Happy is...

 I have had SO many FUN things going on lately!  I have totally neglected my blog but have been thinking about the great things going on in my life and figured I better document a few of them.
** I am totally shameless and ripped several of these right off my sister's blogs.  Thank you sisters.


1. Girls Weekend
What was originally intended to be a Girls Weekend in St. George turned into a weekend spent at my parents.  But that did not stop us from doing one planned craft, one impromtu craft, tons of shopping, pedicures, good food, exploring City Creek, losing and finding Lo's purse, taking over stores with our craziness, and just overall having a great time.  It is always fun to have the whole clan together but it was a great chance to have just the girls.  Thanks to dad and the brother-in-laws for letting us have a weekend off.

2.  Asher Man

This little bug is getting SO BIG!!!  He is such a bundle of joy and makes everyone so happy.  I can't believe it is almost his birthday--I can't imagine life before him!  He is such a good baby and is so adored by everyone around him.

3.  Cousins
These 5 are so much fun.  It is fun seeing Katie as an aunt and Chelsea as a mom and these kiddos spoil Asher.  They were so fun and so well behaved on Easter Sunday in their fancy new digs.

 4.  Cinco de Mayo
Thank you Nate for adding some colour to our family!  Katie is never one to back down from a party but she really outdid herself on this Fiesta.  The whole family turned into a bunch of clowns with fake moustaches, sombreros, fruity beverages, 7 layer bean dip, fajitas, and of course a pinata.  So happy I could participate this year!
                                  

5. Best friends

The Woodrose girls got together for some food and shopping at City Creek--how has it been so many years since our college days?  We could sit for hours laughing and talking and of course eating.  Congrats to Jenn and Melani on their exciting news--its so fun to watch these girls start their own families.

6. Burundi

Elise got me hooked on plants and especially on naming them.  I got this little beauty last year when I had an empty pot and she is THRIVING!!!  I'm not gonna lie, I don't have the best luck with plants, but I am sure in love with this little thing.

 7. Playoffs Baby!
When the Jazz made it to the playoffs I figured my best date option was Jackson.  This boy knows his basketball.  We drove down from Logan, at sour watermelons on the way down, stopped at every party store along the way for margarita glasses (this boy learned how to quest for something from his mamma), ate ice cream for dinner, and enjoyed Game 3 of the series.  

Unfortunately the Jazz didn't pull of the win (Massive Matt Bonner ended the first half with a crazy 3 point shot and it was downhill from there) but we had a great night!  A sleepover at Granny and Grandpa's and then back up to Logan completed the weekend. 

This week I got this fantastic thank you card in the mail--props to a good mom raising grateful kids but little does she know the pleasure was mine.  

8. Construction

 Amidst all this fun stuff I have managed to spend plenty of time at the construction site watching my home be built.  In 62 days we have gone from stakes in the ground to having it completely framed.  I love it so much and can't wait for it to be done.  It makes me so happy to just be there--several times I have sat on the porch at night just enjoying the beautiful weather and soaking in being there.  Last week I went to a neighborhood girls night and met some of my soon-to-be neighbors and I'm so excited to have such a great neighborhood.

 9. Hawaii!!
In 2 days the whole clan takes off for 2 weeks in Paradise!  This trip has been in the making a long time and thanks to my very generous parents is going to be so much fun!  It could be interesting having the babes on the plane but I'm not one bit concerned--they will do great!  I've never been to Hawaii and can't wait for some fun in the sun.

As Glinda says, "Happy is what happens when all your dreams come true."  

I'm a lucky lucky girl and would say all my dreams are coming true.  I'm so incredibly blessed and wonder what I've done to deserve all this and more.  

Perspective

This morning I woke up feeling a little sorry for myself because I get sooooo tired of packing this bag.

And then I saw this on Amie's instagram. Thanks for the perspective girl.

A little DIY...

How, you may ask, do you turn boring DI furniture into bright pink and yellow furniture? Simple: just follow the steps!
First, make sure you have all the necessities (sand paper, glaze, diet coke. And who can go to Dick's Ace for the first 2 items without grabbing some penny tootsies?)
Then comes the prep, which is never fun, but worthwhile. Sand, sand, sand.
Next you gotta be sure you buy plenty of spray paint. This will save you repeat trips for more.
And, like a true princess, you should probably rope your dad into doing a good portion of it for you.
Let it dry: definitely the slooooooowest portion of the project
Then grab a rag and glaze! Turns out it is so fun and you cannot mess this up!
VOILA!!!
Colored furniture!

Zion

Last weekend I went down to Zion National Park with my friends Sameer and Tamara. We headed out of town Thursday after work, stayed at a great place right by the park, and came home Saturday night. We spent all day Friday exploring the beautiful park--each hike was so different with different views. There was the weeping rock with water falling from it which made so many beautiful plants grow. There was the river walk along the Virgin River, and the Emerald Pools which to be honest were a little disappointing (the pools, not the hike), but as Sameer said, "That's what you get when you have expectations!"

Friday we went to a fun dinner, chilled in the hot tub, and then slept in Saturday morning. We headed up to Angel's landing Saturday afternoon and I'm so glad we braved it--it was INCREDIBLE!!!

I was constantly amazed by the beauty all around me and the continuous reminder of the power of God. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who created all this beauty for us to enjoy. And I'm so infinitely appreciative of my testimony which assures me that there is more to this world than just cliffs formed by river.

Tagged

Chelsea tagged me forever ago. And I've been a huge slacker and haven't done it. I've also been a huge slacker and haven't blogged in a while, so I figured this was a good way to kill 2 birds with one stone.

