life is good

moving on up

2009-10-28T00:06:00.002-06:00

so after 8 months of marriage, i decided to make a new blog. a married blog. a "family" blog. really i just thought i should have a blog that didn't have my maiden name in the address anymore. and so, i introduce you to our new blog.
come visit us at www.sgrawson.blogspot.com
see you there!

my hunk bags bucks

2009-10-16T13:59:00.004-06:00

this morning i woke up early to kiss my husband goodbye for 3 days while he goes up into the wasatch mountains to kill himself a buck. i don't know how my husband, who grew up in the greater LA area became such a hunter, but boy does he love it! and so i am a hunter's wife. i even have a shirt he bought me that says "this babe bags bucks". if you're lucky, maybe i will take a picture of me in it and post it here for you all to see. as much as i don't want to buy an entire freezer just to stuff deer meat into, i am hoping with all my might that he "bags a buck" this year. it just makes him so happy. it makes me cry to think of bambi's being killed, but he has told me all about how hunting helps population control. it's still sad though.
so send your good vibes his way these next 3 days. and if he doesn't get a buck, well, elk season is just around the corner!

sicker than a dog

2009-10-04T16:02:00.002-06:00

steve came home sick from work yesterday and had to call out for today.
so did his coworker.
they are sick because they ate at Big Ed's.
so, moral of the story. don't eat at Big Ed's...unless you need a colon cleansing.

this is my season

2009-10-04T15:55:00.003-06:00

Happy Fall!

...from our home to yours.

i dreamt my house was clean.

2009-09-27T19:00:00.003-06:00

this...

has been sitting there...

for a week. along with the dust on the dresser. and the dishes in the sink. and the dirt on the floor.

i need to clean. ma. house.BAD.

true love

2009-09-26T19:24:00.003-06:00

today while i was at work, counting down the hours, minutes until i get to rush home to the arms of my loving husband, i get the following text from the man himself.

"u make me happy...darn happy. i am so glad we married in the temple so i can bother you forever"

i think that says it all. this man truly loves me.
and you know what? i love him back.

dogs will be dogs

2009-09-24T08:54:00.002-06:00

does anyone else's dog do this? when marley has to pee, he just goes if we are outside. but then he feels like he will be left behind, so he starts walking with you while peeing. the end result is this picture. sadly, this wasn't even at our house. this was at our friends' house in vegas while they dog sat for us this summer. sorry eric and jackie! thankfully, it's nothing a hose can't fix. funny dog...

so blessed. seriously.

2009-09-23T20:51:00.007-06:00

i was driving home from work today and got to thinking how gosh darn happy i am. i read other blogs and it's so fun to see all our friends and family having so much fun! i think i get so caught up in reading other blogs and enjoying myself vicariously, that i forget to share with others just how much fun steve and i are having.
we have been married for just about 7 months now and i have loved every stinking second. marriage is definitely an adjustment, but one i am happily accommodating to. i am so lucky to have a man to come home to each day and who tells me he loves me. i am so head over heels, inexplicably, seriously never thought i could be made for someone more than i am for him, in love with this man. i treasure every moment we have to spend with each other and i'm just that much more grateful that we are sealed together for time and all eternity. it has been such a great ride so far and i am excited for all the adventures that lie ahead for us.
steve started working day shift back in august and i have been lucky enough to get some day shifts at work as well. it's great to be able to get up together and go to work together and come home and be together at night. i especially love the drive home this time of year. it's that perfect time of day where it's starting to cool down, and the sun is just setting behind the mountains in the distance, over the salt lake. the 20 minute drive home makes me appreciate so much, the land we live in and the blessings i have in my life.
honestly, my heart is so full, i have no words to express how i feel. but still, i try my darndest. i hope more than anything that everyone experiences this kind of happiness. it's awesome!
once again, i have a new resolve to blog more, but i have failed at this in the past. so here's hoping this time it sticks!
sidenote, i realized i never posted pictures of our wedding, so here are a few to enjoy!

