It's Sunny in Seattle!!

It's sunny in Seattle--a magical thing, I tell you! Sun in Seattle rights all the wrongs in the world.

And...it's warm!

Summer, is it you?

In the summertime, I've  noticed that my taste in music tends to shift. On sunny warm days, my regular indie/alternative music doesn't seem as appropriate. That's what fall and winter are for. Summer calls for upbeat music, whatever genre it may be (except for most country).

I came across this video the other day, and thought it was soooo funny! Catchy and creative, and Carly Rae Jepsen doesn't seem to take herself too seriously. What's not to like? 

Please enjoy!

Sunny Days in Seattle

The past couple of days have been absolutely beautiful--a rarity this time of year. Monday smelled like summer! I set out on a walk as soon as I got home from work with objectives in mind. One, to see if I could handle going on a long walk in a maxi skirt--I plan on wearing them all the time this summer. Two, to take pictures--I'm seriously lacking in this department of late. Three, to stretch out my legs and get a spot of exercise.

I loved seeing people out and about taking in the evening sun--families with kids on bikes with training wheels, moms power walking, kids playing baseball.

Walks in the suburbs may not be incredibly inspiring such as those in the city, but they are more peaceful. Less cars, less crouds, but also less material for photos. But there are more smiles and salutations exchanged. The air is fresher with scents of flowering trees, and on this particular evening, the clink of softballs hitting metal bats.

Walking by a little league game in the nearby park brought back so many memories of my youth. I remember the try-outs, the smell of the grass, the hope that I would be chosen for the best team. I remember the sunflower seeds, the cheers from the dug-out, and the joy of getting a really good hit.

I loved playing softball, and I was proud of my arm. I had a really good one you see. I could throw long distances, and sometimes could out-throw my brother--that really was something to be proud of (he's one of those irritating, natural-born athletes that is awesome at anything he touches). And I was great at bat. There was a certain satisfaction knowing that the other teams recognized me as a power hitter, and would always back up as I came to the plate.

Some of my greatest friendships came from playing softball. I met one of my very best friends, Ilene, when her dad was our softball coach in 4th grade. We stayed friends throughout junior high and high school. We were close through college and often went on walks, played catch, or volleyball. And I'm so grateful that we continue to be friends as we've entered the real world, meeting up for dinner or dropping by her workplace for lovely chats.

Who knew that one lovely evening walk would trigger such nostalgia? Then again, it is me we're talking about.

Hears to memories, friendships, and spring/summer in Seattle!

P.S. Still undecided about the whole 

going-on-walks-in-maxi-skirts thing...

I'll keep you updated. 

Family. Saunas. Boats

One of the major reasons why I wanted to move back to Seattle, was so I could spend more time with my family. This week has been chalk full of memory making. Mon pere was out of the country on business, so ma matka and ma setra and I had numerous slumber parties. Movies were watched, food was consumed, stores were shopped!

I was also able to spend time with my cute grandpa. He is one amazing man! His parents sailed to the States from Estonia and homesteaded on Finn Hill in Kirkland, Washington. G-pa grew up speaking Estonian, Finnish, and English. His father built a full-size sauna next to their farmhouse, and that sauna is now here:

My mom, grandpa, and I paid Ballard and the Nordic Heritage Museum a visit this week. I'd never seen the sauna, and it was a beautiful day to spend in that part of the city.

After visiting the the sauna we headed down to the Ballard locks. It was a gorgeous day to be there. There were several boats already geared up and ready for Labor Day weekend. And there were salmon!

Here's to family and beautiful Seattle days!

Recipe for Happiness

Most everyone I know wants to be happy, as opposed to miserable. But it's one thing to be happy on the surface, and quite another to be truly happy. I want to be truly happy, but sometimes this object of desire slips away and hides in the shadows of my life.

I do admit that I have a tendency to be what I like to call melancholy. My mom (bless her) reminds me to stop worrying about things and enjoy life. So I've finally taken her advice and these past couple of months I've been more deliberately (my new favorite word) finding ways to be happy--beyond the surface.

My fabulous friend Sarah let me borrow this book called Authentic Happiness. It's been pretty insightful thus far. One thing that I learned , and have learned many times before but always seem to forget, is that one way that people can become happy is by listing all the things that they are grateful for. In the past I've kept gratitude journals, and they really do work. As I've focused on all the good positive things in my life, I don't seem to notice the not-so-happy things.

I've started a new goal to write down 5 things a day that I'm grateful for.

As I've been doing this, I thought that I could do this with my fifth graders. Asia is known for its high suicide levels, probably from the intense academic, social, and work pressures. My fifth graders are pre-teens and are going to be in the thick of things before they realize it. I had them take the Gratitude Test, and found that they all scored in the bottom 1/4 of all those tested. I told them we are going to do an experiment. For the next three weeks, I'm having them write down 5 things that they are grateful for as well. At the end of the three weeks we're all going to take the test again and see if we score any higher. It should be pretty interesting. And I'm quite excited to see what will happen.

Also, as a result, I've decided to start listing my things on this here blog. That way I'll be more likely to keep to it. So here goes:

5 things that I'm grateful for

1. That I'm here in Taiwan teaching these adorable kids:
2. That I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the knowledge that it brings to me of who I am, and why I am here, and where I will be going once my life here on earth is over. And most importantly, that my family can be together forever. That's pretty awesome, if I do say so myself.

3. My stellar friends that listen to my various ramblings, random thoughts, and my deepest darkest secrets. :)

{My good friend (and former roommate) Emma and I eating some gyoza that we made}

{Me and my good friend Heather at her cookout in Georgetown}{My Bothell Stake friends. We kinda all grew up together. Dallas, Nikki, Ashlee, Ilene and Me!}{Great friends and roommates Kristen and Lex}{Kelly and Scott. Roommate and family friend. Need I say more?}{Miss Kate}{Me and Kellyn. We are soooo domestic!}

{Rachel love. Life is always a kooky adventure with her!}

{Emma and Kevin. I love these guys! Some of the greatest friends ever!}

{Me and Lexie Lou at the Bon Fire of Awesomeness I. She's pretty much amazing!}

{Ze Boyz. My outstanding guy friends prior to my mission. Corey offered to beat up anyone who broke my heart}

{Blurry picture, but I love it all the same. Me and Miss Larkin and her husband Cody at my quarter century bash.}

{Miss Ilene, Lex, Steph, and Kel at my graduation dinner. Lovely ladies.}

{Me and Pat talking music. Oh glorious!}

{Rocking with the ladies. Me, Connie, Megs, and Erin. Great friends and roommies in Taiwan.}

{Me and Russia--friend and confidante.}

They've all been a great help to me especially over the past 8 months.

4. My family (Of course!)

{Linds, Mom, and I.}

{Mom and Dad}

{My bro, Mikey.}

5. The sun. I know that might be a small thing after church, friends, and family, but honestly, I do so much better in sunny climates. I love Seattle with all my heart, but the winters are almost too dark, cold, and dreary.

Well, that's all. A marathon of a blog. Hopefully the next ones won't be so long. :)