltoid and a shattered ankle during the first week of fall practice. I came back from the injury. Traveled all summer. You would never know I had shattered it that previous season. The letters and offers poured in. Utah, UCLA, UNLV, Colorado, Gonzaga, TCU... But no UCONN. Not yet at least right? I felt like a celebrity and I won't lie, my pride got the best of me a handful of times. The end of the summer I committed to the University of Utah. I after all was going to play for Elaine Elliott like I had always planned, and if Geno offered me I would cross that bridge when and if it happened. I was pretty high on life. Fifteen years old and already committed to a D1 one program. Then set back number two. Torn ACL, MCL, Meniscus. Terrible triad as my doctor called it. This injury happened and all the major schools backed off. After some conversations with my parents and some tears and frustrated exchanges of words I decommitted from the University of Utah because a new offer had come in. Guess what... It wasn't UCONN... It was BYU. And while it wasn't the offer I had been waiting for, it was the one my parents were waiting for. During the exchange of frustrated words and tears I realized that I wasn't going to play at UCONN. As Steve puts it (Michelle's husband and my biological father) </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I was a big fish in a small pond. Why go be a small fish in a big pond so I could get eaten up? Why not be the one doing the eating? So I committed to Brigham Young University where I went on to play my college career. Consider the UCONN dream… Shattered. But it's ok. Life goes on and basketball goes on. I continued with life accepted that UCONN wasn’t an option and began my college career at BYU. Which was plagued with injuries as well. Compartments Syndrome during my redshirt year was the only injury I would have. I was sure of it. Well if any of you know anything about me you know I was sooooo wrong. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I was soon diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and that was the downfall and really the end of my college and basketball career. As much as I wish old lady pick up and Rec ball counted it doesn't. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Well obviously that whole "Be the next Diana Taurasi and go to UCONN and the final four and win a national championship or two and have Geno tell me to get on the line daily" dream didn't work out. Clearly. But guess what? The dream came true. Kind of. I've spent the last 5 days at the NCAA Women's Final Four. A dream I've had for the last 13 years of my life came true. I was surrounded by basketball greats. I saw Geno make history and Stewie win her fourth national title. I was right there during the whole game and the post game interviews and the cutting down the nets. I was there. Would I have much rather been in their spot? Actively participating as opposed to sitting on the fifth row drinking an overpriced water bottle? </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Well yes obviously. But everything happens for a reason. Obviously there’s a reason I didn’t end up being the next Diana Taurasi. I’m also sure there’s a reason I ended up at BYU and not Utah. There’s a reason I got cancer and was plagued with injuries my whole basketball career. There’s also a reason Chick Fil A only serves breakfast till 10:30 but we can’t know the underlying reasons to everything all the time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I look back and I am so thankful that things went the way they have. If I had ended up my dreams coming true I would have been diagnosed with cancer 3,000 miles away from home. I wouldn’t have had a trainer who knew me as well as my family history well enough to see the red flags. I wouldn’t have had been 30 minutes away from the leading research cancer hospital in the world and the team of Doctors and Nurses who saved my life. I wouldn’t have met my best amigos. I wouldn’t have got to see my siblings sporting events. And I wouldn’t have been able to learn lessons and be where I am today if I had ended up anywhere besides BYU. Now dreams… We all have them. Big, small, realistic, unrealistic, we all have dreams. Dreams are meant to followed just like how rules are meant to be broken. SIKE. Bad motto. But by all means, if you have a dream you need to follow it. Especially if it's something you want. Do anything and everything you can to make it happen. And if life has something different in store just remember it's ok. Life goes. And for all you know your dream may come true maybe just not in the way you expected it to. And if it doesn’t that's the best part about dreams, you can always come up with new ones.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-79695082781776279152015-10-04T19:17:00.000-07:002015-10-04T19:40:53.472-07:00Control the Controllables... aka your Attitude<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMVRaJUg1AYzFXZbJToofH5CP2W0L8ithVhwnAj2Q8yUrQ9wQ2k9eISGOh5zYdtZlFtxUqMekTK0sgNq9FUd6xwhbR4MxerapEiJDI_Ied4HOcsBd4AjCVsFjUkms_SSyyd2ZoKOuevo/s1600/keep-calm-and-control-the-controllables-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMVRaJUg1AYzFXZbJToofH5CP2W0L8ithVhwnAj2Q8yUrQ9wQ2k9eISGOh5zYdtZlFtxUqMekTK0sgNq9FUd6xwhbR4MxerapEiJDI_Ied4HOcsBd4AjCVsFjUkms_SSyyd2ZoKOuevo/s320/keep-calm-and-control-the-controllables-1.png" width="274" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; text-align: justify;">If I had a dollar for every time someone told me I needed to control the controllables I would so rich! I would probably have enough cash money to be living in my storage unit tiny home, up in Seattle, with a large fenced in property for my 6 St Bernards and 5 Cats, with my significant other and maybe a kid or two... I know my all time goal in life is so appealing right? The bottom line is though, I am always told I need to control the controllables and to stop being a control freak. Being a Virgo woman (born between 8/23-9/22) I cannot help but want to control every aspect of my life. It just comes natural to me. I am the worst delegator alive and I always have this burning need in my heart to be in charge. As Christian Grey put it, "I exercise control in all things." As I've gotten older though I've realized you can't really control everything. You sure as heck can try but unless you're a multi millionaire like Christian Grey or a wizard like Albus Dumbledore you can't really control anything at the end of the day. You'll just end up tired, frustrated, and stuck in your comfort zone where you have control. You can't control the weather, you can't control whether or not someone loves you back, and you can't control the ridiculous high prices of Nike apparel. The only thing you really can control is your attitude in the situations that are thrown at you. Attitude is everything and can make or break any situation. Having a bad attitude towards things can make life a living hell while a good attitude can make a tough situation easy-peezy. It all depends on if you see the glass as half full or half empty. Attitude is everything.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobmWhuC2hhiciIWn8K_GOhwFaaSiAFoQ6Uvt5H28yN_E81O-U1F2zabsi5TpOs7znro8xpCdIq_UK-Ze7H3tZNwhKRHqEgmXYUg2Kc8IDdoOXiN3Ds-GP8KYXC6k7ZWtPrGZJ37s3Ml4/s1600/badattitude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobmWhuC2hhiciIWn8K_GOhwFaaSiAFoQ6Uvt5H28yN_E81O-U1F2zabsi5TpOs7znro8xpCdIq_UK-Ze7H3tZNwhKRHqEgmXYUg2Kc8IDdoOXiN3Ds-GP8KYXC6k7ZWtPrGZJ37s3Ml4/s320/badattitude.jpg" width="293" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Being a high school basketball coach I love when I see players with good attitudes. I didn't realize how bad my attitude as a player was until I was a coach. I honestly don't even know why my teammates liked me let a lone put up with me. Sports is a great example of where attitudes are something that are so crucial. While I was at Timpview playing basketball I had a different coach every year I was there. I remember with the one specific new coach I had the worst attitude. I didn't want them to be my coach, and I didn't respect them. It showed that year as a player on the floor. I was a selfish player, I wasn't coachable, and in the end it cost us the state championship. My attitude carried over to my college career. The first two years were great. Then cancer happened, and well then my stubborn feministic ways got the best of me and by my junior year I wasn't invested. I had a chip on my shoulder and a bad attitude. I was coming off chemo and my body wasn't adapting to college basketball as fast as I wanted it to or as good as I needed it to. I rode the bench for a whole season and found myself frustrated and with a bad attitude. It ended up being a huge factor in the end of my college career and I went out with a bad taste in my mouth for the game I once had loved so much. It took me a few months to touch a basketball again, but in those 6 months I had to rebuild myself up. I had to get a new attitude to my new life. I went from college athlete to college graduate looking for a job. It took some adjusting, but with a major attitude change I soon grew to love my new life. I loved my job, I loved working (even when it was two jobs at times), and I eventually found my old love for the game of basketball. I look back and wish so bad I had a "cup half full" attitude and realized I couldn't control my health, or who my coach was, or who my teammates were. What I could have controlled though was my attitude to those things. As I said before, when I coach girls with good attitudes its such a relief. In sports, someone's attitude can make or break a team. My attitude broke my teams in the past so as a coach, its something I've really emphasized. Good attitude towards the game and my players so hopefully it will rub off on them. A person with a bad attitude will not only never progress, but their bad attitude affects everyone around them. The best thing you can do, in any situation good or bad, is have a good attitude. Good attitude = Good outcome.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickU0B58taVWTi4BBsRg3ihQKau_KgLA_q_XU2Ad_GpECQZOIvhS2mL5502mzsR-urIantUMPwdDcbOFj_KxT5nJsmqmyplPdo6kIDYDRm9DrNb45EqabPptHmeUStEg_sOwgL2F4H-i4/s1600/Photo+on+2011-04-17+at+14.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickU0B58taVWTi4BBsRg3ihQKau_KgLA_q_XU2Ad_GpECQZOIvhS2mL5502mzsR-urIantUMPwdDcbOFj_KxT5nJsmqmyplPdo6kIDYDRm9DrNb45EqabPptHmeUStEg_sOwgL2F4H-i4/s320/Photo+on+2011-04-17+at+14.22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbAUav1sxRMahYrhaFXSHJa2ZcE3JGeQtaMwdC0dKV3tCvDUgitqael8W-Q2EOZf1S22kQhKvfUmvLChyphenhypheniVOfGxEe2PHe6goxo12sntkWPuVBg9ZDV2VZRXGRBw6PxKvKh0DJrC9fEHc/s1600/goodattitude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbAUav1sxRMahYrhaFXSHJa2ZcE3JGeQtaMwdC0dKV3tCvDUgitqael8W-Q2EOZf1S22kQhKvfUmvLChyphenhypheniVOfGxEe2PHe6goxo12sntkWPuVBg9ZDV2VZRXGRBw6PxKvKh0DJrC9fEHc/s1600/goodattitude.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So as well know once upon a time I had cancer, well I still have it but once upon a time I had to actually fight it and what not. Anyways I won, Alexis: 1 Cancer: 0. But during the whole process my team of doctors made it very clear that attitude was 90% of the battle. They emphasized again and again that I needed to keep a good positive happy attitude and let the chemo do the rest. So naturally like a good little cancer patient, I did. Now this is easier said than done when. Imagine sitting in a room with friends and family and they're all crying because you're "dying" and you have to stay positive... now thats kind of a dramatic example but thats how I felt. Staying positive through those 6 months started out easy. Something about shaving your head and having an Iron Man like port installed in your chest was exciting and fun. But it gets hard when you're constantly puking and can barley walk 10 yards to the bathroom without taking breaks. Martha was right though as she always is, attitude is everything. Throughout it all I kept a positive attitude, I found the silver linings, and rather than thinking "man what if the chemo and cancer kills me and I die?" I thought "man how awesome are my scars from all these surgeries going to be in like 5 years after I beat this?" Its all about perspective. When you have a good attitude good things happen. Whether the situation is something like cancer, or the attitude towards the cashier at the grocery store who won't stop talking, if you have a good attitude good things happen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Now lets be honest... there's just some situations where having a good attitude is just hard. Some people just are naturally not optimistic. Myself included. I like to consider myself a realist. I like to think with my head and not my heart. I never really liked to think the extreme worst or the extreme best, but I definitely wasn't optimistic. I was told a lot that I shouldn't be so pessimistic, but I'm not pessimistic I'm just realistic. That was always my reply. I noticed that in most aspects of my life I was taking a realistic approach and was a lot of times a glass half empty kind of gal. I've been working hard to turn that around and be more optimistic and more of a glass half full kind of gal. I saw the importance of a good attitude while going through cancer so why not apply it to all aspects of life? Why not be optimistic and have a good attitude at all times? Yes that sometimes sets you up for even bigger let downs and disappointments, but there's always a silver lining to be found in everything that happens. Our attitude is probably the only thing we can really control when things go bad, and our attitude is really the one thing that can make a bad situation bearable. It can be the game changer when you get diagnosed with cancer or when you spill your taco all over your white shirt. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UpgeTNSylaDsfty-XIo1quo6Bz3LB9hrbuJuAx9zdwz41las_n3-mcq4v9p1fHguiFYsDvFQsh3ck7BDurkfNxwIAWbHhbuf8ObihnKVVmnML2BStt4CiivWHUErNoQoVuJz1m1jVxE/s1600/positive-attitude-quotes-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UpgeTNSylaDsfty-XIo1quo6Bz3LB9hrbuJuAx9zdwz41las_n3-mcq4v9p1fHguiFYsDvFQsh3ck7BDurkfNxwIAWbHhbuf8ObihnKVVmnML2BStt4CiivWHUErNoQoVuJz1m1jVxE/s320/positive-attitude-quotes-1.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">At the end of the day, our attitude is what will determine how we react to any situation in life and to people. Something like a good attitude can take you as far as you want it to and can be what you need to get through anything good or bad. It opens up the doors to opportunity and really just living in general. Worrying and trying to control everything in life is exhausting. Trust me, I didn't it for 25 years! You can't control people, you can control traffic, or the opportunities that are given you. But you can control your attitude 100% of the time and when you have a good attitude, good things happen. I'm a firm believer in good and positive energy. I believe in karma. I also believe that a good attitude will get you farther in life, it will help you escape your comfort zones, and its the only thing in this crazy life that we can control. So control it, rock it, and let your good attitude work for you. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-52276809527172933262015-09-25T18:57:00.007-07:002015-09-25T18:57:55.464-07:00Change is Inevitable, Progress is Optional<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVn4_K70JFnCA2sOe4FhQIYT4xcL_Mp2u3gBIHybPegM_Tm3EtIOw84H75UmgmC0fQgnU9xc6NiB3K5ArZLuDSw5sOMWm8DI8hMxnaDkKqSNRKDVXhpm1fopAHWY9VJaNkvgWmrn_0lA/s1600/32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVn4_K70JFnCA2sOe4FhQIYT4xcL_Mp2u3gBIHybPegM_Tm3EtIOw84H75UmgmC0fQgnU9xc6NiB3K5ArZLuDSw5sOMWm8DI8hMxnaDkKqSNRKDVXhpm1fopAHWY9VJaNkvgWmrn_0lA/s320/32.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I haven't blogged in a minute... and I can't even begin to say 1. How mad I am I haven't found the time and 2. How much I've missed it! I have been writing, just not for public eye. So FINALLY here's a blog that I had time to put together and that you all can enjoy. So this week I had my birthday... I turned 26. First of all, I don't like my birthday. The last few years it lost it's excitement. I was sitting in bed last night trying to keep Bella and her slobbery adorable face off the bed and I couldn't help but see the changes from 25 to 26, because trust me there were plenty of them. Change is something I have never been fond of. While reminiscing on my life at dinner Sunday my brothers brought up the day we moved to Provo how I cried and cried and cried. I think back and I was such a brat when we first moved to Provo. I didn't want to move to Provo. I had plans to finish Jr High at Olympus Jr and go play basketball at Olympus High School for Coach Ashton and hang out with Diane Tempest everyday. I had plans and this whole "lets move to Provo" thing wasn't a part of my plans and just really screwed it all up. But, being a child I didn't have a choice so we moved to Provo. Change down to the simplest of things, like when Costco started carrying a different brand of plastic cups, or when Paradise Cafe changed their menu. I just don't like change; but something happened between 25 and 26. I changed. I didn't just make little changes, I made some major changes. I lost some friends along the way, good Lord lets be honest I lost myself along the way. But during that time I made new friends, I found myself, and I found out what was really important to me and who.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Change 1: </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">My priorities.</span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdtSZARpxhttKRV3YCN5DVh1PUKNMA5VjhHiHDHZtRrxnY8Lk6MuQQXXGOVMyedIxotfyXaeTaDFnyAKrkoF2ts85g6XYs5MeZklTfJEYRQToK3ERNDfnNNzmjEgh1yiFBltx0qE4dLE/s1600/IMG_4437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdtSZARpxhttKRV3YCN5DVh1PUKNMA5VjhHiHDHZtRrxnY8Lk6MuQQXXGOVMyedIxotfyXaeTaDFnyAKrkoF2ts85g6XYs5MeZklTfJEYRQToK3ERNDfnNNzmjEgh1yiFBltx0qE4dLE/s320/IMG_4437.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Now I always thought I had my priorities together my whole life. I always put my family first. My stomach second, basketball third (because ball is life), and somewhere is a 3-way tie for fourth between work, the gym, and my friends. In reality though my priorities were 1. have a good time, almost too good of a time usually 2. my friends 3. my family 4. work and 5. basketball. I didn't realize how skewed my priorities were until about 9 months ago. In the battle to figure out what really is important and who really is important I lost some people and gained some. I realized just how important a select few were, and how two faced others were. I realized my relationships with people are important and I needed to not be so selfish in them. I needed to prioritize the people in my life who were loyal and stayed by my side through my OCD fits and my sometimes rude mannerisms. I also realized I needed to get ride of some of my rude mannerisms. But I have as of late prioritized the people who matter. The list is short and sweet, but its a lot better than having a huge list with semi-loyal friends. Between weeding out the good and the bad people, realizing there's more to life than basketball, and trying to show with actions instead of words my priorities are finally in order. I wont like lie, is much easier when you know what and who comes first. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I feel like for a long time I was the queen of talk. I always would make commitments I couldn't keep, just because I don't know how to say No. I got that from my mother. But I would spread myself so thin then have to pick and choose which events or plans to go to or that I needed to miss. I always would feel bad. Not just because I wasn't missing things or canceling plans to be a jerk, but because I didn't know how to make time for them all. I was running myself ragged for a second there and soon just stopped trying all together. I found myself saying things but not following through. Saying I felt one way but acted another. I just was a lot of talk, and while what I was saying was all true how I was acting was the opposite. I mislead people and got a reputation for being flaky and just overall a bad friend. At the end of the day I realized that I needed to be better at showing actions. Yes that means not as many activities, but quality is better than quantity and actions will always mean more than words. I also realized I was scared to show actions. I've always been more of an introvert. Not really one to open up or show a lot of emotion. But because of this I saw people not believing me and questioning me. I knew there was only one thing to do: suck it up and let my emotions and feelings show through my actions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Change 3:</b><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> </span><b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Humility and Acceptance</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">For the first time in my life I felt humbled. I have had some truly humbling experiences, but having conquered them with just a few scratches I felt indestructible. I've accepted, and if you know me you know how hard it was for me to say this, that for once in my life I wasn't always right. I wasn't always right about everything. I had to accept that it's ok to be different. That just because someone doesn't think how I think or do things how I do them, doesn't make them less of a person. I learned the hard way that just because I'm a minor OCD germaphobe (ok maybe major) doesn't mean I can expect other people to be the same. The last year I have had to humble myself more than ever before. I had to accept that at the end of the day, regardless of my achievements and my beliefs, which I thought were superior to others, I was just human. I wasn't irreplaceable or indestructible. I was both. I stopped thinking to myself, "why do they do that they should do it my way" and changed my thought process to "ok I do that this way but why do they do it that way and is it better?" I realized I needed to give people, activities, and really everything in life a fair shot to prove my stubborn head wrong. I've tried to be more open minded and with that comes many humbling moments of me realizing I'm wrong. But its ok because everyone is wrong sometimes. Even me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Change 4: Comfort Zones are Overrated</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I'm the kind of person who likes structure and a routine. I literally do the same thing everyday down to what I eat (except taco tuesdays) to the time I read my book, write in my journal, leave work, and when I drink my water. I have my schedule down to a science where I do the same things everyday. I don't like to be in situations where I don't know the out come, or where there's a chance my true uncoordinated self might be revealed. I don't like to try new things, and I don't like when my schedule is disrupted. I now realize that I'm not a new born child with a schedule and that life is meant to be lived outside your comfort zone and not in it. Today I went on a nice long drive just to clear my head after an exhausting week and just drive and sing. I was talking to my friend Krystin and she was shocked that I wanted to go camping with my dog in the middle of nowhere, that I wanted to watch a baseball game and actually watch and cheer, that I wanted to leave my itty bitty comfort zone. In a way I was like Bilbo Baggins. Living my happy little life with nothing exciting with a routine and everything. But how boring of a book would the Hobbit and LOTR had been if Bilbo had never left the shire with Gandalf? Yes that was the ultimate Lord of the Rings reference, I'm a nerd what can I say. My comfort zone has been the size of a pea and I have stayed within its boundaries for farrrrrr too long. Its time to live a little and get a little dirty and have some fun. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This last year I have grown so much and learned so much about myself, about life, and about who I really am. It was a growing experience and at times I wasn't fond of it but I knew I had to so I could keep progressing. I realized so many small flaws and stupid things I let control my life and because of it I found myself missing a lot of what was going on around me. One of those things was my phone. For a while I was so obsessed with social media. How many followers I had who was following me blah blah blah. So high school of me I know I'm embarrassed for myself. Today I sat down and deleted probably half of the people on my social media just because I didn't know them, they had no purpose in my life, and then I gave myself restrictions. I can't believe at 25 I was letting my phone and social media consume me and I was missing out on so much going on right in front of my face. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Taking time to sit and write down small goals has been the best thing for me to get where I am today. Its nice to have changed so drastically in a year. Change is inevitable. Its all around us from the changing of the seasons to the changing of clothing styles, change is everywhere and its going to happen. I think the best part of change is when you change yourself for the better. When you change who you were to become someone better, thats the change thats good. Thats the change thats the hardest but its so worth it!! So here's to my start of a new year of life. I hope the next year I can keep changing and progressing all while living outside of my comfort zone, keeping my priorities straight, staying humble, and using my actions and not my words. At the end of the day I want to live a life full of love, adventure, and excitement and to do that changes needed to be made and they were. Won't lie, I'm terrified but I'm excited to finally be outside my comfort zone and living life the way it was meant to be lived. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Remember: If you want something you've never had, you've got to do things you've never done. Get comfortable with being outside your comfort zone, because its the only way to grow. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-40157276275340314262015-02-27T21:36:00.003-08:002015-02-27T21:37:58.204-08:00#LikeAGirl<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The other night we were watching the Oscars as a family. We had a $15 iTunes gift card on the line for whoever had to most guesses right of the winners. If you watched the Oscars I'm sure you can recall Patricia Arquette's speech. Its gotten a lot of media attention because at the end of her speech she says:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>"<span style="color: #4c4e4d; line-height: 28.4624996185303px;">We have fought for everybody else's equal rights. It's our time to have wage equality once and for all, and equal rights for women in the United States of America," </span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">During her speech the cameras then move to show Meryl Streep, one of my favorites, standing and clapping along with JLo standing and clapping next to her. Of course seeing this I got all fired up being quite the little feminist myself. Bronson thought he would make the comment that its bad to be feminist because they're crazy. I will never forget what my Mother shot back at him so quick I didn't have time to even get my two cents in. Michelle said, "Bronson being a feminist just means that I believe and fight for women rights. I think women should be treated with the respect and dignity as men do. Is it bad that I want to be respected and seen as an equal at work and in the community?" Well that shut Bronson right up. I think a lot of people see the extreme feminists and think they are a little on the crazy side. From the beginning of time women have been treated lesser to our counterpart, unfortunately. The other night I had a funny experience. Every night I go to the gym. I lift, I run, and then lastly I get some shots up and work on my game. The courts were empty when I got there so I was able to get a main hoop but they started filling up fast as the night went on. Soon two guys came in. They were all decked out in Adidas BYU gear (BYU is sponsored by Nike. Giveaway they weren't all that great) and came off as your typical pick up ball jerk. They came up to me and asked if I would shoot on the side hoop so they could have the main hoop for themselves. I politely said no thanks and went to go about my workout when they stopped me again. They continued to tell me how they needed the main one bc they wanted to play one on one and their buddies were coming anyways. Rather than asking me to move again the one boy looked at me and told me to move. I smiled and giggled then looked at them and said how about I play you both in a game of 1 on 1 to 11 by ones and twos winner gets the court. They both started laughing like I was crazy. Well, they weren't laughing when I beat them both in a matter of minutes. After this I got thinking and thinking and thought, if I ever have a daughter I don't want her to ever feel like she's not an equal? Do I want boys and men to view her value as less than theirs? Do I want her to lack the confidence in herself as a woman? No. The thinking continued and I thought about what Michelle did to prepare me for life. How she helped me gain the confidence I have and thats needed to survive in the world. There hasn't been a time in my life where I felt I wasn't equal to the men around me. If anything I've always felt I was above them. I thought about what Michelle taught me. What Steve taught me. What the women in my life have taught me. What basketball, friends, school, my siblings, cancer, and how every aspect of my life has led me to be who I am today: a feminist. A strong proud woman who demands to not only be treated as an equal to men but also demands the same respect that men receive in the work field, on the basketball court, and anywhere and everywhere I may be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At the top of the page there's a YouTube that really got me thinking. I saw this commercial and it made me a tad teary eyed. I never thought about the saying "like a girl." I would be lying if I said I've never used the phrase. If you read my previous blog I talk about how I was raised with all boys. In my mind when I think, oh I play basketball and xbox like one of the guys. I never saw it for what it truly meant until just this last year. I loved that in the YouTube above the younger girls have all the confidence in the world. They don't see throwing like a girl as a bad thing. Or running like a girl. So where's the breakdown? When does playing ball like a girl become such a bad thing? When was being a girl such an insult to society? So I'm going to remind you all what it means to run like a girl. To fight like a girl. To throw and play ball like a girl. I think people forget just what us girls are truly capable of. </span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l06NGucUe6A" target="_blank">#RunLikeAGirl</a></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfzI5YNnjIvepCeuKBL5O-FLqGlqtm2pY0FfNLaSjYSNvss8q0wYttr422A7sKeZ13nJWKJYd8dnK4iWPQkomZ4yYteUhzJyoOhid6Bxr0isW7H8sq35ZH5aOBnfwWDdBFyNVKjYoJjs/s1600/Sam-Gordon-young-girl-football-star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfzI5YNnjIvepCeuKBL5O-FLqGlqtm2pY0FfNLaSjYSNvss8q0wYttr422A7sKeZ13nJWKJYd8dnK4iWPQkomZ4yYteUhzJyoOhid6Bxr0isW7H8sq35ZH5aOBnfwWDdBFyNVKjYoJjs/s1600/Sam-Gordon-young-girl-football-star.