the reception was at my grandmother's beach house. one of my favorite places in the world!

my favorite restaurant back home catered the wedding. mm,mm, fantastic!
sprinkles cupcakes. mouth. is. watering.
i think i may love my ring as much as i love steve
cheers!

my loves

2009-08-18T19:32:00.003-06:00

the other day i walked into our room and found this...
as much as he may say he doesn't like marley, i know steve loves him. these two share a special bond and i just love my two boys!
i also love this picture because it makes me realize that no matter what might be going on in life or what stresses we may be dealing with at any given time, the most important things are right in front of me.

isn't life grand?

thankful thursdays

2009-07-30T13:26:00.002-06:00

i would feel bad if i didn't do this. i've seen it on other blogs so here goes...

i'm thankful for:
1. our jobs!
2. our house, and the able hands we have to fix it up
3. our oh so big and comfortable bed
4. food on the table
5.cars, bikes-the ability to get from point a to point b
6. the love we have for each other
7. the gospel and temples
8.the great outdoors that are in our backyard and all the fun we get to have in them
9.friends and family who give us so much love and support
10.camera
11.marley boy
12.knowledge and memories
13.good neighbors

...there is a lot more i could write down, but i need to have something for next thursday!

summer time, and the livin's easy

2009-07-28T22:38:00.007-06:00

i haven't been much of a blogger lately, so here is a quick wrap up of what we have been up to this summer...

MIRROR LAKE HIGHWAY. this canyon is one of our favorites. a few weeks ago, steve's brother took some of his kids camping at trial lake. steve and i went up for a day trip to hang out with the famdamily, fish, and soak up some sun. it was so dang beautiful up there. one of my favorite lakes and campgrounds i've seen, but man were the mosquitos bad. poor steve and marley were being eaten alive! they were so bad the fishing was no fun and his niece is the only one who caught a fish before we called it a day and headed home early. i love summer and camping in the great outdoors, but i really wish the mosquitos would take a hike!marley boy playing fetch

steve helping tyler get ready to do some fishing
our nephews adam and blake the only fish caught

AMERICAN FORK CANYON. last week steve and i headed up american fork canyon, along with his mom and his brother's family. we had some good times playing in the river, eating tin foil dinners, and watching fireworks.
our nephew david after he fell in the river

yellow watermelon?

even marley boy got a tin foil dinner...

...and then he needed a nap

starting a fire the old school way...

that's my eagle scout!

GLITTER TOES! steve and i have a friend who does glitter toes and she came over to my sister's house the other night and gave us all pedicures. then steve thought marley needed some painted toes as well, so...

our poor tormented dog, with pretty pink nails

and our glitter toes! mine are the ones on the right. fyi.

hope you all are having a fabulously fun summer...we are!

i love to see the temple

2009-07-28T21:45:00.003-06:00

yesterday, steve and i had the chance to go to the oquirrh mountain temple open house. a little late, as it's the last week it's open before dedication, but better late than never right?
man is it pretty! i mean, it's a temple so of course it's pretty, but this is one of the prettier ones in my opinion. i love the smaller temples. there is just something about them. and it's always fun to be able to tour a new temple. it just renews my desire to go back, and go back often, to the temples we have all around us.
temples truly are a little piece of heaven on earth and i love the opportunity i have to visit temples. it is an amazing feeling to be in there, and to be closer to Heavenly Father.
if you have a chance i would totally recommend seeing the temple, or any open house for that matter. for more info visit www.lds.org

life as of late

2009-07-14T23:18:00.009-06:00

well #1, life seems to be so busy with other things, it's hard to find time to write about it and share it with others. but for myself, and those few who read, here is what we have been up to lately.

