I AM

-loving having Mondays off....maybe even more than having Fridays off!
-happy that Gs family was here, the Bridges were here and that my family was here....but REALLY happy that we have the rest (whatever is left) of this summer to hang together and do whatever WE want to do with no other obligations!!
-loving my R+F business
-uber excited for my trip to San Francisco in Sept for R+F convention with one of my best friends
-enjoying reading silly modern day romance novels left for my by Jessie rather than text books about Human Resources and Financial Planning
-proud of G for having his first photography show this summer
-glad that he finally got a new truck
-grateful that we were able to go to some great concerts (Red Ants Pants and Jeff Bridges & the Abiders)
-shocked that hunting season is in just 3 WEEKS!
-a lot of other things that I can't think of right now :)

Brave Girls Club....

Dear Inspiring Girl,

Try for the next 24 to say yes to whatever lessons life is handing you. Say yes to crazy things that have shown up that you weren't expecting, but that you know are meant just for you. Say yes to the opportunity to love unconditionally, even if it is difficult. Say yes to the opportunity to forgive another, even if it has seemed impossible. Say yes to the things that are creating resistance, because they are making you stronger. Say yes to a disappointment that you wish would have turned out the way you wanted it to...and say yes to what is going to show up in it's place.

We bring ourselves so much pain and suffering when we resist the flow of life...when we try to paddle upstream or walk DOWN and escalator that is going UP.

When we can stop and accept the things that we can not change...accept them just as they are....without conditions or expectations...we are free from so many unpleasant things. After we have done all we can, we need to just let things go, and even say yes to the lessons they are bringing to our lives. It is silly and futile when we continue to hold on to the belief that we have control over things that we can never control....outcomes, people, etc.

Trust is powerful. Trust life as it is happening. Let go of any attachments to any specific outcomes. Trust the One who made you, and the plans that are meant for you. Love unconditionally and forgive freely.

C'mon.....just for 24 hours...you can do anything for 24 hours. Chances are...you will love the way this feels so much that you will stick with it even longer....isn't it worth a try?

You are so loved, never forgotten and never alone.

xoxo

Are you a part of the Brave Girls Club? Do you read the Daily Truths? If not, you should make it happen!

This is a tribute to one of my favorite things that a little birdie has told me. Sometimes things are so serendipitous in this little world we live in. Some days everything just seems to make sense. The things that you read and see just seem to feel so interconnected no matter how unrelated things appear from the outside. As I read this daily truth, Dear Inspiring Girl, I thoughts instantly of all of the strong beautiful women that I have been blessed enough to know. Thank you little birdie for reminding me what is important when I need it most.

I HEART

R+F
4TH OF JULY WEEKEND IN LIVINGSTON, MT
VISITORS FROM THE SOUTH
VACATION DAYS
MY SKIN
THE SUNSHINE
YNP
PVG
OLD CHICO
HIKING
RODEOS
PARADES
COWBOYS
GETTING PAID

worlds collide

First off....I am STILL without my camera. I am pretty sure that I know where it is but I am waiting patiently for it to be found there (so that I can be right) and returned to me. Either way, I don't have it. Which in this case is sad. Because there are really no words to describe the fun that I had over the past weekend.
It was a wedding weekend which I usually do not look forward to and am happy to have behind me. Not because I am against weddings or hate love but because I don't fully understand the necessity of spending exorbitant amounts of money on mediocre food and a crappy DJ while people with nothing in common aside from somehow knowing either the bride or groom spend an evening with each other because the bride and groom are usually so overwhelmed that they are hardly able to spend any real time with their guests. And while all of that was a possibility for this weekend......it was in no way the case. Dan and Erin are thoughtful individuals who wanted to be sure that this weekend was an adventure not soon forgotten by anyone.
We were able to spend 3 full days and night getting to know and enjoy incredibly intelligent, creative and outrageously fun people and I am better for it.
Living in small town MT it is nice to be reminded of and get a taste of all that is out there. AND I have tons of new CA friends to hang with this September when I travel to SF for the R+F Convention!!!
Congratulations Dan & Erin and Thank You for a memorable weekend.

I will try to snag some pics for others to post....and hopefully my camera will be found and returned soon;)

Just got home from a bbq with the fam for my mom's birthday. As we were leaving my brother was mowing the lawn on her new riding lawn mower........when you live in MT a riding lawn mower is the kind of thing that you ask for :) Happy Happy Birthday mama!! xxoo

R+F BBL

I had an amazing night last night at my Rodan & Fields Big Business Launch! I was lucky to be able to hold it at The Drawing Room; the most adorable little store in Livingston and got some very lucky ladies set up with some fantastic skincare. Last night helped ease my nerves and I feel slightly less crazy for taking this chance on myself and this company. I am definitely blessed to have some really wonderful ladies in my life who support me.
I of course did not bring my camera and have no pictures. To be honest I'm really not sure where my camera is. I'm pretty sure that G was the last one to take it on an adventure but I haven't seen it around lately. hmmmmmmmmmmm

couldn't sleep at allllll last night.........

