The Last Day of May

So, I made it to the last day of May. I completed the Blog Every Day in May Challenge; yippee! Since it is Friday, I am going to combine my topic for the day: a vivid memory  with Friday's Letters.

Dear Barnum: I have no idea what I would have ever done without you in high school. You honestly were the one who kept me sane and got me through it all. I remember when we decided to do this photoshoot for your birthday. I think it may have been one of the smartest things that we decided to do in High School. I love going through all the pictures and remembering how much fun we had that day. I don't think we ever stopped laughing. I am so incredible grateful to have you in my life. We have been through it all, and yet we are still as close as ever. I know that no matter the miles we may have between us, in a second we would be there for each other. Love ya Barnum.

I'm also going to link up for Five Question Friday



1. What is an acceptable age for girls to start dating?I personally think it depends on the maturity of the girl. I think that 15/16 is a good age to start dating, but I also think that girls shouldn't get serious with a guy until they are atleast to the age of 18+. They are so young and girls need to experience the fun of growing up, dating, and seeing who is out there.

2. Do you think your kids should have summer homework?
Homework during the summer, I don't think it should be manditory. I do think that kids should keep their mind growing and gaining knowledge throughout the summer. So I think it would be a good idea to do programs during the summer, like reading programs and camps. Places where kids go and have fun, and learn and keep their little brains going during the summer months. Make it a fun place, where kids want to go each and every summer.
3. Would you prefer to live without AC or heat?
AC. You always can turn on the fans, open up the windows, but without heat I would die. I get so cold as it is, that I don't know how I would do without the option of having heating in a home.
4. What the worst thing about staying in a hotel? (Besides not being with your family)
I think never knowing what kind of a bed situation you are going to have is my biggest problem. Is it going to be clean, itchy, comfortable. I always end up taking my own pillows, I hate sleeping on hotel pillows. The floors, I don't walk barefoot that often. I never know what has been spilled, whats growing, ewww the thoughts of that kills me.
5. So, do your kids really get "104 days of summer vacation"? (Bonus points for those of you that get this reference!)
 I don't have kids, and since I am no longer in school. I don't pay attention to how may days of Summer Vacation the children get around here.

Letting Go : What is it too me.?

Day 30, Thursday: React to this term: Letting Go

There is one thing every single person has in common; we all want to be happy and in return we do all things possibly to avoid hurting. We pin our happiness on either a materialist object or someone else. We grasp onto the feeling(s) that we gain from the object or person, and in return we hold on with all our might. We put way too much of our personal happiness in other people’s hands, instead of learning to make our self happy. By letting go and learning to stand on our own two feet, we gain ground that can’t crumble unless we say so. Letting go of the happiness that we grasp too, is letting real happiness in.

Pictures Say It All..!

For as long as I can even remember Memorial Weekend was always a weekend that our entire family would wait all winter long for. It meant that it was the start to summer, and the end to school, and the beginning of our favorite time of year; Boating Season! This has been the first Memorial Weekend that I can remember, where my parents were gone, by themselves. Leaving us “kids” to fend for our own Memorial Weekend fun, but no doubt we of course did what we know best. We piled into the truck, threw the boat on the back, and headed for Lake Powell. Here is a picture glimpse of our trip…

Lake Powell 2013 : Memorial Weekend

Schemv & I

Little Bro & I

The Girls (Brandi, Myself, and Kati)

Best Friends

Never can take enough pictures

Love my new hat

Messy Lake Hair

Love Birds (Wyatt & Brandi) - They fell asleep like this right after lunch

Brandi's finally got up

Wyatt

I finally started driving this summer.! Yay me!

Levi

Yes, I think my litte bro has a cute butt.!

Turds went and bought kid bikes to ride up and down the docks

Then they did this and were hooked!

Tan Lines = Success!

Haha Schemv was obsessed with them.

All in All, it was a weekend for the books. Had soo much fun.!

Until Next Time
Much Love, Kenzie.

A Letter To You - Day 27

Dear Readers and Followers,

First off I want to say Thank You to every single one of you that takes time out of your day to stop by my little corner of this blogging world and read. I sure appreciate knowing that you enjoy reading what I write. I love reading comments, all of them are cherished. I really do mean that too. I love feedback from my readers.