So the first rule was to post a picture of yourself. I was looking through all my old pictures and trying to find one I felt really, really pretty in. And then I stumbled across this one. Maybe its awkward and weird that I'm posting this, but my gosh, this was the most beautiful wedding dress I never wore. I'm so, so glad with how things in my life have worked out, but every so often I get a little reminder of that happy, beautiful time in my life and I can't wait for the real thing.

11 Random things:

1. Multiple times a week I check all my sister's blogs when I'm overwhelmed at work. Most of the time its a quick check and then back to work, but sometimes I hit the goldmine when they have a new post.
2. I'm still bff's with my roommates from my freshman year of college. I think that's saying something about how important we are to each other. They are the girls I want to talk to when I have news to share or a bad day. I'm so blessed we randomly lived together.
3. I've caught the bug from Elise and have become the crazy plant lady. I love love love choosing and planting these little guys.
4. I've never been to New York City and I really want to go.
5. I have a totally irrational fear of cats.
6. I hate, hate, HATE being hot. I'd die if I had to live in Arizona. My skin is so sensitive and burns so fast that I am constantly trying to get out of the sun.
7. My car has a hole in the floor (through the carpet and all the way down to the floorboards) from my left high heel. My foot is always in the same spot when I drive and just fits so perfectly in the hole it has made itself
8. I hate getting ready for bed. Teeth brushed, face washed, contacts out, jammas on. Shouldn't be that hard but I hate it.
9. Spiders do not bother me. The other day I picked up my bottle of shampoo and there was a spider under it and it did not even faze me. And I only kill them when they are a problem (like stuck in my shower).
10. I've recently learned how to index on Family Search.org and I really like it--its oddly relaxing and doing good at the same time.
11. I don't really like music that much. I only listen to it when I'm alone and then only chill music. too much noise just stresses me out.

Answers to Chel's questions:
1. If you could be any person for a day who would it be? I can't think of anyone else, so I'd probably say myself the first couple years in college.
2. Sweet or Salty? I was just telling my co-worker this week how my problem is that I like everything--sugary candy, chocolate, salty snacks, baked goods--its not like I have just one vice. But I think if I were forced to choose it would be sweet.
3. What is the hardest thing you have ever done? Hmm, beauty school was hard, the Seattle half marathon was hard, calling off a wedding was hard, but all were worth doing.
4. What is your biggest pet peeve? As my sisters can attest, obnoxious facebook posts.
5. If you could have any talent and be awesome at it, what would it be? I wish I could play music by ear, which if I could do I'd want to play the guitar.
6. What is your favorite way to relax? I think reading. Lately every time I try to read I just fall asleep.
7. What is your favorite college memory? My roommates and I had this weird tradition where we would hide something from each other--like I would pour a bowl of cereal and when I turned to put the milk away my bowl would disappear. It would be in the dishwasher, in a drawer, in the microwave...it was this crazy game to see how little time was needed to swipe something. Sometimes people would forget they just poured a bowl of cereal... :)
8. Would you rather cook or clean? Cook. I really enjoy cooking, but then that usually means I have to clean after.
9. If you could only use one item of makeup what would it be? Cover-up. I've always coveted girls with smooth skin. I'm still waiting for the day puberty will be over and my skin will clear up.
10. What is your ideal Saturday? Sleeping in a little, and then just a full day of exercising, errands, and crossing stuff off the to-do list.

I'm not tagging anyone specifically, so anyone who reads this who wants to can do it. :)

So Much Fun!

Post Edit: I forgot to name my crack store and a few people have asked. It is Home Goods. And its not like a secret or brand new--I just discovered it. Leave your kids and husbands at home and go enjoy!!


It is official: the house is under contract!!! They are planning to start excavating by the beginning of March and then we'll see how construction goes. Its a towhnouse in Centerville so it won't be too far of a commute to work and I'll be close to my parents.

I've discovered a store that is my very own version of crack...I seriously cannot get enough and it is so dangerous every time I step through the doors. Its been so fun finding things for my house!













And who knew there were so many choices that went into a house!? It was super overwhelming but I think I managed, thanks to the help of my sisters, my parents and lots of random tidbits of advice from colleagues and friends. I'm so excited to see it all come together!












The lot:

Decisions

The past few months as I've been researching which way I want to go with a fairly big decision, I have done quite a bit of soul searching (an admittedly dangerous thing to do). I've been thinking about what makes me happy, what will make me happy, and what decides that. I've been thinking about things I've noticed and learned from people around me. I've been thinking about people who choose to drive their lives versus those who's lives just happen to them. I've looked at people who came from the same background and gained totally different perspectives and wondered why, and what way would I have chosen?

I think of the life I planned for myself when I was 18, and where I am today. And those two lives don't match up, but both are good. I've been thinking about the power of choices, and how there are always, always options. And one of the biggest choices is the one to empower yourself.

I sat thinking last week during a quiet moment, and I thought "What will I one day want my kids to know? What would I want them to remember when they have big decisions?" And so, my dear sweet future children, here are the wonderings of your mamma:

1. You can do anything you set your mind to. If something doesn't seem possible, figure out a way to make it possible.

2. Know yourself. Know what you want. And then trust yourself.

3. Choose your inner circle wisely. Everyone has an opinion to share but only some of those matter.

4. Be informed. Know the good and the bad so there are no surprises. But then no complaining about your decision.

5. Set goals that can be accomplished by you alone and that don't depend on the choices of others.

6. Dream big, and then adjust for reality.

7. Be proud of your accomplishments. Be happy in the realization of your goals. But don't let material possessions define joy.

8. Fully rely on God. Choose to notice the miracles. And appreciate His many blessings, for they truly are so abundant.