Last 10 Things I am Thankful For

*Not sure if I mentioned this previously, but these are in no particular order*

21.  Snow tires for my little Corolla

My cute little car has two sets of tires: 

1. Snow tires

2. Warm weather tires (is there a specific name?)

It has snowed quite a bit here in the 801, which means driving can be dangerous and just a hassle. 

My snow tires are the best!   I feel very safe driving with them.

Mark and I were leaving his house seperately the other day, and it took a bit more work to get

his car out of the pile of snow that had accumulated.  My car, on the other hand, laughed at his while the snow fell on its knees as I drove on top of it easily. 

Mwahaha!

my tread is beastly

22.  Other people's blogs!

People.  I am such a stalker.  Not in a bad way, but more of a "Hey I don't know you, but your blog is fascinating even though you live in another state/are someone's sister that I graduated with/etc."  

I love learning more about life based on another person's perception.

It helps me learn more about myself and the way I look at things as well as motivate me to be a better person.

23.  Kind strangers

I started going to church a few months ago just to check it out and everyone has been so nice!

I have felt very welcome there:]

I love people who say please and thank you, hold doors open for one another, give compliments just because, show sincere interest in you and what you're about, etc.  They make the world a better place.

24.  Manners

Some people have them.  Some people don't know the meaning of the word.

I am certainly no "priss," but just be kind to one another is all I ask. 

-Please and Thank You

-You're Welcome

-Don't chew with your mouth wide open sloshing around your food 

and saliva so we can all hear and see

Here are a simple few.  Learn these please. They do wonders along with making people feel appreciated and comfortable.

25.  Smiles and Laughter

Cheesy, I know.

But let me tell you something: Smiles and laughing are contagious, I swear.

It will make you a happier person if you do these things. 

26.  Challenges and Failures

Are you confused as to why I like these?

Well, how would we ever improve if we never fail and realize our mistakes?

Life would be NO fun at all if we were good at absolutely everything and everything life threw at us went our way. 

Some of the happiest/proudest moments I can remember experiencing in my life

were times I learned a new task or improved something I was bad at. 

Example:

I wanted to give up water skiing and wakeboarding when I first attempted to learn.

I felt like I was drowning, the boat pulled too hard, I couldn't keep my feet straight. 

Would ya look at me now!

27.  My hair

Alright, alright this one seems weird and narcissistic doesn't it?

Probably so...but who said I couldn't include those things??  I missed the memo.

Let me tell you why I like it and why it is on my list:

Some people are born with really fine, thin hair.   That's great if they're good with it. 

I am happy for them.

Some people are born with unruly hair that is near impossible to tame.  Again, if they like it, that's awesome.  I am happy for you as well.

But I like mine better:]  It is somewhat thick, grows quickly, is soft and shiny, and I love experimenting with cuts and color!

It used to have it dark with red streaks. 

It was so awesome

28.  Those who volunteer

I wish I volunteered and helped others out more.

Seeing others appreciate everything you are doing to better that other

person's situation is such a good feeling.  

Giving really is better than Receiving

29.  Having a Fiance' who loves to cook

I am not the greatest cook.  I can get by, but Mark is the one who wants to try new recipes

and learn what all the different types of spices do to the food.  He knows a lot

and I hope I can learn from him!

One benefit: I get to eat a lot of his delicious creations 

30.  The Gospel

  I am a brand new convert, as of December 22, 2012, in the 

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

I am so excited about this!

I am a *brand new* Mormon

I may not be an expert or be able to recite scriptures quite yet or any time soon, but

 I certainly have my own testimony and beliefs that are strong enough to

 keep me striving to learn even more.

I am very thankful for the church:]

Thanksgiving Break.....Finally!

Thanksgiving Break is finally here, and let me tell you that I am more than ready for it.
School, work, and stressing over wedding planning has really piled up and I want to forget it all for these next few days.

For the break, Mark, his brother Stephen and I are headed down to St. George tomorrow to spend Thanksgiving with his family!  I am extremely excited to go see them, but I have to admit, it will be a little odd to be having a turkey dinner without any of my family there, only because I have always spend it with them.  But I know that this year will be just as fantastic!

I would also like to point out that my Aunt Jennifer got a root canal done today :[  I hope that you feel better soon and enjoy all-you-can-eat mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving! 
(I call them that not necessarily because there will be an abundance of potatoes, but because that will literally be all you can eat...)

Time for more Thanks!