Las Vegas...the end of june, our niece (my brother's daughter) alex turned 10. lucky girl scored a weekend in vegas for her party. luckily, we were able to get some discounted hotel rates and were able to meet up with some of my family to help celebrate her big day and spend time with each other.

i had to work the night before we left, so steve was a trooper and drove the whole way to vegas on his own.

there it is, in the distance...VEGAS!

all of us packed into the car, including marley. he stayed with some friends of ours while we were at the hotel so we could take him camping with us on the way back. thanks eric and jackie!
and ps. steve took this little family portrait while driving. don't try this at home. he took a class...twice.

my mom, sister, and me. love those ladies!enjoying some time poolside.
it was a great trip. good food, great hotel, fabulous company. and i even learned how to play blackjack and pai gow poker. good times.

on the way back from vegas, steve and i had a couple extra days off of work, so we took the scenic route and stopped off in cedar breaks and bryce canyon.

enjoyed the red rocks...

cedar breaks

then on to bryce...

camping in the great outdoors...

marley seriously enjoyed himself. maybe he is a nature dog afterall.

i learned, or tried to learn how to cut some wood. not as easy as you would think.happy family all snuggled into the tent. i think marley had more room than steve or i did.
tent hog.swimming in the lake. doesn't marley look like he's having a grand old time?

feeding "exotic" deer...

...and spotting some wild ones (and elk)

there were deer seriously all over the place!

and we even spotted a few elk. this was the last picture i could get before my camera died, but we spotted a group of about 5 other elk, a bunch of big males. so cool! i had never seen any before.

steve has been keeping busy playing in his two softball leagues, and marley and i enjoy being his #1 fans.

our garden is doing so-so. we are getting a couple of plants to produce, but i think the soil here needs some TLC before next year so we can get better results.
it's fun being a homeowner, but overwhelming at times too. especially when you buy a 50+year old house. there is so much we want to do, but there is only so much time and money to work with. we have learned the value of patience and will continue to do so as we work on this little gem.
i realize i still have not posted any pictures of our place. this next week we will be working on it, so i will try to get some photos to post.
so for the next little while, it's just a lot of working (at our jobs, and on the house) and waiting for the next little get away...whether it be camping, a quick weekend trip, or to california. ah, the beach. i miss it so much at times like this. maybe i should check flights...

happy father's day

2009-06-21T22:21:00.002-06:00

just a quick happy father's day to all the father's out there. i especially want to say happy father's day to steve. although he may not "technically" be a father yet, he is a fabulous father to our marley boy. and i know he will be an excellent father to our children in the future. just look at the love these two share.

i have to admit...

2009-06-21T17:58:00.000-06:00

i am LOVING all this rain and the storms we are getting. that's all.

fun in the sun...and the snow?

2009-06-17T18:11:00.006-06:00

the other day we had a million things on our "to do" list. after recovering from our work week by sleeping in until 1pm, steve and i rolled out of bed, well, rolled over in bed, and started talking. after going over all the things we "should" do that day, we opted for something we "wanted" to do that day.
we packed up the car, loaded ourselves and marley in the subi, and hit the road. one of our favorite places in utah is parley's canyon, and going up into the uintahs along mirror lake highway. it's just such a beautiful and peaceful drive. and this time of year, it's still pretty deserted, but so green. it was awesome. it felt like we had the whole park to ourselves!
the sun was out, the sky was blue, there were some awesome scattered clouds in the sky, and there was us. our little family of 3, driving down the road, enjoying some music and the scenery, and of course, each other (gag, i know, but hey, we are still newlyweds!)
we got out of the car at a few different spots to hike a bit and enjoy the water. it was just the perfect day. even though there were so many things we should have done instead, the moment we got up in the mountains, all those cares went away, and there was nowhere i would have rather been.
we drove up to the summit, and were surprised to see quite a bit of snow still up there. it got to be a cool 46 degrees at the top, but it was so awesome!

our attempt at a family picture

marley drinking some water, er, snow

after playing around in the sun, snow, and water, we headed back into salt lake for steve's softball game. the team got a W, and i felt complete satisfaction. what a day!
it's days like that that make me so grateful for my life. sure it isn't perfect, but it sure comes close, thanks to all the blessings i have.