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Running is something I will never be fond of. I hate running probably because for so many years of my life it was the punishment for crappy basketball play. Its the worst part of my work out when I have to stop lifting and go do cardio. So when one runs like a girl what does that mean? When I think of one person and one person only when it comes to running. Michelle. If you were to tell you 3 things about my mother I would tell you this 1. she needs diet coke and water in large volumes throughout the day 2. she just wants to watch downtown abbey everyday all day and 3. she loves to run and will out run you on any day. My earliest memories of my mother are driving around the night before a long run leaving water bottles in bushes. Riding my bike with her on her runs. Things like that. My mother has ran everywhere. No matter where we are on vacation or where she is for work she goes running. She's ran in China, Canada, Boston, Hawaii, all over southern California, Florida, the capitol building, wherever she can get a jog in she will. If I ran half as good as my mother I would probably be 20lbs skinnier. Running like a girl isn't a bad thing, in fact a few years ago there was a little girl who was quite the running back. She became a huge hit on YouTube because she is only 9 years old and was running circles around the little boys in her pee wee football league. Sam Gordon actually is from Salt Lake and I was able to meet her a few summers ago when she attended a BYU basketball camp I was coaching. Check out her high lights here she runs better than any of those other little boys and looks just as smooth out there as some of these college running backs. Running like a girl obviously isn't a bad thing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Girls and fighting I feel like can be taken in a few ways. There's fighting like literal throwing punches, there's the emotional fights that we all go through, then there's the physical fights that come along with health issues etc. When I think of fighting like a girl I think of first and foremost the amazing Ronda Rousey. Ronda is a UFC fighter. She's 10-0 and is to make it simple for you all that don't know her, she's the UFC champion for women. If you don't know who she is google her. I don't think anyone would want to get in a fight with Ronda Rousey lets be honest. She's a beast in the ring. ESPN did a short video on her check it out. UFC for so long was a men's sport but she came in and was the first women to sign with the UFC in 2012. She's set a trail of what women can do when given the opportunity to compete in what was once that to be just a man's sport. Ronda has not only proven she deserves to be a part of the UFC but also has done it better than any man or woman has. So Ronda is a great example of the actually fighting, they lets punch each other for the hell of it. But there's another fight and not everyone experiences it nor does everyone win this fight. This fight also is very familiar to me and its the fight with cancer. To explain a little bit about this fight I chose one of my own personal heros. Her name is Tenley Wilson. When Tenley was 2 years old she was diagnosed with AML. Tenley's family just happens to be one of our closest family friends from Salt Lake so it was so sad to hear about her diagnosis. It killed me to think a two year old little girl was going through what I had. The needles, the constant IVs, the pain, the nausea, the hair loss, everything I went through she was going through. But she was only two. But you know what, when I went and saw Tenley there wasn't a doubt in my mind she would fight and eventually overcome her cancer. She was sassy and spunky and you could just tell she was a little fighter and she was. Fighting like a girl means fighting like Tenley, which it completely fine with me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Karlie Harman, a 15 year old girl out of Virginia is the quarterback for her football team. When she was told she throws like a girl and she said, "I take that as a compliment because yeah I throw like a girl because I am a girl. I throw with power and dedication." Talk about confidence. At 15 years old there's a significant different in the athleticism between boys and girls. Boys are usually much farther ahead than the girls. But as you watch Karlie out there she plays with heart and she just plays football, and she's quite good at it. Football has always been a guys game. But every now and then you hear about girls like Karlie, or like Sam mentioned above and it makes you wonder how different the game with be with more teams had a girl on the team. Not just any girl, but a girl that can compete and hold her own out there. I know for a fact Karlie Harman throws a football a lot better than I do and probably better than most boys lets be honest. Besides throwing a perfect spiral most importantly Karlie Harman plays with confidence and doesn't see it as a bad thing that she throws like a girl. </span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUGEoLDX2oo" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">#PlayBallLikeAGirl</a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Playing ball like a girl I feel like really became an insult when the fat kid from the Sandlot said it as an insult. When I think of playing ball like a girl my mind automatically goes to some of the greatest women basketball players of all time: Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Lisa Leslie, Maya Moore, Candice Parker, Becky Hammon, Elena Delle Donne, and Brittney Griner just to name a few. Mark Cuban back a while ago joked that he wanted to take Brittney Griner in the second round of the NBA draft. Diana Taurasi was said to be the only woman that would be able to hold her own in the NBA. Its a given obviously not very women can dunk. Some people think that because of the lake of dunking that takes away from the game. I think thats a lie, if anything it makes it so that you're watching good fundamental basketball not a dunk contest. Playing ball like a girl isn't a bad thing. You have to accept some of the harsh facts, yes Lebron would beat Maya Moore any day in one on one. But does that mean that playing like Maya Moore is a bad thing? There's a reason Becky Hammon is an assistant for the San Antonio Spurs, because she understands the game. She plays ball like a girl and now she's teaching Manu and the boys how to play ball like a girl. I take pride in the fact that I understand the game of basketball; that I can hold my own when I play with the guys and dominate when I play with the girls. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I was at BYU in one of my classes I learned that between the ages of 8-10 boys naturally become more coordinated. By the time kids are 12 boys are three years ahead of girls athletically and coordinately speaking. Is coordinately even a word? But you get what I'm saying. Boys naturally have more muscle mass. They're naturally more coordinated and athletic. So when you find a young girl who can compete with the boys, its a big deal. She physiologically speaking has the odds against her. Its a rare find. When you find girls who can play alongside the boys. Who are confident enough to know they're good enough to play with the boys. I know I used a lot of sports and athletes as examples, but in any situation in life no matter what it is, it isn't a bad thing to be a girl. Its nice to see TV shows, books being written, and movies being made with strong female role. Just in the last few years we've had Divergent, Hunger Games, Wild, Revenge, and Frozen all have leading ladies. Being a girl isn't a bad thing, its one of the greatest things in the world. Its time that women start being treated as an equal to men. That women get the same rights, benefits, respect a men as well as being viewed just as knowledgable as men in the work field. Doing things like a girl shouldn't be an insult anymore. It should be a compliment in the highest form. There is nothing more beautiful that a young girl who has confidence and who is proud of who she is. If she can keep that confidence throughout her life she then becomes a strong confident and independent woman which is one of the greatest achievements a young girls can achieve. I think of everything Michelle has taught me. How a woman can run for a city office, how to feed the masses, how to use mind over matter, and even how to do a cartwheel. But the most important thing Michelle has taught me is to be proud to be a woman and to be a smart, independent woman who never gives up and does what she wants when she wants. My mother taught me to be a feminist, to believe and fight for the equal rights of women all over in every aspect of life and to stand up for myself. She taught me by example to be proud of who I am and never back down. Some of the greatest lessons I think a mother could ever teach her daughter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>#LikeAGirl</b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-46308623901071141892015-01-27T09:55:00.004-08:002015-01-27T10:01:22.707-08:00Boys Boys Boys<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/63476_808908372489113_7099231222590671822_n.jpg?oh=8df62b355e3a83e83b2741e6f773d5d3&oe=5561F2B9&__gda__=1432941508_d261c0fbe93adf6ed55ecc904e73302c" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="240" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10474464_722901471089804_883310722760078634_n.jpg?oh=6382b154ac82710ce754be3b85f6443f&oe=5565DB21&__gda__=1432707612_4f82645ed69f8fb61fa05ef2c80006fe" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So last week was a long week for me for whatever reason. I couldn't figure it out. All week I felt like something was missing from my life and I pin point what was wrong with myself. Everyday went the same as always. Wake up at 7, take Bella out, eat my nasty gluten free oatmeal, pack my lunch for the day, go to work, sit at work and hope Ashley comes in for a visit, drive to practice and coach the children, drive home, go to the gym, come home and eat egg whites, watch Food Network, and go to bed. That's virtually my everyday routine. But for whatever reason this week felt off. Friday morning I was eating breakfast with Devin and it dawned on me, this was the first day all week I had seen one of my brothers. Football and school had started so I never saw Bronson. Corbin was off traveling for basketball. And I'm usually gone before Devin even wakes up because the kid loves sleep more than life. All week I had been missing my little brothers. Now I've been blessed to be so close to my life geographically obviously but always our relationships. My family is a very tight knit group. We're the first ones to make each other mad and cry, and we are the first ones to defend each other again angry ex girlfriends and mean kids at school. So going a week without seeing any of my boys was a big deal. I see Daryl everyday because I'm her only friend beside Michelle and the cats. So as my Friday progressed I also realized I was basically raised and grew up with boys my whole life. I didn't get a sister until I was 8. I had no girl cousins my age and the closest cousin to me we Mitchell. All growing up I played in the basketball league with boys until 6th grade. My whole life I was surrounded by boys and you know what, I couldn't be more thankful. Having been raised with brothers for the most part, boy cousins, and spending a lot of time with Steve I honestly couldn't be happier. Growing up with boys wasn't always easy for a girl though. Trying to keep up with the Nintendo games, pick up basketball games, and following and learning the Xs and Os of football knowing I would never play it got hard, but I managed to keep up. I remember for my first birthday party all the party guests were boys with one or two girls. Growing up with boys especially 3 younger brothers taught me lessons that I couldn't have learned any other way and I am so thankful for those lessons that all 3 of my brothers have taught me over the last 23 years they've been a part of my life. </span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Brother 1: BRONSON</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Anyone who knows Bronson knows he's the biggest teddy bear in the world. He might be 6'7" and weigh 265 lbs but that boy is as soft as they come. Michelle always jokes that he he got all the emotions and sensitivity that I lack. He loves love. He loves being in love, he loves giving kisses and hugs out to just about anyone, and he loves to show love. He flirts with every old lady at Days Market and every little girl in the neighborhood calls him their boyfriend. I warned my bestie Steph when she moved in that she could expect a hug and a kiss on the cheek from Bronson the first time she met him. Well Bronson didn't fail and he kissed Steph on the cheek and gave her a huge bear hug. Bronson was my first little brother and is 21 months younger than I am. Most people think he's older because he's married and large and can grow a beard but for the record, I'm 25 and he's 23. Bronny Boy and I, well we have had our ups and downs. I remember he was my best friend before his mission and when he came home he was all sorts of weird. I wanted to kill him most days for a while. I mean, after 2 years apart the first thing he says is, "your dress is kind of short." Of course my dress is short I like to show off my legs! But Bronson has pushed me my whole life in sports, school, and everything really. He's always been my #1 fan at all my games growing up and into college. He's the one in the family when I want to go get shots up I know he will drop what he's doing and meet me at the gym. When I got to college I really struggled at first expanding my game to the perimeter and he knew it. We would play one on one for hours. And I lost every game. And I would turn the ball over again and again and get so frustrated. I would foul him hard and shove him and he just took it like a man and kept playing. Bronson is very competitive and hates to lose so he made sure he always won. But his competitive nature wore off on me and I soon had to expand my game. Because of Bronson I soon developed a turn around fade away. I learned the euro step, I learned how to extend and make myself long and finish with contact. I learned aspect of the game that I would've never learned playing with girls. Playing with Bronson also gave me the confidence to play with boys and to go to the gym and get in on the pick up games being the only girl. He was huge for my success as a basketball player but most importantly over the last 23 years he has taught me love. He taught me that its ok to have a soft side and to have emotions and feelings. Its ok to hug and kiss your siblings on the cheek a million times a day, I still don't do that because its not me but I at least let him hug me now. Because Bronson is like this there isn't a doubt in my mind that my little brother loves me because he shows it daily when he chases me down and hugs me. Even though we don't always agree on things, he loves me unconditionally and always has my back like a good younger big brother should. </span><br />
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<a href="https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/31462_515378698508750_1810378196_n.jpg?oh=75db8aa67f5db3ce822d86498d15e187&oe=5567EF11" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/31462_515378698508750_1810378196_n.jpg?oh=75db8aa67f5db3ce822d86498d15e187&oe=5567EF11" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Brother 2: CORBIN</span></i></b><br />
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/8179_515421521837801_1708913610_n.jpg?oh=f599061f126a34d9ca38c2f72ed92392&oe=552440BE&__gda__=1432215182_fa96835287d78b947209555ed98803b1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/8179_515421521837801_1708913610_n.jpg?oh=f599061f126a34d9ca38c2f72ed92392&oe=552440BE&__gda__=1432215182_fa96835287d78b947209555ed98803b1" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Corbin and I have been through the ringer. I despised him most of his life due to his lack of color coordination and flamboyant ways. But once I got over myself I saw him no longer as the "annoying brother I wanted to help dress and teach how to act in public" and he became the funniest person I've ever met in my life and really my rock during one of the toughest times of my life. Corbin was a freshman at Timpview when I was a senior. Well at the time I was a self-absorbed, selfish, arrogant girl and thought I knew everything. Little did I know that his pudgy, dorky, curly haired boy would soon be my main man. Growing up Corbin was the one we picked on. He had a smaller skinnier build than Bronson and I from day 1. It was very clear he got the white genes while Bronson and I were thicker and bigger boned thanks to the Tongan side. Corbin was always the odd man out. One of our favorite games growing up was making Corbin run under the tramp while we tried to jump on him. Or we would tie him to chairs or inside the inner tubes and shove him to the bottom of the pool. Like I said, we picked on this boy and tormented him beyond belief. Flash forward 16 years later. The little boy Bronson and I teased relentlessly is now 6'10" (the tallest), still has that skinny frame, had the option to play D1 football or basketball, and can throw down all sorts of dunks like its nothing. Corbin taught me not to care what people thought, but also to never give up. Corbin was the middle child, was picked on for majority of his life by Bronson and I, and grew up living in the shadow of his All-Star brother and he has no found a way to surpass all of us in size and has forged his own path and is no longer known as just Alexis and Bronson's little brother. He grew late and because of that he didn't play varsity basketball and football as a freshman like Bronson and I had. He waited and as his body matured he did. It wasn't until after his mission he really found that coordination and muscle mass that Bronson had as a 14-year-old boy. Corbin has that never give up attitude. He doesn't always take advice well, but that boy will do something until he does it right and better than you even if he falls 100 times. Sometimes Bronson and I like to take credit for how tough Corbin is because we roughed him up so much when he was younger. But that's just how he is. We went to school for a week with a broken hand and still played basketball and continued on until the bone snapped in half. Most importantly he's been my protector. When Bronson left and I got sick he stepped up and rather than filling the void where Bronson was he made his own space in my heart and soon became a huge part of my life. His resilience to tough times and his sense of humor helped me cope and get through cancer like it was nothing. He has taught me to laugh, to not care, and to always keep fighting.</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Brother #3: DEVIN</span></i></b><br />
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10734260_801337636579520_2284671647848147095_n.jpg?oh=67df0c677f9a3aac8748ec470bb55b13&oe=5527C28F&__gda__=1431841591_5ca1109d03a1347fb3cfb0a645cea0bd" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10734260_801337636579520_2284671647848147095_n.jpg?oh=67df0c677f9a3aac8748ec470bb55b13&oe=5527C28F&__gda__=1431841591_5ca1109d03a1347fb3cfb0a645cea0bd" width="240" /></a><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/282963_676327062413912_1674279785_n.jpg?oh=060e8dd2c5a2bb7b6dc0ed04451c2dfb&oe=55643647&__gda__=1433328436_6c35b980f3e32bd9f27fc2523c8cf37b" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/282963_676327062413912_1674279785_n.jpg?oh=060e8dd2c5a2bb7b6dc0ed04451c2dfb&oe=55643647&__gda__=1433328436_6c35b980f3e32bd9f27fc2523c8cf37b" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Devin... well Devin is a funny kid. Growing up we were super super close, but as I've gotten older and as he has we aren't nearly as close as we used to be. The 8 year age gap between Devin and I became very relevant the last 5 years because he has found me controlling and obnoxious and I have found him lazy and spoiled. I think its because I'm the oldest and he's the youngest. If Devin has taught me anything in life though its that if you want something bad enough and work hard enough you'll get it. Devin growing up was built like Bronson. Had to shop in the husky section of the GAP as a little boy and just was always a little thicker. We used to give him a hard time because at one point he got real pudgy, little did we know he was about to his a </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">huge growth spurt. So we gave him a hard time. Teased him for days. Made fun of him for eating a dozen eggo waffles everyday which Michelle cut for him, made fun of him for drinking a gallon of milk everyday, and made fun of him for eating two rows of oreos. We were pretty hard on him. But when no one was paying attention he started to grow. He also started doing P90X abs everyday. Then it was twice a day. This kid would do ab workouts at night when we weren't watching and soon he wasn't the pudgy little boy is a keg. He soon had a baby six pack going on before we knew it. We couldn't really make fun of him anymore so we continued to still make fun of him for being lazy. But Devin really is hard worker. You have to ride his but to do things but when he does, he does a great job. This last year I really wanted to lose weight and I remember I was doing the P90X ab dvd and I was dying 2 minutes into it. How did Devin do this twice a day for weeks on end?! Devin is more quiet. He does his own thing and is often overshadowed by the powering voice of his older brothers. While Bronson and Corbin and I will be talking about how much we benched he will be sitting there dipping his oreos in his milk being quiet. Next thing we know the kid is getting 2-3 sacks in every football game. Devin has taught me that hard work pays off, but also that you don't have to be flashy or showy with what you do. For all we know he might be lifting just as much as the rest of us but he never gloats or boats about it. He's like the dark horse of the family. He sneaks up on you when you least expect it, and with this group lets be honest its probably the smartest way to be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Can you see why I have such a soft spot for my boys? Even though they make me mad and more times than I would like to admit I want to kill them, but that's what little brothers are there for. The best part about being a big sister is that I can get mad at them all I want, but the second someone makes my brothers cry I become the meanest person you'll ever meet. No one is allowed to pick on my baby boys but me. I honestly am so thankful though I have 3 brothers instead of 4 sisters. Growing up with all boys for the first 8 years of my life has been the biggest blessing. It not only helped propel my basketball career, but being a tom boy and growing up playing sports and wrestling with my brothers seems so much more fun than playing dress ups and with dolls like my sweet sister Daryl did. Being surrounded by all boys though made me tough. It made me independent, strong, and stubborn. All qualities that I love about myself and have made me the person I am today. So thank you baby brother's for letting me torture you my whole life. For letting me tie you to chairs and shoving you in the pool. For letting me hang your underwear from the telephone wires when I caught you lying to me. And thank you for not seeking revenge on me now that you are all over 6'8" and can probably kill me. Most of all thank you for not being girls because I think I would kill myself if I had 3 more Daryl's growing up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I think thats the best part about being the oldest and being a big sister. I remember when all 4 of my little brats were born and now they're all grown up getting married, going on LDS missions, going to college, and its fun to watch them all just grow into their own person. You're like their second mom. You get on their case when they do stupid stuff. You buy them things they need (yes Bronson still asks me to buy him apple juice when I'm at the store). And you try to help them avoid the bumps in the road that you hit because you don't want them to experience anything that could potentially harm them. Having little brothers is like always having a friend on call. At any given time I know one of them will want to go to In N Out at midnight, or play xbox with me, or watch a football game. Its the greatest ever! But I love my little brothers with all my heart and if you don't have a little brother I'm sorry. You truly are missing out on one of the best things in life. You can always borrow one of mine if you really want though. </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-3216166384626764822015-01-08T12:30:00.003-08:002015-01-08T12:32:36.907-08:002015<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Ok so first things first... its a new year yay! Its now officially 2015 and well, this ecard had me dying today at work so I had to start my blog off with it. Does anyone remember watching the Maury show specifically the episodes where you found out who and who wasn't the father? Let me just say, I used to spend too much time watching those episodes. Its not like I was waiting around for the Muary show everyday but I definitely did see my fair share of episodes with the famous line, "You are not the father!" Anyways, I got a good laugh so I figured I needed to share. Back to business though... lets take a minute to talk about the new year. The New Year is a time for people to sit and reflect on everything that's happened over the last 12 months of their existence and to really contemplate on what they're doing with their lives. My New Years eve consisted of Cafe Rio, Game of Thrones, and falling asleep by 9:30. With that being said its not like I was up all night contemplating the previous year or dancing my heart out like I have in years past. This year was different. I went to bed early, woke up early, hit the gym, and continued about my routine as if it was just another regular day in the life of Alexis Kaufusi. I didn't really take a moment to stop and think about 2014 as a whole until a three or four days into 2015 when I was going through some pictures from the last year. 2014 was a good year to me. I changed a lot without even really meaning to. I would definitely say besides 2011 (cancer year), that 2014 has been one of the most significant years of my life and let me tell you why.</div>
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<a href="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/521435_515382121841741_1746469874_n.jpg?oh=9582b7736a9cbed6c2b20d881873d2df&oe=5520E12D" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/521435_515382121841741_1746469874_n.jpg?oh=9582b7736a9cbed6c2b20d881873d2df&oe=5520E12D" width="320" /></a>2014 was the year I took accountability for myself. I came to grips with the good and the bad of my soul as well making life changes that I will forever be grateful for. I made decisions that would change the course of my life, and I learned lessons the hard way (as usual) which in reality helped me grow even more. 2014 is the year I grew up. I went from the young adult living to eat, drink, and be merry to the young adult who wanted to plan for the future and make a life for herself. For a lot of my friends and family they noticed a lot of the changes in me physically. The losing 35+ lbs or the nights spent staying in watching Food Network as opposed to going out. They noticed a change in how I looked and acted. But the biggest change was the change that, really only I noticed. False. My cousin Hillary noticed. But between her and I the change I'm talking about is the change that took place inside my little head and heart. My thoughts, my opinions, my views, my beliefs, my attitude, everything that makes me me was solidified. There was no more confusion or wavering. There was no more living in denial of who I was anymore and the mistakes I made. I had changed and finally grown into my own skin. So how does one do such a drastic change in just 12 months? It all started with one simple change and from there the rest came easy. </div>
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Change 1: So last January my father was so kind as to point out that I had gained some weight. I just kind of shrugged him off and continued on with my life because I didn't agree and most of all I didn't want to admit I had let myself go. At the time I was still adjusting to a new job that was stressful, it was the middle of basketball season, and trying to adjust to the new up at 7:00am was hard. At Vivint I didn't work until 10:00 or 11:00. Yes I know I had a million excuses for everything like I usually do. So beginning of February Steve brought it up again and I ignored him again. It didn't hit me until I went to put on my FAVORITE pair of True Religion jeans. These are my good luck jeans something good always happens when I wear them so I save them for special days. I went to put them on and they didn't fit, like at all. These are a pair of jeans that had always been a little big on me and now I couldn't even get them on. I panicked. Complete disappointment and frustration instantly set in. For the majority of my life I had always had basketball to keep me in shape so I never really thought about what I ate or how much I worked out because I knew I would go to weights and basketball practice and be fine. But I wasn't working out anymore and the bad eating habits started to take its toll on me. So I started working out. I ordered P90X3 and Tony Horton became my best friend. I religiously would do my 30 minute workouts daily and soon noticed a change. Af</div>
