allie always + husband

NEW BLOG

2012-01-16T17:15:00.001-07:00

Starting a new blog, so if you're a follower, just hop on over for much more frequent posts. Thank you so much!!

allie

Baby Shower Recipes

2012-01-16T13:30:00.004-07:00

*click on the recipe to enlarge*

I hope that you enjoy these recipes!! If you like the tuna/chicken salad, check out all of the other amazing recipes on Our Best Bites! Enjoy!

10 Weeks...

2011-08-22T10:39:00.005-06:00

Can you believe it?? I hardly can and i'm actually living it! It's just so crazy to me to think that not even 2 years ago that i was posting these posts....

Only 7 weeks left...

Yesterday marked the 7 week mark of the day that my best friend in the whole wide world is coming back from his mission in Rome, Italy. He is having the time of his life and loves being a missionary so much, however i, along with his mother especially, am very excited to have him back.

The funny thing is that these past two years seem like they have just flown by, but whenever i think about everything that has happened and all the ways in which i have grown, it seems like he has been gone for forever.

It's crazy to me that it's so soon. I know that week will sneak up on me and i won't even know what hit me, but i can't wait!

Chris is so amazing and i don't know what i would do without him in my life!

I love you Chris and i'll see you in just a few short weeks!

6 Weeks!

Okay six weeks is seriously insane! i can't believe how fast time is flying. I'm excited that i get to see my best friend again...he really is loving missionary work so much which is exactly how it should be so i'm just so happy that i've been a very little part of this journey with him...

i don't think that in the 8 years we have been friends that we've gone even a day without talking to each other and to have him leave for two years has been really different. However, the more i think about it, all the things and all of the ways i have grown up in the past two years, i couldn't have done with him here i don't think. I have learned so much about myself and made decisions on my own that i know i wouldn't have if he had been here...

Now don't get me wrong, once a week one-ended conversations have been such a blessing and really helpful, but i know it's been just the right dosage...

I can't wait to have him home!!!

It's amazing that we ended up where we are now! He's the most amazing person i've ever met, and i don't deserve him....but as long as he married me, i guess it's hard for me to say that anymore! I love him, he's my everything, and i'm so excited for the next million weeks to come!!!

first comes love...

2011-05-26T14:54:00.004-06:00

i know i haven't done a blog post in forever, which is really bad since i need to keep this up, but life has been so crazy! who would've thought that planning a wedding (that only lasts on day, might i add) would take so much time and energy! not to mention everything i was doing to get finished up with school and graduated....thank goodness that's over!!

so the wedding is only 2 weeks away and i can't believe how fast time has flown...it's unbelievable how fast it's been! everything happens all at once! and we are so ready for it to happen, minus a few minor details of course...thank goodness for everyone who is involved with the wedding and keeps putting me at ease. i think i must keep convincing myself that there are things to stress over, but it never lasts too long. (chris would think differently i'm sure he.he)

i just needed to blog today to just reflect on my thoughts, i guess, about how preparing for a marriage is leagues beyond preparing for a wedding. it's amazing to me to think how long i've known chris and how many things we are still learning about, and i have a feeling it's going to take us at least a lifetime to figure it out. we do have eternity so i guess it's okay.

chris did find us a place to live, like a mentioned a couple months ago, and we're all moved in except for me and my clothes, which i guess i'll be alright with that for now. i know i need to take pictures of it, especially since i rearrange things in decor so often, but i have been a total slacker! we're just so excited for this wedding to be over and for us to start this crazy journey.

i know i'm speaking on behalf of someone else, but i can truly say how sincerely blessed we feel by all the love and generosity people have shown us during the past 6 months. i just hope that chris and i can reflect that in some small way to others as well. we are so happy and so ready! and i cannot wait to marry this man!

chris, the best is yet to be....

this picture was taken by chris' cousin when we were sophomores. how great is this?

{wedding} engagements by Jaque Lynn Photography

2011-04-25T10:41:00.047-06:00

{wedding} engagement.inspiration

2011-03-30T11:46:00.002-06:00

i just think this is so romantic....

{wedding} more.photo.inspiration

2011-03-30T11:42:00.005-06:00

i sure picked the right photographer!

chris found us a place to live!!!!!

2011-03-24T12:45:00.008-06:00

alright so most of these are taken with chris' iphone, but it doesn't matter because he found us place to live and it's perfect! he asked me a couple weeks ago what i wanted for my birthday and that was my only request, was a place for us to live....and boy did he deliver!!!

he found a 1,000 sq/ft basement apartment in a home that's only 2 years old with the neatest people to rent from in the world! we are so excited to move in and hopefully spend some time with the Collette's! there's so much light, it's in the perfect location, and best of all, washer/dryer! thank you so much chris, i can wait to get in there, i of course have ideas flying around in my head for decorating....

best.birthday.yet....

2011-03-24T12:39:00.006-06:00

i was talking to Dana about this earlier this week, and i'll say it over and over again...i don't know what i did right in this life to deserve him, like seriously...i'm so excited to marry him and be with him forever...

i love you chris!

