Hi Friends! I can’t believe it’s already February! I feel like January was slow and fast. I don’t know, there is part of me that feels like it should be March already, but then another that’s like Wow! Where did January go?
Here’s a recap! Overall, I’d say it was a great month!
The year started in Boston with my besties and my family! I’m so thankful for them!
Flew back to Idaho and immediately went back to work on January 3.
We had a lot of very snowy days! One of the weeks I feel like it snowed every single morning!
One weekend I didn’t leave my house at all because of the snow. I would finish shoveling and immediately have to shovel again!
Went skiing at Sun Valley! Here’s to more skiing in February!
Took way too many photos of Jackson sleeping! He’s just so cute!
Spent some time reading!! Here’s to more reading in February too!
And, even enjoyed some outdoor walks to end the month with these above average temperatures we’ve been having!
My biggest goal for this year is to enjoy things I used to enjoy again. When I was in college and even before that, I had a lot of things I loved to do. Everything from reading, to running, to dancing, cooking, playing my clarinet. There were so many things I loved to do, and I stopped doing all of them because of my job. My entire life revolved around my job, and I want that to STOP in 2024. I want to enjoy the things I used to enjoy again, and enjoy my life. Life is so short and it flies by.
You might be wondering, who cares? You also might be thinking, Elizabeth, getting a new toothbrush is very normal, and you should do that more often.
Well, first of all, you’re correct and second of all, it’s one of those electric toothbrushes so I’ve had new heads on them, but the electric part has been the same for the past, almost 5 years.
You see, every single time I look at this toothbrush, I think how it was the very first thing I bought when I moved to Twin Falls, Idaho.
Literally, the very first thing. Before a bed, or a table, or any food. The first thing.
I remember everything about the day I bought it. My mom and I finally made it to Idaho after five long days of driving. It was a Saturday. We had to stay at a hotel that night because I couldn’t move in to my apartment until Monday. I also was starting my new job on Monday. She said, let’s go do some errands, and get you some things you will need.
We went to Costco, and she bought me this toothbrush. The very toothbrush I have used every day since then. Until now.
Now, I have a new one, and when I used the new one for the first time, I was reminded of how much my life has changed since that Saturday at Costco with my mom almost 5 years ago.
I was reminded of all the people I met who I never would have.
All of the places I’ve gone that I never would have.
All of the knowledge I’ve learned that I never would have.
All of the fun I’ve had that I never would have.
All of the horrible days that I never would have.
All of the lessons I have learned that I never would have.
How much more open and accepting I became of people, how much I have grown as a person, a journalist, a friend, a daughter, a member of society. How much more I know myself and who I am and what I want to do for this world.
And it all started with this toothbrush. That day was the first page of this chapter of my life. The most courageous thing I have ever done was buy that tooth brush.
So needless to say, I was so emotional the first time I used to new one, because I started thinking, what will my life look like the next time I get a new tooth brush? Where will I be then? What will my job be? Who will I know then that I don’t know now?
Life is so funny. On that day at Costco, I bet I never thought I’d be thinking about it all these years later. Yet, here I am.
I’d like to thank that tooth brush, for the past 5 years, for making me a better person, a more accepting person, a smarter person, a more whole person. I’d like to thank that toothbrush, for literally, changing my life.
I used to read all the time, but for a while I sort of stopped enjoying it. Mostly because I had trouble concentrating on anything other than work. But this year, I made it a goal to read more, and I would say I did that! And, heading into 2024 I will continue that goal and hopefully read even more.
I will do this list from my least favorite book to my most favorite. Here we go!
9.Christmasland by Anne-Marie Meyer This book was cute, but there wasn’t really much to it. It was about these two friends who won a trip to a town called Christmasland, which was pretty much a typical Hallmark type town. The book was cute, but there wasn’t much meat to it, it was all just too perfect, and also the couple got together way too quickly, there was no challenge to it. I like a slow burn, I guess.
8.Hide Yourself Away by Mary Jane Clark This book took place in Nantucket, and this was a murder mystery novel. A group of journalists from New York headed to Nantucket to cover a very large story and then get caught up in a murder mystery, and it just gets more twisted as it goes on. I will say, I genuinely had no idea who did the crime until the very end.