Dr. Grace?

2009-04-11T04:09:00.002-06:00

Big news, I got into grad school! I start the doctorate nurse practitioner program in family practice in august. holy crap. 8 semesters and i will be a doctor. ha!. now, scholarship time. wish me luck!

from the mind of grace

2009-03-29T05:25:00.003-06:00

a few thoughts that have been running through my mind.
well, it's just about official. i'm no longer a collings. man i had no idea how much work it took to change your last name. if only i could make one stop, fill out a form, and wham bam, thank you mam, have it be done. but noooo, i have to make a separate stop for every little stinking thing that is in my name. boy is it time consuming! and of course all of those "legal" type places aren't in and out kind of places. more like in, wait 30 minutes at least, then finally take care of business. ugh. now i know why people stay married. it's not for love, it's to avoid the hassle of changing your name again.
in other news, life seems like it's just about back to normal. i am getting used to the idea of being a married woman and having a husband. still feels weird to say "my husband" or be called a rawson, but i am enjoying nonetheless.
school is busy as ever. i have been second guessing my desire to go through 8 more semesters of studying, cramming, late nights, assignments. but as of now, i'm still in it. that is, if i get accepted to the program. so i have been waiting to hear something, anything from the nursing department about my application. on thursday, i get a message from an advisor in the nursing department saying someone has been trying to get a hold of me (calling, leaving voicemails, emailing) to schedule an interview. and that since they have not heard back from me, they assume i am withdrawing my application. i called the lady back and explained to her that i had not gotten any calls, voicemails, or emails from anyone and that of course i am not withdrawing my application. she apologized and then informed me that they were finishing up interviews that afternoon and asked if i could be there for an interview in 2 hours. holy moly! talk about winging it. but i think it went okay and rushing it didn't give me much time to stress about it. so anyway, they should be letting all the applicants know within the next couple weeks. so fingers crossed!
steve is out of work for the next month because he tore his rotator cuff and labral cartilage in his right shoulder when he slipped on some ice just before we got married. he is going to try PT for a month and try to avoid surgery. but if the PT doesn't work, then it looks like surgery might be the option. poor guy, it's killing him not to be able to work right now. he loves his job so much and i think he's going stir crazy sitting at home all the time. he can't even golf to fill his time.
so that's pretty much our life these days. the house is still coming together, slooooowly, but surely. it's fun to have projects, but on the other hand, i would like it to be all put together and decorated already.

at home with the rawson's

2009-03-09T21:19:00.006-06:00

last night was my first night back at work since the wedding. i was half looking forward to going back and seeing people, and half dreading getting back to "real life". not to mention i haven't been feeling super swell the last few days, and i wasn't looking forward to leaving my new husband at home while i went off and had to work. but i did, and the night went well. 7am rolled around and i was out the door on my way home to crawl in bed with my boys (steve and marley). when i got home, i saw this on my nightstand.
my heart melted. i thought it was so sweet that he thought of me and got me these beautiful flowers and arranged them and had them waiting for me when i got home. that just made my day. but it got better. then he showed me this.
people who know me, know i love cereal. it's my staple food. and i ran out of cereal yesterday and had none for today. so steve being the intune and sweet, sweet man that he is, got me a refill. love that guy. but it doesn't end there.
after i slept off the night shift and woke up to go to class, i came home to this.
and this...
steve made the yummiest home made meal on the BBQ in our snow filled backyard. the whole time we were dating, i'm not sure we even made a home cooked meal together. and don't get me wrong, i didn't help with this meal either, but i was at least present while he cooked it :) i love that steve cooks, because i definitely don't. oh, don't think i'm finished. it keeps going.
while steve was busy cooking away, i was just sitting on my lazy bum and blurted out i thought it would be nice if we could have a candle burning because i think they make everything seem so cozy. man am i whiney? i'm so glad steve puts up with me. and since our house is in shambles, you can imagine i have no idea where a candle would be, if it's even at the house yet. i thought nothing of my comments and went on munching on "appetizers".