13.  Showers

Do I even need to explain how freaking good showers make 

me, and I am assuming you guys too, feel? If you think I am weird, then picture this:  You've been camping and boating for a few days now. You smell and feel like campfire,  lake water, sunscreen and dirt.  You finally get home after a week and get in the hot water and wash all that nasty off you. Yeah. I'm not so weird anymore now am I?

I thought not.

14.  Music

Mumford & Sons for example

They are an amazingly talented group of men who product freaking awesome music.

Listening to them calms me down, makes me happy, and seriously, there is never a time where you think, "Nah, I'm not in the mood."
Their music fits every mood.

And....they have an awesome accent. Nobody can beat that. 

Music is a universal language.  It has magic powers I swear. 

Music....pumps you up and allows you to run further and lift more than you thought  you ever could, it make you feel happy when you are sad or mad (it seems to know  exactly how you are feeling), brings people together, etc. It does so much!

15. Having successful English teachers in school

Because of them I know...

Difference between there, their and they're

Difference between your and you're

'A lot' is 2 words

Nowadays, this "skill" seems hard to come by.

16.  Cameras

I am by no means a photographer, but I do enjoy taking photos!

My favorite is landscapes as well as close-ups of nature or regular objects.  I am not a fan of taking portraits because I do not know the first thing about how they should pose, what the lighting should be, etc.  But if they all want to stand there and smile, that's great.  I really want to be able to take pictures in Manual Mode as opposed to Automatic as  well as becoming familiar with Photoshop. Those are some things I am going to work towards! Both are freaking difficult

17.  My Job

I have worked at my job for almost 3 years now and though at times I don't  want to go (we all feel like that), but once I am there I always have a good time with my coworkers.  I have made friends there and we all seem to have fun:] I know in this economy a lot of people have lost jobs and are struggling to find another to support their families or just themselves, so I am so happy and grateful to have a job!

18.  Fleece socks and blankets

Here in SLC it is cold in the winter.  Quite chilly for 5-ish months, and nothing  is more comfortable than coming home from a day out in the snow and  slipping on my Comfy Socks, as I call them, sweat pants and wrapping myself in a comfortable blanket.  Oh man, it is such a pleasant thought!

19.  My Senses

Being able to feel, see, hear, taste and smell is such a blessing.

I take it for granted for sure, but I definitely am grateful for all 5 of them.

Without them I wouldn't be able to feel my fleece blanket and socks!

I wouldn't be able to see my surroundings to take pictures of!

No music for me if I couldn't hear it!

What would I do if I couldn't taste food? Seriously, that would be terrible. 

Though my nose's ability to smell is not so great, if it was gone completely I wouldn't be able to smell flowers, food in the oven or pine trees during Christmas!

20.  Alarm Clocks

These are an amazing inventions now aren't they?

I don't think I have to elaborate other than they save all of our lives 

when it comes to waking up in the morning with enough time to 

get ready and get to where we need to be. 

I have my priorities set. 

Ten—Twelve

10.  A Working Vehicle

I am so grateful to have a car that I can depend on to get from 

point A to point B without a shadow of a doubt.  At times I

find myself taking having a reliable car for granted. 

But I am definitely trying to get better at that. 

*Insert photo of my lovely Toyota Corolla here*

11.  Pancakes

They are ever so delicious and I am always in the mood for

those fluffy discs of goodness.  

On occasion I enjoy throwing on a bit of peanut butter

along with syrup on those puppies.  

Tasty-licious!

12.  My Mac

I feel so grateful, lucky and fortunate to have an Apple laptop.

I received it as a high school graduation gift from my dad and

I absolutely love it!  This is definitely something that has made

doing homework and taking notes in class a lot easier. 

I am in love with this thing and I am eternally grateful. 

Word to the wise: PC or Mac? 

ALWAYS PICK MAC

every time...

So what is happening as of late?

Mark and I recently joined teams for an intramural basketball league at the U. 

I had my first game tonight and both of us WON!...but I didn't play so hot

Oh well, what can ya do?  I haven't played in a competitive setting in a few years other than pick up ball at the Rec Center, so I am a tid bit rusty when it comes to an intense game situation.  I'll get back into it and play next better on Wednesday though :]

Man, but I gotta say, I felt so much anxiety before the game started.  I think I was just nervous, so the ball felt foreign in my hands for the first few minutes. Which caused my shot arc to be a little low and I was short every time (except for my one basket). I just let my mind get the best of me.  I have to just stay positive!  I know this game and I know I can play!  

Time To Give Thanks

I'm coming out of blogging retirement....again.
I'm like the Michael Jordan or Brett Favre of the blog world.