A combination of excitement and serious anxiety kept me up most of the night thinking about my new venture with R+F. The product is great, the company is solid, that leaves the rest up to me.....but what if NO ONE I know is interested? I thought people would be interested but nothing for sure so far, I had to remind myself over and over that I JUST started and that nothing happens overnight. This business will not happen overnight. Hopefully I can convince myself of this tonight because if not....tomorrow will not be pretty! Help me avoid the loony bin and check out my website!!
http://jisaly.myrandf.com for products
http://jisaly.myrandf.biz for the business

xxoo

PS

It is also no longer winter and we DON'T have this much snow.....i'll change that soon too!

Seasons of Change

There is a HUGE possibility that there is no one out there reading.....aside from MEG who is awesome at blogging, reminding me to blog and life in general. I really have made no effort over that past months...ok many months......to blog at all. My reasoning is for the most part about feeling like I have nothing to say, no pics to post and the belief that no one is reading. But then when I reflect on my 'reasons' they are all either not true or not why I started this blog in the first place. It isn't about providing comic relief for others or communicating some greater message. It was for me. So that I could keep a journal of sorts, a way to keep track of myself and what I spend my time doing. When I look now at what I have written in the past months it is not much which is not reflective of what has been happening for me. So it is catch up time......and time for a recommitment to blogging and keeping track of myself.
I learned to ski. This for me was a pretty BIG deal. For some reason despite growing up in ski bum heaven I never learned to do it. I realized that if I want to be able to join my friends on weekend ski getaways I was going to have to face my fears. The fear of falling, of going fast, of looking silly and of doing something new on my own. So I did it. I took lessons and learned (surprisingly quickly) how to ski. The icing on the cake was when I WON A FREE PAIR OF HEAD SKIS!!!!!!!!! I took it as a sign that my learning to ski was meant to be.
I became a Zumba instructor. Again, faced my fears of no one coming to my class, looking silly and well, doing something completely new. SO MUCH FUN. If you have not tried a Zumba class........you should. I now teach a class at the FireHall Fitness Center every Thursday at 5:30 and I love it!
I turned 29 years old..........................................and by the looks of the rest of this post I must be having some sort of early-mid life crisis!!!
My next venture is my own business with Rodan & Fields. As of today I am a Business Development Partner with Rodan & Fields. If you know me you can guess what a leap of faith this is for me.
I have obviously had quite a bit of 'blog worthy' happenings in my life but blogging takes time and time is not something that I have a lot of these days!! Hope to keep it up more in the future and if you are reading this.....thanks for sticking with me!

xxoo
J

Spring in Montana

This is what spring in Montana looks like.....We were woken at about 3am because the power went out and noticed a few inches of snow outside. After waiting for a bit for it to come back on we called to let the power company know, turns out the power was out in the whole Valley. This is what we woke up to in the morning and it hasn't stopped snowing all day. This makes me even more excited about my girls day with Anna at Bridger on Friday!! I love spring snow. It is wet and heavy and sticks to everything which makes for a beautiful, clean landscape. I just wish I wasn't inside all day.

Check Them Out!

I realize I may not have any readers at this point since I haven't blogged for months. But this is blogworthy no matter how long it has been. Amy and Chris Thompson (see their blog here....The Thompsonheads....) have begun the process of starting their family through open adoption. They live in Athens, Georgia now but I met Amy at MSU. They are kind and generous and thoughtful and deserve to have the family that they dream about. Please, if in any aspect of your life you come across someone thinking about open adoption or who knows someone else looking into adoption options please think of Amy and Chris and pass on their website information...The Thompson's Adoption Site...... Help them in creating their family!!

Thank you from my heart and theirs.

Also, if you would like to follow their adoption journey......here is their Adoption Blog :) I know I will be!

So Long 2010...................

We are headed down to Yellowstone National Park this afternoon for a scenic drive; the cold has thwarted our plans to ski so we will be searching out photo opportunities followed by a romantic dinner for two at the Mammoth Hotel. Enjoy your New Year celebration............see you next year!!
xoxo

12/28/2009

While driving to work 1 year ago today I answered a call from my mom. It seemed early to be hearing from her, or anyone for that matter. She was calling to tell me that my cousin Eli had been in a car accident and had been flown or was on his way to Billings... The next 10 days were filled with tears, fear and a lot of hope and praying in our family. Eli has made a miraculous recovery over the past year and in his fight to live the life that he has always known has been a incredible reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the body's ability for healing. So today I want to say Thank You Eli for your sweet soul.
xoxoxo

THANKS SANTA!!!