7. By The Book by Jasmine Guillory I love Jasmine Guillory so much. I have read every book by her. This one though was written in the third person and I don’t love books like that. This book was a modern day Beauty and the Beast type story, and ended really cute. I didn’t hate this book, but the third person point of view is just hard for me to love.
6. In A New York Minute by Kate Spencer This book was about two people who have a horrible and embarrasing meet cute on the subway, and then just continue running into each other in embarrasing ways. The setting of New York City was perfect for this book, because only in a city like that could the meet cute happen. I wish they didn’t get together so late in the book though, they spent almost the whole book preparing us for them to get together and then they finally do, and then the book is over. I wanted more of them together.
5. The Bodyguard by Katherine Center I really enjoyed this book. It was about a personal and private security firm who are hired to protect a celebrity. There is a lot that happens and there is much more meat to this book than I expected and I really enjoyed it.
4. Drunk on Love by Jasmine Guillory Like I said earlier, I love Jasmine Guillory. This book did not disappoint. I loved it. It takes place in Napa California on a vineyard and I really love the two points of view so we can understand the boys and the girls point of view. Guillory better write another book soon, I can’t wait to read the next one.
3. Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez I debated on putting this book for number 2. Let me say, the ending of this book made me cry, like actual tears, and that never happens. Two doctors who work in the ER together come up with an agreement and I won’t say anything else, you’ll just have to read it. This book was the epitome of slow burn, and combined with the dual points of view, there were mulitple times during this book when I wanted to scream to it ‘JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER.’ They clearly loved each other, but wouldn’t tell the other person. But, then when I saw how the book ended I understood why it had to be that way. Anyways, this book was great.
2.Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan I LOVED this book. Laugh out loud funny, fast paced, and adorable. But, also it has so many real life problems that the characters go through. I mean seriously I could not put this book down.
And the best book I read this year is….
WEATHER GIRL by Rachel Lynn Solomon
I’m not going to lie, the biggest reason I chose to read this book was because it was told from the point of view of a Meteorologist at a station in Seattle. I am a morning news anchor and thought I would enjoy this book. But, I did not expect to love it as much as I did. It was one of the best books I’ve ever read. A morning meteorologist who has depression ends up becoming friends with the evening sports caster who has a daughter. Through the book, they become more than friends and a lot more is revealed. I won’t spoil it for you, seriously, you just have to read it. I LOVED this book!
Thank you to the author’s, bookstores and libraries who ensure that people like me can get lost in stories and other worlds that are far more interesting than mine. Here’s to more books in 2024!
This has always been one of my most favorite times of the year. When I was a kid this time of year always felt so magical. Now, that I’m older, the magic has died a bit, but I’m determined to still make it a special time of year. One of the best ways to do that, in my opinion, is to decorate!!
Here is my house this year, and if I do say so myself, it looks magical!
Welcome in!
Of course I have a giant blow up, do you know me at all?
Candy canes lining the walk way!
I love changing my flags for the seasons.
A real wreath this year.
You might notice a theme, JOY! Joy is my middle name, so I have to!
My little Santa figurines were a gift from my Grammy years ago!
A flamingo with a Santa hat was a no-brainer!
This one lights up!
I saw this on Tik Tok and thought it was so cute!
A little touch to brighten up the stairs!
I painted this one.
My chocolate fix every day!
Another wreath welcoming me in from the garage.
My gorgeous tree! Do you see Jackson?
Anyways, it’s not much, but this time of year can be awfully depressing, the sun sets so early, it’s cold out. This brings me Joy and it brings me happiness to turn all the lights on and enjoy them. I’m wishing you all so much love this time of year.
On November 3rd, 2023 my boyfriend Trevor asked me to marry him.
I thought I would share the story here with you, partly because it’s really cute and partly because I don’t want to forget it! So, here it goes!
November 3rd, of 2019 was the day that Trevor and I first met. This year, November 3rd fell on a Friday, so all week we were planning to go out to dinner to celebrate.
We were planning to go out to Juanitzio’s, which is a Mexican Restaurant that tastes really good.
I got finished with work on that day around 2, and I headed to the grocery store after work, then I came home, took my dog out for a walk, read my book on the couch, and you know, it was just a very normal day.
Trevor got home from work and went to take a shower, very normal after a long day.