I started a blog a really long time ago; it was more of a personal blog to keep family updated. I was never really passionate about the blogging world. Then things started to get rocky with life in December of 2012 and I turned to my blog. My life was changing a lot, and I decided to turn my time into something that I had enjoyed reading. I loved following along with friends who were passionate about blogging. So my once personal blog became Life in the Sunshine. I needed some change, and I thought this was a perfect place to start.

I am really passionate about my work, and I always give my best in whatever I do. I grew up working in our family-owned Dry Cleaning business and didn’t appreciate it much. Then I moved away, and then I longed for that job that I had no idea that I completely fell in love with. It is so true that once something is gone, you realize how much you need it in your life. Following my heart and a boy to North Dakota was such a great learning experience for me. Even though the boy and I didn’t work out, I learned so much about myself in the process. I knew once I moved home what I wanted to do. I wanted to take the business that my parents had worked so hard to build from the ground up and keep it going. I wanted to follow in their footsteps and keep their legacy going here in Southern Utah. They are such an inspiration to me. I have such a love for this company and the work that we do for the community.

Following your instincts is such an important thing to me. I feel like you should do something because it is something you want to do, not because it is something the people around you expect from you. I have learned so much in the path that I have taken, and it is things I would have never learned if I have made the decision to do what people had expected of me. The experiences I have had in my life have made me who I am today, and I am grateful for that. I try as much as possible to always follow and do what I feel is right for me; even if other may disagree in my choice or choices.

Last but not least, follow your dreams. Write them down, take pictures of where you want to go, and make sure that you check them all off. Take the time to do things that you want to do in life. I have a Bucket List, most of them are cheesy things, but they are things that I want to do. They are things that I find are important for me to accomplish and look back and say that I did that. So take that list of things that you want to do in your life, write them down, and do them! Document the journey of life, that way one day you have a million pictures to look back on and smile at memories you made in those pictures.

Again, I am so happy that you stopped by and have taken your time to read my little blog. I cherish each and every single comment and/or feedback you have for me. Do one thing for me today. Hug those close you one, and tell them you love them. Have a wonderful day, and hope you stop by again.

Much Love, Kenzie.

Day 26 : Online Reading

May 26

So i'm not a huge celebrity follower, but I do love this girl right here.

Kellie Pickler is absolutely an amazing soul.

After her concert here in Southern Utah, I was hooked.

She is so down to earth and this article shows it.

Hot 100 List

I love people who are this beautiful, talented, sweet, and down to earth.

Day 25: Good and Bad

Saturday, May 25th

Something someone told you about yourself that you'll never forget

Good: You are strong Kenzie, you will get over this.

Bad: You have a really weird upper lip.

I will tell you this though. I am confident with who I am.

Day 24: Traits

Day 24, Friday: Your top 3 worst traits

I have really struggled with this post. I believe that every single person has things about themselves that they personally don’t like. I believe that people have things about them that they want to improve. So instead of says that I have horrible trait about myself, I am going to tell you about the 3 things that I am currently trying to improve in myself.

1.    Always Stay Positive. It is such a hard thing to do sometimes, but I think that it will be so much better for my depression if I stay positive.

2.    Be Healthy. Now I consider myself to be a “healthy” person. I think I can do better though. Eat better foods, consume more water, work-out, Involve myself with happy people, and smile. That is a happy healthy life.!

3.    Bottling Things Up. I have always been the kind of person who keeps things inside of me; then I just explode.  I am trying to be better at taking something that is currently bothering me and hitting it right on the head when it is currently present. I am trying to not bottle things inside, and create more stress and anxiety than what I need to have.

Day 23

May 23

(10) Personal Life Lessons

So here are a few things that I have learned so far in my 23 years.

-           Life gives you challenges. They were brought into your life for a reason. I believe you aren’t given things that you can’t handle. You will overcome it and you will learn from it. If you think that it is pushing your limit, take a breath and remember you wouldn’t be faced with it, if you couldn’t handle it.

-           We need to make peace with our past to be able to enjoy our future. Let go of the harsh feelings toward someone who hurt you. Learn from your mistakes. Embrace the things you can’t change. Smile each and every day. Be grateful for what you have in the present. Enjoy what will come into your future.

-           Trust is something that is precious. Once you lose someone’s trust, it is a hard thing to gain back.