ps

we got more than 17inches of snow at the ranch in less than a week and i don't think the temp has risen above ZERO. i of course forgot my camera to show you but watch the weather channel...Bozeman, MT was on there this morning for record freezing weather...... -20!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving....so what am I grateful for?
-The BIG beautiful blue sky that I live under.....even in freezing weather the sky was beautiful coming into town this morning.
-Wood burning stoves.....yes, we do have electric heat but there is nothing like the warmth of a wood burning stove.
-Being well equipt....I love being able to feel ready for whatever mother nature has in mind for us here and the adventures that we are faced with; while sometimes frustrating are often really fun.
-My neighborhood and my community........yesterday there were 2 people stuck on our road and there were 3 vehicles (including us) immediately to get them out. Although our closest 'neighbor' is at least 1/4 of a mile away and we can go weeks; even months without any more communication than a wave everyone is there to help each other out. Livingston is the same way, it is small and people really care about each other. Not necessarily because we all know each other well but because we are all a part of a community that is important to all of us.
-My new AWD.........enough said.
-My job.....it is consistent, reliable and it allows me to make connections with people who I would otherwise never know.
-The ranch......living on 1,000 acres is Paradise Valley really is PARADISE!
-Snow removal equipment.......plowing for hours can be fun if you let it.
-Horsecicles, pupcicles and kittycicles........they are going stir crazy right now!
-The snow.....I am really looking forward to the snow this year. Skiing, both xcountry and yes, maybe even downhill. I am planning to take some lessons as long as I don't wuzzzzz out; I am the loser who grew up in MT and never learned how to downhill ski. I am hoping that this is the year that all changes.
-Drift fence and the boy who puts it up for us ;)......who knew that such ugly fence could be such a lifesaver.
-YNP.......I am going to spend more time exploring it...this is a promise to myself.

Did you notice that there has been no mention of G, my family or my friends. Well I feel like it goes without saying that the people in my life bring me the most gratitude. But today, the day before Thanksgiving I am going to focus on the not so obvious things. Besides, I will spend all of tomorrow with those special people, doing what we do best......you will see.....I'm not gonna lie-It is great to be an Isaly! xxoo

Good Morning Winter.....

I have been waiting for you!

fall friends

Our new buddy bucky has been hanging pretty close in the back yard. He comes in at dusk to say hello. He and Fisher challenge each other and to our surprise he doesn't seem to mind the dog. He just comes back closer and closer. It is funny when you think about how much time is spent and how many miles are hiked to attempt to get anywhere close to this distance to deer and elk and in the back yard we can almost reach out and touch this guy. I love that he is just as territorial and protective of the yard as Fisher is :)

Roots Rock!!

Root vegetables are now my new best friend. They are hearty, resilient and most of them take no work at all and can be stored and used all year long. Granted the carrots take some work but they are soooo beautiful. I can't wait to eat our onions and I really can't wait for our garlic and shallots next year. I think I might try potatoes as well.....one more thing I can just dig up, wash off and store.

domestication

I have been a canning FOOL this fall. Cooking and cleaning are not things that I would consider domestic.....just regular, everyday stuff. But canning, preserving your freshly grown veggies. That, in my mind is domestic. I love having a garden. Although the constant battle with the weeds usually ends in me ignoring the garden for the later half of the summer paying only enough attention to keep it watered and take what I want from it. But I am always frustrated by how much ends up going to waste...back into the ground. Because a household of 2 can only eat so many peas, beans, squash, tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, carrots............you get what I mean. I am making it my goal to conquer the preservation of more and more of the veggies each year until someday maybe there won't be as much waste. Either that or I will dedicate the entire thing to garlic, shallots and onion since they don't take much work at the end of the year. But if you have seen out garden you know that I would then produce more of those items than we could eat in a year. Some of the earlier veggies were picked and prepared but never made it to preservation this year. So sorry little beans and peas....I had good intentions.

I did manage to make tons and tons of apple sauce and apple pie filling (the apples were fresh but not from our trees...those are always stolen by the bears before I get to them), blackrazz jam (berried from the truck in the parking lot), canned diced tomatoes (from our garden and my brothers), the onions are downstairs curing and the carrots are ready to be picked anytime and will be blanched and frozen for winter enjoyment (that is the plan anyway). I just planed garlic and shallots tonight for next year. Following my Uncles Jamies gardening advice, he has two greenhouses and a big garden so when he tells me to do something I usually listen. We did lose quite a few tomatoes and all of our tomatillos (first year growing them) to frost because I was trying to eek out every last day I could and then got lazy even though I heard it was supposed to freeze. Next year to goal is to get the peas and beans in the freezer the day I pick them, otherwise they are destined to sit for weeks in the refrigerator until I throw them away and get the tomatoes inside more quickly. I also need to make sure that we eat all of the stuff that I have canned and that it is not out of sight, out of mind on the shelves in the basement.

diced canned tomatoes

Dear AMC,

In general I understand why a series does not run all year round. We need a break, you need a break, in the summer we are too busy to watch most of the time anyway, blah, blah, blah. And in general I am ok when my shows come to an end each season and I am ready for them to start at the beginning of the next. But Mad Men is not your regular run of the mill series. I assume you realize this. It can't be because the show is 1 hour long rather than 30 min and you just don't have enough material.......Greys is an hour and so is Desperate Housewives and they run all winter. I don't want to have to go back to watching DH on Sunday nights when it airs....I am ok with skipping it and watching later in the week. I WANT MY MEN!!!!!!!