Zorro Circle

“Is that in your Zorro circle?”


I went to a leadership training with my company earlier this year. Shout out UnitedHealthcare for taking time to invest in me. Anyway the reason I wanted to talk about this topic is that the Zorro circle part of the training was a game changer for me. Not just in my job as a supervisor but on a personal level because I literally use this in my day to day life.

How does it work?

Well we have a cool video I cannot show you that explains it well. You can CLICK HERE to read up on how this works in practice.  The gist is that you should limit your circle to what is in your control and if something is out of your control put it outside your circle. For example you are on the phone with a crazy customer. Them being crazy is not in your circle of control at all but how you react is. That is what the circle is all about. Do not stress about the stuff outside that circle.

 

How can I practice this?

Start with a piece of paper. Make three columns. In the first column put your stressors. In the second column put what about that is in your control. Third column what is outside of your control. Example: (1st) My computer keeps dying is the stressor. (2nd) What is in my control? Calling the help desk. (3rd) throwing my computer out the window or replacing my computer.

Now fold that paper over and hide the third column. Nothing you can do with that. Focus on column two and what you can control. Make small tasks based off of that column. For this example above calling the helpdesk and taking screen shots of the issue is something small I can do. Or I could see when my computer is up to be replaced is a small task I can do as well.

It is really all about perspective and if you can narrow your focus there is nothing you cannot do. So... Is that in your zorro circle? 

Until next time,

XoXo Emily

 

Travel Adventures: Navarino Nature Center Loop Trail

I really wanted to talk about how much I love the paths here but if I told everyone it would not be a little secret gem for Ryan and I anymore. With popular places like High Cliff places like this often get forgot about which is a shame the paths here are mostly clear and paths are now clearly labeled. They were not the first time we came here. This place is peaceful and the hiking paths range from woodlands, marsh, a little bog area, the lake and hills. We did not see a ton of wild life this time outside of toads, a snake, some squirrels and a ton of birds but that was okay. We also got lost but that was our bad. Ended up walking through a corn field. Interesting way to end the hike on Saturday.








Here are some picture highlights from our hike:

Before... Wait for the muddy after...

I promise my hair was cute when I started. Ha!

We went all the way around the lake. Hiked from like 9ish-12.

I am not mature.

In the early AM all the plants looked so pretty with the dew.

The views.

We survived!

The after. I wish I would have taken a picture of my bloody leg. Ha Ha.

Even though we got lost, a little bloody and muddy this was a fun day.

PS: ALWAYS remember bug spray while hiking. I put some on but not nearly enough.

Until Next Time~
XoXo Emily

Grandpa Jupe's 90th Birthday Weekend!

Wow. This one was for the memory book. I mean we had so many good hardy laughs and made a ton of really great memories with friends and family this long weekend. Here is a recap of all of the amazing things that happened starting Thursday night.

Thursday:

It was Katelyn's birthday so we went to her happy place for a Packer game.

The field.

Cherry Wheat.

Friday:

Time to make booyah. My two aunts (aunt Sharon and Terry) as well as my cousin Amy with her little baby Tommy came over and helped with the veggies, chicken and beef shanks this day. We laughed and coo'd over baby Tommy all day. It was really nice to be able to spend time with family and learn all the little steps to make booyah from my mom and dad. I almost forgot to mention that little Sawyer came to visit in the morning and helped me put water in the booyah kettle even though he sprayed himself in the face with water.

Pictured above little Sawyer helping me with the fire pile and Grandpa Jupe reading a card from my team for his birthday a little early.

Saturday:

O.M.G. I mean I busted my butt from 8am-11pm for this party but it was worth every moment. We finished up the booyah and setting up the party. At like noon my cousin from Seattle Dave surprised us all showing up for the party. I cried of course. We were all so happy to be together. I sometimes have ruff days but being to have so many of my family in friends in one place was really lovely and I do not always have words to describe how awesome that feeling is. Pictures of course show my happiness so here take a look!

Grandpa with all the grand kids and GREAT grandkids.

Tucker (my nephew) and I.

The birthday boy. I cried... again.

My dad hates Corona so we played a prank on him and drank it all day.

Sunday:

We went out on the boat with friends to long tail. It was a beautiful day full of food, drinks and laughs. What a great way to end a perfect weekend.

I had to add this because Luna is so cute in the car on the way to her grandmas for the day!

Overall I wish I could talk about the details of how happy this weekend made me. I could go on for hours.  I know my Grandpa had a great party and it was really great to spend time with my family and friends.

Until next time~
XoXo Emily

Travel Adventures: Zac Brown Band & The Avett Brothers

I am music drunk. I am serious I literally experienced the most magical weekend with two of the best concerts of my entire life. I mean I am not lying here I go to a lot of concerts in my life. I think I average at least 2 a month and these two are at the top but for like totally different reasons. Here are the deets.