{wedding} bridal.location.inspiration

2011-02-28T12:58:00.002-07:00

{wedding} floral.amazing

2011-02-25T09:56:00.006-07:00

{wedding} invitations

2011-02-21T14:56:00.004-07:00

Beautiful Wedding Announcements
Phone: 801.205.4463 Email: beautifulweddingannouncements@gmail.com

{wedding} cateringAPPLE.SPICE.JUNCTION

2011-02-21T14:46:00.002-07:00

Apple Spice Junction
Location: 2235 S. 1300 W. Salt Lake City, UT 84119
Phone: 801-359-8821

{wedding} musicJULES.MORROW

2011-02-21T14:38:00.004-07:00

Jules Morrow
Phone: 801.910.0981
PREVIEW ALBUM HERE

{wedding} videoTYSON.HENDERSON

2011-02-21T14:29:00.004-07:00

Videographer: Tyson Henderson
Phone: 801.548.5648
Email: tyhenderson4@live.com

{wedding} details.inspiration

2011-02-21T14:10:00.012-07:00

{wedding} accessories

2011-02-21T14:07:00.003-07:00

{wedding} favors.inspirationsAVOCADOS

2011-02-21T14:05:00.002-07:00

{wedding} our.photographerJACQUELYNNPHOTOGRAPHY

2011-02-21T14:01:00.010-07:00

Jacque Lynn Photography
Phone: 801.597.8955
Email: jacquelynnphoto@gmail.com

(first photo of Jacque w/ husband: Rebekah Westover)

{wedding} location.location.location

2011-02-21T13:58:00.005-07:00

{wedding} flower.inspiration

2011-02-21T13:52:00.008-07:00

{wedding} hair.inspiration

2011-02-21T13:51:00.002-07:00

stuck like glue {the beginning...}

2010-12-30T11:19:00.022-07:00

if you can believe it, these are only a few pictures from our lives growing up together, and these don't even go back to the very beginning...but this gives you a lil 'idea of how much we truly love one another and how much we always will...

now this is what i call the best christmas ever!

now i know this will seem like this happened faster than anyone could even blink really, well that's because it did. if you asked me two months ago if i ever thought i would even be able to have a decent conversation with this person, let alone fall back in love and be engaged, i would've sworn up and down no way.....but God does have a plan for us, and i in fact do NOT believe in coincidences. everything happens the exact way it's supposed to as long as you are in tune and follow those little promptings that until later, you don't even realize were actually promptings from a much greater power than we could ever fathom....

i love you chris....and i know that we will have our own share of struggles, but everyday i'm with you is better than the day before....and i find the most comfort in knowing that with every day getting better and better, that the last day of our lives, will truly be the best day of our lives....

happy 2011!!!

doesn't get much better....

2010-12-17T09:44:00.002-07:00

Acceptance.Happiness.

2010-12-10T11:47:00.006-07:00

let me just start by saying, i'm truly the happiest right now that i've been in my entire life. never before have i felt that i finally know what/who i am, i know how to identify my feelings, and i know what i deserve....i know i'm not all the way where i need or want to be, but it's so close i can feel it!!! i just want 2011 to get here!! it's kind of crazy how life works out...now i don't believe in coincidences. i believe that everything happens when it's supposed to happen, or i guess i should say when our heavenly father wants it to happen. it's weird how we get answers to prayers, but so great when we recognize them as what they are, which are answers....in better words, life seems way too good to be true right now, and i have a hard time accepting that that's what i deserve...but it is the best.scariest.happiest.thrilling feeling to have, and i truly have never been happier....

now i want to share something that the wonderful Jenny Morrow gave me that i just love and really can't get enough of her and her incredible being. she is truly one of the most quality people i've ever met, which shouldn't surprise me seeing as Jules is her sister, but it's just so amazing to me how inspiring these two can be!

btw, Jules cd release was on Friday, {preview here} and it's been in my cd player in my car since the day i got it. i am so proud of you Jules and really so happy for you....i know that you have worked so hard and are so exhausted, but gear up for your future because i can tell you this is just the beginning...

now for some words from a book given to me by Jenny....

Recognition is the first principle of transformation. When we are stuck in our life, we must begin with the willingness to see what is so. It is as if someone were to ask us gently, "Hey, what is really happening now?" Do we reply brusquely, "Nothing?" Or do we pause and acknowledge the reality of our experience, here and now?

With recognition we step out of denial. Denial undermines our freedom. The diabetic who denies his body's illnesses is not free. Neither is the driven, stressed-out executive who denies the cost of her lifestyle or the self-critical would-be painter who denies his love of making art. The society that denies its poverty and injustice has lost a part of its freedom as well. If we deny out dissatisfaction, our anger, our pain, our ambition, we will suffer. If we deny our values, our beliefs, our longings, or our goodness, we will suffer.

