Full on Friday | Feb 26 (+Giveaway)

Let's just say last week was crap. Let's forget about it. And this week, it's been hard to keep above water. But, there have been fun things that happened this week, and I'd like to focus on that!
New Hair! I needed a change. I needed to be revitalized in myself. So, I got my hair cut! And, I looooooove it!

The Life of Bon's Bookclub This month, Bonnie's Book Club focused on A Man Called Ove. I wasn't initially interested in reading it, but I wanted to be able to participate in the IRL bookclub meeting. So, I tried to find it at two different county libraries and all the books were checked out and the hold lines were long! So, two days before the book club, I downloaded an e-book and read, read, read. I didn't finish it before the meeting, but I was still able to discuss and I just had a lot of fun.
Free Zoo Day Wednesday was the last free admission day for the zoo for the season. So, I went with Danica and her SIL and our kids. It was uber crowded, and we only had an hour, but Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City is pretty small. Rhys loved meeting Danica's daughter, Reese, and he loved seeing the animals, especially the lizards and turtles.

Ward Playdate A few moms in my church congregation (ward) gathered at the church for a playdate. We brought our kids bikes, scooters, and balls and let them play in the gym (like a basketball court). Rhys had so much fun playing with other kids, even if they were all 3 or older!
Sworkit I saw this app on Shark Tank and immediately downloaded it! Sworkit is a new app for exercising at home without equipment. You can do stretching, cardio, strength training, or yoga and you can determine how long to do each workout. Trained physical trainers show you how to do each exercise and if you can't do it, you can skip it. I love it! I could definitely feel the burn, and it's nice to be able to work out when it is still cold outside! 

CaseApp Custom Phone and Computer Cases **I received a free product from CaseApp in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.** I've never really been one for designed iPhone cases. I just typically bought a black inexpensive one. But, my friend, Shannon, had adorable cases for her phone and laptop of pictures she had taken herself! CaseApp is a great site for custom designs. On their site, you can create a texture or graphic design yourself. Or, you could create a collage or just simply upload a picture. It's a super easy, super simple process. And, the result is great quality. This is my favorite picture of Rhys from our fall 2015 family pictures, so I wanted it for my case. I love being able to look at him anytime since I always have my phone with me. Rhys also thinks that the phone is his now, since his picture is on it. Haha!

You can get your own custom laptop skin or phone case with 20% using the code MORRELL20 for the next week! And, you have a chance to win a credit of $40 to their store!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

  

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Full on Friday 12/17

I can't believe next week is Christmas! Holy cow, this whole year has gone by just super fast! I'm already planning for the new year.

Yes, my son makes a mess in my room, and no, I don't ever make my bed.

Awesome Moments 1) We finished our Christmas shopping! Yaay! 2) Rhys is just an astounding boy. I love him so very much, and I can't stop just wondering how lucky we are to have him as our son. He has been so well behaved this week, sleeping amazingly, eating well, and just being a super great kid! 3) Speaking of Rhys, he ate an entire Red Robin kids meal (mostly by himself), as well as an entire Chick-fil-a kids meal (mostly by himself) this week! 4) We got some a lot of beautiful white snow this week.  5) Justin and I found a new show to watch on Netflix to feed our Food Network cravings: Cutthroat Kitchen

Rhys loves bathtime. So, when I turned my back to get towels and soap, Rhys decided the tub was full enough and got himself in the tub.

Not so Awesome Moments 1) We got a lot of snow...on Monday, it took Justin 50 minutes to get to work. His usual commute is 10 minutes. 2) I had some sort of pinched nerve or something wrong with my back and neck. On Friday, I developed a sore knot in my neck. Saturday morning, I woke up with really bad pain in my neck. By Saturday night, it had extended half way down my back. Sunday morning, I couldn't move my head and the bulk of the pain was in the center of my back between my shoulder blades. It kept reaching further and further. So, we left Rhys with my parents Sunday night after dinner, and went home. Monday, I stayed in bed, laying down most of the day, and when Justin came home, we went to the doctors. They said it was probably just inflamed from picking up Rhys/sleeping weird/ stretching weird/being a SAHM or some sort of combo. According to Doctor instructions, I've been on anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants for the entire week. My upper back still aches a bit, but nowhere near as bad as last weekend.
Looking Forward To 1) Christmas, duh! Christmas with Justin's parents. Christmas with Justin's parents in Georgia! 2) The new year.
In Case You Missed It DIY "A Savior is Born" ornament How We Wore It // Holiday Edition
Around the Internet Kate from Mrs. K talks really resonated with me on why she almost quit blogging but didn't. I have often found myself battling in the War on Misery that Rachel from The Random Writings of Rachel says we should avoid. I'm glad that Jessica from Jessica Lynn Writes also sometimes has trouble with impatience and balancing blogging, kids, and other responsibilities.
How was your week?