 

 

Saturday (Alphine Valley)

Zac Brown Band

Arriving here after checking into the hotel I was paranoid after reading really negative reviews about this venue. I was told the parking was a nightmare, no bathrooms etc. etc. I had barely any issues at all getting in. Traffic was average coming in and parking was easy. This location is in a little bowl type set up. The hill is STEEP. I am not lying when I say I saw grown men falling down the hill (they may have been drunk). Ladies do not wear heels and be prepared to dance on a hill all night. The drinks are expensive it was $15 for my Lennies and $17 for Ryan's drink. We got some kettle corn to share and settled in for the show.

 

There were really some magical moments in this show. Zac and the band can mix their harmonies in the most delightful and rich way. The sound here is really perfect it echos through the hill side like a lullaby. The pacing of the show was really on point with dance songs that you love mixed with love and serious songs. We saw some lighting bugs flying around us and the stars were out. The temperature was really great and I was able to dance shoe less on my blanket all night. PURE magic.



This thing was huge and cost like $15. Vacation right?

Hello. Gorgeous weather.

I mean I read a ton of reviews but this place is special.

Patiently waiting.

Dinner.

Magic.

Almost go time.

YEY! Look it's Zac and crew.

Riverside Theatre

The Avett Brothers

As mentioned before I feel music drunk and have been laughing about all the great memories we made this weekend. The day started out at the beach (Bradford beach) which was a really nice beach. Parking was free and the sand nice. I did burn the bottoms of the feet and the bathrooms left something to be desired. They have volley ball, soccer and tiki bars though. I had the best burger at the little custard stand here. We then headed over to the third ward for the afternoon. Public market has my favorite hummus place and we even found a little brewery hidden amongst all big name places. Then it was time to find parking for the show. Stopped into the Swingin Door Exchange for a old fashion, air conditioning and a tuna appetizer. We then went to Safehouse. OMG how fun is this place? We did not know the password after entering the little alley location. So we had to do the chicken dance to get into this amazing place. Had some great fried green beans and cheese curds while Ryan's chair went up and down on him. This place is so cool and the little magic tricks are really entertaining. Also watching others on the TV that did not know the password was fun. Some people had to dance. We then went across the river to Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery for some guacamole before heading to the venue. NOW to the music!

The Avett Brothers did not have an opener. They play with the light in the venue throughout their set. Never really allowing you to focus in on them in stark light. Soft lightening and spot lights are used specially to focus on the music not them as artist. Their voices are like... I am trying to explain this in a clear way that makes sense but I cannot describe it. I will mention their melodies and harmonies are some of the best I have ever heard. When they turn up the energy you will clap A LOT. You will jump A LOT. The entire venue gets swept up in their energy and you are smiling so big you feel completely drained at the end of the concert. I had older people right next to me and I thought they would pass out from the endurance required to get through this concert. I just loved everything about it.


Guac.

Yes! These were better than the ones at the state fair.

I mean fried green beans with an Asian sauce.

This place was so cool.

hi! Ryan's chair moved up and down on him. Fun trick.

Hello tuna.

I mean an old fashion is a must.

We found a little tiny brewery in the third ward. Great beer.

Yum!



Spinach and artichoke hummus!

The beach we went to had the most tasty burgers.

Beach day!

 I hope you made it through my wall of text. I had to mostly get my thoughts down about this weekend more for myself than for anyone else. It was one for the record and memory books. If you want to see any video from these performances head over to my Instagram page. I have started a highlight page for concerts that you can see video from. I don't take a ton of pictures or videos at concerts but I did manage 1 at each this time. I hope you get out there and experience some music. Heck I don't even really like country that music and Zac is slowly converting me over.

Have a wonderful week.

Until next time~
XoXo Emily

Travel Adventures: Wisconsin State Fair

An unexpected adventure. I planned on it being like the MN state fair which I went to last year and it was completely different in almost every way. It was hard to not compare this fair to MN but I tried to stay open minded about it and I did enjoy some of it for sure. Here are some of the fun highlights from our day at the Wisconsin State Fair.














HA!

High jumping poodle!

Fun flavored milks! Root beer and caramel. If you mix them it is like a cream soda.

Cream puff action.

Dust those little yums!

This was before I had it all over my dang face. Worth it.  

Cows... WI State Fair? No brainer.

 

Sea lions. NOT seals. :)



 

Frisbee skills!

The taco pictured was the best thing at the fair.

Get in my belly!!!

Strawberry cream puff beer.

I did not ride this. Looks cool though.

KKK sheep.

Rabbit racing is a sport and you win things.

My pig won here!

My pig did not win but the potbelly ones were the cutest racing pigs.

16 hand tall.

We had a good time.

This was sad.... The MN pork chops I dream of. This was not good.

Pretzels the size of my head.

Fried spaghetti and noodles. Not a fan. Ryan loved it.

Curds!

A little fish stick. They had food deals so you got a tiny size for cheap to try.



Until next time~
XoXo Emily