yummiest pineapple ever!
Marley was a very helpful taster of the food. Lucky dog.

steve went out to check on the meat on the barbie and came back in a few minutes later with this...
man is this guy for real!? he snuck out on me and went to the store to get that stupid little commodity i wanted. i couldn't believe it! but man was i a happy camper. the smell of good food cooking, yummy pineapple to eat, beautiful flowers, and a candle to decorate the house. not to mention, my favorite boys (again, steve and marley) in the world at home with me. YUM.
i relished in my amazement of my awesome, hot, husband for the rest of the night, and we had an amazingly YUMMY meal to boot.
i think i can get used to this married life thing pretty easily :) love you babe and thanks for being so stinking awesome!
and don't think we forgot about marley. he patiently waited his turn while we stuffed our faces with our meal.

but then it was his turn.

i think he was outside in the snow storm for about 30 minutes licking those bones and burying them. he was soaking wet when he came back inside, but i think he was just fine with that.

introducing the Mr.

2009-03-07T15:09:00.005-07:00

I know it's been awhile since i've posted anything. and believe it or not, it's not because of a lack of things to post about. i have been busy getting married!
steve and i were sealed in the san diego temple on february 28. it was such a perfect day for us and we couldn't have asked for more. we then spent a few days in las vegas, just relaxing and not having a care in the world. it was so sweet!
we are now back in salt lake, and moving into our new house and making it our home. i love this place and i'm so excited i get to live here with my new husband! i think that so far, living together is my favorite part of being married. it's just so perfect. YUM.
here are a few pictures of the wedding and vegas. we haven't gotten our professional pictures back yet, but these will tide you over until we get those back. who knows when that will be. enjoy!

at dinner the night before the wedding.
on our way to the temple
san diego temple from the freeway
our temple sealer robert daynes
married!
the mr. at our hotel pool in vegas
mr. and mrs. rawson!

a tour of newport...and a police chase?

2009-02-24T09:56:00.004-07:00

so last night, steve and i were driving around newport and i was giving him the 25 cent tour of where i grew up. i was in the middle of telling him what a quiet, peaceful, beach town this place is, when 2 cop cars bust out of a parking lot, lights and sirens on, hauling a#$ down the street, trying to pull over some black SUV. after about a mile of not pulling over, with the cops behind them, the car stops...at a red light! this car seriously was not pulling over or stopping for the now 4 cop cars behind him, but decided to stop at the red light. i loved it! his stopping at the light also gave steve and me time to catch up in our car. we were little police chasers for a bit, until some other cop car totally blocked traffic to keep us back from the action. loser.
even though we were back aways, we still got to see the action. a couple minutes later, the ghetto bird was in the air, with the spotlight on the car. at this point, steve and i are getting to the street we need to turn on to go home, and literally, right in front of the street light, the car stopped and the police apprehended the criminal. so we HAD to stop and watch while the police handled their business. we had a ten minute delay while the cops cleared the area, and we were on our way again.
it was such a random thing to happen in a place like this, where nothing ever happens. and for us to see it firsthand, was really kinda fun. here are a few pictures of the action.

patience is a virtue

2009-02-08T21:32:00.001-07:00

man, waiting to get married is harder than waiting for christmas morning.