  

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Full on Friday 11/20

My brother has officially entered the LDS Missionary Training Center. He will be there for a few weeks, studying Gospel-related Spanish conversations, and learning how to teach and preach the Gospel. Then, he'll head to south Argentina for two whole years to bring His Word to Argentinians. He will be 20 years old the next time I see him in person!!! Keep him and his mission in your prayers!

Awesome Moments

- We had such a fun time with family last weekend, celebrating our last few days with my brother

- I realized that Reign's 3rd season had already started, so I had a 5 episode marathon yesterday!

- I found a few grad programs I will be applying to in the new year

Grateful Moments

- My testimony of the LDS Church

- Rhys has discovered a new show he likes besides Curious George and Daniel Tiger...you can only watch those so many times....

- How unbelievably smart my little boy really is! (Not biased at all!!)

Awkward Moments

- Still waiting on details for some good news. Sigh. 

- Realizing that Rhys runs just like Pheobe from Friends.

(Awesome moment: as I was putting this GIF on, Rhys noticed and started clapping and dancing--he recognized it was Friends and he always dances and sings along with the theme song!)

In Case You Missed It THE book that saved my testimony in the LDS Church! A deceiving book that compares and contrasts Christianity to Islam Justin talks about his love of sports
Check Out My Amazing Sponsors Lindsay introduces herself on my blog Brooklyn talks about a book she loved
Around the Blogisphere The Fairy Princess Diaries uses her history degree to describe the difference between Muslims and Islamists Stephanie Orifice talks about an awkward first date she overhead! It's hilarious! Faith says to put Christ first in your marriage Tawnya says we need to teach our kids kindness Shannon gives ways to NOT shop during Thanksgiving Break
Looking Forward To -Thanksgiving, duh! - Black Friday/Cyber Monday and getting a new iPhone--one that is updated and actually works because babies haven't attacked it! - Finally being able to share good news with you

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Full on Friday 11/13

Oh my goodness! Tomorrow, my family is getting family pictures and celebrating Thanksgiving early because my 18 year old brother, Bobby, will be leaving for south Argentina a week before Thanksgiving for a 2 year proselytizing mission for the LDS Church! I can't believe he is actually old enough to have graduated high school and be going on the Lord's errand! So, although this weekend will be super fun, I'm still kind of dreading it!

Awesome Moments 1)  I made some delicious fried cinnamon sugar apple rings (and also muddy buddies) this week! 2) We went to the Nicklecade with Rhys, and all three of us had a blast! Rhys and Justin each won 250 tickets for one game (just by pushing a button that stopped a rotating light on a big payout)! We got a lot of tickets and bought Rhys a big bouncy ball, three toy cars, a stuffed snake, and a few lollipops! 3) Justin and I pulled out my family's old 2000 edition Disney Trivia game. And I kicked butt! 4) We watched a little girl in our congregation who is Rhys's age one night. All day, Rhys had been just super mellow and tired and staying on the couch since he was sick. However, as soon as little Quinn came in, he jumped off, smiled, starting talking nonstop to her, showing her all the toys, and running back and forth. He was so ecstatic to have a playdate.
Grateful List 1) Rhys has been having longer naps (1.5-2 hours) and sleeping a full 12-13 hours at night, even though he's been sick. 2) Rhys has little friends in our church congregation. 3) Our window was unlocked last night--we went on a walk before Rhys went to bed. We were all bundled up because the sun had gone down and it was COLD! Well, we locked ourselves out! But, the kitchen window was unlocked, so we were able to pull off the screen, and I climbed through, and was able to open the kitchen door!
Awkward Moments 1) We still haven't heard about our potential good news. I hope this doesn't turn into bad news... 2) Rhys has been super snotty and coughing all week. Thankfully, he's maintained a pretty good attitude the whole time.
In Case You Missed It My thoughts and feelings on the new LDS church policy regarding children of same-sex couples How I feel about my previous jobs and working
Check Out My Sponsors Come meet Brooklyn Jolley! She's adorable! No lie! Lindsay stays positive this week!
Looking Forward To This weekend with my family!

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Full on Friday 10/23

It's Danica from Danikan Skywalker's birthday. And if anything, Danica likes to celebrate in style by partying. So, a few of us bloggers are doing a birthday giveaway from Danica with quite a few cool prizes! Pop over, enter the giveaway, and wish her a happy birthday!

Awesome Moments
1) Being super productive on Tuesday: made chicken enchiladas, sent away fall blog swap packages, took a few fashion pictures, started on my Morrell family DIY ornaments, went to the gym, did my nails, wrote 4 blog posts, and caught up on blog reading!

2) We just found out that there is potential good news for us to come in a few weeks!

