Rachel W.

When I used to work in a professional setting and I would contact a new person about a project, my e-mails would usually start with, Hi, my name is Rachel Watson and I work at [insert place of employment here] as an [insert title here], I'm working on... [launch into e-mail about very exciting venture...]. So as I introduce myself to you, I want to fall back into that pattern, but these days, I don't really have a title (does mom count?) and I work within the walls of my house (and I'm not telling the web where that is). So, now onto my exciting venture... wait for it... this blog. I hope that wasn't too anticlimactic. So... what about this blog? So...What about me?

Well, my angle is, I'm an average doe, trying to live a happy life. I am pretty personal, so I'm not going to be sharing all the ugly moments of my life with you, but when I share a beautiful one, I will try to surround it with reality. For example, my bio (beautiful moment that it is)--I have spent way too much time on it. I somehow lost the version that I made some really great edits to last night, and so this is a different take on that.

Oh, and wasn't this supposed to be a bio or something? Quickly... I married my high school sweetheart, we lived in the student village at the University of Utah, and I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT! I attended the University of Utah and graduated in broadcast journalism. Upon graduation, I worked at a local PBS station (KUED) editing video, writing and doing production. In 2007 my husband and I up and moved to Washington, DC, where I worked for the George Washington University as a Web editor and writer. At the end of 2009 we welcomed a bouncing baby boy into the world, and I have stayed home ever since. I have wanted to be a stay at home mom since I was six. It really is my dream job--not that it doesn't come with its ups and downs. I think the hardest thing about being a mom is that I am my own boss. I'd prefer to have someone telling me what to do and keeping tabs on me. What can I say, I am motivated by external forces--I am trying to work on that btw.

I like to lie on my stomach with my feet way too close to the space heater. I am a great listener, I love to give advice, I love people and making new friends, I try to be inclusive and I put a lot of effort into being an organized person. Thanks for stopping by and getting to know me! I hope you enjoy this blog.

Rachel A.

I’ve always had a hard time writing a bio.  It’s probably a fear of commitment – or a sign that I am still very much in the midst of defining who I am. At this point of my life, the most obvious, but also most important label I can assign myself is mother (or “mama” as I prefer my kids to use… “mom” just doesn’t sit as well with me). My beautiful daughter made me a mama three years ago, and her sweetest little brother made me more fully understand the juggling act the job requires. He also made me a stay-at-home mama – before his arrival several months ago I worked at communications consultancy in Washington, DC. It was my dream job and I often found myself wondering what the rest of my career would look like, since I had really only set my sights on the job I currently held.

Along with becoming a stay-at-homer when the little man arrived, I also became something I didn’t ever anticipate: A Montanan. Our little family recently relocated to a small-ish town in west central Montana, leaving behind a life, family and friends we love, for other family, new friends, and a change of pace, scenery and temperature (among other things).

A little background:

I grew up as the oldest child of a couple (I could say father, but let’s be honest: both parents were involved in this process) who was in the throws of pursuing a PhD and then establishing themselves professionally, so we moved a fair amount. I learned to love making new friends and exploring new places. Now that I’m older, I’m not sure I love those challenges as much – but most of the people that know me best will say that I’m always up for an adventure.

In my non-existent spare time I love to spend time with friends, ride horses, rock climb (or do most things outdoors), paint, draw, go to a good museum, play games, bake, catch up on TV shows that I always seem to miss, read good books, travel, dance (when no one is looking), eat frozen yogurt and dream about what my house would look like if I could just decide how I want to decorate it.

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Alisia

In college I once had a good guy friend tell me, "If I could just put your personality and everything you are into (insert super fit girl's name here) body, then you would be the perfect girl." At the time I laughed, and played it off well. Never letting this guy friend know how deep those words cut me.

I wasn't overweight at the time. I had been earlier in my life, but not at that time. Was I fit? Not like "so and so." I had never taken dance or gymnastics. I never played soccer or joined any high school sports team. I am not coordinated, and when I try to dance I end up looking like Elaine from Seinfeld. I can't throw a ball and make it go anywhere I want it to, I can't catch, and I definitely can't jump.  

I would run for exercise because it was free and didn't require coordination, but I didn't do it on a regular basis. Just whenever I thought about it and had an extra half hour. But it was never more than a couple of miles.