ter a while though I kind of got bored so I ordered T25 and after 5-6 months of T25 and P90X3 I had lost 25 lbs and I couldn't have been happier. After that I started lifting and playing basketball everyday and lost another 10 lbs. At this point I was so proud of myself but I wasn't satisfied. I really wanted to get down to my playing weight which meant I needed to lose 10 more pounds but I kind of plateaued off at this point. For all those months I had been consistently losing weight and then all the sudden I stopped. I realized something else needed to change and so change 2 came into play.<br />
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<a href="http://www.laurapappashealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Eating-Paleo-Meme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.laurapappashealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Eating-Paleo-Meme.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>Change 2: So this change came as a result of change 1. I hit a plateau in my working out and I couldn't figure out why. At the time I was having some major stomach issues. Everything I was eating I was throwing up. So I went to the doctor, turns out I had acquired celiac post cancer which is a common side effect of chemotherapy. So basically what that means is I couldn't eat gluten and I had to do the paleo diet for the rest of my life, aka lots of fruits, vegetables, and meat. I didn't realize until this moment how bad my eating habits were. Due to my work and coaching schedule I would eat out a lot but I would eat Taco Bell, Wendy's, In N Out, etc. Places that were open late and had drive-thrus because I was always on the go driving from work to practice to a rec game to home. I immediately cut out all fast food and gluten (mostly). I started doing meal preps, packing snacks for the day, and drinking a lot more water. I soon felt better. I wasn't throwing up all the time and I just felt different but in the best way possible. Before I knew it I had lost another 10 lbs and had reached my goal of getting down to my playing weight. The best part is that the eating habits I created over the last few months have stuck with me. I've had learn new ways to cook chicken to keep things interesting, and I've learned so many new recipes and foods that I can substitute that still taste amazing and that don't have gluten. First off, Waffle Love has gluten free waffles. Second, spaghetti squash instead of pasta has become one of my favorites and tastes better than normal noodles. So change 2 came as a result of change 1 just like change 3. </div>
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Change 3: As I said change 3 was a result of change 1 as well. I was working out roughly 2 hours a day, not as much as I did when I was playing in college obviously, but it was still a lot. I was really pushing my body and sleep became more of a necessity in my life. During the week I would stay up late doing whatever my little heart desired getting 4-6 hours of sleep. Friday nights I normally spent being out all night with friends though suddenly turned into nights staying in because spinning class was the next morning at 8:00. Saturday nights soon turned into movie nights because I was so tired from a 3 hour gym day. And Sunday became a day of rest like it should be catching up on all the sleep I missed throughout the week from late games or late night gym sessions. All the sudden my weekends went from no sleep and going from one party or gathering to next and transformed into these relaxing chill weekends. I had finally learned discipline. After the cancer thing I had the whole, "I'm going to do what I want and live every day like its my last because I have cancer and am going to die young" attitude. This made for lots of fun stories, sleepless weekends, and great memories. But with the recent changes it wasn't working for me anymore. I now have the attitude, "If I exercise regularly and eat right I won't have to worry about dying from cancer because I'll be living a clean healthy life." </div>
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Change 4: The last major change of 2014 I made is probably the most significant. In 2014 I finally found myself. I realized who I am and where I stand and what I believe. I accepted my flaws and stopped denying them for the first time. Ever. I accepted the things that make me different and rather than hating them learned to love them. I learned that just because someone isn't on the path you want them to be on or is on a different path than you doesn't mean its the wrong path. Everyone is different with different opinions and views and beliefs and that regardless of where you stand you need to be respectful. I learned to accept change. I'm one of the most stubborn people in the world and hate hated change. But change is happening everyday and you can either fight against change, a battle you're going to lose, or learn to roll with the punches and make the everyday changes a new and exciting addition to your path of life whatever it may be. I learned to care less about what I couldn't control and not lose sleep over the opinions and thoughts of others. I learned I was more like my mother than I would have liked to admit, but I couldn't pick a better person to be like. I learned its okay to be a strong independent woman in a world and society where that generally isn't the role of women. I learned its okay to be 25, not married, not wanting to be married, or wanting the typical lifestyle for a girl from Provo Utah. Like I said, everyone's different and should be accepted and respected for their differences, not looked down upon for being themselves. Everyone no matter their differences deserves respect and shouldn't be judged for those differences. In 2014 I grew up and realized who I really am and learned to love myself for me. You can't expect those around you to love you if you can't even love yourself.<br />
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In 2011 I was blessed to have been able to fight a victorious battle against the dreaded Cancer. After that year I was absolutely positive that would be the most significant year in my life. During that year some big things happened right? I beat a lot of odds and was so sure that from that moment on I was invincible. I mean, good Lord I just beat cancer isn't that basically an automatic go pass Go and collect $200 and live happily ever after? No. I learned that as time went on that who I am wasn't defined by my disease or my ability to live through it or a free pass from life. That was just a stepping stone that helped mold me into who I would later become and 2014 was the year I realized who I had become. I was finally done molding myself into an adult with opinions and views and thoughts. I was done being confused. Even though it took majority of 2014, some ups and downs, some long nights of driving listening to Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith, and some long hours at the gym shooting a million free throws to settle my thoughts I finally figured it out. I finally was done wandering on and off my path and found my way. Besides losing weight and finding myself a lot happened in 2014 for not just myself but my family and those around me.</div>
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<li>I got see Lorde live in Seattle</li>
<li>I had 3 molars pulled the same day Daryl got her wisdom teeth out</li>
<li>I rediscovered my passion for basketball </li>
<li>I got a new coaching job at a new school </li>
<li>My childhood best friend Diane had a baby as well as my dear friend Kim</li>
<li>Corbin came home from his 2 year LDS mission to Seoul Korea</li>
<li>Michelle broke her foot, Daryl blew her knee out (again), I had bleeding Ulcers, Hilary broke her leg, and Corbin got Type A influenza</li>
<li>Bronson and Hil celebrated their 1 year anniversary </li>
<li>Michelle did a Christmas card for the first time in like, 8 years!</li>
<li>We went and saw Cher live while in California</li>
<li>Devin earned a scholarship to BYU to play football and won his 3rd consecutive state championhip</li>
<li>Daryl played all soccer season on a torn ACL, earned a scholarship to BYU-Hawaii to play soccer, won region for soccer (the last time Timpview won region was when I was playing), and got surgery after a tough loss in State semi finals</li>
<li>Corbin and I were able to go to Australia and New Zealand for the trip of a lifetime </li>
<li>Bronson got moved to linebacker and had a injury filled football season! But he still got some sacks!</li>
<li>I turned 25!</li>
<li>Corbin decided to play basketball and is doing great</li>
<li>Steve is still an avid Spurs fan, did I mention the Lakers beat the Spurs?</li>
<li>Bronson and I still reign as undefeated Family basketball champions #dreamteam</li>
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2014 you were awesome... after 25 years and 3 months though I'm excited to start a new section in my book of life, the section where I'm actually grown up and can make intelligent decisions and good choices. To get this point though I made every wrong choice, decision, and took the hard road but I am so thankful for my stupidity because I learned so much from it and it made me tougher. More than ever, and I can't believe I'm actually saying this because I made fun of everyone for tweeting this, I feel like this is a new year new me. Stupid and cliche but its so true! So far 2015 has been full of well, basketball and more basketball! Let be honest though, I couldn't think of a better way to start off a new year. </div>
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New year. New me... Literally</div>
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Gag I feel like I cant end like that but oh well.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Thanks for the good times 2014</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For those of you who don't know my father or who aren't Facebook friends with him, well you're missing out. I would say on a weekly basis I receive at least 6 Facebook messages from Steve about various things from inspirational quotes to funny animal YouTubes. Steve also shares all sorts of good lists and just good stuff in general on his Facebook wall. You know the feel good kind of stuff that you read and you all the sudden feel empowered and good like you can do anything and make a change in the world. Yes Steve is the king of finding such quotes and what not. So anyways a while ago he sent me this picture quote:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Okay so I won't lie... Steve sends me a lot of stuff and you know with the busy schedule I have I tend to skim or look quickly after the second or third message he sends me. This was one of those gems that I overlooked and saw today. Today is just one of those days when I needed a pick me up so I thought I would see what advice or what feel good YouTube I could find from good old Steve to help me out with my day. I came across this quote and it really just did the trick. In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you. Buddha was clearly a wise man because this is what I think everyone needs to live by in this world of ridiculousness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Love Often</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10641053_777077202338897_5027218624869796994_n.jpg?oh=9b77a5134b16071076090401bc5de0b9&oe=55053C73" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10641053_777077202338897_5027218624869796994_n.jpg?oh=9b77a5134b16071076090401bc5de0b9&oe=55053C73" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />With so much hate in the world these days I feel like love is something that's hard to come by. People are so consumed with their jobs, their phones, and just their lives (I am soooo guilty of this) that I think we forget to love. We forget that other people are going through life just like we are with their own set of struggles and their own trials, and we forget to be aware of that. We forget to say thank you to the barista at Starbucks, or we don't hold the door open for the mother of 3 behind us because we are in such a rush, or we don't smile and say hi to a stranger you happen to make awkward eye contact with. Little things make such a huge difference. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We judge those around us for their differences whether they're a BYU or Utah fan, Mormon, Catholic, white, black, brown, Asian, gay, straight, American, Candian, whatever it is. Everyone is so judgmental</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> these days (especially in Utah). Why does it matter what people look like or how they choose to worship and spend their Sundays who someone chooses to love? Everyone is different so be respectful of others and love them rather for how they treat you. Love people regardless of your differences and don't judge them for not agreeing with you. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think sometimes we take people for granted. Whether its our family or friends we just expect certain people to always be there for us. Yet sometimes we forget friendship and love is a two way street. We have to put in what we expect to get out. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Where love is demanded love needs to be given. We need to love and learn to love deeply and passionately and unconditionally. Especially the people who have been there from the beginning. Now love is a big word I for one don't like to use it unless I truly mean it, but love isn't just a word. Its an verb that can be showed through every aspect of our day by the simplest of actions to those around us. Whether its your mom, your best friend, a complete stranger keep in mind that the smallest actions of love can have the biggest lasting impacts. Be there for those who are there for you. Be the shoulder to cry on, be the listening ear, be that person that can be trusted. Our happiness is found in the way we love and treat others, so choose to be happy and choose to love. </span></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10636141_781283755251575_7241369534731842184_n.jpg?oh=a20cf5c644674631d6f9da9f3dd16ce9&oe=55436265" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10636141_781283755251575_7241369534731842184_n.jpg?oh=a20cf5c644674631d6f9da9f3dd16ce9&oe=55436265" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Live Gently</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So living gently... The first thing that comes to mind when I hear living gently is a monk. Monks take vows of silence for years, they live a simple life hanging out in robes, praying, lighting incense, but while it is simple it is also a meaningful and purposeful life devoting themselves to their religious beliefs. But lets be honest in reality I don't think this is what it means to live gently. I think living gently means to live a happy, purposeful, and peaceful life. I think it means to live within your means and to just really grab life by the horns and just rock it. Everyone is different with different religious backgrounds, racial backgrounds, financial situations, and different trials. But when we love ourselves and the hand we are dealt, all the sudden the trials seem to disappear. Everyone has different aspirations in life. Example, some of my friends their main goal in life was get married in the Mormon temple to a return missionary and start a family all by the time they're 20 years old. There's nothing wrong that. I thought they were crazy but you know, to each their own. Myself on the other hand wanted to graduate from school, get a job, and become financially stable and have my own life figured out before I brought someone else into it. We are all different with different preferences, opinions, and views. But I believe as long as we are truly happy, working towards our own end goal in life, and living at peace with ourselves and our choices then we are fulfilling the concept of living gently. I'm not saying you can't raise a little hell every now and then because we all know mistakes and stupid decisions result in 1. lessons learned 2. cool scars and 3. the best stories. These are all critical parts to life and finding our way. So don't just live a gentle quiet life. Live gently yet powerfully and at peace with yourself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Gracefully Let Go</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2014/082/7/2/elsa___let_it_go__by_stevegibson-d7be9ki.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2014/082/7/2/elsa___let_it_go__by_stevegibson-d7be9ki.png" width="239" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Letting go is so hard lets be honest. For those who have had their hearts crushed, their dog ran away, or have lost a loved one its so hard to let go. Its so hard to let go of things that are not meant for you especially when you believed they were. But everything happens for a reason. People come and go out of our lives. I honestly do believe certain people come into our lives for a reason. I also believe certain people leave our lives for a reason. So what happens when you have your mind set on something and it doesn't work out? Whatever it might be, lets say love for example. Situation: you have found the one for you. This individual you love with all your heart and you see your future with them, but then something happens. It changes and they leave and you are left there all alone feeling defeated. How do let go of things that aren't meant for you? As cliche as this sounds, having a positive attitude is more than half the battle. Realizing that better things are yet to come and that it didn't work out it didn't for a reason that you just don't know yet. I love love love country music. I've noticed majority of country songs are 3 different things: 1. alcohol specifically beer and whiskey (rum if you're Kenny Chesney) 2. Break ups and Make ups and 3. Trucks. Sometimes you get a country song that has all three, I call that the country trifecta. Anyways I was listening to a song by Cole Sidwell called "Ain't worth the whiskey" and its a song about a break up (#2) and how the break up with this girl just aint worth the whiskey (#1). Clearly the break up was heart wrenching if he wrote a song about it, but either way it wasn't worth the whiskey. Now lets apply it to real life. Bad things happen. We can never have what we want or who we want, but what do we do about? When things don't work out your way you know what, its okay. Life goes on and it isn't worth the whiskey. So don't mope around and have a pity party. Do something about it. Find happiness because its a choice and we all deserve a happy ending. So when your heart is broken or you don't make the high school football team or you don't get that awesome intern in the New York just remember, it aint worth the whiskey and gracefully let go of the things that aren't meant for you. You obviously are meant for something greater you just don't know it yet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Only three things matter in our amazing lives... Could you imagine if we actually lived like this? If whether we went to heaven or hell was based off of how we loved those around us, how gently we lived, and how gracefully we let go of things that aren't meant for us? I think we would all live a much happier simpler life. I think people would see the value we each have and just in life in general. People wouldn't judge others for their differences and rather would accept them and love them for the intentions of their heart. Just because someone's on a different path than you doesn't mean its necessarily the wrong path. So love those around you on different paths because believe it or not your paths crossed for a reason. Don't take people for granted. Be there for your friends and family. Do nice things for people and love and accept others despite their differences. Live gently. Laugh every second you get. Choose to be happy. Live a life striving for peace, but make sure you raise a little hell along the way to keep things interesting. Lastly accept life as it comes. Whether good or bad whatever happens to you accept it with grace and move on. If its good, then be thankful. If its bad, know there's bigger things in store for you. Three simple ways to live and really, those three simple things are all that matters. Regardless of who we are, what we believe, and how we live these three things can apply to everyone and can honestly make us a better and happier people. So here's my take on all this...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the end, Only 3 things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you... but in the end make sure you raise a little hell because everyone loves cool scars and good stories.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Lex</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-89218707746832404452014-11-18T11:47:00.001-08:002014-11-18T11:47:46.712-08:00How To Be Happy 101<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Happiness... Lets be honest. We are born. We grow up. We get old. We Die. Its the natural pattern of life. But in between the part where we are born and we die we spend those years living life and striving for happiness right? I mean, I don't know anyone who purposely strives for misery and if they are then they probably need professional help. But during those years between life and death we do what we need to do to be happy. Sounds easy right? Live life and be happy, but its not easy as we all know. Life has ups and downs, twists and turns, dead ends and U turns, and every other kind of wrinkle that could possibly take place. These can also be known as trials. Life is this great thing, but you know you get trials along with it and the crazy thing is everyone's trials are different. Everyone's situation, upbringing, and lifestyle is different from one another. So with all these people striving for happiness in their own special way can ultimately complicate finding happiness. I had a basketball coach who would always say if we put all our problems out on the table and got to pick which ones we wanted we would still pick our own. Problems, trials, potholes in the road, call it you what you will but life happens. In my last post I talked about how life happens and well it does. If life was easy then it would be boring and no one would have any cool stories or scars or anything to really talk besides the weather. Sometimes our trials add in the adrenaline and excitement that you need. Sometimes trials can also add in the set back and the struggle that we really don't need, but every trial happens for a reason. Lately I found a quote that I love. I've done a lot of reflecting on my life lately and the twists and turns its had and when I read this quote it just really made everything come full circle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"There's no such thing as regrets, just lessons learned"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Can I just say that I love this?? I won't lie I've done a fair share of stupid things in my life. I've disappointment my parents a countless amount of times, I've made myself look like a real idiot, and I have made my own life as difficult as I could without having those intentions. But life happens and my choices are my choices to live with. But if life has all these trials then what do we do to find happiness? How do we become happy with all the crap going on? Now I'm not trying to brag about myself or say how awesome I am because I know for a fact I'm not. Like I said everyone's trials are different but with mine I've found optimism and happiness is really the only way to get through them and to see them as blessings rather than trials. But like I said, happiness is a choice so how do you just choose to be happy? Its not as easy as we all think it is but here are some of my own secrets on how to choose happiness and to really just be happy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>1. CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/995708_555825567797396_1246415989_n.jpg?oh=c9ab4310612ab4fca290f10a06d2031f&oe=551C1B74" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/995708_555825567797396_1246415989_n.jpg?oh=c9ab4310612ab4fca290f10a06d2031f&oe=551C1B74" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">One of my high school basketball coaches once told me this. I had just torn ligaments and shattered my ankle in practice and I was absolutely devastated. This was my first real injury ever and the thought of missing all of preseason basketball as a sophomore was the end of the world for your typical 16 year old. Because of the severity of the injury I was my coach's TA for a class period and one day she told me I needed to control the controllables. She told me I couldn't control what happened but that I could control my attitude, my interactions with my teammates, and I could control my time in the weight room and doing rehab. Now this was only the first injury of many more to come and throughout every physical set back I've had I always think about controlling the controllables. Now this concept can carry over to every aspect of life. In life you can't always control everything that happens but you can always control how you react, and how you treat those around you. At the end of the day I think what matters most how we treat those we interact with. Some people get so caught up in how others are living and if its in accordance with what they believe when in reality we should be worrying about how we treat those around us and how we react to the adversity that's thrown at us. Do we shut down and hate the world or do we rise above it? Control what you can and good things will follow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>2. LAUGH OFTEN</b></span><br />
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/1918101_224124956280_7411672_n.jpg?oh=2c5797e8838ceaecd3b27de18202cb6e&oe=5515C6B0&__gda__=1423401041_bc7a871c2867594b07da36aecfa08617" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img height="249" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/v/t1.0-9/267366_10150299904341281_4906419_n.jpg?oh=7b6697f84b0cb8a1254f9b2556078f7e&oe=54E44D73&__gda__=1423911229_e45304d99ff29774761af0021a61a742" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I honestly think people underestimate what a good laugh can really do for you. Sometimes when we are down all we really need is someone to make us laugh and all the sudden everything is okay. Humor can be a great tool for relief from physical or emotional pain and even stress. Now when I had cancer back in the day my doctors told me it would be good for me to find the good and stay positive for obvious reasons. At the time I didn't think or realize how big of a role humor would play in my healing process. Between Corbin and Steph I was constantly finding things to laugh at. If you know my brother Corbin or my bestest Steph then you know how funny these two are. They can do really any accent and perfect impersonations of anyone so you're guaranteed a good laugh. Sometimes you need to laugh about whats going on and keep in mind it could always be worse. I remember in the middle of my chemo months I found myself at the church playing basketball. I was completely bald, my skin had a yellow tint to it, and I could barley take 3 shots without the exhaustion settling in but I couldn't help but laugh. Yes I was laughing at my pathetic efforts compared to what I could do just 3 months prior but I was also laughing and smiling because I realized how blessed I was despite of what everyone thought. Yes I had cancer, but I still had all my limbs, I could still see and hear and taste and smell, and I could still shoot a basketball even if it was only 3 times before I needed a water break. If you can find the humor in everything and use humor to help you through the hard times it makes those hard times seem less hard and more like a bend in the road rather than a pothole. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>3. LOVE YOURSELF</b></span><br />
<a href="http://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/1336011803653_3213692.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/1336011803653_3213692.png" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Does anyone remember when they were a kid and you didn't notice the fact that you didn't have a flat muffin-top-less stomach? Or you didn't notice that you were the shortest one or the tallest of your whole class? Or that your ears poked out more than everyone else? I remember those days. I didn't even become self conscious of myself until well, 6th grade? When I realized wow I am the tallest kid in the whole school including boys and girls. Lets be honest everyone is different and everyone has a different genetic make up that makes them predisposed to be a certain way. Because Steve is brown I can't help it that my skin is naturally darker than majority of my friends. Thats just the way it is. Not all of us can have perfect bodies like Angelina Jolie and Channing Tatum. Some of us have to work harder but no matter what, we need to learn to love ourselves. So many times I hear people talk about how they wish their nose was different, they had different color of eyes, they want to be taller or shorter, or have more muscle. I won't lie I find myself guilty of doing this a lot. I would love to have a flat stomach and green eyes and thicker hair. But its important not to forget that we are all originals and we should love ourselves rather than trying to change everything that's makes you, you. I should love that I'm a little thicker in the mid section and that my eyes are brown like dog poop and that my hair is thin and stringy right? Ok maybe those were extreme examples but we should learn to love how we are rather than find everything wrong and try to change it. There was a time I wasn't happy with myself. I didn't like the person I was and I had gained a lot of weight, and I found myself being very negative about who I was and the person I was becoming. It took a lot of time and dedication and some real changes to how I lived but I can honestly say I am happy with myself again. When you're happy with yourself you have confidence. And someone with confidence can accomplish anything because belief in yourself is more than half the battle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>4. HELP PEOPLE OUT AROUND YOU</b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjclOJiIopq5x8uVx5HXDReepmqAdT9vzL7E3zG2SvLmE2B2xpQ8Oy_PQ6X2zIl6bolRR6wLkGuYBgmVEHZj9Sn5zW5vXWB8N6HjQg2pLpndN7d4yjsBMF2GeYBlXpexhqXBQtIoNE1Jx/s1600/DSCN1713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjclOJiIopq5x8uVx5HXDReepmqAdT9vzL7E3zG2SvLmE2B2xpQ8Oy_PQ6X2zIl6bolRR6wLkGuYBgmVEHZj9Sn5zW5vXWB8N6HjQg2pLpndN7d4yjsBMF2GeYBlXpexhqXBQtIoNE1Jx/s320/DSCN1713.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The Gypsy always told us to make sure we do nice things for people because when you're serving others you forget about your own problems. Lets be honest we all know this is true. Growing up I found myself guilty sometimes when I would have to go to church service projects. I would drag my feet and have a bad attitude. But by the time we were done, I would forget all about how much I was dreading the service project and wanting to do more for those around me. Now by helping others out doesn't mean you need to organize a huge clothing drive to send large amounts of clothes to a 3rd world country on the other side of the planet. There's so many little things that you can do just around your own neighborhood or even your own family. A smile or a hello can go a long way. You never know how people's day are going so always smile at people and always say hi. When you're at home and see the garbage is full or the dishwasher needs to be loaded do it. Your mother will love you and you get brownie points with her. Open the door for the moms trying to shop with their 5 kids running around and help the old lady at the grocery store get something off the top shelf. Helping those around you doesn't need to be something huge, just do little things. If the opportunity presents itself where you can do something huge then do it. But there's a lot of people who could use a helping hand just in your backyard.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>5. FIND WHAT YOU LOVE AND DO IT</b></span><br />