There is a powerful opening that comes whenever we truly recognize what is so. "The emergence and blossoming of understanding, love, and intelligence has nothing to do with any outer tradition. It happens completely on it's own when a human being questions, wonders, listens, and looks without getting stuck in fear. When self-concern is quiet, in abeyance, heaven and earth are open."

With recognition our awareness becomes like the dignified host. We name and inwardly bow to our experience: "Ah, sorrow; and now excitement; hmmm, yes, conflict, and yes, tension; oh, now pain, yes, and now, ah, the judging mind." Recognition moves us from delusion and ignorance toward freedom. "We can light a lamp in the darkness," says Buddha.

We can see what is so.

happy.thanksgiving

2010-11-23T09:23:00.015-07:00

i'm finally in a good place...i feel happy, truly happy. mariah and i were talking this week and i feel like finally everything is going the way it's supposed to be. now i know that sounds crazy because everything is always like that, but i think i must be finally accepting the way things are going and that alone is leaving me with a more positive outlook on life itself. the lack of negativity and self-doubt help to make life easier and more enjoyable....imagine that?!

this week is going to be fantastic! dana and sean are both coming home tomorrow for thanksgiving...we're all running a 5k on thanksgiving morning {brrrrr} and of course going shopping at midnight like all the crazies do, which i'm totally okay with! then a full weak of laughing and playing with family and friends...best of all, no work and no school for 5 days straight! i know i probably sound like i'm way over exaggerating how great that alone will be, but i need this break and this nice little time to breathe!

i honestly can't believe how fast this year has flown by! the other day i bought my day planner.calendar for 2011 and was filling it out, and seriously am blown away by how much has happened in the past year and yet how fast it is disappearing...but i do have to say that i'm very much looking forward to the new year beginning....i thought 2010 would be on of the most life altering years of my life, and it was...but in a completely different {and dare i say, 'better'} way than i know i was thinking it would a year ago....

i'm going to post these pictures that we had taken by swensen.photography and we just got the copyrights for to show how much i love my family and couldn't have made it through this year without them....

i hope everyone has a memorable thanksgiving and doesn't forget to whom we must ultimately show all of our gratitude....for these things, i am thankful....

p.s. i just got news that our school is closing tonight on account of a blizzard!!! and we get our hours for it?!?!? i'm tellin' ya....

CTM

2010-11-16T09:43:00.010-07:00

yeah it's tough
most girls would have been crushed
wasting their time, wondering where they went wrong
no way, not me, i'm doing just fine

it's easy
going out on friday nights
it's easy every time i see him out
i can smile, live it up the way a single {girl} does
what he doesn't know
is how hard it is to make it look so easy

the truth is
i miss lying in those arms of his
but i don't ever let it show
i laugh and act like i'm having the time of my life
as far as he knows

it's easy

what he doesn't know

is how hard it is to make it look so easy

"sometimes we are forced in directions we ought to have found ourselves...what we do does not define who we are. what defines us, is how well we rise after falling."

missing you, it comes and goes in waves

but what is constant
is wanting to be with you

no one else but you...

i.love.my.mariah

2010-11-11T11:12:00.006-07:00

what should be an extremely hard week has been an exceptionally good week...there's definitely a lot of different people to thank for that especially my heavenly father and the constant companion he is. but i do have to thank mariah. she's not only my sister, but most literally one of my 6 eternal best friends who is truly there for me whenever i need her. i love her and i love all my family for that matter!

i had not only one but two conversations on the phone with dana this week which was a nice change of pace and made me so excited for her to come home. she's such an inspiration and it was so fun to hear her voice and all of her stories. plus, she's a great listener which is what i needed. she's coming home in less than two weeks too!!!! yay!

constance, jory, jules, katrina, breck, curtis, becca....just to name a few more who deserve special thanks you's...

also i have to thank someone else, but i'm not sure if i'm ready for this person to make their debut on my blog just yet, but this person has been so great and understanding and patient and more than i could ever deserve or ask for and all the above...

for all these things {people}, i'm grateful!

let me leave you with this...

"for a kiss to be really good, you want it to mean something. you want it to be with someone you can't get out of your head, so that when your lips finally touch you feel it everywhere. a kiss so hot and so deep you never want to come up for air... when you find that right person for a first kiss, it's everything."

- grey's anatomy-

happy.halloween!!

