In my twenties.

Right before my 20th birthday, my lovely sister Anna told me about a project she was completing called her "Birthday Bucket List."Basically she created a list on her birthday the year before of all the things she wanted to accomplish by the time her next birthday rolled around. It was so neat hearing about all her achievements and good ideas! She encouraged me to start one and so I have!

I haven't completed the list yet. In fact, I had means to do that today. I sat down while the kiddos I nanny were watching a show and started to list all the things I wanted to do...
Make a quilt
complete my pinterest recipes
Learn 5 songs on Piano
Take a name to the temple...

I had about 9 things on my list when I got stuck (I wanted to come up with 20...ha). I turned to Google for some advice. I typed in "What to do in my 20th year." I clicked on one of the first links that popped up...and I was appalled.

"Sleep Around"
"Eat whatever you want"
"Party when you get the chance"
"Blow your money on something you've always wanted"
"Do not ruin your life by settling down..."

Not all of them were this bad...but I've got to say it was heart breaking to read this list.
Being in your 20's is never going to happen again, I know, but what gives us the right to waste this time?

The last one I mentioned hit me the hardest.
"Do not ruin your life by settling down."

Let me just say something:

I settled down when I was 19. While I did have support (and I will always be grateful for it), I got grief from so many people. Friends, some family and even complete strangers who told me I was wasting my life and I would miss out on so many things.

Sure, I have missed out.
I wont get to see the world on my own
I wont be able to live with my friends ever again
I am tied down to one person and have to seek his approval on big decisions
I wont go on a first date ever again

But you know what else?
I get to experience new adventures with my husband
I get to live with my best friend for the rest of my life
I have a supporter and a friend that will always help me make the best choice
I will remember my first date with my husband forever and will enjoy every date after that.

Settling down has been the best decision I have ever made. Going into my twenties, I know I will miss out on things I see my high school friends doing, but I know I have gained so much more. I am so incredibly happy with the way my life has unfolded the past year. Its amazing how much you grow when you aren't focusing on "making the most" out of your twenties, but focusing on the things that matter the most.

Peanut Butter Bars

This is one of my favorite recipes. Its one of the first ones I've pinned and have loved perfecting it!

I have made a goal for my "Birthday Bucket List" to complete all my FOOD PINS this year! (There are 147 of them...)

I thought I would do a familiar recipe to kick start this project of mine. Brantley has so graciously agreed to help me and directed and edited this whole video!! Isn't he awesome?

I especially loved the intense music he chose :) ha!

Here is my Pinned recipe to these amazing Peanut Butter Bars:

1 cup butter melted
2 cups graham cracker crumbs 
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 cup + 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) peanut butter
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

In a medium bowl, mix together the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, confectioners’ sugar, and 1 cup peanut butter until well blended. Press evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 9×13 inch pan. In a metal bowl over simmering water (to create a double boiler), or in the microwave, melt the chocolate chips with the peanut butter, stirring occasionally until smooth. Spread over the peanut butter layer. Refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting into squares. 

You Know You Are a Nanny If...

I have said it before and I will say it again, I love my job as a nanny. Its wonderful and hard everyday and I love it.

I have been a nanny for this awesome family for about two months now and I am noticing myself turning into that "stereotypical nanny" (if there is such a thing, ha.) Or I guess what my idea of what a nanny does and is.

You know you're a Nanny if...

>Your hairstyle everyday is either a bun or a ponytail, anything else is way too fancy and will get in your way.

>You find yourself singing songs like the "911" song sung in the tune of Nick Nack Patty Wack. (True story)

>You can understand baby talk and translate

>You hide your gram crackers you brought from home so you don't have to share.

>You second guess yourself every time you are asked to "spell something"

>You sweep 4 times a day

>You give in to their wants because you can't find a good enough answer for "Why Not?"

>You find yourself snacking on goldfish when the kids do.

>You devise a strategic plan to try to get the kids to clean their room

>Lysol wipes go incredibly fast

>You "fix hair" at least 3 times a day

>Shhhhhhhhhh...PLEASE.

>You are more excited about play dates than the kids are

>You sing and Dance to "Let it Go" more often than you would like (Bridget LITERALLY started singing it in this moment, ha!)

>Kidz Bop is number one suggested on your Spotify

>You are a pro multitasker

>You play the horse or unicorn every time...

>you have more art work than you know what to do with

>Your sense of time is must faster than it used to be

>You go to bed at 9:30 every night because you are always tired.

>You love those kids for everything they are!