Now fast forward to grad school. I went out for a run one day and came back with a torn meniscus. Then I couldn't even run anymore. Good thing the University had cheap group fitness classes. It was literally the ONLY thing I could do to get some exercise. Even then, I would make sure I was the person in the back of the class, because I was embarrassingly uncoordinated.

 Then I took a pilates class. I loved it. I was surprisingly good at it.  The exercise moves were slow and controlled, and I could keep up with it. I started going more and more and could feel my body getting stronger. I became addicted to that natural "high" of working out. And one day, something inside of me told me that I should certify to teach it. I laughed at the thought. I didn't think I was good enough. But the feeling never went away, it kept getting stronger and stronger until I finally got up the courage to certify.

 Fast forward to today. I have been teaching since 2008 and have since certified on the pilates machines, pilates barre, and even decided to certify to teach spin. (Once you start you just get addicted to certifications!) I have discovered that I not only love to teach, but I am passionate about it. And here is why:

 When you teach you can push yourself harder than you think possible. You are the leader, and others are looking to you for inspiration and that in turn unlocks a stronger, deeper power inside you to go farther than you think you can.

 Getting paid to workout is a huge bonus. But more than that, knowing that you are committed to something keeps you accountable. I can't just not show up to an exercise class because I am tired. I am the instructor, and I have to be there (or get a sub, which requires thinking ahead). So I finally exercise on a regular basis, because I don't have the option to put it off.

 If I can spend time taking care of myself everyday by working out, then it is so much easier for me to take care of others. It is like what the flight attendants say whenever you fly, "In case of emergency, please place your own air mask on first before assisting others." You have to take care of yourself in order to have the energy and ability to take care of others.

 And lastly, the more I teach pilates the more parallels I find in life. Pilates is all about strengthening your core (abs, back and glutes). If your core is strong, then everything else will function more efficiently. For example, I am a better biker because I know how to engage my core and not waste unneeded energy to stabilize myself. I have more balance in my daily activities. I find that is the same thing with life. If you have a strong core, or in other words, if your core values are strong, then everything else will fall into place. If God comes first, then you can do all your other activities more efficiently. You will have more balance in life.

 And that is why I am passionate about pilates.

Certified Pilates Instructor

• Body, Arts, and Science Institute (BASI) Pilates Mat Certification  
•  Pilates Reformer, Chair, and Cadillac Certification from Thrive Pilates  
•  Pilates Mat Certification (Expert Level) from Expert Rating Certifications  

Certified Spinning Instructor

• Spinning  Instructor Certification from Mad Dogg Athletics 

Certified Pilates Barre Instructor

•  Pilates Barre  Instructor Certification from barrEVOLUTION 

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Erica

I am a wife and stay at home mama to two little guys. My husband and I were married in 2006 and for three years lived in Washington DC while my husband attended GW Law school. While living back east I taught at a private school for children with learning disabilities. Some days teaching I was filled with awe as I really felt like I was changing the world. While other days were filled with frustration and chaos.  Even with the few hard days here and there it was one of the most life changing experiences being able to teach at such a school. So much of my time there really has shaped me as a mother. After graduation my husband and I moved back to Utah with a sweet little baby boy in tow. A few years later another bouncing baby boy joined our crew.

There are many things I love about living in Utah… of course being close to family and the changing seasons. But another is our avid love for University of Utah sports. In the fall season you will find us every Saturday at the football stadium cheering on our Utes and in the winter you will find us with some red vines cheering on our basketball team. I love sports and enjoy having that in common with my husband. I may not be the type who can play them well but I do enjoy watching and cheering for my team!

Being a stay at home mom keeps me on my toes but I always enjoy having a project! From constant thrift store outings, to painting walls, sewing, refinishing, collecting, decorating and flower picking. I love flowers in vases, fashion, naps, sunshine, high heels, yoga, chocolate, snail mail, surprises, baking, instagram & of course some good reality TV! Admit it, you watch it to?!!


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Misa Sorenson

Misa grew up with or has spent her life raising boys.  She has four brothers, no sisters (however, she now has many wonderful sister-in-laws), is the mother to three boys, and wife to a VeRy supportive husband.  Misa was raised in a home with amazing food and comes from a line of great cooks.  From an early age, she loved being in the kitchen with her mom and grandmothers.  If you ask her about big events in her life, she rarely remembers the details, but she can always tell you what food was served.  Some of the foods she learned to cook and that she loves to make come from her family's Japanese heritage.  Besides cooking, Misa's other hobbies include playing the harp, running to work off all that food, planning events to make food for, collecting cook books, shopping for anything, and taking care of her little men.

