Cool Kids

I am surrounded by cool people. I was just looking through pictures on my phone that confirm it. This week was rad and included: 

Katy Perry movie with Alex (SO GOOD)

Dance parties with my nieces

Cafe Rio, shopping, and painting nails with Rosie

Zupas, Batting Cages, and Longboarding with Alex

Life is good perfect. 

Game Time Decision

I must be getting older or wiser or something... 

No, not because at some point in the past year I started watching the news and listening to talk radio. 

Not because I have a grown up job and wear grown up clothes. 

But because I decided to not run the half marathon I am signed up for tomorrow. I have had the WORST headache for over a week now. Last week I literally laid in a dark room and threw up for a couple days. This week, I have had to lay in a dark room with a crappy headache more than I have been enjoying outdoors and running. That's when you know it's bad. Normally, I will run races with ulcers, stomach flu, headache, injuries, etc. BUT, I decided that it wouldn't be wise to put my body through a half marathon when it is already struggling. I am pretty bummed I won't be getting up at 4am and running (I know, I am strange). I was even hoping for a PR, because this race is totally downhill. There will be other races. And my mom told me that I have absolutely nothing to prove by running this race when I have a major headache. Moms always know best!! Luckily, I have 3 more races in the next few months to work towards. 

See you next year Hobbler Half!

Fourth of July

I must admit, I was pretty sad that I wasn't in D.C. for the 4th of July. BUT, I have the coolest friends in the world who made it super rad. 

To start off the day right, Rosie and I hit up J-Dawgs. What's more American than eating a hot dog with a Yankees hat on? NOTHING. Then later on, I picked up one of my best friends EVER, Zac, and we grabbed dinner in Park City and headed up to the Oakley Rodeo. SUCH a sweet little town (I would never live there, but 3 hours there was okay). It was a great rodeo...even though I had NO IDEA what was going on and I am pretty sure everyone could tell that I was out of place!

I love America, I love summer, I love my friends...overall, I loved the entire day!

These guys gave us a ride to the rodeo in the back of their tractor. Oh small town America...that's what it's all about!!

Zac Zurn = Easiest person in the entire world to be best friends with!

This girl is one of the most amazing people I know

These guys are the best. They knew I was having a rough time this past week, and there wasn't a single day I didn't hear from them checkin up on me. Love them. 

Added Bonus: Rylie trying to skateboard on one of those little finger boards

It's Better to Love

So remember how I had the worst week ever last week? A little miracle happened. I read an AMAZING book. 

Seriously, everyone should read this book. 


This book has made me want to be: more vulnerable, love more, be more authentic, be more grateful, connect with more people, and most importantly...show my imperfections and let others know that it is okay not to have it all together. 


The book talks about how we live in a society that loves to numb. We live in this constant fear that we aren't worthy of love, so we shut ourselves off from every possibility of getting hurt. But, by cutting ourselves off from the chances of feeling all of the bad feelings, we also cut ourselves off from feeling all of the great feelings as well. 


Looking back on my life, I have had many reasons to shut myself off from loving others and being loved by others. The biggest one is when my brother-in-law Byron died. When he died I felt a pain that was indescribable. It was a pain that didn't go away for years...and still shows up sometimes. When I felt that pain, I decided to cut myself off. I stopped loving myself and others around me. I lived in anger and resentment, because I didn't feel like it was fair that I had to feel that pain. What I didn't realize, was that the only way to escape that pain was to love and reach out. I didn't want to love anymore, because I didn't want to feel the pain of loss. The pain of loss does not get better by closing yourself off and not loving. It doesn't get better by being angry and isolating yourself. It gets better by connecting with others, loving others, and realizing that we are all hard-wired for struggle and failure...but we are all in this together. 


Since we live in a pain-numbing society, we all fake this appearance that we are getting through our trials successfully alone...when we secretly want more than anything to express our pain and our feelings and feel the love and acceptance of others. 


This book is AWESOME. It made me realize it is okay to feel sad. It is okay to let people know I am sad and I am struggling. It doesn't make me a lesser person. It doesn't make me less worthy of love. It just makes me like everyone else who is also struggling. 


If I am being completely vulnerable and honest...I am struggling. My heart is broken. Maroon Five's "Sad" is on repeat on my itunes. BUT, I am going to confront my feelings and heartbreak, and I am going to learn and grow through my current trials, rather than numb and suppress them and pretend everything is "okay". 


Here's to being more vulnerable and authentic! Go read the book, it will change your life!

Not Going Anywhere

Okay Elizabeth, you win. I would MUCH rather keep the blog going than be stuck doing all of the scanning and filing at Paragon!

But seriously guys, I apologize. This week has absolutely SUCKED. I really don't know the last time I had a worse week. Few reasons this week has sucked:

1. My boss is related to the little girl in West Jordan who got kidnapped and murdered. It has made me sick all week watching her mourn and talking with her. I was really really affected by that this week. It still really hurts my heart to think about all of the evil in this world. 

2. I have had a CRAPPY headache all week including throwing up which would put anyone in a bad mood. 

3. With the air quality being so crappy, I have ran in DAYS. 

4. I have been dealing with a few family and personal dramas that have been really tough to deal with. 

5. Ever since moving back from D.C. I just haven't had the motivation to blog. I feel like my life is so boring now and everyone is bored of my blog posts compared to my magical life in D.C.

Basically, I have just felt super super bummed out this week and wanted to disappear. That is TOTALLY not who I am. I am someone who goes through challenges, and learns and grows from them. I am someone who is strong and happy, not sad. So...the blog isn't going anywhere. I am sorry for being all sad and dramatic, onward and upward!

In spite of everything, I have SOO much to be grateful for: 

1. The Gospel

2. My family, including my incredible guardian angels watching me from heaven. 

3. My AMAZING friends

4. A healthy body (that will hopefully be running in next weekend's half marathon)

5. Two jobs that I love

6. A free country that allows me to have more freedoms than the majority of the world. 

7. The cutest nieces and nephew in all the land. 

8. Diet Coke and chocolate of course!

9. So many talents and abilities

10. I am surrounded by love and support that I often take for granted

So, Life in the Sexy Lane will remain. While it may not be as exciting as seeing the Washington Monument and the weekend trips to other magical cities.... this is my life now, and I truly do LOVE my life!

The Death of Life in the Sexy Lane

So...I'm kinda thinking of indefinitely suspending posting on Life in the Sexy Lane. 

I just don't really have anything exciting going on in my life/I'm not funny anymore. 

Let me know if you have any strong opinions about this and want me to keep posting (I just think my blog posts are getting more and more lame these days!)

I hope your week is going better than mine is!

Today Sucked

Today was absolutely "One of those days". Live, Learn, and Hope for a better tomorrow. 

Here's an awesome Bob Marley quote I just stumbled upon that is AWESOME: 

“Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.”

Well said Bob, Well said.