 Lyrics to "911" song to the tune of nick nack 

911

911

Push those buttons 911

When you're hurt or scared and you don't know what to do,

Push those buttons 911

twinners

Since we have been together, I can't even count how many times people have come up to Brantley and I and asked if we were cousins, siblings or twins.

 Its hilarious.

Maybe its the brown hair or the big smile, but people seem to think Brantley and I look incredibly similar.

Yesterday while we were at the gym, I was going to meet Brantley in the basketball courts after I got done running. When I got there, I found him playing a game of HORSE with a thirteen year old boy (incredibly funny and precious).

After I had been watching for a little while, the boy looked over at me and asked Brantley, "Is that your sister?" Without skipping  a beat, Brantley said, "yup."

For the next while we pretended to be "bro" and "sis" (referring to each other as such) and having fun with this frequent misunderstanding, asking if we had talked to mom about dinner or if dad was ready to go home yet. The boy kept yelling things at me like, "Your brother rocks!" and "Wow, does your brother ever miss?"

Proud sister....

oh I mean wife.

HA.

I guess the good news is we will know exactly how our kids will look!

Wishing

I think I am not the first one to say this, but there are so many things I wish I could be

For example: A better cook with amazing hair that can run 20 miles straight who has a perfectly clean  pinterest home with beautiful decor pillows who also is the best nanny and never gets frustrated with herself or her husband who loves everyone unconditionally and also has a blog that inspires and uplifts others and makes God proud.

"wish" counts:13.

I find myself "wishing" for something that I don't have or am not perfect at everyday.

Its so difficult to want to be something and realize that that is just not going to happen right at the second you want it to.
Realizing that who you want to be is not who you are can be a mini tragedy that happens over and over...
But it doesn't have to.

Life is all about learning and growing and being. Wishing to wake up one day with all the traits you want is just not realistic.

The reason this life is here is so that we can get better, every day, at the things that matter most to us. We can also discover what those things are along the way.


The only way to be truly happy in this life is to stop wishing, start accepting, and begin living a life that you understand will grow and change and ultimately love.

New Year, New Plans

Its February!  How did that happen? 

This "New Year" is flying by and I don't know about you, but I think I need a little motivation to keep up my goals I made for January 1st. 

Maybe you are rocking it, and if you are WAY TO GO, but Its amazing that most Americans have such a hard time making and keeping good new years resolutions. 

This year, I looked to Pinterest to help me figure out how to make and keep goals that will be meaningful to my overall self. 

Here are some of my favorite tips for a road to successful goal making. 

1. Make up to 3 really good goals.  Making a whole long list of goals will not only overwhelm you, but it will also make it hard to keep them and keep them well. It is better to make a few goals that are super meaningful and you can focus your attention on. 

2. Make a deadline for each goal. I'm not talking "December 31" but an actual date within the year that you can check that goal off the list. If your goal is something like "be a better cook," make small weekly or monthly goals to help you keep on track. For example cooking one meal a week can help your skill become what you want it to be, and you can actually keep track of your effort in that resolution.

3. Remind yourself why it is you made that goal. The best way to do this is to record your thoughts on why you want to accomplish your resolutions and read them back. Maybe you want to spend more time with your children because you want to see how their personalities have changed with age, or maybe you want to exercise more because you want to be able to run around with your toddler. Whatever the reason, reminding yourself of the real purposes behind your resolutions will help you stay motivated to reach your goals.

I find that these tips help with ALL goals, not just ones made at the beginning of the year. 

Claire's New Years Resolutions

//Run a Half-Marathon (Scheduled for April 4) I want to run a half marathon because I have never really been an athletic person, and I married into one that breathes fitness. My mom also inspires me because of her healthy lifestyle. I want to feel good about my body and proud of a hard accomplishment.

//Record more of Life's Events. I love looking back at memories and seeing how our little family has grown. The only problem is I take SO MANY PICTURES and never organize them. I started this goal off by making a 2014 family year book that organized all the important events that have happened to us last year. (It's coming in the mail Tomorrow!!) I also want to keep blogging and writing in my journal to keep the details of our lives preserved! 

//Attend the temple each month. You can learn more about the temple here

Knowing that I am keeping my goals, even if I am not perfect at them, make me feel like I am in control of my progression! 

Cheesy Post Warning

Can I just tell you how much I love this man?

He is seriously everything I could ever hope for in a husband, best friend, and companion. He has made me so much better in so many ways and has helped me in the times of trouble and stood by me and cheered at times of triumph. He shows love through everything he does and to everyone he meets. 

He is the person I admire the most in this world, and I feel so happy everyday when I wake up by his side and realize, for the hundredth time, that I am so unbelievably blessed.