Sometimes you just need a little family time.. so you book a flight home with almost little to no notice to your job (or husband)!! **Thanks Commodity!!
I flew into Salt Lake, got in the car with my mom and sister and drove 8 hours across the desert to my grandparents home in Golden Valley, Arizona. I loved going to see my grandparents as a kid but always was a little hesitant because I felt like THERE IS NOTHING TO DO IN THIS TINY TOWN!! Now I want to run there every weekend because THERE IS NOTHING TO DO IN THAT TINY TOWN!! It’s so relaxing and you get real creative with your activities.
This trip we went into Kingman, visited family members and ate at the most adorable 50’s themed restaurant, Mr D’s!
We visited the cutest town along old Route 66, Oatman! I’ve been here a few times before to feed the donkeys and explore the little shops and restaurants. This time was a little different because it was Bike Week so the little town was as crowded as Times Square!!
One evening after putting the old folks to bed, Melanie and I drove into Laughlin to go hit up the casino’s because she’s finally legal! However, we ended up in the arcade – we had a blast. The next day we decided to hit up the beach because it was such a nice day.
Video below is a highlight reel – it’s not my best work. I was too busy enjoying my family time to worry about my camera. I love them all so much! I’m really happy I get to live this life with them.
I recently came across the above article whilst perusing my Twitter feed and simultaneously stuffing my face with popcorn.
I’ve posted religious / political posts before, and looking back on them I often cringe because my opinions and views are constantly evolving, as they should be. So let me start this post off by saying, the above article accurately depicts where I’m at right now. Who knows how I’ll feel in weeks, months, years from now.
Last week I was pretty upset over Utah GOP official’s public letter criticizing the equal pay bill. So upset, that I witch cackled with glee when I heard he had resigned due to the push back. There is no denying that Green’s response is cultivated by Mormon culture. A culture in which I’m deeply connected and love.
When interviewed about the public’s reaction to his letter, Green’s response was, “I still feel government should not dictate to private establishments what they must do. I guess people don’t want to understand these basic issues.” I guess I understand what he’s getting at here. However, I’m having a hard time understanding why he feels government shouldn’t dictate private establishments but religion can?
Honestly, this is all probably a little too fresh for me to be publicly sharing my thoughts on because they aren’t fully formed yet, but the Broadly article has me feeling unusually empowered.
Because this is what a Mormon Feminist looks like –
Valentines Day is approaching and I found some old pics of me and Dallin and I have to share them because I’m a self involved millennial. #getoverit
Dallin Greenhalgh you’re my favorite person! I’ll love you until you die and force me to be buried alive with your dirty bones. (jk I’ll still love you then)
I wrote Sara a letter a little over 7 years ago. We were about two weeks from graduating high school and I was feeling like my world was ending.
I had just decided to move to Ogden, UT (which to me and Sara might as well have been Egypt) to pursue my education. Sara was my first best friend. I don’t think I’ve ever admitted that because I had great friends in elementary and junior high. It wasn’t until I re-read this letter last week that I realized Sara was my first and will be my last sorry Dallin. So I took a little walk down memory lane and read all my journal entries where I could find Sara mentioned, which took some time because there were A LOT!
I met Sara in 8th grade sewing class. I was the new girl. I had just moved to Hillcrest Jr. High after my parents decided to ‘downsize’. As you could expect, my 14yr old self didn’t take this very well. It was my 2nd or 3rd week at Hillcrest and I had just finished having a breakdown in choir class so all the girls came flocking, ‘Are you okay?’ me: ‘Yeah, leave me alone’ JK I didn’t say that, I really said, ‘Yeah, I just miss my friends’… Playin’ the victim to get friends #itworked.
I had sewing class right after choir (geez – jr high was a cake walk) and I sat behind Sara. Sara turned around and asked me if I played Soccer, because I was wearing a USA hoodie. I said yes, even though it was my little sister’s soccer hoodie. Then she asked me to tryout for her soccer team, her dad THE BRAD EVANS *disclaimer – not the actual Brad Evans #usausausa* was the coach and she invited me to tryout the next week. Still unsure of why I had to tryout. WE SUCKED!!