2010-11-01T09:55:00.009-06:00

halloween has never been my favorite holiday, but it's definitely during my favorite time of year. i never want the fall colors to stop. in hair. in the trees. in fashion. it's easily my favorite time of year so i hope it sticks around for another second or two. one thing i do like about halloween however is the pumpkin carving...mmm it's my favorite so {mariah} and i carved out lil' jack.o.lanterns this week. we named them mario and luigi. luigi{mariah's} on the left, mario{mine} on the right.

it ended up being a good weekend though. lately i've been really disciplining myself to not let things eat away at me forever and to just move on. i had two instances that really tested my own self-control and awareness to talk myself out of a bad mood and put myself into a good one. i couldn't do it without friends and people to talk to. it's incredible what talking about it can do and help so much! i know this will sound funny, but to blast the music and sing really loud in your car is a great medicine. you don't care who sees or even hears it, all you're thinking about it getting whatever is keeping you down out of your mind and focused on other things.

i did go out to lunch with two great friends that i haven't seen in forever whose blogs you can see here {katy} and {jules}... i went on two fun dates this weekend with two different fun guys and to breakfast with {breck} on saturday at ruth's diner, so i'd say my weekend was filled with friends and no dressing up {thank.goodness}. i can't believe it's november!

by the way, {jules} convinced me to run in the salt.lake.city.marathon in april so i have my training schedule and i'm ready to go! 26 miles is freaking far though....

i did purchase another poster/print to frame and put in my room. i think it's wonderful and i really do love it. plus, i think EVERYONE needs this reminder almost every day...you can find more like it here at {nick.agin's} etsy online shop.

identify your coping mechanisms....{jenny morrow}

2010-10-14T10:10:00.017-06:00

a coping mechanism is a strategy used to deal with suffering, discomfort, fear, abandonment, and pain. they are natural, "mortal" responses (fight, flight, & freeze responses) created in out childhood for emotional (& sometimes physical) survival. if they were not created by and used by a child, the child would be overwhelmed. a coping mechanism is a way to construct boundaries to protect the personality.

the problem is that most of us continue these coping mechanisms into adult life, which then continues an erroneous pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are use whenever the person is in discomfort (their perception of being physically or emotionally unsafe). the result is that the situation or problem creating the discomfort is not evaluated as an adult but is reacted to through historical (child) thinking. the person reacts to a situation as if it is the same unsafe situation it was in childhood. ["i am afraid of men."] the true event is lost in the coping mechanism reactivity which re-enforces the feelings of fear even when the situation is safe. the focus then is upon the doing of the mechanism to stay safe. this prevents taking in new information, awareness, and feelings that would provide the ingredients to a rational response.

the following reflects many of the common coping mechanisms carried over from childhood by adults (or created later in life in response to emotional overwhelm that is still viewed from helpless, childlike perspective).

deny having a problem.WITHDRAWAL.rationalizing.FORGETTING.sleeping a lot.CREATING CHAOS.hiding behind partner.OUT-OF-BODY.not sleeping.REPEATING ABUSE.avoiding men.DEPRESSION.avoid discussing abuse.ANXIETY ATTACKS.feeling guilty.BLAMING SELF.blaming others.NEGATIVE SELF-TALK.victim of life.DISTRUST OTHERS.physical problems.OVEREATING.under-eating.ANGRY OFTEN.crying inappropriately.ACT CONFUSED OR DUMB.substance abuse.PASSIVE BEHAVIOR.underachieving.OVERACHIEVING.dissociating.TRANCE.self-mutilation.HYPER-VIGILANCE/EASY TO STARTLE.overspending.HOARDING.suicidal thoughts.PROMISCUOUS.act out violently.OVER-EXERCISING.take what is said or done personally.STAYING BUSY TO AVOID FEELING & THINKING.need to be in a relationship to feel okay.UNABLE TO DEFINE WHAT I NEED OR WANT.rigid and controlling behaviors-coercion, advice giving, manipulation, acting helpless.IGNORE PROBLEMS OR PRETEND THEY AREN'T HAPPENING-DENIAL OF IMPACT, EFFECT, OR IMPORTANCE.will not set boundaries in relationships to insure my rights are respected.SEXUAL ISSUES IN MARRIAGE.staying in unhealthy or abusive relationships

-Jenny Morrow/Licensed Individual, Marital, Family, & Group Therapist

she's really such an amazing person and everything she says to me or talks to me about, i am continually amazed with how right on she is! i love her and i love seeing her.....well on a totally different note....

a vintage poster has quickly turned into a fav of mine. i ordered and received this poster below, but of course in the {butter.yellow} color...i think it will be perfect for right over my crafting desk.station.corner!

another thing that i have been loving so much is this sign that i made that goes above my bed...i got the idea from blogger 'julie parker photography' who got her idea from blogger amy at 'sweet sweet life'...

this one above is amy's...

this one above is julie's...

and these above are of mine....taken via blackberry and in awful lighting, but i'm in LOVE with it!!! it puts me in the best mood every time i go into my bedroom....

all of this room modifying has come from lil' mariah who has been obsessing literally over getting to move into dana's bedroom and decorate it just how she wants. luckily, i had a night off of school last week so we went shopping...we started off with a few baked goods from kneaders, headed to ikea, and of course ended up at a shoe store....i love her though...definitely my best friend, well one of them at least...

no we didn't buy those hats, but we definitely should have....

The Little Blue House is FOR RENT! now if only i could afford it...