Misa holds a B.S. from Brigham Young University and a M.S. in Organizational Development and Knowledge Management from George Mason University.  Currently, she works part time training employees and also teaches harp.

Catherine Ethington

I...

Am all about creating art and design.
Strive to be my most genuine self.
In love with a red head who also happens to be my husband.
Crave Indian Biryani for every meal.
Lived in Abu Dhabi and sampled a few exotic destinations (with a toddler and baby in tow). 
Know that jewels and over sized flowers make any outfit better. 
Attempt to raise my children in teachings of truth and kindness, although personally am an amateur at best.
Organize everything I see and have a ball doing it.
Have a bright and spunky toddler, miss Elizabeth, and the world is her stage.
Can't kiss my baby boy enough, that's Mark, the meek and mild offspring who beams love at me from his eyeballs.   
Want to spend my life practicing compassion, happiness, and contentment all with all the feminine subtlety of a freight train.

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Andi A.

I want to get this out of the way right now.  I hate vegetables.  All of them.  The only time I tolerate them is when their texture and flavor have been leached by boiling water for a few minutes and they're nothing more than a soft mush in my mouth.

I feel so much better getting that off my chest!  Now for some other deets.  My real name is Andrea, but since a high school friend gave me the nickname, I've gone by Andi ever since.  I was born in Salt Lake City but I spent most of my growing years in St. George, Utah.  I loved the red rocks, the sunshine, and the polygamist sightings at the local Wal-Mart.  Can't get enough of those prairie dresses!  My friends and I played outside constantly and always found something to do around the neighborhood (to this day, I've still never played a video game!).  I loved playing tennis, hiking, riding bikes, swimming, and just laying around on the grass.

I'm a graduate of Brigham Young University (go Cougs!) and loved my years in Provo as a "zoobie" (I promise I only went tunnel-singing once). While I was in college I had the chance to travel a lot and loved seeing the world.  After I graduated, my husband and I spent three years in Washington D.C. where we both pretended to be really knowledgeable about current events so we could fit in.   He went to law school and I went to paralegal school.  I worked as a paralegal for a few different law firms while we lived there and learned that paralegals actually do most of the lawyer's work while getting a quarter of their pay.  After my husband graduated, we moved back to Utah where we didn't have to try so hard.   

I gave up my career as a paralegal to stay home with my first son after he was born.  We've since added another little boy to the family. Between my two boys and my husband, I'm starting to feel a little outnumbered by whiny men!  Although it's challenging, I feel very blessed to be able to stay home to wipe butts, force feed my toddler, and scrub vomit out of rugs.  Just kidding.  It's great! 

Life is busy, but when I find a minute to myself, I like to snuggle under a blanket and read a good book (if I manage to stay awake for more than two pages) or paint my nails.  I am obsessed with finding good deals on groceries and clothes and never pay full price for anything (unless it's Taco Bell).

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Melissa

Hi! I'm Melissa.

I count down to Friday every week.

In my home, ice cream is a food group (our very favorite one).

I'm addicted to new music and adding new songs to our music library. I got that from my better half.

I love the summer because I am seriously the coldest person on the planet (ask my husband) and I live for hot, summer days outside in the sun to thaw out from the rest of the year.

I am the most chronically indecisive person you will ever meet. Ever. It's ridiculous.

I dream big, but in the middle of my big dreams I get reminded that the people closest to me and the simple things in my life are my favorite dreams. And I am okay with that.

I am not a morning person, and I watch those amazing, productive morning people in awe. I don't have to ask how they do it, I already know. They leap out of bed while I hit snooze five times. What would it be like...

I think Christmas and fireflies and the beach are magical.

I cannot be brief—it's physically impossible. Believe me, I've tried. My English capstone professor also tried, thinking she could teach me brevity, and here I am, 6 years later, still more verbose in an email than anyone else I've ever met. It's the sad truth. But you will never lose any details with me!

I have a crazy photographic memory of conversations, events, and even what I was wearing when I said something, but I have to ask someone their name no less than three times before I remember it.