He came out from the shower and asked me if instead of Juanitzio’s, if I wanted to go to Rock Creek, which is a steak house that is a little bit fancier.
I thought nothing of it, because in my mind I’m like yeah, we could go to Juanitzio’s any day, but we probably wouldn’t go to Rock Creek that often, only on special occasions.
He then asks me if I wanted to change. I was in workout clothes, so again, that makes total sense.
I went to change into a nicer outfit and then I came out from doing that and was putting on my shoes, and was thinking nothing of it. But, then Trevor came into the bedroom and was looking at me all strange. I asked him if he didn’t want to go, or if he didn’t feel good.
Instead of replying, he gets down on one knee and proposes to me! He said, Will you marry me?
My reaction, was probably very atypical.
“Are you sure?”
“Are you serious?”
“What?”
I genuinely couldn’t believe that it was happening right then.
It never once crossed my mind, even after all that happened that day, that he would or might propose to me that day. I honestly was so shocked and surprised.
I eventually said Yes, and then we had a moment of disbelief and I had many questions for him, such as who knew you were going to do this, and How long have you had this ring? You know, the journalist that I am was very curious.
We eventually went to Rock Creek and celebrated there.
We’ve now been engaged for a little over a week and it’s finally just now sinking in.
I couldn’t believe it but I’m so excited.
I thought that we would get engaged and get married someday, we’ve had lots of conversations about it. But, I’m glad I was so surprised, because it made it so much better!
Anyways, that’s the story, and I have no idea about anything else, but here are some cute pictures that we took the day after!
Happy November everyone! I know that Halloween was yesterday and before I take all my decorations down and decorate for Christmas, I wanted to share how I decorated my house this year. Mostly because I love decorating and I love how my house came out this year!
So, Welcome in friends!!
I took this picture on Halloween night!
All of our pumpkins!
I love this flag because it isn’t just Halloween, but good for all of Fall.
My front door!
I like this because it works for Thanksgiving too!
These pumpkins light up!
These ones light up too!
An easy way I like to decorate is just to get a few wall signs that I can exchange for winter, summer, fall, etc. It makes it look like a whole new wall when I put them up!
Sunflowers are my favorite!
A great reminder!
I’ll leave this up until Thanksgiving!
I love these signs! I swear I have one for every season!
And lastly, something that I got from my Mom! Changing the hand towels to match the seasons can do so much for your house!
It’s Jackson on the towel!
I will ALWAYS get a decoration with dogs if they have it! I love dogs!
And that is it! I really love decorating my house for the different seasons. It makes me happy, and it makes me smile when I come home from work!
I am so excited to decorate for Christmas too, I’ll try to wait as long as I can, but I really just love Christmas decorations and want to enjoy them as much as I can, so it’ll probably be pretty soon by the time I put them up!
Hi again friends! Continuing on with my fun week in Utah with my mom!
So after we saw Derek Hough in his amazing live show, we drove down to Moab, Utah to visit Arches National Park!
First of all, the drive there was breathtakingly beautiful! It was a little long from Salt Lake City, but honestly, the views were amazing!
This was pretty much the views for most of the drive!
Once we got there, we checked into our hotel, which was actually a ranch, and we went to check out the downtown Moab area.
The view from our hotel room! It was RIGHT on the Colorado River!
I could not get over the views!
On Friday morning, we woke up early, and headed to Arches National Park!
I’m not going to lie to you, I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into, I didn’t know much about the park or the history, or really what to expect at all. I like doing this to myself sometimes because it leaves me with no expectations!
But, let me tell you, I LOVED IT! From the amazing rock formations, the challenging, yet still doable hikes, and the really cool way that they laid out the National Park. I could not get enough! It was so much fun!
Here are a few of my favorite arches and hikes!
The hike to this one included 3 other arches as well!
The Delicate Arch!
The Delicate Arch was the hardest hike we did, but my goodness was it worth it! This arch is iconic!
Another one because !!!
This one we had to hike through sand for! It was awesome!
The hike in to the previous arch!
After a great day at the park we headed back to our ranch for dinner and relaxing! It was such a great day!
Had to pull over to take a picture of our ranch from the road!
Side note, our ranch had the best restaurant at it! The Cowboy Grill! I’m still thinking about our meal to this day!