-           Be Confident in who you are. You a special and unique person, treasure that. You don’t ever want to be exactly like someone else. There is no fun in that. Plus, I believe that confidence in sexy and beautiful. If you believe in yourself, you can do anything you put your mind too.

-           Drama isn’t something that just walks in and out of your life. You either (1) create it (2) invite it (3) associate with it.

-           If you never fail, then you aren’t trying hard enough. I believe that you have to fail to be able to get something perfect.

-           Time is the greatest gift you can give someone. You are spending time with someone that they will never get back.

-           A healthy relationship will never require you to sacrifice your family and friends, your dreams, your dignity, and your happiness. A healthy relationship will grow your bond with those who you are close too, push you hard toward your dreams, stand by your side at all times, and make you happier than you ever thought possible.

-           Talk is one thing, Action is another.

-           Happiness is created by you and only you. You create your happiness. You invite it into your life each and every day. You are the one who lets yourself be happy.

Day 22

Your giving me the permission to Rant, perfect.!

(10) Pet Peeves and Things That Tick Me Off

-           When someone chews gum with their trap wide open

-           When you go so far under the speed limit you’re a hassard

-           When people don’t use their blinkers

-           When someone is a constant moocher

-           When someone is always late

-           When someone can’t change their own tire. I feel like everyone should know how to do the basics on a car before they drive it.

-           Annoying, Prissy, Immature Girls. I can’t stand them. I’m sorry, but I just can’t do it.

-           Boys who play with your heart

-           Broken Promises. If you make a promise to do something important, to me. Do it. You Promised.

-           Tell me the freaking truth. Even if it is going to hurt me, I want the truth.



Day 21

"My Favorite Posts"

My family and Best Friend Kati seriously are my entire world. I love this post about our Mother's Day weekend. I love how close we all are and how we take a million photos, hardly any of them will be normal faces. These posts show how Kati and I are practically hooked at the hip. I freakin love this girl more than my best friend, she is practically my sister. For hell sake, everyone in the family says she is our sister.

I really love all my Words of Wisdom Wednesday Posts. I really take the time and think about what I am going to post on Wednesdays. I think everyone needs that middle of the week pick me up. A good story, something inspiring, or some advice. That is why I started doing this Words of Wisdom Wednesday posting.

Remembering a friend is always such a beautiful thing. That is why I love this post about my dear friend Ashlee who passed away this year.

My life has changed so much in the past 6 months. This is when I decided that "A New Start" was needed and Life in the Sunshine made its debut into the blogging world. I wanted a fresh new start.



Day 18, 19, & 20.

May 18

Childhood Story

October 1, 1993

Dixie Regional Medical Center in St George, Utah

My baby brother Levi J Spafford was born.

I remember while Mom and Dad were in the room with “the doctor” and nurses,

I would sit on the big dark blue steps in front of the nursery window.

“The Big Pop” popsicle in hand, provided by the nurses of course.

The first memory I have of Buddy.

May 19

5 favorite blogs

Love & Such

I love Mikell’s stories, fashion, and she always has good products that she blogs about. Plus, who couldn’t resist following stories of baby bunny Winston. He is just so darn adorable and complete spoiled.

We & Serendipity

The advice that Amanda gives on her personal marriage is wonderful. I take so many of her things to heart, even though I am not in a romantic relationship now. I use it in my personal everyday relationships, with family and friends.  It has helped build and strengthen my relationships.

Life on the Countryside

Lindsey or “elle” has such a real life blog. I love that I can relate to the things she posts about. Her struggles with dating and life are things that I deal with everyday. I love how much she loves her little Mia, I can’t wait to have a little puppy that is as adorable as Mia is.

The Sweet Season

Ashley blogs about so many different topics, and I love how she writes letters to her husband every single week on Friday Letters. She has stayed so true to what she wants to blog about. Her recipes are always so good too.

The Pretty Blog

So, I am obsessed with photography. I love the way that pictures capture so many different things. Emotions and so many different memories of that day, place, and time can come flooding back into someone’s thought just by a single picture. That is why I love The Pretty Blog. Following a photography blog is something I truly enjoy looking at every single day.

May 20, 2013

Get Real. Something I am struggling with right now.

As I said a few days ago, life is really pretty good for me right now.
I have an amazing family,

I have amazing friends,

And I have a job where I love working.

I can’t complain much.

But finances, who doesn’t have problems with them.