2010-10-11T14:34:00.010-06:00

this could most literally be my dream california house. one of the blogger's i follow, aka rachel thurston photography, has been living here since i started to follow her blog. it really is the ideal california house and really would be a dream come true to be able to live here or somewhere very similar. gosh, if only i were done with school, making tons of money, and could just pack myself up and move and be so incredibly happy....if only, right?! well i might as well put some information about it just in case anyone else is looking for their dream house in california...

however, as good fortune might have it, i could be very possibly going out to california this weekend, something i've been longing to do before the year is thru. maybe i'll be able to convince my travel partner to drive into this cute little neighborhood and take a look...but i do have to say, even the mere thought of being able to go to cali if only for a couple days has made me the happiest i've been in a long time...

man, i need to graduate fast!

Walking distance to downtown Culver City, with w movie theaters, trader joes, a farmers market every Tuesday, a lot of great restaurants including Fords Filling Station and Tender Greens.
Jackson Market literally next store for deli sandwiches and a stick of butter when you’re in a bind.
Right around the corner from Carlson Park.
Right next to Sony Studios.

The house is the perfect size for 1 person and fine for 2 people if you enjoy being with each other.

Only 1 bdrm, 1 bath. A whopping 520sq feet.

It has a huge backyard, front yard and a detached garage for storage. Plus a driveway that can park 4-5 cars.

The rent is month to month and is only $1250. For this neighborhood it is a steal.

It is available starting Nov 1st.

Address: 4055 Jackson Ave. Culver City, CA 90232

Please email rachel if you are interested and she can put you in touch with the landlord. rachel@rachelthurston.com.

It is such a great spot and they wanted to give their friends firsts dibs. Pass the word around!!

2010-09-15T14:07:00.005-06:00

you know, i wrote a big long post that was, to be honest, just venting about so many of my thoughts and emotions all in a nutshell of 3 paragraphs really, but all that really matters is that i'm happy...i'm happy because of the people in my life who love me for exactly who i am...and for that i am so happy and can't thank those people enough...life is good...

i know it will be great, but that comes with time right?

after all, what could be happier than the months during the year that it's football season? it really doesn't get a lot better than that...

{angus.mitchell} in salt lake city

2010-08-19T10:49:00.005-06:00

had the opportunity at school to meet the son who keeps up the genius of a little guy we like to call paul.mitchell...

all of my beautiful friends and i with {julian} left and {angus.mitchell} right...

what happens in {vegas}....

2010-08-19T10:24:00.017-06:00

so on account of all of the weird personalities i've been experiencing with myself lately, my friend constance and i thought it would be extremely appropriate, and more importantly a blast, if we went to vegas for the weekend...we were both in need of the best healing medicine on the planet, some serious sun!

i'm lucky enough to have the very best friends in the whole world, ashley and miles reynolds, who so kindly let us stay at their house for the weekend. the plan was to go down and stay with them and they try to sneak into a pool on the strip...however, we quickly realized that was impossible, so on a very spontaneous note, we got a room at mandalay bay for the night, and it was soooooo worth it! the pool was perfect and just what the doctor ordered....and i don't know how everyone else feels about the bellagio, but i could sit there for hours just to watch the fountains. it's the only peaceful thing about las vegas, the only thing that you can really just watch and nothing else around you distracts you....mmmm so nice....

i do have to say it was quite weird being on a trip without trev, for seriously the first time in a long time, but i couldn't have gone with a better friend! she was awesome and helped me keep my mind off of things....

and to top it all off, i got to talk to dana on the phone for like 2 hours on our drive back.....much needed weekend? i think so....

running {outside}...

2010-03-25T10:39:00.006-06:00

so here's the honest truth...working out is like the hardest thing ever for me to do. i can't make myself enjoy it. i don't know what my problem is but i can't. the part that drives me crazy is jogging for what seems like forever on a darn treadmill.

so naturally, i blamed my shoes. so what did trev get me for my birthday? probably the best gift ever and most motivating, a gift card for new running shoes!

so now you may ask, how are these shoes ever going to be put to good use? well i figured out my main problem. the problem is i need to run places where i want to run...which means yes, i need to run outdoors where i can observe real things, not pace myself on a machine that i'd rather throw out the gigantic reflective window staring me back in the face as i do my pathetic runs...

my plan to run outside?...one 5K every weekend through October...can it be done? i am very confident and my first one is this saturday and i'm pretty freakin excited about it. so if you're one who hates to run, try running outside...it's already changing my perspective on the sport and i love it!

a special thank you to trevor, i truly would not have done this without you...i love you!

Birthdays...