I really enjoyed Arches National Park and the town of Moab and all it had to offer. The park was vey accessible for everyone, and the arches could be accessed if you weren’t up for the hikes. The hikes just made the views a little bit better!
The next morning we got to see the annular Solar Eclipse, and we were in the 80% path for the Ring of Fire!
We went for a walk along the Colorado River before watching the Solar Eclipse!
Then we drove back to Salt Lake City and did a little shopping, had a little dinner, and enjoyed our time together!
I really can’t say enough good things about Arches! It was a really cool park, very well put together, a lot to see, and the Arches were just so cool! I would go back for sure!
I’m very thankful for my time with my mom in Utah!!
You guys, last week I had such a good week! On Wednesday, I went down to Salt Lake City and picked up my Mom at the airport and then we went to see Derek Hough and his wife Hayley on tour!
We were so excited! I bought these tickets the day they went on sale, so it was a long time coming!
Since we had VIP tickets we had to get to the theatre early, so we could check in and then go back stage!
We waited to take our picture with Derek and Hayley and then went to the Question and Answer session!
I was able to ask Derek a question, and I just wanted to share his answer with you, because it was amazing. I asked him how he deals with and handles negative comments about him on social media, or over email. As a morning news anchor, I get comments all the time towards me, and I asked him how he handles it.
Derek said that at first he would take those comments to heart, but then he started to realize that when people would said hurtful and negative things to him, he began to realize that says more about the people saying it, than it does about him. He said he began to have empathy for them, and recognizing that they are missing something from their own lives if they feel the need to reach out to you to say their negative comments. So in case you needed to hear that, there you go.
I LOVE this picture so much! The true happiness on my face can’t be beat!
After the VIP session we went to the Cheesecake Factory for a quick dinner and then headed back to the theatre for the show! We had about two hours in between the VIP session and the show!
Our seats were in the second row, right on the aisle! I turned around and this is the view!
Derek’s show was called ‘The Symphony of Dance’ and I have seen Derek in every show he has ever done, and to be honest, they have all been AMAZING! But, there was just something so special about this one. It had so much heart behind it.
The Symphony of Dance, in my opinion, was a metaphor, for the journey of life. There will be ups and downs and highs and lows, but overall it’s the journey that you remember. I loved that so much!
The females had 18 costume changes, and each one was more spectacular than the last!
Each dance told a story, and each dancer was phenomenal! I’m telling you I would see this show every night in every city if I could. I left feeling so inspired!!
This show was particularly emotional for Derek because he is from Salt Lake City, and he had a lot of family and friends and his old dance teachers in the audience, and it was a sold out show! It was so special. I can only imagine how Derek was feeling up on that stage!
I just want to thank Derek and the entire cast and crew for this show! It was truly wonderful and I think everybody, even if you know nothing about dance, could enjoy this show and enjoy seeing the talent and hard work and creativity on that stage! I would see it every night if I could!
Thank you Derek, from the bottom of my heart, for teaching me to live my life with passion and to never let anybody make you feel bad about being who you are!
Earlier this summer, I set a list of things I wanted to do during this summer, it included everything from Watch High School Musical 1, 2, and 3 to go to a water park! Sadly, I wasn’t able to accomplish everything I wanted to on my list, because you know, real life and work and other commitments and bills to pay and chores to do. But there were still some really good days too! So, without further ado, here is a look at my Top 10 of this summer! Hard to believe it’s already over!
Visiting my family and friends in Boston!
I would consider this the start of summer! It was such a fun week and I miss all of these people so much! I have such good memories of this week!
2. Hosting a big 4th of July Party… on July 1st.
At my house, the fireworks are lit off from the field that is literally one house away from mine! So, what did I do? Hosted a giant 4th of July Party to have everyone over to watch! It was such a good day!
3. Going paddleboarding on the Snake River
I have kayaked the Snake River before but never Paddle boarded and it was so much fun! This particular day was gorgeous out as well, so it made it even better! I hope I can do that more next year!
4. Floating the Boise River!
Another first for me! I’ve never floated the Boise River before and it was so much fun! This particular day was 102 degrees and the water was 54 degrees! We had a few minor setbacks on this day, but overall it was so much fun! I love trying new things!