I wish I made more than I do.

I wish things weren’t as expensive as they are.

I want this and I want that.

But I need this, and I have to buy that.

So needs come before wants,

And I am left with nothing left to save up for an amazing trip

Or a shopping spree.

Oh well, I wake up smiling.

And continue on my way,

It will get better.

much love, kenzie.

Day 15 & 16 & 17

..Day in the Life of Kenzie..

4:15am alarm starts ringing

4:45am finally convince myself to get out of bed

6:15am rushing out the door to work

6:50am arriving at work, get coffee started as soon as possible

Work 6:50am – 6:30pm

Then I usually go home and do one of the following:

-          Blog post for next day

-          Watch my shows on Hulu

-          Babysit

-          Crash cause I’m exhausted

The next morning rolls around and I do it all again.

BUT today didn’t go like that at all.

Maja opened at the Cleaners; which means that I didn’t have to be in to work till 9am, Shout for joy! I was all excited I get to sleep in, but no I was wide awake at 6:30. So I decided to get up and make a pot of coffee, let the dogs out, and relax in bed till I had to get out. Then tragedy struck, Migraine, horrible migraine. Coffee gets spilled all over phone. Rushing to get to work, cause our morning delivery person forgot he had runs today. Get to work, head pounding. Maja sends me home cause I can’t see straight and I’m about to cry. Get home, break my key in the door. Ugh, Kill Me Now! I resorted to just staying in bed, resting and not touching anything the rest of the day. I was a tragedy waiting to happen.

Yep, That's my key.

Adorable Outfit and Hair Day, Wasted.

Something difficult about your "lot in life" and how you're working to overcome it

Before I start complaining about something difficult in my life I want to realize the good in my life. I have a family who loves me, and would do anything for me. I have the best friends in this entire world. I have a job and coworkers that I absolutely love, and it provides nice things for me to enjoy in my life. I have a roof over my head, food at my finger tips, a computer that connects me to the world. I have an education, in which I am thankful for. I have a father in heaven that will always be there if I ever need help. So what could be so bad about life?

Honestly, I really have a good life. No I don’t have a special someone anymore, but that will come in time. I may not live on my own at the moment, but that will come in due time. I am grateful for the life I am given and the beauty I see in it each and every day.

There is something that I will always have a hard time with though. Watching someone you love just wither away with life. Watching a bright and fun filled life; taken away and replaced with a life of pain. The daily struggles of medication, and the effects that it has on your life. It is so hard for me to watch this. It is like watching someone you love start to disappear right before your eyes, and there is not a damn thing I can do about it. I can’t say much without hurt and pain in my voice. I can’t do anything to help relieve the pain; there is nothing I can do.

There is just a glimpse of something that I have a hard time dealing with.

Favorite Photo of Me

Right Now, This is my favorite photo of me. I don't exactly know why I love it so much, but I just do.

10 things

It is Day 14 of The Challenge that Story of My Life is doing this May.

I have really had a lot of fun with it.

Today's Challenge: Ten things that make you really happy.

If you follow and read my blog these things will come of no suprise to you.

It was hard to just pick 10 things by the way.

Zion National Park

1. Being outside and enjoying the warm weather and sunshine on my skin.

2. A good cup of Coffee. Cinnamon Vanilla Nut, Caramel Mocha, and White Chocolate Mocha are my favorite.

3. Old Photos. I love looking at the and I love the memories that are within them.

4. Shopping. I love taking off the tags of new clothing and breaking in new shoes.

5. The smell of cookies baking. Or cupcakes, or bread, or bacon.

4. Traveling. The above picture was taken in Costa Rica probably atleast 6/7 years ago.

5. The feeling of having a clean and organized work space, and living space.

6. My Family; Blood or Not. I love them no matter what, and would do anything for them.

7. French Toast with Syrup, Strawberries, and Whip Cream.

8.Swig. I freaking am in love with Swig. Nothing like a Raspberry Mango LimeAid and a Sugar Cookie.

9. Friends. Life would be nothing without them. Best Friends can go so long without taking and seeing each other and pick up like nothing ever changed. This girl above has been one of my best friends for as long as I can remember. Love Barnum.

10. A good book. Nothing like digging yourself into a book that when it is over you wish there was a whole other book to pick up and read.

Much Love, Kenzie.