2010-02-26T14:53:00.007-07:00

as we approach the month of March, it always without fail makes me think about my birthday. of course that makes sense since that is the month that i was born, but it's so weird to think about how fast we get older.

last year, when i turned 20, i can honestly say that i felt different. i don't know how different i felt, but it was the kind of different where you still say your a year younger by accident (what some people might call denial, i call a reality check). that was a reality check and this year even more so...

some people might also say that this number shows no significance to those of us who choose to use our age for good, not evil, but it is a big step. you receive power from a number, and with power does come responsibility. the power of 21 is a power that a lot of people choose to not use responsibly, which we can only expect...what i want to know is why people desire this age so badly? when has anyone ever had to lie about their age to get in anywhere except to get the senior special on the early bird buffet?

it makes me think of everything that's going on in my life and where it's all going to go. i do have to say, that the past year has kind of been like a 'groundhog' day kind of year where i go to work, proceed to school, go to church, repeat process...of course in between the repetition there's been a lot of inconsistency in the boy scene, but that was made extremely consistent as well as of last November.

now i don't want to be too confusing because i don't want to come off as a complainer. i'm so happy with myself and my life and the way it's going, but at the same time i hate the feeling that it's not going anywhere. i know it is, i know it, but i can't help but think that it's just standing still in a sense.

i need a pick-me-up, an epiphany, a discussion, ANYTHING that would change this pattern that i seem to be living day by day. maybe it's my fault because it does seem like the only thing that i'm waiting around for it to change is my relationship, but that's a whole lot of reliability on another person and nothing that i can really control. i did shave my legs and that made me feel a whole lot better, but i need something different that i can look forward to, that can get me excited, and get me out of this lull/rut that i feel like i'm living in (i'm extremely open to suggestions by the way)...

i just want to figure out the significance of this number, because it's creeping up on me fast and it does make me feel a little weird, so it'll be interesting to see if anything happens i'd say...

i had to post this picture of the Jimas' twins first birthday...here's to 21 plus more you two!

Vancouver 2010

2010-02-16T13:49:00.004-07:00

i love the time every four years when it's the winter olympics, once again. i love that no matter what i'm going to most likely enjoy having the tv on to watch them. i love most of all, that everyone turns into 'judges' if you will. well, we all turn into either self-proclaimed judges, or we decide that we have to get out and do these activities more since they make it look so easy and look like so much fun!

i hope everyone enjoys these olympics as much as i have so far, and that you all watch as much of them as you can...

(picture taken by rachel thurston)

For those of you that know me, know that i am obsessed with Rachel Thurston and her photo work. As she explained in her blog, she had a special opportunity to do some photo work with some of the U.S.A. athletes and their coaches which i found extremely cool! You can check out all of what she did and more details here...

www.rachelthurston.com/blog

2010-01-29T10:02:00.007-07:00

i just wanted to add a little blurb about this incredible blog that i've been constantly stalking for about 2 years and have officially been following since the summer time and i am just so proud of her! i know she doesn't even know who i am but she is so talented!

rachel, it's about time you get this incredible website going! i'm so excited for you and can't congratulate you enough!

Now, as for the contest, i want this trip! and i don't necessarily feel the greatest about just "taking" this trip if i was chosen to win. Not that i wouldn't be forever grateful, but i have been extremely blessed in my life and i know that there are going to be many more people who respond to this that deserve it more than i do, but Rachel, you HAVE inspired me...

(both pictures in this blog are most obviously not mine, definitely Rachel's)

i have never been to Seattle before and i know this will sound lame, but i have been a loyal follower of Grey's Anatomy, and ever since then, i have wanted to live in Seattle. I have been to Vancouver once before and i absolutely loved everything about it! I love the weather, i love the constant cloud cover, and i love the atmosphere of a big city with so much going on. So my goal no matter what, SAVE UP and GO to Seattle! This would be a great trip and a fun experience and you truly have inspired me to just do it! of course, not many of us can just pick up and go on a vacation, me being one of those people, but i am going to start putting together a vacation fund so that when enough pay checks have added up, i can visit this intriguing place...

so when that day comes, i will need some guidance and will need to know where to go and what to see. it may not be for another 6-8 months, but since it's now a goal i know it will happen.

For all that want to participate in this Seattle giveway, make sure to follow this link to Rachel's new blog and get the details...TELL EVERYONE!!! and hopefully, we can make sure that one of us get's to go on this incredible trip...

rachel, if you read this, tell anna that allie petersen has been stalking you and says hi to her on her mission...she'll know who i am and tell her i think she's incredible for going! thanks...

Goodbye Jules...

2009-12-09T08:59:00.004-07:00

I can't believe this day has come already. There are so many emotions i can't even describe. She is moving on and i am so proud of her, but i am going to miss this girl so much. The worst thing is, she probably had no idea what an amazing person she is and what an incredible impact she has made on so many aspects of my life. Not only in our incredibly deep conversations, but in the way that she radiates with so much self-confidence that only makes me want to be like her.

Jules Morrow started working at School Improvement Network (common theme with people i love you might start to notice) and from day one, i knew that we were going to get along. She is someone who you know is going to change you from the minute you start talking to her.

The thing is, you don't realize sometimes that she even has anything to do with the fact that you've changed, until you trace back to the exact moment where you knew that she was the one who did it.