<a href="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/1551646_730008020379149_4384554552696037060_n.jpg?oh=a71c1502b6a892a3197927ddf600fe80&oe=54DFDBDF" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/1551646_730008020379149_4384554552696037060_n.jpg?oh=a71c1502b6a892a3197927ddf600fe80&oe=54DFDBDF" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/1551646_730008020379149_4384554552696037060_n.jpg?oh=a71c1502b6a892a3197927ddf600fe80&oe=54DFDBDF" width="320" /></a><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10513361_726704507376167_6299906081185136605_n.jpg?oh=8cf8a9222d89a7ad41beeee916a79ff5&oe=551AE7C2&__gda__=1428069364_8b768898312c5a62bc759b91d611b997" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10513361_726704507376167_6299906081185136605_n.jpg?oh=8cf8a9222d89a7ad41beeee916a79ff5&oe=551AE7C2&__gda__=1428069364_8b768898312c5a62bc759b91d611b997" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Every one has a passion for one thing or another. Some people love to cook, some people love to count numbers, and some people love to be around kids. Whatever it is, find your passion and find a way to incorporate it into your every day schedule. Now my passion in life is basketball so everyday I find ways to work basketball into my day. Every day I make sure I either watch, coach, or play basketball. Sometimes when I'm lucky I get to do all 3. Whether its pick up or late night shooting sessions at the gym I make sure I try to get some form of basketball in. I coach during the summer and when season starts I'm lucky enough to coach everyday from October to February. And when I come home I watch whatever college or NBA games that are on TV, especially my Lakers. No matter how my day is going I always find time for basketball. There's times I find myself at work watching basketball YouTubes just because I need that little pick me up. Whatever your passion is find time for it. I won't lie I have moments where I look at the clock its 1 am and I want to go play so I get up, drive to 24 hour, and shoot for an hour with myself. Whatever you love find ways to make it a part of your daily routine and make it a priority. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>6. GRATITUDE</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The definition of gratitude is the quality of being thankful and the readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Every one shows gratitude in different ways. Some people are verbal and like to tell you, some people are physical and like to hug it out, and some people are like me and will send you a thank you card. No matter what you do, show gratitude. With it being the month of November aka month of giving thanks and with Thanksgiving in a week I think it would be a great time to start a gratitude journal. I've been doing one for about 2 weeks and to be honest, I feel I need to publicize some of the things I write because they're kind of funny. But when you are searching to show thanks you really notice things you didn't notice before... example here is last nights...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"tonight I am thankful for the Romans for being the first known to make scrambled eggs. I only like scrambled eggs so if they hadn't done it, then I wouldn't eat eggs which would be detrimental to my bod."</span><br />
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<a href="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t31.0-8/457871_331631246883497_553305057_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t31.0-8/457871_331631246883497_553305057_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Now I know that was kind of a joke but I'm serious! Last night I was cooking myself my scrambled egg whites and I realized I had my eggs over easy and sunny side up so I would never eat eggs if they weren't scrambled. Since I've been doing my gratitude journal its not like I've had this life huge altering experience and the clouds opened up and I heard trumpets playing. Its made me aware of the little things in life that actually matter and that we take so much for granted. I won't life everyday I am so thankful for my cancer and for all my health problems because they wouldn't have made me who I am and its helped me appreciate basketball and those healthy days so much more. So 3 times I a day I write down what I'm thankful for. One in the morning, afternoon, and before I go to bed. Do it and you'll find yourself noticing the little things and being more willing to show gratitude in all aspects of life, even the bad things. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">If you've ever seen Grey's Anatomy you know the notorious line by Christina Yang says,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"If I murdered someone, she's the person I'd call to help me drag the corpse across the living room floor. She's my person."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Now we aren't supposed to take this literally. Don't go out and kill someone and see who the first person who comes to mind. That's not the way to find your person. What I am saying is find your person. Find your people. Surround yourself by people who you know would do anything for you. People who aren't afraid to challenge you because they love you and care about you that much. People who regardless of how you treat them and what you do will stand by your side when you need. Those are the people you need to surround yourself with. So many times in my life I found myself with people who didn't care who I thought cared. People who I thought were my friend and who I could trust but in those moments when I needed someone they weren't there. As human beings we can't help but want to be around other people whether they're friends or family. We all need someone. The hard part is finding someone who's going to be loyal and stick with you through life when life decides to shake things up a bit. If you want to be happy find your people or your person and never let them go. Rather realize how lucky you are to have found them and experience life with them surrounding you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Happiness really is a choice at the end of the day. Choosing happiness isn't always easy especially with all the crap that goes on in the world. I'm not saying if you do all these things you're going to happiest most optimistic person in the world. Life sucks sometimes and its good to realize that and take it in and cope the way you need to. But happiness is attainable if you want it to be. If you surround yourself with people who love you unconditionally, change your attitude and mind set, laugh a little but preferably laugh a lot, find your passion and do it, show gratitude in every aspect of life small or large, and love yourself I honestly can say you'll be happier. </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And there might come a time in your life where you need to stop pleasing everyone around you and do what you want. No one finds true happiness by pleasing everyone else and be selfish for your own happiness' sake. </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">These aren't things you can just do for a week and expect a change. These things take time.. But you know what, after time passes you'll find yourself happy and realizing just how blessed you really are. </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-20554423046231757802014-11-17T10:42:00.001-08:002014-11-17T10:46:03.448-08:00I Guess This Is Growing Up<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have the greatest news... my writers block has left me! The last few months I have easily written over 17 different blogs and have deleted all 17 of them. It didn't feel right. I'm the kind of person when I write I can't share it until I feel its perfect. Until I feel that peace of mind that I've written something worthy of someone's time. Life has been busy trying to balance work, coaching, working out, an attempted social life, family, friends and in the midst of all this I've really found myself. I've realized that at 25 I am officially growing up. I saw something on Facebook that basically described what I was feeling. It was one of those list pages and it was entitled "17 things people born in the late 80s are currently experiencing." Lets just say yes I am experiencing all 17 and now I'm going to tell you all about how exciting growing up really is. 17 is a lot so I'm going to pick and choose the good ones. ..</div>
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Since I was born in the late 80s here are a few things I am currently experiencing.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10365729_797972236916060_3929705060451861063_n.jpg?oh=a74d6879c6bd87b9edae9e76b567feac&oe=55180334" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10365729_797972236916060_3929705060451861063_n.jpg?oh=a74d6879c6bd87b9edae9e76b567feac&oe=55180334" width="320" /></a><br />
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<li style="text-align: justify;">I Can Accomplish Anything In Life</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">This came to me last week when I bought my first car. A few things fell into place and I was able to buy a car, something that I didn't think would be doable. But let me just say, I didn't buy just a piece of junk car to get me to and from my office. I bought an actual nice midsize SUV that I can actually drive in the snow and that can last me a few years. As I was sitting there shaking the hand of the car salesman I realized that I really am capable of anything. I thought about a few of the things I've accomplished over the years and I didn't really realize the magnitude of it all until well, last week. In the last few years I have graduated college, beat cancer, traveled the world, bought a dog, grew a full head of hair, just bought a big kid car, and a few other things. But I now realize I can accomplish anything I really want to. If I want to do something I just need to put my mind to it and work hard to make it happen. Yes I knew this before, but now I really know I am capable of really anything.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">You can't use the excuse of youth for your screw ups, yet you don't feel like a full on adult yet</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Lets be honest, every day I change my mind about the age I want to be. One day I want to be 18 and one day I want to be 21 and the next I'm happy I'm 25. I won't lie I made a lot of life decisions around the motto "its better to ask for forgiveness than permission" and "you can make up a test but you can't make up a good party." Not the brightest mottos but they sure made for some good stories. I used to not think of consequences and just did what I wanted because I could. For the first time in my life I actually think about how my choices and decisions will impact myself, my future, my family, and those around me. I don't feel like a full on adult yet by any means. I'm like, a baby adult. But I now know the difference between a good idea and something completely stupid. I have also realized I need to have less screw ups in life because they were never a good time to start out with</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">You're losing friends because everyone else is moving on with life</li>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/v/t1.0-9/1525574_647265001986785_1404699009_n.jpg?oh=f5b79b1ac2e46d0ae38fdae6741d8496&oe=551FFD30&__gda__=1427777890_17b42c8c8e5aad807d6840aea7d29702" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/v/t1.0-9/1525574_647265001986785_1404699009_n.jpg?oh=f5b79b1ac2e46d0ae38fdae6741d8496&oe=551FFD30&__gda__=1427777890_17b42c8c8e5aad807d6840aea7d29702" width="320" /></a>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Friends... I won't lie I have a pretty solid base group of friends. We used to hang out all the time and what not but you know, life happens. People get married, move away, pop kids out, and well everything changes. I look at all my closest friends and they are all majority married, pregnant if they don't already have a kid or two, and half of them have moved away. Or they got married had a kid and are getting divorced. It sucks yes but this is called life and life happens. Now I wouldn't like to say I'm losing friends. I still talk to them all the time! I talk to Steph on almost a daily basis and shes married in the Motherland of Canada with Travis and Scout. So you see it isn't that you're losing friends. Its that rather than going to dance parties and watching movies every weekend your "hanging out" becomes phone calls, text message conversations, and occasional lunches. It is what it is, life happens.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Sometimes you're just faking it and casually mimicking others to blend in while you're figuring yourself out.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">So this was me for majority of 23 and midway through being 24. I found myself not really knowing who I was. I was doing what everyone around me was doing because well, everyone was doing it. I just floated. Didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up, didn't take life really serious, and just did what I had to so I could pay the necessary bills and get by. Well as of late I have realized who I really am and what I need to do and who I need to be. I am still figuring out the details of what I want for my future but I have the foundation down of what I need to be doing. No more blending in with the crowd for me. I've noticed since I've established that I spend a lot of weekend nights either at the gym or hanging with my family but I now know what I want to be doing. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Birthdays are no longer enjoyable. They're just a reminder you're another year past 21.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">This year when I turned 25 I had no desire to do anything. Yes 25 isn't old by any means, but its 25. Its a quarter of a century and I'm still not back to being 18. I can feel the aches and pains in my body a little bit more each year. And it sucks. I remember when I used to throw big parties and go out to dinner and do all this fun stuff for my birthday. This year I hung out at my moms, played some basketball, then had a family party with all my cousins and their kids and watched <i>Frozen</i>. Yes majority of my party guests were under the age of 10 and half of them can barley walk. But let me just say I couldn't think of a better way to spend my 25th birthday.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Your body is becoming need and high maintenance to maintain.</li>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10387400_787664207946863_435844514543789383_n.jpg?oh=99d55e26778b6d861e01b660446551dc&oe=551FBF3C&__gda__=1423464821_a968baa30f7e95f5b99a5edf21b81992" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10387400_787664207946863_435844514543789383_n.jpg?oh=99d55e26778b6d861e01b660446551dc&oe=551FBF3C&__gda__=1423464821_a968baa30f7e95f5b99a5edf21b81992" width="240" /></a></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">I wish bodies worked like cell phones. Every two years you get a new upgrade to something newer, faster, and prettier. Either that or vampires were real. My body is old, beat up, filled with cancer and titanium screws, and to be honest I need an upgrade or a vampire to turn me into an immortal stuck at 25. Either or are great options. If only life was that simple. For the first time I have had to take working out seriously, eating right seriously, and making sure I'm taking care of my body. This summer I played down at the Utah summer games and played roughly 6 basketball games in 3 days. I was icing and heating and stretching before and after every game and could still barley walk! I can't wear shorts and flip flops in the winter time and I can't stay up every night playing Xbox until the morning. I have to actually spend time warming up before I work out, icing after, and doing all the little things I never did before. Yay for getting old.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Learning lessons first hand because you remember when an adult told you told you in the past.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">I find myself on almost a daily basis saying "Wow Michelle was right." or "I swear someone told me not to do this" You know stuff like that. Majority of the major mistakes I managed to make in my life I was warned about, specifically by Michelle. I look back and I honestly wonder how easier my life would have been if I had actually just taken allt he advice given to me along the way rather than learning things the hard way and for myself. Then again I'm grateful I did things the way I did because if I hadn't I probably wouldn't have as many funny stories, as many cool scars, and I would have never really learned anything growing up.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">You're no longer developing into someone, you're identifying who you've developed into.</li>
<ul><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10358125_798808070165810_7897069155609144549_n.jpg?oh=75ac5243f3ddc3fa27607284984fc8f2&oe=54DB63E0&__gda__=1427992636_6ba5e3c9208e734f9bcaeffeb20bc47e" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10358125_798808070165810_7897069155609144549_n.jpg?oh=75ac5243f3ddc3fa27607284984fc8f2&oe=54DB63E0&__gda__=1427992636_6ba5e3c9208e734f9bcaeffeb20bc47e" width="240" /></a>
<li style="text-align: justify;">The last 6 months this has been me. I really have realized the person I've developed into and how I need to live and what I need to do. My whole life I thought I was just like my Dad. More laid back go with the flow kind of person. The last 6 months I realized I have been lying to myself all this time! I have moments of being laid back, but I also love to be in control, I love and need a clean house, I like to have a million things to do, and I have a hard time saying no. Basically what I really discovered is I'm just like Michelle. Lets be honest now, I couldn't be any happier knowing I'm just like my Gypsy. If I had to pick someone to take after it would be her. So now that I am all grown up and I now know who I really am its made life a lot easier lately. </li>
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Growing up is never easy. I wont even lie. I know I'm not even old but to think that 10 years ago I was 15 years old just seems like such a long time! I get asked a lot of times if I dread getting older because I have a terminal illness that usually kills people sooner than later. The thing is, I've loved getting older. For the first time in my life I actually feel like I have it together and I know where I'm going and what I'm going to be doing with my life. Its more of a sense of relief and even with the cancer stuff, it doesn't really impact anything besides where I live. My whole life I wanted to get out of Utah. I wanted to move back East and experience that life. I wanted to end up in Virginia in a cute little cottage and have some amazing romantical love story that you only would read in a Nicholas Sparks book. But I now realize 1. Utah is my home 2. I don't want to be any further away from my family than I need to be and 3. There's a reason love stories like that are only in books in movies. Clearly I've been watching the Notebook and Safe Haven too lately. I actually feel good about my life and growing up and I know where I'm going. Being the Virgo I am I don't like change or uncertainty, and now having that comfort and peace of mind with my life I can actually get some sleep.<br />
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Lets just take a minute to be so thankful my writers block is gone though... I've missed blogging and its nice to get some thoughts down. Hope everyone's enjoying these last few days of no snow (if you're in Utah), and if you don't live in Utah and live where it doesn't know well be thankful you don't have to drive in the snow!<br />
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PS... many blogs to come this week!!!<br />
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Alexis</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-11513047598488923152014-09-09T11:13:00.002-07:002014-09-09T11:13:35.184-07:00The Holy War...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Whoa two posts in one week! Its your lucky week my friends. Just kidding... but for reals this whole post just came to me last night and I thought it would be something worth writing about. Everyone knows that college football is the happiest time of the year. Everyone around these parts also know what the Holy War. The Holy War is one of the most sacred days out of the year where, the Dirty Utes and the School down South go head to head in 60 minutes of nail biting, hair pulling football. Aka, the BYU vs Utah football game. So time out... I'm 24 years old and I love football. Why? What girl just loves football and knows the positions, the play, the penalties, and the techniques? The daughter of a coach. Football has been one of the biggest factors in my life besides my family. But football and family go hand in hand if you're a Kaufusi. If you google the last name Kaufusi you get pages and pages of football related articles and webpages. From before I was born, football is what made it all happen. Steve was playing football at BYU where he met Michelle at the Freedom Bowl. From there Steve was drafted into the NFL where he played for the Eagles. Steve and Michelle decided to become lovers and married. I was born. Bronson was born. Steve was released and went on to play for the London Monarchs. Corbin was born, then Steve was offered a GA position at the University of Utah in 1994 where my story really beings. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGm4SBlpeAvpcSwTxka9uWiHyh6snS1iAVfqW_wSVJiYMOsN59H5_YxtqH3HVXkUVtiaf_PLxxivOxtnd9YcfZ8HnChqUgspifH_WJO2Aq22xn5IulBZfF6HuMtrZTYrAyYT7KWSgX5EI/s1600/531721_515419231838030_1598591325_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGm4SBlpeAvpcSwTxka9uWiHyh6snS1iAVfqW_wSVJiYMOsN59H5_YxtqH3HVXkUVtiaf_PLxxivOxtnd9YcfZ8HnChqUgspifH_WJO2Aq22xn5IulBZfF6HuMtrZTYrAyYT7KWSgX5EI/s1600/531721_515419231838030_1598591325_n.jpg" height="200" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcVNOo3lOmgeau7ottvZmoMWzZQNk6zi3ra8FG4Leob7RZ_tg17m2BSh-glemn1BQSFxtg9uaQCMmJMuYv7bxYYWKs7FRZCVwbVASCjFRqIWKBeAPh7zwBKlOpFFEC7ZsWysCtHM1PzE/s1600/733782_515419311838022_2110208066_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcVNOo3lOmgeau7ottvZmoMWzZQNk6zi3ra8FG4Leob7RZ_tg17m2BSh-glemn1BQSFxtg9uaQCMmJMuYv7bxYYWKs7FRZCVwbVASCjFRqIWKBeAPh7zwBKlOpFFEC7ZsWysCtHM1PzE/s1600/733782_515419311838022_2110208066_n.jpg" height="200" width="145" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGm4SBlpeAvpcSwTxka9uWiHyh6snS1iAVfqW_wSVJiYMOsN59H5_YxtqH3HVXkUVtiaf_PLxxivOxtnd9YcfZ8HnChqUgspifH_WJO2Aq22xn5IulBZfF6HuMtrZTYrAyYT7KWSgX5EI/s1600/531721_515419231838030_1598591325_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>In 1994 when I was just 5 years old up to today I have been and still am affiliated with either BYU or Utah football. From the age of 5 until I was 13 I was a die hard Ute. We all were. Steve was the Defensive Line coach, my uncles Jeff, Henry, Doug, and Jason all played there. I grew up obsessed with Andre Miller and Rick Majerus. One day hoped to play for Elaine Elliot because when I went to all her camps as a kid she always told me I was going to play for her one day. Our weekends usually consisted of watching the Utah gymnastics team and playing tag at the football facility. We always looked forward to steak dinners at Coach Mac's house and bowl games every year. I was raised not to necessarily hate BYU, but we didn't cheer for them. We knew thats where Steve and Michelle went but now we were Utes so it didn't matter. Its actually funny you look at some of the BYU and Utah coaches and some have been on both sides. My dad was a BYU football player and graduated from there but started his coaching career at Utah but found his way back to BYU. The Whittinghams have a great history of BYU football but Kyle now is the head coach up at the U. My Uncle Jason played at the U but was Steve's GA. So you see its ok to go back and forth. The bulk of my childhood was centered around being a Utah football fan and cheering for the Utes every Saturday. That all changed though in 2002 where the phrase, as Michelle puts it, we are loyal to the paycheck really became the truth. </div>
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In 2002 Michelle broke the news we were moving down south to Provo to become Cougars! Now as a 13 year old the concept of moving is bad enough. But now we are going to be forced to wear BYU stuff and cheer for the school we were taught not to cheer for? I fought it I won't lie. I remember taking my favorite Utah sweatshirt with me and wearing it on occasion just to raise hell because well, thats what I'm best at doing. I remember going to the BYU basketball camps thinking, why am I here this is so lame compared to Utah's. My parents understood and let me attend the Utah camps still though because thats all I knew. But the older I got I finally got rid of all my secret Utah gear and converted to be a full blue blooded Cougar fan. Now that I'm older and I played at BYU, graduated from there, and now my brother's all play there, my sister in law is on the soccer team, Steve coaches there its natural for me to be a cougar. I had some cousins who used to play at the U but they are now graduated. Its funny because my Dad and his brother Rich played at BYU. The younger uncles played at the U. The cousins all my age played at the U. But all the cousins younger than me including my brothers are so far playing at BYU. Its been fun to see how things can change like that. A family with BYU roots goes to Utah and back to BYU all in the span of about 25 years. </div>
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So back to the Holy War. Now the Holy War for the first time in my life that I can recall isn't happening this year. Am I sad? Of course! I love the BYU vs Utah football game. The energy in the stadium is something I've never felt at any other sporting event. Its a game that played not just for pride and bragging rights but its also a personal game. So many people take the Holy War personally its insane. Now I'm not one to sit here and say how much I hate the U. Its a great school. Their medical facilities and doctors saved my life as well as Michelle's and the twin's at one point. Its where my Dad was given a chance to really coach. And its there that I got confidence in myself as a basketball player. I think so many people have this deep hate for one or the other and they don't see the good. Having been affiliated with both programs there's definitely up and downs. When we were at the U we had 50 yard line 6th row seats. At BYU we are 10 rows from the top in the nose bleeds. At BYU Steve doesn't work Sundays and at Utah he did. At Utah their colors were red, white, and black (my favorite) and BYU is navy blue and white. BYU is sponsored by Nike (I only wear nike) and Utah is sponsored by Under Armor. So there's ups and downs to both. Sometimes I catch myself hoping Utah loses games but I mean, the state of Utah I think is one of the most overlooked states when it comes to football. High school and college Utah is just overlooked. With the U being in the Pac 12 that's a hard conference which means a hard schedule. If Utah does good that makes the the whole state of Utah look good. Same with Utah State and BYU. Earlier I said a phrase that Michelle says, "We are loyal to the paycheck." And yes when we were younger we definitely were. But with age comes wisdom and I think blood is thicker than water whether you bleed blue or red. My cousins Dave and Pati played at the U and for the first time in years I found myself cheering for Utah (when they weren't playing BYU of course). I saw my aunts and uncles who never had anything or positive to say about BYU all the sudden dressed in BYU shirts and cheering for us when Bronson started playing there. I think all rivalries set aside family is more important especially when you're a family divided between the power football schools in the state of Utah.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFk3XmGzJJbaFRasIHe3VEvI4xJA5M8PtrQEwAn9-MlztJZcshNFaoHTKitnxqXkTMZ8PV6E0jpDGet_6FGJCQ6GFyzVCwHMT5nnw253KLQ70Ch1nS3tszvf8ILFrRdBMOUKQ3n5JaIM/s1600/10681628_764649520248332_856278222_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFk3XmGzJJbaFRasIHe3VEvI4xJA5M8PtrQEwAn9-MlztJZcshNFaoHTKitnxqXkTMZ8PV6E0jpDGet_6FGJCQ6GFyzVCwHMT5nnw253KLQ70Ch1nS3tszvf8ILFrRdBMOUKQ3n5JaIM/s1600/10681628_764649520248332_856278222_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>Recently with BYU's success this season and the absence of the Holy War I honestly think I am hearing for negative comments about BYU and than in the years past. Yes without a Holy War we will never know who is better. But Steve always says "Any team can beat anybody on any given day." So how will we really know which team is better? We won't. Having been a BYU athlete, I think sometimes at BYU we sike ourselves out for the Utah game to be honest. My favorite games were always against Utah and I played some of my best basketball against Utah. But having seen how others players respond and talking to Bronson, BYU kids tend to sike themselves out for the Utah game. It is what it is. I think BYU and Utah football will always have that competitiveness between them for the top team in the state, or more so just between each other. It is what it is. </div>