I made the team and the rest is really history. We were attached at the hip after that, two peas in a pod, together forever and all the other ones. We had many names like ‘the black haired girls’, but ‘MAMS’ was the one that stuck. Which came after we melded our team with Maddy and Andrea.
Sara was there when I had my first kiss, got my first job (free pretzels, duh), experienced my first heartbreak, when I got my first speeding ticket, when I met and fell in love with Dallin, and so many more!
Sara Evans is not a girl who settles! She get’s what she deserves because she knows she’s worth it. — Me in 2010
I love you Sara! I miss you daily and I’m so happy you and Colbs found each other.
ps. am I actually a lesbian and in love with Sara? Find out next week on “The Cotton Apricot” xoxo Gossip Girl.
I haven’t stopped thinking about the DR since the day we left. We had such a blast and it was such a wonderful way for Mel to finish out her time there.
Day 1: My family does not travel internationally very often so this was bound to get interesting. We stepped off the flight and were greeted by a Dominican band! We proceeded through customs, where Dallin was pulled into a back room. We are still unsure of why Dallin needed to be screened separately because of the whole language barrier thing, but he made it out alive!
We were welcomed at our airbnb by Noemi, the house manager. She spoke no english and we weren’t going to pick up Mel until the next day so our only way to communicate with her was by using our cell phones. She took us to the grocery store to get some food where I had a major meltdown because HANGRY!! We finally made it back to the house, made some dinner and went to bed! Traveling is tiring.
Day 2: We went to pick up Mel in Santiago. Driving in the DR was always an adventure. My Dad handled the pressure very well. He even proclaimed himself the Designated Adventure Drive AKA DAD. You can see a video from picking up Mel and the rest of our trip {here}.
Day 3: Melanie took us to Monte Cristi, her very first area. We visited a few of her members and then she took us on a boat tour!
Day 4: We drove to Puerto Plata and hung out on the beach, had an amazing lunch and relaxed!
Day 5: Mel took us to church in Navarette, her 2nd area. We met with the members there. It was so cool to see how loved Melanie was! Everyone was so excited to see her. Dominicans are so affectionate. I loved it! We took some family pics after church 🙂
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PRETTIEST MOM!!!!
Day 7: Jarabacoa and La Vega! We drove to the Jimenoa Waterfalls in the morning, the drive was such an adventure. Such pretty views from the top of the mountains down into the valleys! The mountains started to make me pretty homesick for Utah.
The hike to the waterfall was so green and beautiful! Once we got down there my dad made friends with a group of teens from Utah! So we bonded with our fellow Utahn’s and then headed out to go visit some of Melanie’s friends.
After we left Jarabacoa, we visited with one of Melanie’s members in La Vega. She and Melanie made us some amazing Domincan food. So good!! Once the sun set we headed to the town square to see the lights. While we were there we were approached by the Police and given body guards! haha!! Which kind of freaked us out so Mel asked if we had any reason to be nervous. They said they just wanted us to have great time (see pics below of our body guards)!
a bug flew in my face!!
Day 8: On our final day we drove through the canyons to the beach! It was a long, but beautiful/totally worth it drive. The water was amazing! So warm and definitely not what us New Yorkers are used to. The beach we went to is renowned for it’s wind surfing! It was a beautiful day.
This trip was definitely unforgettable! If you haven’t watched our video from the trip you can see it {here}.
For those who don’t know much about what serving a mission is like, here’s some info:
Melanie was sent to Santiago, Dominican Republic to teach the people there about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In order to help missionaries stay focused on their ‘mission’ they are asked to leave everything behind for a period of time. This means, family, friends, cell phone, social media… life as most 18 and 19 year olds know it.
Melanie was only able to write home once a week (Mondays were the best day of my life for the last 1.5 years)
Mel had the opportunity to learn Spanish, meet lots of cool people and serve the people of the DR! She loved it!
My family had the rare opportunity to go and pick our missionary up. Generally missionaries return to their home where family and friends greet them at the airport. We worked with local and Dominican church leaders to receive permission to have Melanie released as a missionary while in the DR. I’m so glad everything worked out the way it did. It was an unforgettable experience.