I crave authenticity, and adore others I find that in.

I can't stand not knowing what happens in a book, movie, article, or anything else with a storyline. I have to catch every part, hear every word, and get to the very end, even if it's not good. I will die of curiosity until I do. While everyone else was snoozing away at sleepovers, I was the one panicking wide awake at 2am when the VCR automatically shut off because someone put some awful timer on the movie, assuming we'd all be asleep. This is a terrible weakness, and it's exactly why I hardly watch any TV. I would have no self control to turn it off. Ever. 

I am a people person to the core. There are few things more satisfying to me than getting to know someone and hearing their story. My husband's friend has a phrase I love: "There are two kinds of people in the world. People I like, and people I don't know yet." I could live by that.

I love making things look pretty, love finding beauty in my home and outside of it, and love reminding others of the beauty in themselves. That is one of the biggest reasons I find photography such a fulfilling thing to do. I love bringing out the real beauty that is already there, and capturing it for all to see.

The most important things to me are God, my husband that is my perfect fit in every way, my three beautiful and absolutely off-the-wall children, and people.

My house is usually in need of some serious tidying, our dinners usually start much later than they should, and my to-do list is usually weeks old and still unfinished, but I'm totally on top of our taxes every year and we have dance parties at least every other day, so that's got to count for something.

I love connecting. I can't wait to connect with you.


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Julie

When I was in Junior High in North Ogden, Utah (shout out) I would lay in bed at night contemplating the Milk commercial where an awkward teen girl facing a mirror would morph into a rockin supermodel with a super hot boyfriend, all because she drank her milk. I was as awkward as they came, my skin was terrible, I was shaped like a toothpick (never did receive that visit from the boob fairy) and I had a haircut that most closely resembled a mushroom cap.

When deep in the throes of self wallow, my mom would console me by telling me that when they were handing out talents and personality traits in heaven I made sure to be first in line for the gift of gab, and thusly had to be in the latter part of the lines for most other things.

You might think it was a crazy hurtful but for me I took great pride in this information. I was blessed with the ability to make friends quickly and to make people feel comfortable around me. I realized that looks were only part of the package and, as cheesy as it sounded, what I looked like wasn’t everything I was. I thrived in my awkwardness! We would be on vacation for barely a day and I would have already made a best friend. I like to think that all the bad skin and plentiful embarrassing moments I had all those years ago instilled resiliency and an ability to laugh at myself and see humor in everything. After a long awkward period which, looking back, lasted long into my sophomore year of college, I have turned into the slightly older version of my younger self.

As I look into the mirror today I am confident in my body and my self. I think my teenage self would be pleased with how I turned out. I am 34, adorable and I know who I am and I thank my mom for it. I am grateful that my daughter is also growing up with a strong sense of self and that by my example she will learn not to judge who she is by her outward appearance.

I loved college; I loved Utah State University so much I stayed for five and half years. My parents thought I would never graduate (Go Aggies). After college I moved to Washington, DC and moved in with a few girls I had never met. I landed a plumb job at The Cosmetic , Toiletry, and Fragrance Association where I (got a lot of swag) and assisted our member companies in exporting their products. A year later I met a handsome gentleman named Jason. The first time we spoke I rattled off a list of words he was not allowed to utter in my presence, and he still wanted to hang out with me. Four months later at the Roosevelt Memorial he asked me to marry him. I said “Yes” before he even finished asking (I tend interrupt; it’s something that I am not proud of and work on daily to correct). Eight years later we are living in Virginia just minutes from the nation’s Capitol in charming neighborhood with our wonderful daughter and mischievous son and a wiener dog named Scout.

I love to sew. To be honest , I love to sew for my daughter; and - in the interest of full disclosure - I love to sew for my daughter, especially if I can finish in less than two hours. I do all of my sewing at night (with minimal profanity). I like to use store-bought patterns to mix and match together to come up with my own designs. I have tried to make my own patterns and when I do, they always end up cutting off some part of her circulation. I like to look at high-end clothes and make them for 10% of the cost of the original. I feel like I don’t have a lot of original ideas but I love to see what others have done and put my own spin on it. I am awesome at buying fabric and starting projects… I am not always awesome at finishing them and I have learned when to call it and just toss it out.