Now, why would a person this amazing be leaving us? Well, good ol' uncle Gary's office hired her on the spot at their Johnson Family Dental office in Ventura, California and from then on, things fell almost scarily into place for her. She found an LDS family renting their basement and made the arrangements to move out 3 weeks from the time she took her vacation...crazy huh?

I know i talked about this earlier, about how this has always been my dream to just pick up and move to California and really figure out where my life was going, but letting that happed closer to the ocean and warm weather than i am here. But that wasn't the right thing for me. This is right for her! In fact, this is perfect for her!

The world needs to hear her music, and if this is how it's gonna start, than i say what better time than now?

I just want Jules to know how truly happy i am for her. I can't imagine any situation being better for her at this time in her life. I love her so much and she truly has changed me forever...

Bird & Banner

2009-12-08T14:41:00.010-07:00

As everyone knows, i love things that people make by hand and through so much creativity and then sell them, and this website is just that. These two have made all different sorts of invitations (mostly wedding) and sold them for unreal prices. All of their orders are custom and they are incredible. Check them out though because they really are inspiring...

Who woulda' thought...

2009-11-18T14:18:00.006-07:00

When i got my calling to teach the Valiant 10 class in the primary back in July, i didn't think there was going to be anything to it. I kept thinking what a piece of cake it would be, but quickly realized what a huge learning experience it was going to be...

I know they look super sweet and like they are little angels, which they are, but the equation of any 12 kids under the age of 12 is quite a challenge to say the least...

This picture is definitely a more accurate account of how they really are. They are almost always crazy almost all of the time. However, this last Sunday was our Primary Program and it truly was the most moving one i have ever attended. Now i can't decide whether or not it's because i'm their teacher or what, but there were 5 times that i can remember tearing up and hoping they didn't turn around and see me...

This calling has really helped me, not only with my patience, but with my scripture reading and always trying to have the spirit to help me know what these kids need from me. For some, it's just a friend, or an adult that gives them attention and listens to what they have to say. It truly has been one of my biggest blessings this year and i know if i told them this they would think i was such a baby, and they may never know how much i appreciate them, but i truly do more than they'll ever know...

Bailly + Andrea

2009-11-06T09:47:00.005-07:00

This weekend, Bailly and Andrea are celebrating their 4th anniversary so i was honored to make a special gift that Bailly wanted to have made for her.

The original idea of the "coupon book" came from Ashley Hirschi who had me make one for her boyfriend. These books can be used as picture books as well, but i like to do them custom because then they can say whatever they want and we can do the exact colors to match the personality of the couple.

I'm not that great at scrapbooking compared to a lot of other Utah women, but i do love that i have a creative outlet where i can put my own personal touch and really make someone realize that a lot of work and love went into it...

I decided that i'm going to blog about all of these that i do so that i don't forget who and what i did them for, because truly, that's what's important!

These two are in love, and this was the perfect way to show it...

All good things must come to an end, but some things have the chance to just get better!

2009-11-05T11:27:00.008-07:00

So i have to say that this camera has been the greatest thing since my first camera, which let's be honest, was not the greatest thing at all. Even at 7.1 megapixels it has taken so many pictures that it has actually worn out it's battery twice and needed to be replaced. So really i have one option, get a new camera!!!

I wanted to stay in the Canon family, however, i think that i've found the perfect one that isn't too professional for my everyday usage, but professional and legit enough to take quite the quality pictures and just be really great. I've been to the store and looked at it and it kinda just called out my name.

The one in the picture is actually the E-520 and the one i have been eying is the E-420 which is a hundred dollars cheaper and has all the same features. For those of you who are just dying to get it for me for Christmas, the link is enclosed in the title...

I'll go back this weekend and decide whether or not i can afford something like this, but i really love it and would love to have it with me at all times...

All because two people fell in love...

2009-11-05T10:47:00.014-07:00

My parents just recently had their 26th wedding anniversary, so i just wanted to take a minute to say how amazing they really are and how much i love them. They truly are such an adorable couple and they mesh so well together. I'm sure a lot of people would question the truthfulness to that statement since they seem so entirely different, but as i've gotten older i've really began to notice how well they work together and how much they love each other...

My mom and i were never really very close, for a lot of reasons that mostly stem from my immaturity in dealing with our differences in opinions. Now, since i've moved back home, she and i get along better than i ever thought we could. She truly is such an amazing woman and i learn a lot from her. I know, however, that i still have a lot to learn from her, and whether or not she knows it, she still has a lot to teach me...

My dad and i have always had a very close relationship. If we have ever not gotten along, it's almost always been because of our lack of communication, or simply from his worry about the oldest growing up too fast. He talks to me about everything, whether i want to or not. This has been an incredible help to me growing up and has helped me to always remember that he genuinely does care about me and what i truly want to do in my life.

I know that we were all supposed to be a family and that there isn't anything that anyone could ever do to tear us apart, and that is thanks primarily to mom and dad for being our life preservers in the good and in the bad...

They have been through some really rough and some incredibly miraculous occasions together, and i can't tell them how grateful i am that they have raised us and lived their lives so that our family can be together forever.