I just want to warn you all that this blog topic is completely unoriginal and I am sure you'll see it somewhere else.
But is there ever really a limit to how much you are thankful for or how many people display their thanks? No sir!

I would like to do 30 Blogs of Thanks, but I am behind. Story of my life.
I'll go ahead and do nine today and a blog a day until Thanksgiving!

1.  Marky Mark

 best friend. fiancé. cooking partner. workout buddy.

source of laughter. supporter. teacher. partner in crime.

I guess you could say I love this guy.

2. Salt Lake City

I was born and raised here.  I grew up hearing other people talk about 

how they hated living here and that they were going to move to California.

I just want to ask them, "Have you ever really looked outside?"

 I mean really, how many people have access to this kind of view?

I love my home. 

3.  Basketball

Without basketball, there is no doubt in my mind that I wouldn't

have started developing a relationship with Mark.

It is something that has brought me joy, physical pain, excitement, 

team camaraderie, frustration, tears(happy and sad ones), happiness, bruises, learning experiences, and feelings of success.

It is absolutely the best. I miss it!

4.  Sweets

I'm not talking Sour Patch Kids(though tasty in their own way).

I am thinking more along the lines of chocolate, peanut butter, smores, ice cream, cake, brownies, etc.

5.  Hot Chocolate On A Winter Day

No, this doesn't go under the sweets section. This is totally different.

Imagine your toes freezing because of snow soaked shoes and socks. 

Your hands ice cold from that snowball you knew you shouldn't have made

but throwing it at your friend made your icy hands totally worth it.

The cold wind sending shivers down your body as you make the treacherous journey to your car, which is also a bit frigid.

THEN you grab a cup of hot chocolate and feel the heat radiating 

from the mug warm your hands and the rest of you body with each gulp.

Not to mention your tastebuds approve of this decision. Trust me.

6.  U of U

I am so grateful for the opportunity to further my education

at a credible university.  Many people will not have this chance, so I feel very lucky. 

7.  Exercise

The fact I have an able body that is capable of getting stronger and

healthier by lifting weights and running is amazing.

A healthy body will never go out of style. 

It is something to be proud of. 

8.  My Best Friend

Yo, Tmac.  We are quite a pair.

Oh the adventures we have.  Thank you for always being there for me!

Who else do I have to talk about boys with, have Alberton's and Park City adventures with, leave a 5 gallon Geyser water in the car for years, and just be strange with? 

9.  Family

I am grateful for the family I have always had and for the 

family I will join come March 9th.

Grandpa, Ryan, Me, Dad, and Grandma

Grandpa, Aunt Jennifer, Grandma, Dad, Me, and Ry

Me, Grandma, Grandpa, Kylee, Ryan

Mark's Family!

I felt so privileged to be involved in this photo at Mark's brother's wedding.

Stay tuned for 10—30!

Fun in the Sun

A few weeks ago we headed to St. George for Mark's birthday!  It was a lot of fun and there was a lot of sun to go around—105 degrees the first day we got there. 

Sand Hollow in St. George

 Trying to work on our tans

 Sandcastle!

 Mark lying lakeside

During our trip we played basketball like we always do.  Unfortunately this time around I completely forgot my basketball shoes at home.  They were in my room in a bag ready to go, but I never grabbed that bag when I left.  So I just played in regular tennis shoes/hiking shoes.  Not my choice exactly, but I guess it's shoes and that is what I needed.

Got some tasty snow cones.

Went to the city pool again.

Played some old school Nintendo 64 games.

We also hiked a short distance of The Narrows in Zions National Park on Mark's birthday!

 The lighting was not the best. 

Mark's bro Adam 

These are the shoes I had to play ball in.....need I say more?

I told you guys I'd bring my camera on this trip.  I even used it too; it's a miracle!

For Mark's birthday we had a wonderful dinner prepared by his parents:
Corn, Tri-Tip, Salad and Rolls.  Delish!

I have to share with you guys something strange and something unlike anything I have ever heard of.....
.......Mark's family aren't cake people.  I know what you're thinking: That's ridiculous!  (Though his mom did try out a chocolate cake/brownie recipe she found and some of us had a few pieces of it throughout the week. And by "some of us" I mean I, Shannah, ate a lot of it.
For the many many birthdays his family has had, they told me they never really made cake for the occasion.  Of course they would do other things in replace of cake such as birthday candles in rolls. Rolls people!  Yeah, that's totally normal...
Ha!  I love those guys though, they are such a great family even if they don't really like cake. Each one of them is so kind hearted and I feel privileged to know them:]

All in all we had a wonderful time!  But next time we are definitely going to go further into The Narrows, that much is for certain.