3) I went on a 45 minute run, up the hills of Sandy for 3.5 miles and didn't feel like I was out of breath!

Grateful List
1) Beginning to understand the Atonement of Christ and the whole "grace vs works" ordeal a bit differently due to The Continuous Conversion by Brad Wilcox and this IG post.

2) Feeling happy all week even though I had unpleasant-ness in my body most of the week.

3) Going to my congregation's first make-shift mom group and letting Rhys play with other toddlers at the park.

Awkward Moments
1) Rhys thinking that I was leaving him at some sort of daycare at the mom's group because of all the other adults and kids.

2) My tutoring student not doing so well on the SAT...stressed her out and a bit of an ego blow to me.

In Case You Missed It
Creamy Chicken Corn Enchiladas
Asthma
Teacher's #1 Virtue: Patience
From Baptist Preacher to Mormon Teacher book review

Check Out My Lovely Sponsors
Rachel helps burn textbooks and schoolwork!
Britt shares how she is preparing to transition to two under two! 

Looking Forward To
- Many cool projects coming to a blog near you!
- Blogger Sleepover Soiree tonight!
- My church congregation's Trunk-Or-Treat Festival and Chili Cook-off tomorrow!

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Full on Friday 10/16

You know what, it felt like Friday three times this week: Wednesday, yesterday, and today! But, at least, it is Friday now, finally!

Awesome Moments
1) Subbing at an awesome, technology driven college-prep high school chater. Now I want to teach there!

2) Having a date night with Justin in the middle of the week and going to the Temple, while mom watched Rhys all night.

3) Being able to go to the gym three times this week, and having two successful workouts while Rhys actually had fun at the daycare!

4) Watching my baby sister kick butt with her high school's marching band at the regional invitational at BYU. Their music was different songs about flying and air, including some excerpts from Wicked's "Defying Gravity." So, they had Newton's apple, clouds, flying capes, Da Vinci's flying machine, and in the last picture, you can't really tell, but the band is in the shape of an airplane, and the color guard in front is spinning propellers and the color guard in the back is waving cloud flags. They moved down the field like that and it was AWESOME! (My sister is the super short one.)

5) Watching all the Chopped episodes on Netflix with Justin, and "playing along". Once the basket ingredients are shown, we would pause and tell each other what we would do with them, then watch to see if our ideas were similar to any of the chefs'. We also thought this would make such a fun theme for a double-date, but where would we get a kitchen big enough for two couples cooking at the same time?

Grateful List
1) Being able to go to the temple and listen and pay attention to the words of the Initiatory. It was a nice boost and reminder to my testimony.

2) Rhys starting to get used to the daycare at Vasa Gym!

3) The opportunities I am getting for earning a little pocket change.

Awkward Moments
1) Rhys having a 2.5 hour nap and sleeping almost 13 hours at my mom's house whereas he only has an hour nap and sleeps 11 hours at night with us.

2) Getting behind on blogging and all that comes with it.

In Case You Missed It
Fried Zucchini Sticks
5 Tips for Having Toddlers Do Chores
Brazilian Style Fish Stew

Check Out My Lovely Sponsors
Sharlee changes the perspective of exercise
Rachel remembers breaking into her own home in a foreign country
Britt writes a heart-felt letter to her first-born as she gets closer to having her second child

Looking Forward To
- Many cool projects coming to a blog near you!
- Blogger Sleepover Soiree next weekend!

5 on Friday | Friday Favorites | High Five for FRIDAY | TGIF Hop | oh hey Friday

Full of Friday 10/9

Awesome Moments
1) I absolutely loved last weekend's LDS General Conference. There was such a spirit, especially during Saturday morning's session, which was my favorite. Here are links to my favorite talks:
- Dieter F Uchtdorf's talk on how to search for truth
- M Russell Ballard's talk on how even if apostles and prophets aren't perfect, they are still obeying God's word
- Jeffrey R Holland's talk on the divinity of motherhood

2) Being hired as a Virtual Assistant in charge of a health and fitness blogger's monthly newsletter and Pinterest account

3) Spending an hour and a half at the park with Rhys yesterday

4) Going to the local food truck roundup for dinner on Wednesday.

5) Getting to go to the Elev8 blogger night last night and meet with some local businesses.

Grateful List
1) Rhys is developing just fine according to his 15 month checkup
2) My new VA part-time job and the opportunity I have to substitute a few times this month
3) Mom willing to watch Rhys a few of those subbing days
4) My bishop who truly cares about my spiritual well-being in a sheparding, but not over-bearing way.

Awkward Moments
1) Walking around SLC in the dark, late last night, alone, trying to get to a TRAX station after the Elev8 night.

2) Having a good friend send some discouraging material to me last night at 11pm as I was heading to bed.