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One thing I will never understand are some of the fans. I will never get the fans who didn't attend either BYU or Utah and have no ties with the players, but are always the first ones to talk poorly on the schools. I've been on both sides of the fence. I can say yes I think some of Utah's fans are the rowdiest fans I've seen. Some push the disrespectful envelope once you get a few beers in them. I can also say BYU has some wish-washy fans. They'll be carrying the quarterback on their shoulders one second after a good game then dragging their name through the mud after a bad one. Yes these are extremes but I can guarantee there's some Utah fans who don't know their own QBs name and some BYU fans who don't know what Bronco Mendenhall even looks like. At the end of the day though, I think sometimes the whole BYU vs Utah, Holy War is blown out of proportion. Yes it is the one game a year that I am early to and sit through the whole thing. Yes I sometimes find myself getting a little feisty with Utah fans when they talk bad about the BYU football program. No football program is perfect. I think its awesome both teams are 2-0 so far in this season. How awesome has it been that BYU has beat Texas the past two years? How awesome was it when Utah beat Stanford last year? I guess what I'm getting at is, I understand the significance of the Holy War. But with it being absent this year I feel the hostility should go down rather than increase ten fold. All I know is, I hope Utah does well in the Pac 12. Thats one hard conference to be in so I wish them the best. I hope BYU keeps getting better, wins every game, and that Bronson can stay away from these dang injuries. Its the Kaufusi curse I tell you!</div>
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Regardless of everything, yes I am a BYU cougar through and through. Like I said earlier, its where my parents met, fell in love, and graduated. Steve played football and coaches there. Michelle was a cougarette. I played basketball and graduated from there. Bronson plays football and played basketball. Hilary plays soccer. Corbin will play basketball. Devin has signed to play football. And Daryl will start next summer semester. We might have been Utes for a few years but I think deep down we were still Cougs. We're just a BYU family now. And family over everything right? Hope everyone has a fantastic week though. Its only Tuesday... I don't know why but I keep thinking its Wednesday. Check out BYU as they play Houston this Thursday. I doubt Bronson will be playing but you can always cheer for the big brown man on the sideline. He usually has a hat on. I hope you're all enjoying your football season as much I am. Go Cougars!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Man oh man... with September here that means a lot of different things are happening. I can honestly say that I think outside Christmas time, September is the busiest month. I mean, we have school starting, football, soccer, fall camp for basketball, and if you're lucky enough to live in Utah you get to see the leaves start to go from green to yellow to red all in the same month. September is also the birthday month to some of my favorite people: my cousin Hillary, my roommate Rita, one of my closest friends Ande, and just a ton more people, including myself. So this birthday I'm turning 25. A quarter of a century and I can't help but think about in the past 25 years what have I really done with my life? So I started thinking and I came up with a few ideas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In the last 25 years I have:</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Traveled to nearly every state and 8 different countries</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Had more surgeries and sets of stitches that I can keep track of</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Tasted some of the most amazing food from all over the world</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Held a Tiger shark</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Been to Lorde, Cher, 311, Tim McGraw, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, and a number of other concerts</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Had every hair style possible in a two year span: Bald, blonde short and spiky, mullet, extensions, shoulder length, long and to my waist.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Cliff jumped off a 30ft cliff</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Skied every slope at Alta and Brighton</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">And with the help and support of too many people to name, I beat cancer</span></li>
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So in 25 years I have managed to do quite a lot I would like to think. But over 25 years I have learned every lesson the hard way. If there were rules I somehow managed to break them, ignore them, or just simply live by my own. At times its made my life exciting and filled with cool scars and great stories. At times its also brought a lot of tears and set backs. Through the good, the bad, the mullet phase, and adrenaline rushes there's one thing that I've learned and continues to manifest itself on a daily basis the most important thing in my life has been:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Now, my family. I say this all the time but we really do need our own reality TV show. The older we have gotten the more entertaining life has become that's for sure. We all have grown into our personalities and are comfortable with ourselves. Its made for some good laughs along the way. There was a situation recently where I was asked in the odd chance that I had died from the cancer scare what I would say to each of my family members. Lets just say that question really hit home and really just manifested the importance of family. It made me realize yet again how important my family is to me. Each person brings something to the table that helps with the flow. Steve brings the stern Bishop Kaufusi one second and the childish humor the next. Michelle is the glue she keeps us all in line and is the first to do some crazy adventure. Bronson is loud and laughs at everything including himself. Hilary is more quiet and reminds Bronson to use his inside voice. Corbin is fun and free spirited. Daryl is sensitive, awkward, and hilarious. Devin is quiet but can get in the fun when he needs to. Where do I play into all this? I'm the one who's blunt, outspoken, but always in for an adventure. </span></div>
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We, by no means, are a perfect family. We fight, we have falling outs, and we get on each others nerves. There have been times where phones have been crushed, car keys have been confiscated, and on one particular time a knife was accidentally thrown. We aren't perfect. Getting the pieces to fit correctly took some time but we figured it out. Each person in my family though has made me the person who I am today. They have all taught me something that over the last 25 years makes me who I am. </span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Steve has taught me to be tough and resilient through any trial in life.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Michelle has taught me cleanliness and structure make life a whole lot easier. She also taught me just because I'm a girl should never limit me. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Bronson has taught me to see the good in people and the meaning of dedication</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hilary has taught me to always be kind and patient</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Corbin has taught me to smile and to let loose sometimes</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Daryl has taught me that its ok to be sensitive and its ok to eat a pack of bacon in one sitting</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Devin... hasn't taught me anything yet but I'm sure the time will come</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPsBXeLekYKrQqKIMBOpvuipAB1_0avNBkF_WQOidDF-ogNacdpyPVx3qjvg32M4Z7jSCUNJJke3vZEs0YuKYn9Y1gLSPHybJ4HBrHq5rvQJFmmcj8y3bUymXsvb-BTgVs1PhsUBpEJs/s1600/8872_471408712905749_1071809087_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPsBXeLekYKrQqKIMBOpvuipAB1_0avNBkF_WQOidDF-ogNacdpyPVx3qjvg32M4Z7jSCUNJJke3vZEs0YuKYn9Y1gLSPHybJ4HBrHq5rvQJFmmcj8y3bUymXsvb-BTgVs1PhsUBpEJs/s1600/8872_471408712905749_1071809087_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Like I said, a family is like a puzzle. You have to get all the pieces to fit and when they do it really is a beautiful thing. I get asked all the time if we really get along as well as it looks in pictures and to be honest, we do. It helps when we have so much in common. We all love to work out. We all love to play sports. And we all love food. But like I said we fight and we disagree we get in arguments. But at the end of day we are family. Blood is thicker than water and I love my family. The older I've gotten I've realized the importance of family and that the bond between brothers, sisters, and parents is stronger than any other. Like I said, I learned my lessons the hard way. Growing up especially in high school I didn't enjoy the time at Tipmview with my brothers, I taught my friends better than the siblings, and I was short tempered and rude with my parents. Now that I'm nearly 25 I can you this, family is everything. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So as I mentioned before, I was asked what I would say to each of family members if I was going to die... Well that's for me to know and for them to find out when that time comes. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrdhi40Http79V4u0Bh4I7sfkDj4ANZCn2MZ_UwDmzhmDEnluh8LTsjSyaCtneJduiiUcAVEG7Bnw9X7-Ia6wQk5cQLb_vK2gLmHimoQaSBoYio_-e-WKDnmaJ_p2BY4FshJ2kk55lps/s1600/1235906_584109878302298_55598403_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrdhi40Http79V4u0Bh4I7sfkDj4ANZCn2MZ_UwDmzhmDEnluh8LTsjSyaCtneJduiiUcAVEG7Bnw9X7-Ia6wQk5cQLb_vK2gLmHimoQaSBoYio_-e-WKDnmaJ_p2BY4FshJ2kk55lps/s1600/1235906_584109878302298_55598403_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">As I do in most aspects of my life, I have been lucky enough to have an awesome family who loves me and accepts me and my ridiculousness and sometimes joins in on the fun. Side note, if you ever do want a good laugh come by the Gypsy Lair and I can promise you we will show you a good time. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-63875922530929708002014-07-31T13:28:00.002-07:002014-07-31T13:28:34.323-07:00Confessions and thoughts on being unmarried, 24 (almost 25) year old, BYU graduate...<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Well its been a minute now since I've blogged. I checked and the last time I blogged was June 10 and I was anxiously anticipating the homecoming of my brother Corbin. Don't worry he made it home safe and sound from South Korea and has dove head first back into the real world. Between working, coaching, family vacations, and trying to balance time with everyone and every thing I haven't been able to sit down and just blog and talk about my thoughts and life until today. Today's post came to me yesterday when I posted a Facebook status, which I rarely do. It read:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 20px;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"Everyone my age is married or having babies or something. And I'm here thinking about my desire for chicken enchiladas, when I can play basketball next, and if Kobe Bryant will wear the low 9s or the high 9s this season"</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I was actually quite surprised at the feedback I got from it. So this was how the status happened now: I was sitting on my futon staring at the pile of clean laundry and my TV that was flashing Shaun T telling me I needed to focus for my workout. It crossed my mind that I turn 25 in a month and a half, then I snapped out of it and realized my current thought process. I was thinking about chicken enchiladas and how I needed to work out if I wanted to go to Maria Bonita and eat them on Thursday. Then I was thinking when I could play basketball again whether at Michelle's house or some church. Then my eyes some something colorful out of the corner of my eye, my new Kobe low 9s. Then my mind flash forwarded to the upcoming NBA season and whether Kobe will wear the low 9s or the super high 9s... So there you have it. my thought process that led to my Facebook status. Well 10 comments and over 170+ likes later it sparked the idea for this post. So here are some of the thoughts that cross my mind on a daily basis...</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I wonder what Michelle is cooking for dinner tonight?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Its hot I hope Bella drank her water bowls rather than trying to swim in them.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What should I cook for dinner?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Harmons or Sprouts for groceries?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I bet Daryl ate a whole pack of bacon for breakfast.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I wonder if Porsche will be in the same spot I left her at this morning. Probably.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I've tweeted at Kobe Bryant like 100 times I wonder if he recognizes my name yet.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In the situation of a zombie apocalypse I have no guns in my house.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I missed that massive spot on my legs shaving. I need chemo in my life.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">True or False: Swig makes their sugar cookies with heroin. They're addicting.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Where can I buy a Llama?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If I had a llama I would name him... Ezsma. Like on Emperors New Grove</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I wonder how fat I would get if I ate only chicken enchiladas forever and ever.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If dragons were real... I would want a red and black one.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I would probably name my dragon Khaleesi... after the one and only.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If I caught a bear cub... How would I keep it and what would I feed it?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Vampires... They have to be real. Edward Cullen has to be real. For my sanity. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">How can I convince Michelle to let Steve get a corgi?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If I bought them a corgi would she kill me?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I bet Cher is drinking a Dr. Pepper right now.</span></li>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10524311_744312672282017_8890779100478768268_n.jpg?oh=866dae84c729d094a1fc56b0b162742d&oe=5437C9CD&__gda__=1413771132_e6bb915d2fd98811150164dc9cc9aac7" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10524311_744312672282017_8890779100478768268_n.jpg?oh=866dae84c729d094a1fc56b0b162742d&oe=5437C9CD&__gda__=1413771132_e6bb915d2fd98811150164dc9cc9aac7" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So those are my thoughts on a day to day basis. I can't help but laugh because they revolve around food for the most part. Steve always says, "Sweetie you weren't fat when you were little, you were just a good eater." So y`ea whatever that means... not sure if its a compliment or not yet. Besides that though, being 24 and not married in Utah county really isn't bad at all. I actually love it. I think I definitely deserve a gold medal for making it out of BYU not married and for making it out of BYU alive at all. Lord knows it wasn't an easy road by any means. I get asked all the time "Who are you dating?" "Aren't you sad you aren't married?" "It must have been so hard watching Bronson get married first huh?" "You've been a bridesmaid like 10 times I bet you have an awesome dress collection." and the comments go on and on. Lets be honest for a moment now everyone, you get outside the bubble of Utah County and its typical that you don't get married until you're older anyways right? This whole 18 and 19 year old thing stresses me out too much. I look back to when I was 18 and I definitely couldn't imagine being married. Or really in any kind of a mature serious relationship. I was too busy playing basketball and guitar hero and trying not to fail out of BYU. So I turn 25 in about a month and a half. When Michelle was 25 she already had me and she had just popped out this yellow asian looking child we now call Bronson. Michelle got married when she was 22 so kind of older (for Utah County standards) and Steve was 26. They definitely lasted longer than most BYU kids so way to go you two! But I think, could I manage a two year old and a newborn? Yes I'm sure I could and I would do it like a champ, but am I really ready for that? No. Financially, emotionally, and mentally I'm not ready for those responsibilities. Right now my responsibilities include my job, coaching my girls, Porsche, Bella, Klaus, keeping Michelle and Steve on their toes, and doing my laundry. I mean I have 3 kids, they may not be like my little triplet cousin kind of kids, but they're kids. They still need TLC every night, they need food and toys, they need baths, and they poop everywhere. Just like babies. The only difference is they don't talk back and they aren't a pain in my you know what forever. Personally I love my life. I have a great job, I get to coach on the side, I have 3 adorable furry kids, I live with my best friends, and I live close to my family and see them everyday. Solid life I would say.</span></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-a-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10511223_743464599033491_951086746738445439_n.jpg?oh=c23e5a9d38fe49576faf3bcc19d48127&oe=544A959D" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-a-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10511223_743464599033491_951086746738445439_n.jpg?oh=c23e5a9d38fe49576faf3bcc19d48127&oe=544A959D" width="320" /></a>So in my head, my life is extraordinary, so why doesn't everyone else see that? I didn't realize the seriousness of how depressed these single BYU girls are and just how people view girls like me until I went to Bishop Steve's single ward on a testimony meeting day. This was 2 years ago and every girl got up and talked about how miserable she is because she 25 or 26 and not married and how she doesn't know why she can't find a husband. In my head I thought, ok you're pathetic. You have a Masters from BYU, a great job, are completely independent and you're telling me how miserable you are? I think sometimes the Mormon Culture and even better to say, the BYU culture makes you seem like an outcast if you're not married by the time you're 21. I think learning as a woman to be independent is one of the greatest things ever! I was laughing last night because Michelle got a new printer and Daryl got a pull up bar, who do they call to come set it all up... Me. In my head, you have a husband and 3 sons and you called me? I ended up doing the printer myself but I made Daryl do the pull up bar like a big girl. I think its important to learn things like that. As I was watching her attempt to do this pull up bar and asking me what acorn knuts were it dawned on me. Steve was always teaching me about sprinkling systems, how to start the lawn mower, how to change a tire, the difference between gasoline and the mixed gas with oil, and everything else that no wonder I can use power tools better than all my brothers. So I made Daryl put together her pull up bar herself and she didn't do a terrible job. I think independence is a blessing and sometimes we don't see it as one. And by we I mean single girls. I've taken advantage of my independence and I am without a doubt in my mind happy. I know if in the situation I don't get married and don't have that aspect of life that I'll still be happy because I've created a foundation of a happy life with myself. When I had cancer they told me roughly 10% of the battle is physical. Reminding myself to just keep breathing. The other 90% would be mental. Reminding myself to be happy and keep fighting and most importantly make the best out of everything. That applies to life. Make the best of it. Why be sad when you can be happy?</div>
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To wrap this up, what I'm trying to get at is I'm almost 25. I'm not married, nor am I near it. I graduated from BYU and didn't get married and you know what, I couldn't be happier. Lately I've been asked a lot about marriage and what not and you know what, at this time in my life its not a priority. Referring back to my Facebook status that started all of this there were 2 comments made that have stuck with me and really just made me feel even more at peace with my life. First was my neighbor and friend Maureen commented, "Enjoy your youth cause its the only thing you have in life that is guaranteed to age gracefully or not." I loved this! Gracefully or not we age and while I'm young I play on enjoying what I have and being happy. Not worrying about the future. Not all of us will age as wonderfully as Cher did. She's 68 and looks fantastic and can fit into her original <i>Turn Back Time</i> outfit (I would know because I saw her live earlier this month). The second comment made was by either my Aunt Lisa or my Uncle Gordon. Not sure which one of the wrote but both have been examples in my life from day 1 and have always given me the best life talks. They wrote, "Our own passions are what make life worth living, find what you're passionate about and let it bring you happiness, for it makes you, you." As I look at myself I never was the girl who wore make up everyday and had her wedding planned out when she was 16 and knew the diamond ring she wanted. If you were to asked me what a princess cut diamond ring looked like I would have to google it for you. I am who I am and I love it. I can count on one hand the times I've worn make up in the last 2 months. Corbin's homecoming, family pictures, the Tim McGraw concert, and Cher concert. We are who we are and we will do what makes us happy regardless of what people think and what may seem to be the popular thing to do. </div>
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So there you have it. The confessions and thoughts of an unmarried 24 year old BYU graduate. I know this post is similar to one I did previously but I mean, I think people don't realize just how awesome it is to be young and single and alive. Why not enjoy it and let the rest of the puzzle fall into place? I promise I will be a better blogger now that my summer is calming down. Couple of side notes about my personal life:</div>
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<li>Won the Summer Games woot woot! Gold medals for days. </li>
<li>Cher is my idol. The end. Quote of the night from her concert, "I'm Cher I'm f'ing fabulous and all you have for me is a six pack of doctor pepper? I'm an icon."</li>
<li>California trip to Laguna was a success! Even with Michelle on crutches.</li>
<li>Family pictures turned out great. Thank you Margi!!</li>
<li>Bronson and I are still the champions of 2 on 2 vs Devin and Corbin</li>
<li>Fall camp starts today practically! Go cougars!</li>
<li>Steve started work again after the best vacation ever. Pray for his D line they're young. </li>
<li>Bronson's lover Hilary broke her leg and got surgery. Pray for a quick recovery.</li>
<li>Michelle got stuck with crutches an extra 2 weeks because shes stubborn can't old still. Pray she can't get off crutches one day. </li>
<li>Daryl tore her other ACL but will rehab it and still play soccer her senior year. Pray for the citizens of Provo because she just got her drivers license. She's 18 don't worry.</li>
<li>Devin is well Devin and we aren't sure what he does most the time. Pray for him in all aspects of life.</li>
<li>Corbin has decided to not play football and play basketball instead. We will all pray for the Gonzaga fans who are terrified at another Kaufusi on the BYU basketball team. </li>
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School starts in a few weeks so everyone enjoy their summer! If you know of any good hikes let me know. Enjoy this nice warm weather. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Alexis</i></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-71860538241486826642014-06-10T14:41:00.001-07:002014-06-10T14:42:30.111-07:00Corbs...I started writing this blog post at 3:30pm which means Corbin comes home in approximately...<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">3 days 3 hours and 38 minutes</span></div>
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Now... If you don't understand the significance of 1. him coming home 2. him being gone and 3. my excitement, well I'm going to explain it for you in very simple terms... Corbin has been serving a 2 year LDS mission in Seoul Korea. That means we have no contact with him. We get a weekly email, that seemed to get shorter and shorter as time went on. We get two phone calls a year that are 40 minutes long. And besides that we just keep our fingers crossed and hope North Korea doesn't invade any time soon. So Corbin coming home is an even bigger deal than most because he's my brother but he's also my favorite brother. Judge me, I have favorites. My parents have favorites as well. Daryl is Steve's. Bronson is Michelle's. So Daryl is naturally my favorite sister, Hilary is my favorite sister in law, and Corbin is my favorite brother. He went form 3rd favorite brother to 1st favorite all in a year's time. The boy has skills. So as I said Corbin used to be my 3rd favorite brother. I didn't like Corbin for a long time. I thought he had no sense of style, I assumed he was color blind, and I couldn't believe he didn't get embarrassed with the stuff he did. Now this when I was 17 a senior in high school and he was a little freshman in high school. Flash forward 3 years. Bronson goes on a mission. I get cancer, and BAM! Corbin is my best friend. I soon realized I was just jealous of his confidence, his sense of humor, his lack of care, as well as his dance moves and I also realized, he's my best friend. So let me just tell you somethings I learned from Corbin and just a little bit about him... </div>
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<b>Corbin Don't Give A Crap</b></div>
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Corbin I don't think ever once in his life has cared about what people think about him. He wears ridiculous outfits. He acts ridiculous in public. He gets kicked out of walmart. He runs around shirtless. He runs around in booty shorts. He honestly doesn't care what people think. He literally just doesn't care. I remember my senior year of high school I saw him one. Crawling through the halls doing an impression of Gollum from Lord of the Rings. He was in blue, pink, and green camo shorts. A Brown shirt. And red shoes. If you know me, I match everything including my sports bra, socks, and spandex with the rest of my outfit. I was mortified. I later realized I was an idiot and rather than running from this behavior I should have filmed it, posted it on youtube, and been more like him. Corbin taught me its ok to make people stare because they're going to stare anyways. Might as well make it entertaining for them. </div>
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<b>Dance Like No One's Watching</b></div>
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Corbin can dance. This boy is 6'10" and he can drop it lower than any girl I know and moves his hips as good as Shakira. He also has dances memorized on the game Dance Central and ALWAYS wins. Without fail. He can be on expert and I can be on beginner and he will still quadruple my score. His junior year at Timpview he did the school talent show and him and some friend did a hilarious dance. Here's the link:</div>
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Now either right this second or the second you finish reading go and watch the dance so you fully understand what I'm talking about. So this dance the boys spent hours practicing! And every night Corbin would come home so mad because Bronson couldn't get an 8 count down and kept messing up the dance. Bronson, unlike Corbin, cannot dance if his life depended on it. He likes to think he can, but he can't. Anyways, so Corbin almost kicked Brons out of the dance the night before the dance. Bronson ended up learning to count to 8 to the beat of the music and was able to perform. Sometimes Corbin and I would just have dance parties. We would blast music in the basement and just dance. He taught me some good moves but he also taught me to let loose and have some fun every now and then. </div>
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<b>Talking In Accents is Funny</b></div>
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When Corb was in high school his friends did the weekly announcements for Timpview High School. They were the funniest characters and went all out with costumes and all. So Corbin played the role of AJ (Aladin Jafar) and spoke in a middle eastern accent and well, it was hilarious. He was so good at talking in all accents. British, Australian, Scottish, Fob... really any accent he mastered in a matter of minutes. He finally shared some tips with me to help my pathetic excuse for a British accent. When I was going through chemo and was having a bad day he always would start talking in a Scottish accent and for whatever reason I just laughed and it was an instant good mood every time. He did this with everyone. Anytime Michelle would get mad at him he would instantly start dancing around like a complete fool yelling all kinds of things in some foreign accent. He did this daily. Multiple times. At home, in public wherever. I'm sure people thought he was crazy, but I couldn't help but just laugh uncontrollably every single time he did this. </div>