Check out the video I made below (Don’t mind my insane happy cry face when I reunite with my sissy)! Pictures and more details about our trip to come. Enjoy. xoxoxo
We celebrated Dallin’s 27th Birthday with friends at our favorite – David’s Kitchen
I had the opportunity to walk through the new Provo Temple open house. It was beautiful!
Carlie Loyd was named Player of the Year!
February:
Jamberry launched some new product babies and I got to get up on stage with one of my all time favorite people to announce them. V Steve Jobs of us! #girlbossmoment
My grandparents celebrated 56 years since their first date on Valentines day.
I went to St George with my parents over President’s Day weekend. We saw Deadpool – no one warned me!! Not a movie you want to watch with your parents.
March:
My cousin Keara returned from her Mission in South Korea. You can see a video from her return {here}.
I went on an amazing girls trip to Laguna Beach with my MAMS.
April:
Oh! I MOVED TO BROOKLYN!!
May:
I fell in love with Brooklyn
I ate NYC Pizza everyday because I could
Dallin started a new job
June:
I celebrated my 24th Birthday… alone, in LA. #thanksjamberry
I ran into Bernie Sanders, Fred Armisen, John Stamos and Paula Abdul while participating in an event for Jamberry.
I spent some time in Utah (couldn’t keep away for too long). While I was there I was able to listen to my Grandma Lena receive her patriarchal blessing. One of the most profound experiences of my life. She died later that month which made this experience even more special.
July:
Spent 4th of July weekend in Colorado for our new niece, Coco’s blessing day. I love being an aunt. You can see a video from our trip {here}
I started a new job, I love it! #girlbossmoment
We spent a weekend on the north shore of Long Island with some friends. I love living so close to the beach.
August:
I spent a week in Florida for Jamberry (I couldn’t let go of them either). It was a great way to end my time there. I love the Jamberry team. They kick started my career and my confidence *you know who you are! #girlbossmoment #becauseofjamberry
We visited Coney Island for the first time and Dallin finally got to try Nathan’s!
September:
We went to Washington DC! See a video from that trip {here}
We said goodbye to Oscar, our family Bulldog. He was the sweetest, ugliest, most adorable puppy and we miss him.
I went through a friend breakup/reevaluation and it was really hard.
We have season tickets to NYCFC games!! Watch a fun video from a game {here}
October:
We welcomed our baby nephew, Remy, to the world. See pic {here}.
Dallin and I celebrated 4 years of marriage
I attended a networking workshop at Refinery29 which made me feel like ‘I made it’! This big city is mine for the taking! #girlbossmoment
November:
My parents came to visit!!!! You can see pics from their visit here
Witnessed the most depressing election of my lifetime. I feel like America finally let me believe that anything is possible and then gut punched me back into reality. I’m over it now. I’ll keep fighting for equality, religious freedom, freedom of speech and of the press, and for women’s jeans that actually have pockets!
To all the little girls watching…never doubt that you are valuable and powerful & deserving of every chance & opportunity in the world. – Hillz
I went to Toronto for Commodity to tour the coolest manufacturing facility of my life. I also was able to attend an event at Hearst tower for Commodity, another ‘I made it’ moment. #girlbossmoment
December:
This season in NYC is unlike any other. You can see pics from our festivities {here}
Commodity launched a new line of premium fragrances – so yummy! #girlbossmoment
And… I’m ending this worst/best year on the highest note possible… I get to see my sister in 4 days. We are going to pick her up in the DR. I am so excited I’ve had a tummy ache for weeks. I’m sure there will blog posts of the trip so stay tuned.
This year was the hardest and most rewarding year of my life. I’m really excited for 2017! I can’t wait for Donald to be impeached 😉 All jokes aside, I’m not joking (sorry grandpa), I am so hopeful for 2017.
I’ve decided not to set any New Years Resolutions this year because they always set me up to fail. However, I will be using this {goal planner} (Yes, this is a shameless plug for my friend Amanda’s new business #girlbossmoment).
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