You're the most incredible parents and i hope that someday i can be even half the parents you two have been.

Happy 26th Anniversary!!!

Grandma & Grandpa

2009-11-04T10:57:00.007-07:00

I know this is going to be out of order, but me being the dummie i am left my camera up at Trevor's house this past weekend so i haven't updated you on my weekend yet, but i did want to talk about my fun day yesterday...

Since i have PTO for work, i took the day off of work yesterday (and school for that matter) to spend time with my grandparents while they are here visiting, and i'm so glad i did! I'm pretty sure they were thrilled too, considering they were here all the way from California, their beautiful little town where i would someday love love love to live. And i know these pictures look much too warm for yesterday, but they're going to have to do since i didn't have my camera.

Anyway, we spent most of the day looking for a mini fridge for them and my Grandpa's most exciting part of the day was he got a new 'pea-shooter' he called it, or in other words, a little pistol. He even said to us that he felt like a little kid on Christmas morning. He truly was the most excited i think i have seen him in a while! They took me and mom to Cafe Rio for lunch and all in all it was such a fun day and i'm really glad that i did it.

6 Weeks!

2009-11-04T09:48:00.003-07:00

Okay six weeks is seriously insane! i can't believe how fast time is flying. I'm excited that i get to see my best friend again...he really is loving missionary work so much which is exactly how it should be so i'm just so happy that i've been a very little part of this journey with him...

i don't think that in the 8 years we have been friends that we've gone even a day without talking to each other and to have him leave for two years has been really different. However, the more i think about it, all the things and all of the ways i have grown up in the past two years, i couldn't have done with him here i don't think. I have learned so much about myself and made decisions on my own that i know i wouldn't have if he had been here...

Now don't get me wrong, once a week one-ended conversations have been such a blesssing and really helpful, but i know it's been just the right dosage...

I can't wait to have him home!!!

Dana Montana

2009-11-02T16:07:00.008-07:00

So this is my sister Dana. I call her Dana Montana since she calls me 'Shell' which doesn't really make sense to me but i think it's because my middle name is Michelle and so she just shortened that. But it does make me laugh when other people hear us call each other those because i'm sure they think they've been pronouncing our names wrong for years, when really we're the ones who are wrong...

Anyway, Dana is 4th in line in our family and i would say that out of all our siblings, she and I are the closest. She just turned 17 in August and that girl is going places. She just finished her last season ever on the Alta Lady Hawks tennis team where she won state two years in a row and played all 4 years.

As you can see she is also a knock out. I always get mistaken for the younger one, but it is a little hard to compete with a girl as hot as this. I do regret to say for all you guys who are looking to date this pretty little thing, that she does have a boyfriend with whom she has been with for 6 months next week.

This is Colby and we do love having him around. He just had his 18th birthday which is weird that in less than a year he will be putting in his mission papers, but we're excited for him and really do love having them around. Dana is definitely more happy when he's with her than not, and she's a hard one to tame so we really do appreciate him.

Okay now why am i bringing up Dana? Well she has been applying for colleges lately which totally weirds me out! It seems like there is no way that she is old enough for this. Even weirder, she's really interested in the Air Force and Naval Academy and is willing to do whatever it takes to get in to either of those places. She is so disciplined that i know she would last, but i really can't stand the thought of her being so far away and not getting ready in the morning together and not being able to talk to her anytime i want...

i know it's not the same, but when Rissy moved away, we didn't so much stop talking but have kinda grown apart. We're still best friends and talk whenever we need, but we have our own lives...so i guess i just don't want that same feeling when Dana leaves...

But like i said, i couldn't be happier for her and for where her life is going. I love her so much and just want her to be reassured of that every day!

Etsy

2009-10-29T15:31:00.006-06:00

So i am a handmade-crafty junkie!!! I love to discover people who have taken their talents and turned it into something creative. I'm more on the creative side with scrapbooking and card making so I especially love people who can do things like this girl has done to furniture.

I have a bunch of antique furniture that i'm seriously thinking about driving out to Mission Viejo, CA so that she can finish it for me this beautifully.

I just wanted to give her a shout out and let her know how much i love her work! You guys can find her on Etsy.com along with so many other creative minds it will make your head spin!

Check out her stuff!!! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7059851&ga_search_query=shabbychicfairytale&ga_search_type=seller_usernames

Only 7 weeks left...

2009-10-29T14:39:00.007-06:00

I love you Chris and i'll see you in just a few short weeks!

Olympic Park, Park City

2009-10-29T13:27:00.011-06:00

My dad had a convention for his company so on a Sunday afternoon, after we had already been to church, we went up to an event at Park City, Utah's Olympic Park to watch the aerial skiers jump off into a pool. I can honestly say it was one of the coolest things i have ever seen in utah!

If any of you ever have the chance to go i would highly recommend it. The performers were phenomenal and definitely way cooler than i ever could have imagined...

can you say, christmas card?