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<b>Humor Cures Cancer</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYfBuVWFOofkfQrk2XgeHw0xyrLb7_D1u4cuO6I8t553UEXmiNkdNU2DsO4bGkfvMzGtU3sWWCbF628XkdXhZV8eRmqbXuVri6-3eV8H_yx0Q9usIgkyiE8pOlybowsXcS53fyu6wus_4/s1600/SDC15741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYfBuVWFOofkfQrk2XgeHw0xyrLb7_D1u4cuO6I8t553UEXmiNkdNU2DsO4bGkfvMzGtU3sWWCbF628XkdXhZV8eRmqbXuVri6-3eV8H_yx0Q9usIgkyiE8pOlybowsXcS53fyu6wus_4/s320/SDC15741.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t1.0-9/31462_515378698508750_1810378196_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t1.0-9/31462_515378698508750_1810378196_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>A lot of people ask how I beat cancer. There's a lot of things that factored into it. Obviously Dr. Martha, buying a cat, modern medicine, sleeping a ton, and wearing a onesie everyday all are huge contributing factors. I didn't realize though Corbin was the biggest factor of it all. As mentioned before, anytime I was having a bad day he took it upon himself to make sure my mood was better. He always was telling me jokes. Saying funny comments. Doing stupid things to make me laugh. Our favorite thing to do was at the Huntsman was he would pretend he had cancer. I know that sounds so bad but it was hilarious. Everyone knew he was joking, but it put a smile on my face. At the time he was minorly obsessed with the movie Tangled and would dance around with his Rapunzel doll singing the songs, brushing her hair, and dancing like a complete fool. He made me laugh every day. Even the days I wanted to throw the towel in and just cry he would always come to my rescue. He literally saved my life at a time I needed it most. Besides being funny he spent every day with me. He missed so much school to make sure he was there for every doctors appointment, every treatment, and every time I needed him. He assisted me in escaping the house, hiding from Michelle, and always would bring me Wendy's chicken nuggests because they were the one thing that sounded good. Most of all he made me laugh and forget about the chemo and the nausea and whatever else was happening for a moment. Thats what really helped me beat cancer.<br />
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So what it comes down to in the end... Corbin comes home Friday and I couldn't be more excited! It will be the first time my family has been together in nearly 4 years. When Bronson left I had hair to my waist, Daryl had buck teeth, and Devin was fat. When Corbin left I had short blonde hair, Daryl was perfect straight teeth, and Devin had braces and wasn't as fat. And now Corbin is coming home. My hair to long again, Devin is skinny, Bronson is married, and Daryl looks like she's 28. As you can see much has changed at the Kaufusi house! I'll let you know how Friday goes, I'm planning on an amazing weekend with my brother and coaching a little basketball.<br />
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Side note... I was currently hired as the JV coach at Copper Hills High School! Woot woot. As sad as I was to not get the job at Timpview, I'm actually really happy I didn't. I've been at CH for a little over two weeks and to be honest, I have learned so much. The way the program is ran is amazing! Not to mention the awesome support from the parents and the girls. I'm all too excited for this new adventure, yes its a little bit of a drive but its actually faster from my office to CH than it was to Timpview. I'll definitely miss my Timpview girls. Especially spending time with Daryl, but I'm excited for this new adventure that's ahead. Go Grizzlies!<br />
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Have a happy father's day as well!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-70633450143477558812014-05-28T11:08:00.002-07:002014-05-28T11:08:27.120-07:00This Ones For the Girls...<span style="text-align: justify;">This post has taken me a long time to post. I actually wrote 3 posts prior before this idea came to me. I was scrolling through my twitter feed and I saw a quote by Maya Angelou. I apologize for her French but this quote just hit me for some reason:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.celebritytalentpromotions.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Maya-Angelou-Speaker.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.celebritytalentpromotions.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Maya-Angelou-Speaker.png" style="text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">"I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a b****. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">You've got to go out and kick a**."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">- Maya Angelou</span></div>
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After reading this quote I realized I needed to post something for the girls. Being a girl isn't easy by any means. Girls have to deal with periods, carrying a baby in their belly for 9 months, menopause, getting boobs smack in the middle of the awkward years, and are usually expected to wear make up and dresses on the regular. Maybe that was too blunt of a statement... but its the truth! I was raised in a very open home so I apologize but life's just easier when you're blunt honest and up front about things. Back to this quote, with the recent passing of Maya Angelou a lot of her quotes and what not have been surfacing and are being plastered all over social media. Like I said, this one stopped and caught my eye. With high school graduations happening and everything I've also been thinking a lot about when I was 18 and what choices I made and didn't make and what exactly got me to this point. I won't lie I'm different than most girls. I was raised with brothers and boy cousins so I don't think like a girl. I don't get my feelings hurt easily. I don't like make up and shopping and dresses. When I fight with someone I don't want to talk about it, cry about it, then hug it out. I want to spend 2 minutes tops saying sorry then go play basketball or xbox about it. When I was 14 and new to Provo most girls my age were so obsessed with Mark Ercanbrack because they thought he was so cute. I was too busy playing basketball with him to really notice. See what I mean? Now I wouldn't call myself a feminist I feel like that's too extreme. But I do see myself equal as an equal to any guy and if anything more skilled. My whole life I've been independent and always voiced my thoughts. When I was in the BYU dorms my freshman year every girl out there wanted to find their "eternal companion" and be married by 19. I was too busy playing Guitar Hero and basketball yet again. Everyday we hear on the news the mistreatment of women around the world and how women are being sold as slaves still. Everyday I see young high school girls get pushed around by a stupid boy or even a girl just scared to say how she feels. So this post is for the girls. Here's my advice to you all...</div>
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<b>You Are Good Enough</b></div>
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Having been around high school girls and coaching basketball for a while now I hear everyday "I'm not good enough." Whether that phrase ties to basketball, school, friends, family, whatever it may be you should never not feel good enough. Because the truth is you are. You're probably better than you think. There's no such thing as a perfect human, so why strive for something that doesn't exist? For me I've learned not to compare myself to anyone. Why? Because no one is like me. No one knows my thoughts, my experiences, my feelings, or my ambitions in this life. So why compare myself to someone not even in a similar category? When you stop comparing yourself to others, you actually realize you were too good all along.</div>
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I had a roommate in college who everyday told me, "Fus don't forget, confidence is key." I didn't realize exactly what that meant until I was older. But its so true. When you have confidence in yourself and your abilities anything is possible. Confidence is something I never lacked. I probably have too much and am borderline on the cocky side of things. At a young age though I knew what I was good at and what I wasn't and that's where I found my confidence. I didn't find confidence in throwing a baseball with my brothers or singing songs for people. I found it in shooting free throws or sitting down and playing the piano. I think the biggest reason people put each other down is because everyone knows someone with an unwavering confidence can be a scary thing. Confidence doesn't come from being right all the time, it comes from not being afraid to be wrong. So have confidence in yourself! Confidence really is the key to being successful in anything. The second you gain confidence in yourself if also when the sky becomes your limit and anything is possible.</div>
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So relationships... Relationships are great. Honestly I see nothing wrong with them, except when they do more harm than good and become toxic. No one deserves being with someone who puts them down, makes them feel stupid, and who doesn't let them think for themselves. Now that I'm older and I look back so many guys that I knew in high school and who were my friends were like that. They wanted to be with a girl who didn't think for themselves and who didn't speak their mind. That's probably why I was always invited to the play Xbox with them rather than be their girlfriend lets be honest. So girls... I don't care who you're with but if you're dating someone who doesn't see the value in you and who treats you like anything less than a Queen, drop'm! Every girls should be treated every day like they're a Queen. </div>
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In life I've learned that people, especially authoritative figures in your life, think they know whats right and know whats best for you. That's not necessarily true. I mean yes growing up your parents probably know whats best but there comes a point where you know whats best for you. When I was 14 I remember sitting in a church class and my teacher asked all of us girls where we saw ourselves in 10 years. Every girl said the same thing and I quote, "When I'm 24 I want to be married to a return missionary in the temple and have at least one or two kids." Don't get me wrong great aspirations, just not mine. My response was,"I hopefully will be done playing college basketball and in medical school." My teacher looked at me funny and told me that I needed to rethink my answer because I needed to care more about getting married and starting a family as opposed to a career. I was so mad I left the class. Flash forward 10 years. I played college basketball. Clearly I'm not in medical school. But I'm not married. I have no children, at least that are babies that came out of me. I work full time, I coach basketball, and I'm starting the prerequisites for a Masters degree this August. I look at my friends who are my age who got married at 18 and have two kids and they're happy, but I couldn't imagine myself being married with two kids at this point. What I'm saying is, if you have a dream don't let someone tell you its the wrong one. No one knows your heart better than yourself, so follow it and do whats going to make you happy. Not what society thinks will make you happy.</div>
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<b>You Is Kind, You Is Smart, You Is Important</b></div>
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If you haven't seen the movie <i>The Help</i> then come to my house tonight and I'll let you borrow it. There's a scene where Aibileen tells Mae Mobley (little girl she watches), "You is kind, you is smart, you is important." This phrase kind of brings in everything I've said. The English isn't proper, which usually bothers me, but I love it. If every girl from the time they're 2 to 20 heard this, they'll believe it. What a powerful statement that is so simple yet so full of truth. Every little girl, every high school girl, and every woman alive should know that they are smart and important and worth something. That way when the day comes when you're challenged and aren't sure if you can do something or faith in yourself, you'll remember this phrase and you'll know that you are kind, you are smart, and you are important. Seeing the value in yourself is whats going to help you find true happiness.</div>
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So there you have it, my advice to you girls out there. Be fearless and independent and know what you're capable of. I love in this day and age so many books and movies and TV shows are having strong female roles. Divergent, Hunger Games, Game of Thrones, Revenge are just a few examples. There are athletes and actresses who are taking over the lime light: Serena and Venus Williams, Hope Solo, Danica Patrick, Beyonce, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift. These are all women who are taking over and making a difference. At the end of the day how can you expect people to value you and your opinion and your abilities if you don't? So start now doing little things to help you see your value and important. Have enough respect to put someone in their place and to walk away from a toxic relationship. It all starts with you. If you love yourself, respect yourself, and have confidence in yourself then everyone else will too. </div>
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So this post might be a little one sided. Little biased, but its how I feel. And I think its just what some people need to hear. But on a side note, its warm in Utah. I think spring is finally settled in and we don't have to worry about a snow storm any time soon. Corbin comes home in just 16 days and hours. My family is going to Cher is 38 days. Also summer is around the corner. I'm looking for some summer weekend adventures so if any of you are feeling adventurous justa let me know I volunteer as tribute! Cancer update: I'm healthy as a shark (I don't like horses but I do like sharks). Next check up is in November and Corb will be able to come just like the good old chemo days. Anyways, enjoy summer while its here and be safe! Don't forget,</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-18425777409762455842014-05-14T15:33:00.002-07:002014-05-14T22:22:00.657-07:00Cancer: So does it hurt or what?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Well can you guess what this post is about? Its crazy to think that a little over 3 years ago I was diagnosed with this terminal illness that was going to probably kill me. Lets all have an honest moment, probably will kill me eventually- if that doesn't get me first the zombie apocalypse will. But on a serious note a few years ago I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. I could use the proper long official meaning but no one really cares about that because it doesn't make sense to the normal human being. So before I get going on the important stuff, here's the quickie version of how I found out I got cancer... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Once upon a time I was 21 and a sophomore playing basketball at BYU. One day I noticed large lumps in my neck and face. I was sick all the time and my playing time decreased because I was so tired. After a month of medrol packs and z packs and other antibiotics we decided to do a CT scan because the lumps were getting massive. We found roughly 9 masses just in my neck and face. The next day we did an emergency biopsy and discovered I had stage 3 Hodgkins Lymphoma. Now no offense to the Utah Valley hospital (I was diagnosed wrong) but the second we found out we booked it up to The Huntsman Cancer Institute. A month later after more tests and biopsies I was re-diagnosed with stage 4 NON Hodgkin's Lymphoma. It took a panel of doctors to diagnose me from around nation. Why? Because the specific kind **Remember the proper long official meaning? So that portion of my diagnoses** that I had didn't match me. The kind of cancer I have has an average age of 60-70 years. Most people die from it within the first 7-10 years of being diagnosed. And once you'e a stage 4 it usually isn't curable. For those new to the cancer world there's 4 stages. Stage 4 is the worst stage and basically means its in your bones, blood, all your organs, and lymph system, and just everywhere. So when I was diagnosed I was 21 and in the prime of my life and it was so strange I had this specific cancer. What wasn't strange was that my Grandma Garrick and her dad my Great Grandpa Kenner both passed away from this exact cancer. So is it genetic? Probably. Anyways I started chemo and did a couple rounds of that, did some chemo in the spine, had some touch up surgeries, and BAM! Flash forward 3 years and I have long hair, I have eyebrows and eyelashes, and I'm not even on any medications.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So there's the quickie version of my cancer story. But now here's a little more in detail about the main question I get asked, Does it hurt? I get asked almost every time someone finds out I have cancer if it hurts or not. To answer your question, yes and no. To really have my answer make sense I'm now going to step by step take you through a normal day at chemo and some other cancer perks...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So when you do chemo most patients get a portacath. Some get a stint in their hand, others get a portacath in their chest. I named my port Pasiley. No Paisley doesn't make cancer hurt. So while driving up to chemo I would also rub lidocaine on Paisley so when they accessed her it wouldn't hurt. Once I arrive at chemo they access Paisley, basically like setting up an IV but they shoot the needle into my port, then they draw blood. Then they clean Paisley out with some saline, then I walk over to the infusion room. Once there I get two wristbands one that says ALLERGY and on that says my name on it. Lastly while waiting to go back a nice lady brings a cart around with free beanies, treats, and snacks. Naturally my family because we love food always hold the poor lady up because everyone wants 4 of everything. The best part is I always got a free beanie at this point in my long day. Simple right? Well the easiest part is over.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This is the part that people get confused. The actual chemo doesn't hurt physically. Its not like someones beating it in through your port so it hurts. It hurts in a different way. When I did chemo I always like to be in a room with a bed. That way I could just lay there and I could have more visitors back with me. So people don't really understand what you do at chemo. Basically all you do is sit there or lay there. Thats it. Your only job is to keep breathing and try not to throw up. So once I was in my bed they would hook up the first two bags and they would drop in. This took an hour or two depending on how I felt. Some times especially at first I would get really sick during these bags and they would have to drip a bag of water, shoot me up with benedryl, then start all over and drip it slower. FYI there's poison and bad things in chemo so you have weird reactions. So after the clear bags come the manual injections. I always did 6 of these. Now these injections... there are the clear ones, easy. Didn't notice them and they weren't hard. Next were the red ones. The red injection is what makes you sick, lose your hair, and kills everything. Side note, why are these manually? Well if injected too fast you'll die. So the nurse sits with a stop watch and times herself as she injects it so it doesn't go too fast or too slow, that way you don't die. So this red injection I started calling Satan's Punch because it literally makes you want to die. Not to mention it completely burns going down. I remember one day looking around at all the old people, yes it was me the 21 yr old and fifteen 75 yr olds, and they all only had one injection of Satan's Punch. I had three. Then my doctor explained to me they nearly doubled up my chemo dosages because I was so strong physically and so young my body could handle it. Go me... So after Satan's Punch the hard part is over. The next 3 hours I usually sit while the last 2-3 bags drop and I try to sleep this part off. So the actually action of chemo going in doesn't hurt. Its just like having an IV drop but there's chemo in it dripping in. Chemo hurts because it kills everything inside you. Ya you don't feel it killing everything but you see it as your hair falls out or as your skin gets pale. It also hurts because it makes you puke and that's never a fun feeling. So chemo isn't terrible but yes it has weird side effects that hurt. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In the movies I've seen about cancer they leave out this part. Its not like you get cancer then the next day after chemo your hair falls out. Its a process that takes about 2-3 weeks sometimes shorter, sometimes longer. For me it took 2 weeks. In order to lose your hair every single hair follicle has to die. In order for this to happen you have to experience a very painful headache. Its amazing because you go to chemo and a few days later you have a bad headache. It feels like your head is under some kind of pressure. Just as you think it isn't going to go away you wake up and its gone. Now when this day happened I remember the doctor telling me when your head stops hurting your hair will fall out. Sure enough that morning as I was drying my hair huge chunks of hair came falling out onto the ground. If you knew me prior to chemo you'd know I used to have hair almost to my waist. When this happened I cut my hair to my shoulders because the doctors said it would help it not be as painful as it was dying. So that night between my teammates and my brother we pulled out my hair and shaved my head. I still have a bread of my original hair actually in a scrapbook at the Gypsy Lair.So not to get confused, when your actually starts falling out it doesn't hurt. Like at all. What hurts is the week before as your hair follicles are dying and your head is throbbing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So these two things I got lucky enough and didn't have to have very many, but good Lord they hurt most out of everything! So bone marrow biopsies. You lay down and they pull down your pants and start giving you shots of numbing stuff. This hurts so bad. I was gripping the sides of the table dripping sweat and biting the pillow. So they do a handful of these numbing shots that kill. Then they stick this HUGE needle in your hip bone and suck out your bone marrow. So this feeling is just awkward and uncomfortable. You can actually feel in inside of the bone marrow leaving your body and its so weird! The best part is when I got my first one done the nurse doing it was probably 5'4" and needed a stool to see over me enough to do it. She had to actually twist and shove and do all kinds of weird things to get the needle in. Being able to hear it go into my hip bone and all that didn't help the cause. So after all that they get this tiny little sample out, well it wasn't good enough. So they had to do it all over again. Oh the struggle of being me. So bone marrow biopsies. So painful and if you can avoid them do so at all costs. Now the spinal tap. So this doesn't hurt but its uncomfortable and well, I passed out during mine. Let me break it down, you curl up in a ball and they put a needle between your vertebrae and shoot chemo all up in your spinal cord. So as they're doing this its just uncomfortable and you feel this pressure back there. So I remember during mine I felt this sudden rush and literally saw this bright light. No I wasn't dying, I just fainted. So what was the bright light? No idea but it was bright and white then dark and I woke up holding my Mom's hand. As mentioned earlier, if you acn avoid bone marrow biopsies and spinal taps at all costs do so. I'd rather offer my pinky finger as an offering than do either one of those again.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So the big question, does cancer hurt? Well yes. At times it hurts psychically, it hurts just as much emotionally and mentally and every other way possible. But is it the end of the world? No. Maybe I have too much of an optimistic look on it all. At the end of the day though that little trial and bump in the road really opened up my eyes. I basically had laser hair removal for a year, I was bald, I got lots of blankets, I didn't have to go to school, and I met a lot of great people. So cancer... Some people don't know how to really approach me about it. Just ask me. I have no problem talking about it! If anything its one of the few things in the world I actually understand so its easy to talk about. But if you can avoid cancer, then do it. That way you wont need bone marrow biopsies, and you won't faint and make a fool of yourself, and you don't have to move back in with your parents for a few years. Anyways, there's my cancer story in a nut shell. If you want the full story shoot me a text or go check out my cancer blog alexiskaufusi.blogspot.com. I hope you all enjoyed your Mother's day! Mine was quite lovely talking to Elder Kaufusi who comes home in LESS THAN A MONTH. Anyways... Well have a good rest of your week and happy Hump Day! </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-13012097700782364082014-05-06T11:07:00.001-07:002014-05-06T11:08:10.219-07:00Gypsy Mother 101<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">With Mother's Day just around the corner I felt like it would be appropriate to blog about the Gypsy. Now my gypsy is a special gypsy and thats because well, shes my gypsy. Michelle has the knowledge of 100 gypsies as well as 100 lifetimes and it just seems appropriate I share some of her knowledge with you all as well as somethings you might not know about her... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. McDonalds Has the Best Diet Coke</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is nothing Michelle loves more than an ice cold diet coke, and according to her McDonalds has the best diet coke. Probably because the syrup to soda ratio is lopsided but either way, McDonalds has the best diet coke and its only $1. Now Swig on the other hand has equally as good diet coke, the only issue... Styrofoam cups. Gypsies don't like Styrofoam cups. The sound of styrofoam makes their ears hurt. Mormons are real into the food storage. Michelle's food storage consists of two 12 packs of DC. So if you ever want to make a Gypsy happy take her a diet coke from McDonalds with extra ice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. Running Multiple Miles is Fun!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This lesson never really sunk in for me. Gypsies like to run. And by run I mean they will run for 26.2 miles and call it fun. Then a few months later do it again. And as if that wasn't enough they add in biking and swimming for the change of scenery. For some reason gypsies just love to run. They also love to bike through to the top of South Fork, Sundance, and Squaw Peak consecutively just because its a nice day out. Clearly you can see why I never caught onto this. But the trick is, you need to let the Gypsies do this or they will be angry all day! So when your Gypsy needs her alone time to go run, let her go for as long as she needs!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. A Clean House Is a Happy House. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As mentioned before in my previous blog if Michelle had a life motto it would be this. A Clean house is a happy house, and by clean house that means immaculate and not a single spec of dust anywhere or you will be punished. This is the way of the Gypsy. If that means cleaning everyday, then you clean everyday. And sometimes if your bed isn't made and you go to school, the Gypsy will come and kidnap you from Timpview and take you home to make your bed. Or you'll come home to find your clothes piled on your bed that were once scattered across your bedroom floor. This makes it nearly impossible to nap. So to make a Gypsy happy you clean as your told and you also make your bed and put your laundry away everyday. No excuses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4. Gypsies Eat Diet Coke and Baked Goods for Breakfast</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now to maintain a gypsy like figure one must eat quality meals for breakfast... which includes a can of diet coke and a baked good of sorts. Now my whole childhood, teenage years, and even when I was a young adult living with the Gypsy she always made us kids a nice hot breakfast. Usually scrambled eggs, oatmeal, waffles, cinnamon and sugar french toast, banana pancakes, just to give you an idea. While we were eating our heavenly breakfast she was chowing down on frosting dipped graham crackers and a DC. She just loves her sweets. My theory is it gets her going because she wakes up at 5:00am everyday and goes hard all day until 12:00am. I always know she will be awake late if I need someone to talk to. So, when you make a Gypsy breakfast in bed make sure its a diet coke and a slice of cake or something like that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5. Gypsies Crave Grandchildren! So They Take What They Can Get...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm the oldest of 5 kids and well, I'm approaching 25. Yes I'm 25 I went to BYU and I'm not married. I'm one of the elite. Marriage isn't really my cup of tea at the time and I have more important things to do like watch food network. Now Gypsies love grandchildren. I'm not married, Bronson and Hil are still children playing their respective sports and what not, Corbin is on a mission, and we don't want to see Daryl and Devin on MTVs <i>16 and Pregnant</i> so Michelle has no grand babies. In the mean time she fills her void by watching my two dogs. When she has Bella my St Bernard I always come home to Bella with pink bows and ribbons. She also is the favorite great Aunt to all my cousins kids. By favorite I mean they love her more than their own mothers sometimes. So until the Gypsy can get some grand babies just plan on your young children loving her more than you after 5 minutes of being with her. Also plan them being fed candy and given treats and toys of all kinds. She has a way with children. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6. Gypsies Travel All Over and Take Selfies Along the Way</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So my Gypsy just like any other Gypsy loves to travel. Some of her favorite spots include China, Laie Hawaii, Boston, San Fran, Portland, and Medicine Hat Canada. Just kidding the Gypsy hates Medicine Hat Canada, but as you can see shes a well traveled Gypsy. She's driving across the US of A multiple times and because of her work she gets to go to some amazing places and takes selfies along the way. She has selfies in places that one can only imagine! Shes so good at documenting her adventures! So if you ever need the 411 on really anywhere in the US or China or Canada you call my Gypsy and she will fill you in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">7. Gypsies Love to Dance</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At a young age the Gypsy lady showed talent in the field of Dance and Cheering. So naturally she was cheerleader and a dancer through high school and college. This is how she met Steve. She was a cougarette, he was a football player. Typical love story of a Gypsy and a Tall Dark and Handsome Brown Man. Anyways, even in her older age (by older I mean shes not 20 anymore) she dances. Whether its on our annual Christmas Eve dance party, playing dance central and beating everyone, or teaching a class the Gypsy has rhythm. Sadly to say only one of us 5 kids got that rhythm. Either way Gypsies love to dance! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8. Gypsies Don't Age</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you compare these two pictures you can clearly see that Gypsies don't age. They manage to maintain a youthful appearance even when they are 62. My Gypsy isn't 62 but I'm sure she will look the same when she is. I mean she has a better body than Daryl and I and shes our Mother! People when we are in public usually ask if she's my sister. I mean, if anything she's probably gotten younger since I've known her. So if you're a Gypsy, well congratulations! You will still look 25 while the rest of us really do look 48. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">9. Gypsies Want to Rule the World</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ok so this statement isn't entirely true but man does my Gypsy do a lot for our little Provo Community. She's the head of the school board and does community counsel and on the board of trustees or something? Ok I won't lie I honestly don't know exactly what she does or her exact titles but she knows everything that happens in the city of Provo and is usually found speaking at big events. I think its because secretly the Gypsies want to take over America but frankly if she were to run the world it would be a good thing. I know for a fact the world would be a much cleaner place, children won't starve, and there would be a World Wide Holiday in honor of Cher. If you ever want to know anything about whats happening in the little city of Provo just call my Gypsy. She knows EVERYTHING.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">10. Gypsies Just Want to Have A Good Time</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At the end of the day the Gypsy just wants to have fun! She's all about having a good time and doing whatever is going to be a good time. If that means we are going to steal a crib and push each other in the hallway of the hotel in it then we are. If that means we are going to call Bronson while he's on his mission just to say hi then we will. And if that means taking you and your friends to go toilet paper the girl, who your boyfriend cheated on you with, house then she will do so and fund the whole project. Gypsies are fun and they just want to have a good time so you just let them. Sometimes you just have to sit back watch and shake your head but its all good fun in the end. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So there are some fun facts about my Gypsy. I really am the luckiest little brat in the whole world to get a mom as awesome as her. Not all moms would put up with my shenanigans and the things I do but she does so and usually smiles about it. If not I buy her a DC and some Cafe Rio and she usually does after. So with Mother's day being this weekend I hope you all give your moms a hug. Especially if she is a Gypsy Mother because those are the coolest ones anyway. Have a great weekend! And if you're Mormon have fun talking to your missionary!!! I know I can't wait to talk to mine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Don't forget, hug your Gypsy and buy her a Diet Coke and tell her you love her! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Alexis</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-34934125925931185892014-04-29T11:47:00.002-07:002014-04-29T11:55:27.158-07:00Seeeesters<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was 6, Steve and Michelle announced we were getting another addition to the family. I remember being SO excited because I wanted a sister so bad! I had Bronson and Corbin and well, I love them. But I was out numbered and I wanted a sister. Steve and Michelle came back later and said we were getting two babies instead of one. Now for a 6 year old thats mind blowing and makes absolutely no sense. But when Steve and Michelle said one was a girl and one was a boy, I didn't even care because at the end of the day I was getting a baby sister. Now the twins came a little earlier than expected and I didn't get to see my baby sister until she was a few days old because she was so premature. Now I remember Steve and Michelle telling me she was really sick. I also remember just bits and pieces I picked up from people talking. For a 6 year old I like to think I was smarter than every one thought because I gathered enough information to know that my sister Daryl was so small she was probably going to die. Once again, mind blown. So I remember every night praying and crying that my little sister would live. Well prayers must be answered because Daryl is definitely alive now 17 years later.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before I go off about how awesome Daryl is... Here are some fun facts about her you might not know...</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daryl loves bacon more than life. Its her favorite food and she eats it everyday.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daryl is obsessed with polar bears.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daryl has a twin brother Devin.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daryl used to be a cheerleader.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daryl has the dance to Satisfaction on Dance Central memorized</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daryl and her friends refer to themselves as the "Power of Six"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did I mention she loves bacon?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daryl will eat anything for breakfast. Costa Vida, fronsting, cookies, spaghetti. Anything. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daryl hates reading books.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daryl's dog died and so she really wants a new corgi...</span></li>
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<a href="https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/t1.0-9/524893_515323591847594_1767782828_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/v/t34.0-12/10154474_698139846899300_7582961189517629943_n.jpg?oh=43ab8f3eecf2827556b0e78988227a79&oe=5361DC57" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/v/t34.0-12/10154474_698139846899300_7582961189517629943_n.jpg?oh=43ab8f3eecf2827556b0e78988227a79&oe=5361DC57" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here's the story of Daryl the princess and me the tom boy. When Daryl was 2 and I was 9 we shared a room. Oh Lord, You wouldn't think I had spent countless nights praying my sister would make it seeing us share that room. Daryl would always get scared every single night and would have to sleep with me. I hated that she wanted to sleep with me. I would tell her to go to Michelle's room upstairs but she was always too scared to go. She would cry usually and end up in my bed. Whenever she would be mad at me she would scratch me. The child had viscous nails like a lion which accounted for many of my current scars on my forearms. No one wanted to make Daryl mad because that meant 1. You were getting scratched and blood would be drawn and 2. You were also getting in trouble from Steve. Daryl is the princess. Daryl loved pink dresses and princesses and wanted to be a princess. When we would go to FAO Swartz she would go immediately to the princess section and try on the dresses and crowns. My Aunt Lisa had a pink robe that she would let </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daryl wear because it was the "Princess Robe." Daryl was your typical little girl. Now she still She's very fashionable and wears more make up in a day than I wear in a month. She looks better at Prom and school dances than most girls do on their wedding day. She's just your typical girl.</span><br />
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<a href="https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/t1.0-9/580000_515419025171384_705864425_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/t1.0-9/580000_515419025171384_705864425_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/t1.0-9/580000_515419025171384_705864425_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now rewind about 4 years when I was her age. I was the complete opposite. I wanted to play basketball and football. And I was good. I was on a team of all boys and myself. I was the tallest by many inches and I was the only one who could make a layup. We actually have film of me playing and I never passed the ball because the little boys weren't very good anyways. I loved Power Rangers and Ninja Turtles. I always wanted to play the N64 and was always in basketball shorts and high socks and running shoes. I was your typical Tom Boy. Now I feel like most little girls will out grow their tom boy phase. I mean, I know most my friends did. The thing is, I didn't. I still go play basketball with the boys and beat them. I still don't play N64 but I do have my Xbox 360 that I do play. I still wear basketball shorts everyday. In high school Michelle had to make a deal with me I could only wear sweats and basketball shorts 2 out of the 5 school days. I hate shopping for dresses, but if you want to go to Footlocker or Dicks I'll be there in 10. As you can see, Daryl and I are complete opposites.</span></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10157228_693758024004149_3527370168022352306_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10157228_693758024004149_3527370168022352306_n.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now lets fast forward to the present day. Daryl isn't as girly as a girl as she was before. But when she wants to be, she can. I'm still the same, no change here. So how can such opposite little girls become best friends? Well easy, opposites attract. Daryl has become my closest friend. Growing up she was the pink menace that scratched me. Now shes my Wiener Dog and I am dreading her going on a mission because without her for 18 months I might have a break down and be depressed. I might have to relocate to where she serves because someone will need to take care of her. I'm assuming if you have little children or are intelligent you have seen the movie Frozen by now. If you haven't, you can borrow it from me its so good!! It always reminds me of Daryl and I. Daryl is innocent and sweet like Ana. I'm more stand offish and like my space like Elsa. I feel like one day I'm going to have to explain to Daryl that she can't marry a man she just met. When Daryl and I do have to pick dresses Daryl tends to go the conservative route not too revealing with sleeves and flats. I want something shorter, flashier, and a little more revealing with 5 inch heels. We are so opposite.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I won'ts spoil the movie for you if you haven't seen it, but at the end of it all Daryl and I are best friends. She knows everything in my life. I know everything in hers. I may think shes too nice at times and she may think I'm too mean at times. As different as we are we are also similar. I play basketball. She plays soccer. I am obsessed with sharks. She is obsessed with polar bears. I love cinnamon rolls. She loves bacon. We both love sushi. And we both love swig sugar cookies. The bond between sisters is something so strong and it lasts forever. When I go to Daryl's soccer games I'm that annoying fan who yells a ton and when my sister gets hurt you better believe I'm the first one on the field yelling at the ref wanting to know why there was no roughing the keeper call. I have a bad reputation of getting kicked out of Daryl's soccer games I won't lie. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daryl and I are 7 years apart just like Michelle and her sister Lisa are. My family actually grew up 5 houses away from my Aunt Lisa for most my life and I got to see first hand what good sisters are like. I hope Daryl and I can be close like that one day. If you have a sister you should probably let them know that you love them. I was never one at expressing my feelings well let alone being emotional and what not but I am so thankful I have Daryl as my little sister. She really is the greatest thing since the Cafe Rio burrito. I got lucky to only have one sister because by default she's my favorite sister. My poor brothers have to fight and battle to get their rankings as favorite brother. Currently Corbin is winning.</span></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/36314_559357757444177_1088253353_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/36314_559357757444177_1088253353_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the topic of sisters recently my brother Bronson got married and we got another sister Hilary. Lord bless Hilary because she is a good woman for being married to my brother Bronson. He is the typical little boy. Loud. Stinky. A know it all. She puts up with him well. She also has to deal with my family. We are crazy. I always say we need our own reality TV show because crazy things are always afoot at the Gypsy Lair. Fitting in with a family is never an easy thing to do. Its like moving to a new school. Times one hundred. But Hilary is doing a great job. I mean, your first year of marriage is hard enough now lets throw in a bunch of crazy brown people you now call your family. So I applaud Hilary for first of all living with Bronson and second of all putting up with the rest of us. Sisters just make the world easier. And now with her we have 8 people in the family which means 4 on 4 for family basketball. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sisters. Oh sisters. They're the friend that's always going to be there because they're blood. So if you have a sister give her a hug and go watch Frozen. You'll love it and you'll gain a whole new appreciation for your sisters. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a great week everyone! Its only Tuesday but its ok, you can do it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alexis</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-46372434869605121962014-04-18T09:42:00.004-07:002014-04-18T09:44:13.055-07:00How To Make Life Suck Less...<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; text-align: justify;">Sometimes life sucks. Just the way it is. My whole life I have experienced the ups and downs that come with living. Then again my whole life I also feel I have kept an optimistic yet realistic view on everything that has been thrown my way. I have been lucky though because I really haven't had anything too intense happen. I mean I have the ability to taste good food, I have two functioning legs, my eyes work great so I can watch Twilight when needed, I can hear Lorde's music any time any day I want, and I have the ability to speak fluent English and sometimes even in a British accent. Honestly, I have been blessed with a truly amazing and gifted life. At the end of the day though, sometimes life can suck. Sometimes you get 3 speeding tickets a week, or your 89' BMW just doesn't want to start, you get cancer, you might even burn your omelette. Life happens. So, here's my tips on how to make your life suck less. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Step 1: Buy a Shark Onesie...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Life is better when you own onesies... </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RMmFC1g2ieUwutP86XwSrxafUtNl_R2_8Lc0r3Y-U-lL7Ceria9Ys3Heu7QEdaV26IeraEbV-LUgXhbhPYYpE_1nH3veISkqFH8kz7AZEUfBiszskoOMssYdOFVGGFoyqwZZxjAHTy0/s1600/IMG_3785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RMmFC1g2ieUwutP86XwSrxafUtNl_R2_8Lc0r3Y-U-lL7Ceria9Ys3Heu7QEdaV26IeraEbV-LUgXhbhPYYpE_1nH3veISkqFH8kz7AZEUfBiszskoOMssYdOFVGGFoyqwZZxjAHTy0/s1600/IMG_3785.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Step 2: Watch Movies with Attractive People</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Now don't be concerned, I am not a shallow person or a vain person. I clearly don't care how I look because I wear basketball shorts and a Vans t shirt everyday. I haven't work make up for 10 days now and going strong. And I don't weight 140lbs and don't look like Megan Fox in a bikini. So clearly, I am not vain. But when I'm having a bad day, I watch a movie with attractive people in it and it just makes me smile. So, to make life suck less, stare at attractive people on your TV screen even if their acting is less than perfect. So here are the best 5 movies or TV Shows with attractive people...</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Divergent: Theo Jaemes shirtless, tattooed, and holding a gun. Enough said. </span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0J8q0c379ZfzGbVG208u5UflObMMLOC8KqvXUR4QekolDcwNVJxdfcZc7jV7hD-Rs_1uWhkQ7gRtDVF8BR7dS-C7k0n35GSRSRYGB6YajPNGeAlKYQTnHKl06P95i12KAV6yOHnZsmc/s1600/Divergent-Movie-Wallpaper-1680x1050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0J8q0c379ZfzGbVG208u5UflObMMLOC8KqvXUR4QekolDcwNVJxdfcZc7jV7hD-Rs_1uWhkQ7gRtDVF8BR7dS-C7k0n35GSRSRYGB6YajPNGeAlKYQTnHKl06P95i12KAV6yOHnZsmc/s1600/Divergent-Movie-Wallpaper-1680x1050.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Twilight: Robert Pattinson. My love. He can sing, act, and he gets Bella in the end. Kristen Stewart is quite exquisite as well. Put them together, second best vampire couple. </span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitxVQ20m4-0MSBlWNJWpjKdhrVB2tj64AICC-DBzIHw2-RxKl05vN1J5CbpkfkkQ928Bs-iRlEi1LSAPkx-ryBQi0H-NpJdTZTpoWMnp74mlY47rE_BrP6tOUuxIUCVRIAHXTr_NFM80/s1600/item0.rendition.slideshowVertical.cusl01_twilight0812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitxVQ20m4-0MSBlWNJWpjKdhrVB2tj64AICC-DBzIHw2-RxKl05vN1J5CbpkfkkQ928Bs-iRlEi1LSAPkx-ryBQi0H-NpJdTZTpoWMnp74mlY47rE_BrP6tOUuxIUCVRIAHXTr_NFM80/s1600/item0.rendition.slideshowVertical.cusl01_twilight0812.jpg" height="320" width="243" /></span></a></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Vampire Diaries: Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev. Done! Best vampire duo. Also surrounded by a huge cast of attractive vampires. </span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVdfC9KZ6zH3ZqIhUHPHunCK8f-u8xFO5G16JvMKLFa-IM6Lm7nmzIxhm6ljBUMdtwrno8FfA5LV3WXVkh7ZKqMmIpVFmE4Y5y4FgawOboLMOXpw92DcChBzYEUDU6vGsNXEKHbrKC3A/s1600/1354827511_nina-dobrev-ian-somerhalder-350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVdfC9KZ6zH3ZqIhUHPHunCK8f-u8xFO5G16JvMKLFa-IM6Lm7nmzIxhm6ljBUMdtwrno8FfA5LV3WXVkh7ZKqMmIpVFmE4Y5y4FgawOboLMOXpw92DcChBzYEUDU6vGsNXEKHbrKC3A/s1600/1354827511_nina-dobrev-ian-somerhalder-350.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></span></a></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Pirates of the Caribbean: Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, and Orlando Bloom. Not only is this trio gorgeous, their accents are heavenly. </span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidK9O9NWXawRWUzI153_lGABlqnlgf_9ZeR3aJdjsIRc1y8DABaoVVY0iJQIJd1a3jPgDR7eFYuNV_NQV-V9-2XmDg2v757u-ehA4D7EJhyphenhyphengZy1-Kkr-1013P8dyAccrYaAOvJpJUiSXo/s1600/10151146_692531987460086_3761434671219256469_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidK9O9NWXawRWUzI153_lGABlqnlgf_9ZeR3aJdjsIRc1y8DABaoVVY0iJQIJd1a3jPgDR7eFYuNV_NQV-V9-2XmDg2v757u-ehA4D7EJhyphenhyphengZy1-Kkr-1013P8dyAccrYaAOvJpJUiSXo/s1600/10151146_692531987460086_3761434671219256469_n.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Greys Anatomy: Lexie Grey, McSteamy, McDreamy, Meredith, Owen, Calizona... There's a reason there are 10 seasons of this show. Not only is the drama good, but ALL the doctors are easy on the eyes. If only all doctors were as attractive. </span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwUzBLE4ooA_KTAEEN5qVpnhcU5QFJuIY4uJI91VQbI_7Mj9ifmycTWKqmBqrW4Johe-eullFJS0ym0s0tE2kZ2XdXisGbpkzl5M4AMW7J5TyZYv-z2cP6WnIOzl6Zr9vdeB4Vt17hyo/s1600/10176276_692529270793691_5544503769893633445_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwUzBLE4ooA_KTAEEN5qVpnhcU5QFJuIY4uJI91VQbI_7Mj9ifmycTWKqmBqrW4Johe-eullFJS0ym0s0tE2kZ2XdXisGbpkzl5M4AMW7J5TyZYv-z2cP6WnIOzl6Zr9vdeB4Vt17hyo/s1600/10176276_692529270793691_5544503769893633445_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Step 3: Buy a Dog or a Cat</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Imagine the perfect companion. Always there, always excited to see you, never talks back, does what you say, always wants to cuddle, and always wants to be right by you. Get a dog, or a cat. If you don't the means for one, then rent one. Or go see someone else's. Everyday I come home to two dogs and a cat, yes I am a blessed girl. On any given day I know I will always have a cuddle buddy as well as a protector. Bella is hands down the best guard dog that ever existed!! Klaus is afraid of his own shadow so likes to stay right at my side at all times. Lastly Porsche the kitty always always always wants to cuddle. You'd be surprised what a furry little creature could do for your happiness levels...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6VO-RJW6FNWUbnO5ClNT9kcyWtqMiNUtz900TiT6g7QkRvwx9P99HxIPbQTkgWndatWLlcJDRmC8W4vP4xudsqfteidelTMX0HpILC9exxcsQeomXgN7IRZVjvtuRZ30u2E4BNAGhtQ/s1600/1472075_626601654053120_47080283_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6VO-RJW6FNWUbnO5ClNT9kcyWtqMiNUtz900TiT6g7QkRvwx9P99HxIPbQTkgWndatWLlcJDRmC8W4vP4xudsqfteidelTMX0HpILC9exxcsQeomXgN7IRZVjvtuRZ30u2E4BNAGhtQ/s1600/1472075_626601654053120_47080283_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Step 4: Eat Good Food</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Food makes everyone happy. And if food doesn't make you happy well I hope you enjoy your skinny body while I'm busy enjoying my double double from In N Out. But seriously food makes life suck less. Just from my own personal experiences and having common sense, when girls have bad emotional days, they also have good food days. Why? Because food makes life suck less. So take some time and a little extra cash money out of your bank account and go indulge a little. Treat yourself to the best food around! If in your mind that means eating a box of Lucky Charms out of a huge mixing bowl then do so. If that's eating 8 rolls of sushi then do so-- for the sake of your wallet I hope its all you can eat. Spend the extra $5 on dessert. If its deep fried just know its double the calories but doubley delicious! Eat good food.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRToNIGIxMhMlUC93J3cBfR_NR32xTukI0mcij93KsR_ijryXMxfBvSN7hmfX8dlSZ9N5IhmUYuGQzTdgxVd3aKa7IMMGf3yobWu5gzSjsbqm0Qdk_ISttdZ_dtOLQUCjduMGt9Dq3Kx4/s1600/IMG_0666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRToNIGIxMhMlUC93J3cBfR_NR32xTukI0mcij93KsR_ijryXMxfBvSN7hmfX8dlSZ9N5IhmUYuGQzTdgxVd3aKa7IMMGf3yobWu5gzSjsbqm0Qdk_ISttdZ_dtOLQUCjduMGt9Dq3Kx4/s1600/IMG_0666.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Step 5: Sing Loud and Proud</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">For those of you who have been so privileged to hear me sing, well like I said, you're privileged. On any given day, usually driving home from work, you will find me going way too fast on I-15 singing at the top of my lungs. What am I singing? Probably some country or indie. 5 times out of 10 I would guess Lorde. Now when you sing and drive, make sure the music is so loud you can't hear yourself and that you know all the words to the song. Something about driving fast and singing loud and jamming out is liberating. So do it. Your day will become better. Now if your voice is a terrible as mine then those in the car will suffer, but you'll feel better. Be selfish this one time.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRonsyM7i5aoMwH7KVIZSK-sqyMKJF1i9w-OKXm11p58rMcxmpK7OxRVMlATNRli3WW6lLH5mgTvGlJ1exImpeL4NOQ9UoAsWuRE-zBfu_qxkTbbb_HVgvXwprEVKdn2zMCwTBJi8rbc/s1600/SDC13803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRonsyM7i5aoMwH7KVIZSK-sqyMKJF1i9w-OKXm11p58rMcxmpK7OxRVMlATNRli3WW6lLH5mgTvGlJ1exImpeL4NOQ9UoAsWuRE-zBfu_qxkTbbb_HVgvXwprEVKdn2zMCwTBJi8rbc/s1600/SDC13803.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Step 6: Make Goals</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Growing up whenever the Gypsy made us do our Saturday chores she would write them on this big white board in our kitchen. As you completed your chores you got to erase it from the board. I'm almost 25 and I still do this! Something about erasing things as I do them makes me feel good. So make some goals, write them down, do them, and feel the accomplishment of completing them. Make a bucket list and actually do the things on your bucket list. Travel, bungee jump, sky dive, get a tattoo, drive a race car, see Cher live, touch a shark, go skinny dipping, whatever it is do it! Even if your goal is talk to the attractive individual at Starbucks who you see there every Saturday morning, just do it. Write it down. Do it. Mark it off. I can promise and guarantee you that your life will become exciting and have this new found meaning. Need ideas? I have plenty just ask.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSr_jZeRWuIfCqIuHb2S52Ni2LtK3fC4pWp13gZeNxtMIKKqWHAzL8TZgTRa0lQZmneGimHAADDBWJR0ajyNyjVKu6xRweL9AiHGdwff5iL_TlE504sq5CvrQAIRHBeYeR2WOOtMJ6u4/s1600/DSC02717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSr_jZeRWuIfCqIuHb2S52Ni2LtK3fC4pWp13gZeNxtMIKKqWHAzL8TZgTRa0lQZmneGimHAADDBWJR0ajyNyjVKu6xRweL9AiHGdwff5iL_TlE504sq5CvrQAIRHBeYeR2WOOtMJ6u4/s1600/DSC02717.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Bucket List Item 5: Go to the San Diego Zoo</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Step 7: Lets Get Physical</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Go work out. There's a part in legally blonde I love it goes something like, "Exercise gives you endorphin's. Endorphin's make you happy. Happy people just don't kill their husbands." This is a very true statement now. Happy people typically don't kill their husbands, lets be honest most people don't kill their husbands. But go work out! I recently just switched to 24 Hour Fitness from Golds gym. Why? Because playing basketball makes me happy. On nights I'm bored, can't sleep, and am caught up on Greys, I go shoot. The best part is I can go at ANYTIME of the day. There's times when its 12:30 in the morning and all I want to do is go shoot around so I do. Whatever physical activity makes you happy do it. Michelle runs marathons it makes her happy. Steve spends hours standing and walking watering his grass, but it makes him happy. Everyone's physical fitness is at different levels so do something at level and be happy. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Step 8: Say Thank You</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Not only do I make lists on white boards but I also use paper. Sit down and write down the 5 most influential people in your life and write them a thank you note. Then write down the top 5 worldly things you're thankful for and remind yourself everyday how thankful you are for those people and those things in your life that make things easier. Everyday if you're remembering how thankful you are for those around you and those things around you then you'll be happy. I can tell you right now my top 5 for both but I'm not going to. I'll save that for another post. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So there you have it. How to make life suck less by yours truly. But on a serious note life is too short to really focus on the bad. Yes things aren't going to go how you want. People are to disappoint you. The Lakers will disappoint you. Believe it or not though, things could always be worse. Regardless of what happens we need to see all the good and not focus on the bad. Anyways, keep smiling and go buy some onesies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Alexis</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-83286931845592852172014-04-11T14:06:00.000-07:002014-04-11T14:09:12.145-07:00#KaufusiProbs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Growing up my whole life people have always been able to take one look at me and say, "Hey you're a Kaufusi!" Around here in Utah the Kaufusi name is tied to BYU and Utah football. Back in the 90s Steve used to coach there and coached four of his younger brothers there. Back in the 80s Steve and my Uncle Rich played football at BYU. And now that we are all grown up Steve coaches at BYU, my little brothers all play or will play there, and my cousin Isaiah will be there as well. As you can see we are clearly a football as well as a BYU family. So being a Kaufusi obviously has its upsides. Usually when I get pulled over I throw on a BYU hoodie I always have in my car and the cops usually put two and two together and as me how this years team will be. I then proceed to talk about how much I love BYU football and how I wish Bronson would've played basketball this season blah blah blah. Before I know it I'm driving home ticket free. Being a Kaufusi also means when I'm walking into the BYU football games that I get stopped by all the people tailgating as get to have good food. When I go to Timpview football games they usually just let me know because President Michelle is legit and has benefits like that. I mean being a Kaufusi in Provo Utah is a nice little set up, probably why I am yet to leave Utah County lets be honest now. But being a Kaufusi can have some downsides trust me.... </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjy3M_AKuO_Eu2LPBd6CwDEP7ydDs3bDAzYSHIVKbObX-vQsTW8yX5Ttcp6FqxXjHq_ursXQB-nUg_raCdI4ebsDL2V72w1jZqGeQYAbF_kjcWwekzJM9VNnifYIzl8CZ1-Lr6e3Cl8gE/s1600/DSC02133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjy3M_AKuO_Eu2LPBd6CwDEP7ydDs3bDAzYSHIVKbObX-vQsTW8yX5Ttcp6FqxXjHq_ursXQB-nUg_raCdI4ebsDL2V72w1jZqGeQYAbF_kjcWwekzJM9VNnifYIzl8CZ1-Lr6e3Cl8gE/s1600/DSC02133.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUMZUni0LBkiGkCPzBptm2-4izty9lGNlunw6qeXYHCt5UzWhPO6M0HgirkFPoanJlBYZGqyyYlhFbe1Wmn481InBKzhGYSo0czdlLPzxRh9VR3qaMxNjLK-TJgivfUrfxHKvlmr9PDA/s1600/SDC15800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUMZUni0LBkiGkCPzBptm2-4izty9lGNlunw6qeXYHCt5UzWhPO6M0HgirkFPoanJlBYZGqyyYlhFbe1Wmn481InBKzhGYSo0czdlLPzxRh9VR3qaMxNjLK-TJgivfUrfxHKvlmr9PDA/s1600/SDC15800.