“Satisficers (yes, satisficers) are those who make a decision or take action once their criteria are met.  That doesn’t mean they’ll settle for mediocrity; their criteria can be very high, but as soon as they find the hotel, the pasta sauce, or the business card that has the qualities they want, they’re satisfied.  Maximizers want to make the optimal decision.  Even if they see a bicycle or a backpack that meets their requirements, they can’t make a decision until after they’ve examined every option, so they can make the best possible choice… But too often maximizers find the research process exhausting yet can’t let themselves settle for anything but the best.” - The Happiness Project

Yep.  I am definitely a maximizer when it comes to decision-making.  The best example that I can think of is when I was looking for where my husband and I should go for our honeymoon.  I literally looked at every single island on the planet, and then once I had found the perfect island I found the best resorts on that island.  After I narrowed it down to the few best resorts, I would check on 3-5 different websites to see which website had the best deals for each resort.  Then, after I found a winner, I went back and did the whole process again just to make sure I hadn’t missed anything.  The entire process took weeks of research.

In the end, we absolutely loved both the location and resort we ended up with, so it was definitely worth the effort.  However, it does get exhausting when you are at the point when you don’t even care anymore, but you somehow still cannot seem to stop researching. It’s like having a disease.

Anyhow, I really just wanted to share that excerpt, because I saw myself in the text.

Happy Reading!

On the other one I am a little more limited on what I can write about, and I definitely don’t want it to focus on me like this one does.  Alright, well I am completely spent so I am going to go cuddle up under the covers and let myself slip into dream world. Let me know if anyone has any suggestions for keeping up with a blog where you are posting daily.

Ciao Bellas!

A beautiful white blanket of snow has coated the otherwise dead and barren wasteland that fall left behind, and Christmas decorations are springing up around every corner.  I am surprisingly quite excited for winter/Christmas this year.  I don’t think that has ever happened in my entire life! haha  I am sure by mid January I will be whistling quite a different tune in regards to getting “ice-murdered” by the frigid winter.  However, in the meantime I can’t help but get wrapped up in cozying up with a glass of hot chocolate and watching the beautiful snow flakes float down to the ground.  The beautiful twinkle lights and garland all around also help to put one in the holiday mood!

Ben and I currently live in St. Paul, so we went for a stroll down Grand this evening and it really was quite beautiful, see picture below.  Sadly, there have already been a large number of fender benders since the snowfall began, and we happened to witness one on our walk.  Luckily no one was injured, but obviously that is never a fun way to start your Saturday evening.

Needless to say, enjoy this magical winter wonderland but remember to switch gears into winter driving mode!!

Happy Snowfall Everyone!

We had unknowingly been living next to two great people (and their little baby of course!) who we not only get along great with, but are also fellow followers of Christ!  It kills me a little bit that we did not do this sooner, but better late than never.  I would encourage everyone to really get to know your neighbors.  You never know what you will have in common or what sort of relationships could come out of it! 

These are people you see everyday!  I want the charm of the 50s where you know everyone on your street and you bring the new family in the neighborhood fresh-baked cookies to welcome them.  Even though we were late in getting to know our awesome neighbors, I do hope to keep in touch with them.  Facebook of course will make that much easier!

The underlying message here is to just step out in faith whenever possible.  Try to truly get to know the people who are in your lives.  What’s the worst that could happen?!

The 21 day fast came to a close today and I can now drink pop again!  woohoo!  I am drinking a Sprite right now and it is just so carbonatedly delicious!   It was sometimes hard, especially anytime we had pizza… but it was definitely worth it!  Anytime you do anything in devotion to the Lord I really don’t think it can end up not having a positive influence in your life.

So what’s next for Ben and Krista…

Well, right now we are in the process of potentially moving to St. Paul in mid September but I will write more about that once everything is official. 

Until then, peace and blessings ya’ll!

The following was the meal plan for our day:

Lunch

McDonalds. (Krista = 2 Che-bugah Meal, Ben = Double Quarter Pounder Cheese Burger Meal)

Dinner

Krista = Nachos, Mountain Dew, Mozzarella Sticks, Cream Soda, Oatmeal Carmelati Bar.

Benjamin = Wings, Sun Drop, Cheese Curds, Sun Kiss.

Gross.  But I suppose that was the general objective.  We are both very excited to begin this fast with the rest of the SLP Launch Team!  I am sure at times it will be tough, but we will be each other’s accountability partner to make sure we seek God in prayer anytime we are feeling weak and want to give up!

I just know great things will come from this!  Hope everyone is doing so well!

She is a flemish giant so she could get up to 28 lbs.  We have had her for a couple weeks and she has already doubled in size, wowza!!  Oliver and Dewey (our cats) are definitely going to be in a for a big suprise when she outgrows them! haha

BUT, something really awesome did just happen this morning.  Ben and I FINALLY booked our honeymoon to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic!!!  We really would have loved to go right after our wedding, but that was just not a possibility after finances involved in moving across the country twice in one year.

However, I think it has worked out in our benefit because now we get to go over our 1 year annivirsary!!  We will be staying at the Excellence Punta Cana – All Inclusive (Adults Only)–> thank goodness!  haha  No offense to the kiddos, but I feel it will be much more romantic w/o having to worry about screaming children and wondering if they are peeing in the pool!

We are soooooo excited and cannot wait to post pictures of all the fun things we will get to do!  Ben has never been to the ocean, so I am beyond excited to expose him to one of the most beautiful features on the face of the planet!  To me there really is nothing like listening to the ocean waves crash into the beach while watching the sunset across the ocean…pure bliss.

So that is my lil piece of juicy news going on in my life.  Let the countdown to paradise begin!!

90 Days!!!

(Better get going on my passport, huh?) oops!

How to make A Beautiful Life (Reflections for a Daughter on Her Birthday)

Love yourself.

MAKE PEACE with who you are

where you are

at this moment in time.

Listen to your heart.

If you can’t hear what it’s saying

in this noisy world.

MAKE TIME for yourself.

Enjoy your own company.

Let your mind wander among the stars.

Try.

Take chances.

MAKE MISTAKES.

Life can be messy

and confusing at times.

but it’s also full of surprises.

The next rock in your path

might be a stepping-stone.

Be happy.

When you don’t have what you want,

want what you have.

MAKE DO.

That’s a well-kept secret of contentment.

There aren’t any shortcuts to tomorrow.

You have to MAKE YOUR OWN WAY.

To know where you’re going

is only part of it.

You need to know where you’ve been, too.

And if you ever get lost, don’t worry.

The people who love you will find you.

Count on it.

Life isn’t days and years.

It’s what you do with time

and with all the goodness and grace

that’s inside you.

MAKE A BEAUTIFUL LIFE…

The kind of life you deserve.