3) The fact that yesterday was supposed to be a post about a new recipe I was supposed to make on Wednesday...then we decided to go do food trucks and I didn't have a post at all yesterday, meaning there will be two posts today!

In Case You Missed It
6 Ways to Love Your Body
My Insecurities
Rhys is now 15 months old!

Check out These Awesome Posts!
Ever done the egg drop science experiment? This is what happens when Rachel and her siblings do it without parental supervision.
Britt talks about a wonderful Christian book called, "Our Glory Days"
Sharlee explains why it IS OKAY to not have already lost your pregnancy weight!

Around the Web
How to manage time as a work-at-home-mom
How IGNORANT can you be?!?!?

Looking Forward To
- Making a lot of new recipes this week!
- Going to church on Sunday. I don't know why, I just am!
- Substituting next week and being back in the classroom!
- My VA job!
- Date and temple night!

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Full of Friday 10/2

** Don't forget to enter this giveaway for a free ebook on 31 devotionals for being more thankful.

I am so excited for this weekend! Justin, Rhys, and I will be spending it with my family, watching The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Semi-Annual General Conference. General Conference is held twice a year the first weekend of April and October. There are 4 different two-hour sessions between Saturday and Sunday (including one more Saturday evening for the priesthood holders) in which the general leaders of our world-wide church give talks, or sermons, about Christ, the Gospel, and different topics of spiritual edification. It is broadcast on BYUTV, but also streamed live on lds.org. It is a wonderfully uplifting weekend in which we can hear modern-day prophets, seers, and revelators speak through the Spirit of Christ. So, I am officially inviting you to check it out and be edified!

Via

Awesome Moments
1) Rhys climbed up a chain ladder on the playground all by himself...he is so talented, tenacious, and smart!
2) I got a new library book that I am absolutely loving: An American Bride in Kabul: A Memoir by: Phyllis Chesler.
3) I got frozen yogurt with Shannon from Shanndelier.
4) I won yet another giveaway!

Grateful List
1) All the scripture study that I've been doing and remember more often to say morning prayers.
2) Dad being willing to babysit Rhys while Justin and I went to a dinner date.
3) The naps I've been able to co-sleep with Rhys the past two days (since he's been sick and needed his Momma).
4) The opportunity to spend this weekend with my family.

Awkward Moments
1) Rhys waking up in the morning with already dried throwup all over his pajamas and crib. Poor boy threw up in the middle of the night. He has been sick the past two days.
2) An old man reading a newspaper at the library near me and my SAT student loudly "Hurumphing" as we were whispering and practicing SAT skills and strategies.

In Case You Missed It
My Solidarity Sister gives a sriracha recipe
Justin takes over the blog
How We Wore It // Fall Transition
October 2015 Goals

Around the Web
Why you need a contract to work with brands as a blogger
How to make super easy but sophisticated backdrops for your blog pictures
10 Awesome resources for bloggers

Looking Forward To
1) General Conference--duh!
2) Getting Rhys back on a solid schedule once he feels better.
3) Seriously taking to heart to lose these last 10 pounds of baby weight.

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Full of Friday 9/25

I decided to envelope ALL the Friday linkups into one post because how could I just chose one? So, I will call them Full of Friday.

Awesome Moments
1) We went to the gym twice this week!
2) I finally finished The Castle of Llyr. Look for the book review next Friday!
3) I hung out with Bonnie at her Scentsy party and ordered 6 new scents for fall and winter! I love Scensty!
4) I won two giveaways this week!
5) Rhys and I had such a fun time in Salt Lake City yesterday. We took the TRAX tram up and walked all over the city center, smelling flowers, splashing in fountains, waving to all the tourists, and then exploring the Children's Discovery Museum. Although it was already past Rhys's naptime, he was so excited to play at the museum.

Awkward Moments
1) I brought my DSLR with us to SLC, but forgot to put in the SD card! No pictures, except for three from my crappy iPhone.
2) Rhys woke up at 4:45 this morning for no apparent reason and didn't go back to bed. I am so exhausted, but still have to tutor.
3) Dreaming that I ran someone over while rushing to the airport, and even though he wasn't too badly hurt, I was too anxious to catch my flight (to Wales, might I mention) that he got pissed at me as I left after handing him my phone number.

In Case You Missed It
My experience with life-long anxiety and PPD
Disney Lessons: Hercules
How well do you know The Morrell Tale?

Around the Internet
A new shop just opened selling simple, yet elegant birth stone necklaces!
How to reflect on the past to look towards the future
Postpartum crazy is a real thing!
5 ways to support someone having an anxiety attack

Looking Forward To
1) A free dinner date on Tuesday with Justin!
2) Getting fro-yo with Shannon next week!
3) LDS General Conference!

What was your week like?