5. Going to Roaring Springs Water Park and Wahooz Family Fun Center!
I sadly have no pictures from the water park, but this sunset was taken on the drive home this trip, so it will have to do!
6. Kelley’s Canyon Orchard Peaches and Cream Day!
Trevor and I drove down into the Canyon to Kelley’s Canyon Orchard where they grow peaches and other fruit. On this day, they had peaches and cream and it was delicious! This spot in the Canyon is so pretty and it was so peaceful!
7. The Twin Falls County Fair
The Twin Falls County Fair is absolutely always a highlight of the year for me! I just love the people, the food, the atmosphere! It never disappoints! These two gentlemen run the model railroad building and I love them to pieces!
8. Attended a gorgeous wedding!
We went to a gorgeous wedding for our friends! Trevor was a groomsmen, doesn’t he look so handsome? But this wedding was so fun, and I danced the night away on that dancefloor!
9. Taking Jackson to the Pooch Splash!
The Pooch Splash is an annual fundraiser put on by the Twin Falls Animal Shelter for their medical fund. Jackson is from the shelter and I love to give back to the people who gave me my best friend in the world! Jackson had the time of his life too!
10. Covering important stories to Southern Idaho
I mean, considering almost my entire life is spent at work, I guess I have to include it on my Top 10 of summer. It is what I spent most of my summer doing.
And there you have it folks. I didn’t do everything I wanted to do, not even close, but it was still a really great summer full of laughs, time with friends and family, and some fun days.
I used to love summer when I was a kid, probably because we didn’t have school and I could spend all day doing whatever I wanted.
Now that I am older, I think I like Fall the most. The seasons are changing, it’s cooler in the morning but warmer in the afternoon. We’re back to our routines and schedules, which we all know I love a good schedule.
I have to be honest with you, this year in general has been hard for me in many ways, most of which I will never get into on here, but this summer wasn’t all bad! It had lots of good moments, but I’m ready for Fall now!
The other day my boyfriend Trevor and I went out to dinner at a local restaurant. We walked in around 5 and there were maybe 6 or so booths taken.
As we were walking towards our booth, I saw that one of the booths was taken by one woman. She was sitting alone.
I immediately remembered the time when my dad took my brother and I to the Ski and Snowboard expo in the Seaport in Boston. It had become our yearly tradition. We would go early on a Saturday and then afterwards we would go eat at the No Name Restaurant. Yes, that was the name of it. It was a delicious seafood restaurant right on the water.
When we went to sit down at the No Name Restaurant all those years ago, I saw a man siting alone. I said to my dad, “he’s all alone, I feel bad, you should talk to him.” I actually did feel really sad about it. I thought, how horrible that he has no one to go out to lunch with. He must be so lonely.
My dad turned around and started asking him if he too went to the ski and snowboard expo. They talked for a while. The man seemed excited that my dad was talking to him, and I remember thinking how sad it is that he didn’t have anyone to go out to eat with, no one to talk to, laugh with.
This past week the woman was eating alone and I thought again how sad it was that she didn’t have anyone to go out to eat with.
But, I’m older now and have had a lot more life experiences than all those years ago at the No Name Restaurant, so I thought, I don’t know her story. Maybe she’s on her way to work or heading home from work. Maybe she’s traveling for business. Maybe she likes being alone. She could be new to the area. After all, there aren’t any rules about eating alone at a restaurant, she could be perfectly content to enjoy her Mexican food by herself.
But, as I think about it more, it still makes me sad. It makes me sad because these people on both occasions didn’t have anyone they could call to go to dinner with, so they went alone.
And to be totally honest with you, most of the time, I feel very lonely in my life. I’m not lonely because I’m not surrounded by people, I seem to always be surrounded by someone.
I’m lonely because I have yet to meet anyone who is like me. I know a lot of people, sure, but I don’t know if I have anyone in my life that gets me, and understands me really. I’m not sure I ever will.
Anytime I try to explain how I feel or what I think, no one seems to truly understand what I mean.
So maybe, going out to dinner alone is better than being surrounded by people who don’t understand them. Maybe, it’s peaceful for them.
I hope they know I’m rooting for them, whoever they are, wherever they are. I wish only the best for them.
Elizabeth Joy Hadley 