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being a Kaufusi you're destined to be a little on the pudgy side... At the Kaufusi house we love food. We cook a lot of food. We eat a lot of food. Therefore you gain weight because the food is just too dang good. Don't be mislead, Michelle is an amazing cook. But so is Steve. Steve has perfected the art of French Toast as well as the Grill. Michelle has perfected EVERYTHING else. Well and being the oldest, I have MASTERED the grill and everything else there is to be amazing at in the kitchen. Not to toot my own horn but I can cook. Now food. We plan our whole days around food. I remember being in high school and knowing if I wasn't up by 7:00 then Bronson and Corbin would eat all the food. Everyone knows after every Timpview or BYU football game Michelle usually whips up some delicious post game party meal. No one can put food down like my family. The other day I went with Steve to Costco. I remember going with Michelle when all 5 of us kids were home and Brons, Corb, and I were in high school. Michelle would go to Costco every Saturday and it would be at least a $400 trip once a week. I figured now that there are only two kids at home the Costco bill wouldn't be as much... False. $398 later Steve and I were walking out with food to last Sunday to Tuesday. In high school everyone always wanted to eat lunch at Michelle's house because we always have the best food. On any given day at the Gypsy Lair I can guarantee you there will be at least candy 4 dishes full of gummy bears, sweedish fish, hot tamales, and skittles. There will also be a plate of double chocolate doughnuts, some banana bread, and some other tasty treats. Michelle always tries to throw a bowl of fruit and granola bars out too. She has to appeal to all ages and appetites. There is also always food. Michelle has 3 fridges that are always over flowing with all kinds of food. When I was in college and living away from home I still ended up at home once a day just for the food. When we go out to sushi as a family its ridiculous. I'm talking like, 3 rolls per person and some.When we BBQ we don't just do hamburgers and hot dogs. We do short ribs, steaks, teriyaki chicken, sausage, hot dogs, cheese burgers, turkey burgers, and sometimes we even will mix it up and do some salmon. Literally every kind of meat will be on the grillNow you can see why I have always been on the chunky side of the weight spectrum. I take after Steve. We just love food!</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Even our pets are fat! I mean, midnight In N Out runs are completely normal.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now don't get me wrong some days I would love to be skinny and not eat anything. But as Steve would say, "Least I'll die happy and full of good food."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being a Kaufusi also means you're going to get hurt a lot. No because we all fight and you're going to get a black eye or need a band aid. You're probably going to get multiple concussions, shatter your ankle, tear every ligament in your knee, chunk out your knee cartilage, tear your rotator cuff and labrum, get compartments, have a dozen knee scopes, dislocate fingers, dislocate shoulders, get your adult teeth pulled, meningitis, hepatitis, and if you're luck you'll even get cancer. Now thats just the rough breakdown of the past few years. At first I figured we were always getting surgeries and injuries because we aren't as coordinated as we really are and we have bad knee genetics and we all play sports. But then I started looking at how and when we all had our different injuries and I have come to the conclusion we just go hard. Or in Devin's special case... he just didn't think. I look back to when we were little and Bronson and Corbin were in the ER every month with stitches in their forearms. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIkDVF4PmEW1jS7bnUXhbGJdt3moBj-1K0RcBb8fA6qdDQYed9MUKaISZ5qJ12X3jDKjULe1EybIMwmMEdJtJnfI_Ck_YpUY4_0ICzLqUxGAj-_rxw5uASfq9xVKT9CUSS4JdbLhhIIKo/s1600/IMG_1987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIkDVF4PmEW1jS7bnUXhbGJdt3moBj-1K0RcBb8fA6qdDQYed9MUKaISZ5qJ12X3jDKjULe1EybIMwmMEdJtJnfI_Ck_YpUY4_0ICzLqUxGAj-_rxw5uASfq9xVKT9CUSS4JdbLhhIIKo/s1600/IMG_1987.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They used to race each other down our grass hill and rather than stopping and opening the door they ran arms extended into the glass door and the winner won a trip to the ER with Steve to get 10 stitches. In my high school and college times I managed to shatter my ankle, tear my ACL, MCL, and meniscus, break my nose and face, tear every ligament in my ankle, get compartments surgery, tear my meniscus two more times again, and cancer. Bronson tore up his shoulder, tore his PCL, then the next year year he blew out his ACL and meniscus, and just recently had another shoulder surgery. Corbin chunked out a piece of his knee and had to be hooked to a machine 23 hours of the day for 2 weeks. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daryl blew our her ACL, MCL, and meniscus. Devin had a double compound fracture in his arm and 5 or 6 surgeries on that. Steve gets random diseases anytime he leaves the country. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Michelle dislocated her shoulder, has had some knee scopes, and somehow manages to take care of all of us. So being a Kaufusi means is great but you will probably get hurt. Break some arms, blow your knee out, get 100s of stitches... thats just the way it is. After so many hospital visits Steve and Michelle now argue over who has to take us to the ER with whatever new injury we get. Its okay though, those things happen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As mentioned before all my brothers play or will play football at BYU. Steve played football at BYU and in the NFL. I played basketball at BYU. So clearly we are a sports family. For a long time us kids we 4 for 5 as athletes. Daryl gave us a royal scare for a long time being into the dancer and cheer thing. Michelle was a cheerleader and a cougarette as a young lass and she was wearing off on Daryl for a while but after much harassment Daryl converted and is one of the best keepers in the state. Michelle has even abandoned her pom </span><span style="text-align: center;">poms and taken to running marathons and triathlons in her free time. Frankly I think shes insane but thats probably because I hit one mile and about pass out. Now my whole life my parents have pounded into my head as well as my siblings that school is first, sports second. Growing up I hated this because all I wanted to do was play basketball. But in order to play basketball I had to have perfect grades and by perfect I don't mean a 3.9 I mean a 4.0. Two of the scariest days of my life were telling Michelle I got an A- in Human Biology my freshman year of high school and then telling her I got a B+ in Trig my junior year. Now I'm not saying if Daryl had decided to be a cheerleader we would have judged her... I'm just saying her soccer games are more fun to watch and to get kicked out of (happens at least once or twice each club season). We have a phrase in family called GT. It stands for gene trader. It would be such a waste of our great gene pool to not be athletes. Could you imagine being 6'10" and not being a football or basketball player? So not that football and basketball and soccer are life, but being a Kaufusi means you're going to play a sport and you're going to be good at it. If not you'll struggle in family basketball games of 21. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have ever been to the Gypsy Lair besides noticing the bowls of candy and the huge cat you usually notice how clean it is. Michelle runs a tight ship at the house and you either step up and keep it clean or you lose your cell phone, Xbox, iPod, iPad, and any other electronics and privileges. Every day Michelle does something every day to maintain the house's clean state. Every Saturday is chore day. On this day you typically clean your room, your bathroom, do your laundry and put it away, change your sheets, and then you have to pick something else. She always gives you options so the first person to wake up gets first pick. I used to dread Saturdays because I hated cleaning my bathroom and I never wanted to do anything. But you couldn't go out or have your phone until it was all done. Its also required you make your bed everyday. I remember I got a scary long text because I didn't make my bed or put my laundry away. I came home to all my clean laundry and anything that was on the floor thrown on my bed so I couldn't sleep on it. I then started sleeping on top of my comforter so I wouldn't have to make my bed and more so straiten it every morning. I was always trying to find ways around cleaning. Bronson was famous for always leaving his dresser drawers open. On many occasions he would come home to find his drawers on the floor of his room. I'm sure he still does that too because he never really learned his lesson. Now that I live on my own I feel bad for my roommates because I am my mother's daughter. For hating to clean my whole life I love to clean my house and HATE when its messy. I'm borderline OCD I would say. If the house is messy, I have to clean it before I can do anything. I don't care if its 11:00 at night I will vacuum the upstairs if its messy. Every Saturday I clean everything and I even scrub the floors on my hands and knees. Its amazing how the older you get you realize Michelle was actually right and she actually had a purpose behind teaching us kids to be clean freaks. I love it because you better believe my house is clean! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>#HugsAndKissesForAll</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So the last thing that comes with being a Kaufusi is hugs and kisses. If you have ever been around my brothers specifically Bronson and Corbin, 10 out of 10 times they will pick you up and give you a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek. Now for someone like me, I'm not into the touchy feely stuff so I always hated it when they would do it. But when they were on their missions thats one of the things I missed most is I didn't get these huge bear hugs every time I saw one of my giant baby brothers. Steve is a large man. Sometimes I call him Fat Man. But his hugs are just engulfing. He's a big dude. Usually I can wiggle free from Brons and Corb, but not Steve. He's still got some muscle from his Eagle days and just doesn't let go. His hugs are great though. Bronson is roughly 6'7" 265lbs. He's super skinny right now its really weird, he always had to shop in the "husky" section of Gap when he was little. Bronsons hugs sometimes hurt because he squeezes so hard and when he kisses your cheek its really slobbery. I don't enjoy his hugs and kisses that much. Corbin is 6'10" and 240lbs. His hugs are my favorite. He usually catches you by surprise. Hes famous for throwing people over his shoulders and running around with them. The only problem with Corbin is you never know if he is fully dressed, half dressed, or in his speedo. Whenever he would come home from work between his car and the front door he always managed to end up at least topless. The boy has a free spirit lets be honest. So if you're going to be in or around my family, be prepared to have your personal bubble space violated. The first day I met Steph was when she moved into my parents house for the summer and the first thing I told her, "Don't be alarmed if my brothers pick you up and kiss you thats normal." Sure enough, Bronson picked her up kissed her on the cheek and welcomed her to our home. Like I said, there's no such thing as personal space in our home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So now you have a small look into my crazy family and what it really means to be a Kaufusi. If you follow me on twitter I will always hastag <b>#KaufusiProbs </b>when I tweet anything that reminds me of my family and just how we are. Now we aren't perfect but I will say this, we are a good freaking time! The missing piece and the funniest one comes home in two months and two days then we will FINALLY be complete after four years. Missionaries are always weird. In Bronson's case he still is weird, but for the sake of our family holidays and my sanity, I hope Corbin isn't weird long-- If you've ever seen our Christmas Eve dance party pictures you'll know what I'm talking about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope everyone had a great Spring Break. I spent mine working. If you happened to be at my parents you'd know Devin broke his foot and got surgery, Bronson got his shoulder fixed, and Michelle is recovering still too. Like I said #KaufusiProbs = #InjuredProbs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a Marvelous weekend and go see Divergent if you haven't!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alexis</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-19579793775381665802014-04-07T10:10:00.000-07:002014-04-07T10:10:05.648-07:00That Rec Ball Life...<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rec Ball Life</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now this post has been in the makings for about a week or two now and its all about Recreation Women's Basketball. Also known as: Rec ball, Rec league, Old Ladies League... Whatever you call it, Rec ball is life post college basketball. I've been playing rec ball in different leagues for about 3 years now and I just felt the need to talk about it so people fully understand how awesome it can be. First off this is the breakdown of how one enters into Rec Ball life. The inevitable happens and you finish out your college playing career and you enter NARP life. NARP stands for Non Athletic Regular Person. This is something that everyone dreads as a college athlete. The first week of NARP life you're like, this is awesome I have no early morning practice, my body doesn't ache, and I have the free agency to do whatever I want on a Friday night. But then the first week ends and you start missing it. So to fill the void you decide to go play in a rec league with fellow NARPS. Now not all NARPS are created equal. Some NARPS are post coll</span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: center;">ege atheltes like yourself. Others have been NARPS since day 1. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NARP Life Day 1<br /> WOOT WOOT PARTY NO BASKETBALL</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NARP life Week 1<br />I miss basketball </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NARP Life 25 years later<br />Who cares about college basketball</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Once NARP life is accepted you then enter in the rec league and play and your eyes are opened to his whole new world of rec ball. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So there's some things one needs to know about rec ball. Rec ball is short for the adult recreation leagues held at the city and county recreation centers as briefly mentioned before. Now while playing rec ball you might be lucky enough to get into a competitive league where the NARP ladies can at least make a lay up. Then sometimes you get the less experienced NARPS who come in spandex and wear their hair down. Its like the BYU men's basketball team, you never know what kind of team you're going to get. Now in rec ball you have 5 different kind of people:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">1. The ladies who played in high school who try to do the same things they did in high school but they've gained 60lbs and have 5 kids so they can't. You don't want them on your team.<br /><br />2. The ladies who thought it would be a good form of cardio after their yoga and zumba classes. So they come strait from Golds Gym in their spandex with their hair down and in their little florescent running shoes. It would be like having Michelle on your team. Lord knows Michelle can't shoot a basketball to save her life. You don't want them on your team either.<br /><br />3. The ladies who actually played in college and know what a flare screen is. These people are competitive, sometimes almost too competitive. But you're most likely going to win and most like going get a free tshirt or a free duffle bag that says "Salt Lake County Rec" on the side. You want as many people like this as you can find on this team.<br /><br />4. There are the ladies who played in high school and probably should have played in college but didn't, and they're still really good. They're usually pretty competitive and are the most consistent people. You want these ladies on your team.<br /><br />5. Lastly are the ladies who you wonder if they have ever touched a basketball in their existence. Or if they know who Michael Jordan even is. These ladies have a tendency to shoot the ball with two hands and hit the back board on the other court. You really don't want to play with one of them. If you are so unfortunate to have to go through this, Shaylee you know what I'm talking about, then I am so sorry and I'll pray for your patience.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMC1bpfqLE9DBpOu7evbmd94BFn6fBg_YzCgXiaoFtP7YLvqRBmZpUBsFcfGeKUA9zo6zagrk4KtmBO48y76XsAa-Jq2pMf_mY43rE-7ErVrxLrin6mt3yzt_BmzHQu_H39NkvTtJ23PI/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMC1bpfqLE9DBpOu7evbmd94BFn6fBg_YzCgXiaoFtP7YLvqRBmZpUBsFcfGeKUA9zo6zagrk4KtmBO48y76XsAa-Jq2pMf_mY43rE-7ErVrxLrin6mt3yzt_BmzHQu_H39NkvTtJ23PI/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So over the past two almost three years of rec ball experience I have been blessed to always play with the ladies who fall in categories 3 and 4. I have been even luckier to get to play pick up basketball on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays with ladies who fall under categories 3 and 4. More specifically my friend Shaylee. Shaylee and I actually were playing together 4 days a week until our Salt Lake league just ended. We got 2nd place to Morgan Warburton's team. If you don't know who Morgan Warburton is google her. So I can't be too mad but still losing sucks either way. Like I said, its just rec ball, but I can't help but get so competitive. Yes we are not playing for any kind of cool trophy or Conference Championship, but we are playing for a tshirt. And lets be honest everyone wants a tshirt! Example, after we lost I think it was the next night at a different league that Shaylee and I were still mad about losing. Like I said, its rec ball, but for some reason I get so competitive and just want to win the dang tshirt.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />As I mentioned in the previous paragraph Shaylee and I play basketball 3-4 times a week together. On this past Thursday we had the ultimate rec ball experience. So we only had 4 players. We got down by nearly 30 points. It's a good thing shaylee couldn't miss because I didn't hit a shot. So the team we played everyone was 30ish with 2 kids or my age and married. They had a whole cheering section. I'm talking parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, kids, husbands, friends... Like more people were at that game than a BYU womens basketball game. Did I mention we were down the whole game by a lot? So the whole game these fans are yelling at the refs and talking so much crap. I just wanted to be like, ok we are all adults. 1. This is rec ball 2. This is Spanish Fork rec ball 3. You're up by 25 and 4. We only have 4 players calm down everyone! Let's just say the situation escalated quickly as we made our come back and the ref almost ejected everyone. We were within 2 but still lost. Moral of the story, make sure you bring everyone you know to your rec ball game to talk all the crap they can and cheer excessively and annoyingly. So if any of you would want to come and be in our cheer section, which is lacking immensely, feel free to join. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now as much of a joke rec league ball can be, at the end of the day it's really all of us post college athletes have. After our 4 years the options of still playing are EXTREMELY limited. My advice, play in as many leagues as you can and have fun. Stay competitive but have fun too. Of there's no competitiveness that takes the fun of winning away, which is probably why Shaylee and I get so angry when we lose. So keep in mind as you enter NARP life try to make the best of it and play basketball as much as possible. Just because college play is done doesn't mean you can't play anymore! You will always have that rec ball life to look forward to. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So don't forget, our fan section is struggling. So if you want to come and cheer Shaylee and I on feel free to join us on Tuesday and Thursdays in Spanish Fork and Wednesdays in the City of Salt!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Stay Classy my friends.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Alexis</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-76791406009796722992014-02-25T12:46:00.003-08:002014-02-28T09:48:56.562-08:00Whats In a Name?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So its only Tuesday. Good Lord I feel like its already Friday, but no its just Tuesday. Life has been great lately I really can't complain too much. I have this thing where I give people nick names. Some are a little more... odd then others but they, it happens. With this blog there's going to be lots of stories and people so I thought a good first post would be to introduce the main stars of my blog...</div>
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<b>The Gypsy Michelle</b></div>
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Meet my Biological Mother Michelle... Shes like 5'10" but always wears heels so she's taller than me. She enjoys running ridiculous amounts of miles, eating cinnamon bears, frosting, and carrot cake. She also finds joy in listening to Cher and watching Down Town Abbey.</div>
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<b>The Fat Man aka Steve-O</b></div>
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Meet my Biological Father Steve... He's the Gypsy's tall dark and handsome lover. He enjoys watering his lawn as well as watching YouTube videos on his iPad. When he grows up he wants to have a Corgi and live on a farm with cows.</div>
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<b>Baby Brother/Bronny Boy</b></div>
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My younger brother Bronson... He's by far the favorite child by a long shot. He was an All American football player in high school, went on a mission, married his wifey in the Temple... basically your cookie cutter Mormon boy. Oh and he believes in the Megladon Shark.</div>
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<b>Corby`</b></div>
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My younger brother Corbin... He's 6'10" and weighs probably the same of me. He lives in Korea on an LDS mission. In his spare time he likes to play with knives he buys at the Asian gift shops and dancing better than most girls I know. He's my best friend basically. He is notorious for wearing a speedo, bow tie, and a fedora at all times. </div>
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<b>Wiener Dog</b></div>
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My baby sister Daryl... Shes my go to girl who I would do anything for! She has an odd obsession with Polar Bears and Bacon. By odd I mean its all she talks about and thinks about. Bacon and Bears. One time she got her finger chopped off but they sewed it back on. </div>
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<b>Dev</b></div>
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My baby brother Devin aka Daryl's twin brother. Devin finds joy in playing xbox and taking selfies with my dog Klaus. He has 3 different bedrooms and manages to make each one a complete disaster. Personally thats talent in my eyes. </div>
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<b>Porsche</b></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhSmNpF3CAg7wqkRBhZ9I5flYDMM8pBifesLzzX2ljrIEPnzjmH9wAPD2NcCxifYER5eJX6gSaLaKz-TV9uNcDSg2hIgB1EeUr7tF7xBc7_c0DuiJJN_tSzWTPNTlOm7vYWGrFQX21SZq/s320/IMG_0023.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></div>
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Porsche just turned 4 and is my cancer kitty. When I was diagnosed I went and bought her because I knew the Gypsy couldn't say no. Who just says no to a cancer kid like really though? Porsche is a total diva and is the boss of the house. She spends her days lounging on the love sack and drinking out of the toilet.</div>
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<b>Bella</b></div>
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Isabella is my almost 1 yr old St Bernard. I bought her out of the influence of Steph (shes coming up) because we love dogs and all animals for that matter. Bella is pushing 110lbs and is the sweetest girl ever. She sleeps next to me every night and loves the water. She also loves to watch Tv with me at night. </div>
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<b>Klaus (rhymes with mouse)</b></div>
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Niklaus is my 4 month old malamute/timberland wolf mix boy. I bought Klaus because Bella needed a friend. He was kind of a hellion at first but he's turning out to be a great boy. He listens good and is FINALLY potty trained. His favorite thing to do is give kisses and cuddle. He enjoys drinking out of the toilet and stealing Bella's toys.</div>
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<b>Hill</b></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DAZkqwoGkGdc_-0aAe1xVMFqn773nNoZU6L1KBG6mnANBikQOdL2gzJ3vWJWVo4f3Gx6Z3SfG-Zr_JXMZK6747VL8V3bsHbzrNBvg7vc3GLe-KNp9GqUr2d_l-ote6IenYrKmBz6bZ-Z/s320/SDC15768.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></div>
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My cousin Hillary! Before I tell you how amazing she is, just know she's super mom. Like The Gypsy is Super Mom 1.0 and Hillary is Super Mom 2.0+. Hillary has 3 little girls who are the most precious funniest little girls. Makaela, Thea, and Ella. As if thats not enough she also has 3 little boys. Triplet boys. Did I mention she has 6 kids under 10 yrs old?!?! Exactly. Super Mom. Shes always been in my life since I can remember and showed me how to be a good cousin and has been an even better role model. I'd say a third of my cancer stories as well as the funnest times in my life come from hanging out with her and her kids. </div>
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<b>Teph</b></div>
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Stephanie Vermunt-Seaborn is one of people who I am fondest of in this world. Steph is a Canadian and is probs my favorite followed by her brother in law Dave. We played at BYU together. We conquered the Fudruckers 1lb cheese burger. At the end of the day Steph and I have a common love for food and our dogs. </div>
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<b>Chookie Lover</b></div>
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Ashley has been one of my best friends since my parents moved me to Provo. We have been through it all... stupid cheating boyfriends, camping, ER trips... you know the hard stuff in life when you're in high school. Sure do love her and her lover Boo Boo Bear (Aaron).</div>
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<b>Krystin Marie</b></div>
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Krystin has been a great addition to my life! She coaches softball at UVU. I moved into a condo with her and her teammates a little over a year ago and since then I have learned so much about softball. I learned what a grand slam really means, that the term OKC isn't just the team Kevin Durrant plays for, and that I swing a softball bat like a girl.</div>
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Well... These people will probably be mentioned the most throughout my blog. All these people are the foundation to my life and have made me who I am today. Given I'm not perfect by any means but I mean, I did manage to acquire some good qualities from each of them and not to mention countless stories... </div>
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Love you guys!</div>
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Happy Tuesday. This post is distracting me from watching game film and the 5A state basketball tournament live feed. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2288073055129821881.post-10846028604757990302014-02-25T09:57:00.002-08:002014-02-25T10:09:58.031-08:00My NEW blog...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello everyone... First off let me just say, I have really missed blogging. Many of you know and for those who don't know, I have another blog that's all about this one time when I had cancer. Its a great blog if you're ever bored go check it out, but I needed a blog where I could talk about every day stuff like the weather, basketball, why my dog sleeps in the tub, why my cat drinks out of the toilet, you know the little stuff. So here is my new blog! So to start off here's an update on my life...<br />
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<li>I graduated from BYU last fall</li>
<li>I currently the assistant girls basketball coach at Timpview High School </li>
<li>I also work full time for a drilling company as their professional phone answering lady and book keeper</li>
<li>I have two dogs and a cat who I refer to as my children</li>
<li>And lastly, I lately spend my days working, doing P90X and playing basketball every spare second I can...</li>
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Well thats really it. My life isn't as exciting as it used to be but I miss blogging! I was at Days Market the other day and was asked why I haven't blogged in a while because the lady missed my funny stories about my family and life. So, I'm apologizing now to my family and friends now because I will probably end up sharing some really funny stories about you guys on here. I'm working on my first post right now... its seasonally appropriate so be excited!<br />
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** Quick Side note... if you're from Utah come see my girls play Wednesday night at SLCC 4:10 against Skyline!!<br />
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Have a great rest of your week everybody! I know its only Tuesday which sucks but its ok the weekend is almost here!<br />
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Alexis<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03459753330109559575noreply@blogger.com0