20 days!

all warm and fuzzy

2009-02-07T21:06:00.003-07:00

i love having a new background for my blog. i think it's fun to have all the holiday themed backgrounds, but this one is just so bright and cheery and it makes me happy and all warm and fuzzy inside. also, i went out to my car to go to work and the smell of rain was in the air. man i love that smell. i love the sound of rain. it is like therapeutic or something. i love how quiet it makes everything seem outside, how cool it makes everything feel. i just wish i wasn't sleeping all day and working tonight and that i could have been curled up with a blanket, listening and watching the rain.
that's all. not a very exciting post. but i need to get back in the habit of this blogging business.

the lowdown

2009-02-07T05:55:00.002-07:00

so i know it's been awhile since i've posted anything, and mostly, it's for a lack of interesting things to blog about. my life has been entirely consumed with
1)the wedding planning
2)the house remodel
3)school.
these are all very exciting things in my life, but really i'm to the point where
1)i just want to be married already. i could care less about the table arrangements and who is and is not coming. sorry folks, but i'm mostly concerned about having a nice hotel with a big bed to spend our honeymoon. hah, sorry for that. but seriously!
2)i want the house to be done already. steve and many others have put in countless hours making this place look awesome, and man does it ever! i appreciate him so much and all the hard work he does. it looks so good, and i can't wait to move in. i will post pics soon i promise.
3)i am bummed i have to study for a midterm during my honeymoon, but really i am liking being back in school. i just wish i would hear something about my application to the DNP program. i'm not the most patient person in the world.
speaking of which, i really do love winter, and usually i am out enjoying the awesome slopes we have in our backyard, but this year, i'm just too busy to enjoy the winter activities. and as a result, i am ready for some warmer weather. if you aren't out enjoying the winter weather, it's just plain old cold and dreary most of the time. i have still thought it's been beautiful out, but for some reason i'm getting spring fever a little early this year.
anyway, like i said, not a whole lot going on in my life, at least that is worth writing about. but there you have it. the lowdown. and for those of you who are keeping track. 21 DAYS!!!!

48 days!!!!

2009-01-11T19:16:00.005-07:00

only 48 more days until we...

get to go there...

I can't wait to marry this man!

8 things...

2008-12-30T21:27:00.002-07:00

i've been tagged. i think it's the first tag since i've started blogging, and i've secretly felt out of the loop because i had never been tagged.

so, here it is.

8 things i am passionate about...
1.family
2.the gospel
3.education
4.my job
5.travel
6.going green
7.drinking water
8.journal writing/photographs

8 words or phrases i say often...
1.hey
2.i love you
3.i'm sorry (i don't know why i say this so much)
4.i don't want to go to work today (haha)
5.Marley!
6.babe
7.what's up?
8.i can do this

8 things i want to do before i die...
1.get married in the temple
2.have children
3.have a dream house
4.go on a honeymoon
5.travel more
6.retire
7.own an audi
8.go to grad school

8 things i've learned from the past...
1.there is nothing greater in life than being with those you love
2.you shouldn't sacrifice anything to gain friends/popularity
3.you have to accept yourself before you can really be happy
4.the gospel is the thing i am most grateful for
5.always be kind to others and help when and however you can
6.i really am my mother's daughter, and i'm so grateful for that
7.listen to your elders. they are wise.
8.don't let your dreams be dreams, or you will always wonder, what if?

8 places i want to see...
1.alaska
2.hawaii
3.russia
4.iguazu falls
5.greece
6.african safari
7.lewiston, idaho-where steve went to college
8.mayan riviera

8 things i curently want or need...
1.money for the house remodel
2.money for the wedding/honeymoon
3.money for school
4.a vacation
5.new furniture for the house
6.outdoor goodies-winter boots, new snowboard, bindings, etc. for steve and me, atv for steve
7.money to pay off debt
8.money for savings (can you tell i want and need money?! haha)

8 people i tag...
1.jessica
2.tenille
3.teddy
4.alexandra
5.linsey
6.shana
7.brooke
8.whoever else wants to!

natural blonde?

2008-12-20T21:44:00.002-07:00

i'm not naturally a blonde, though i do wonder sometimes why i'm not? i am applying to grad school for fall and somehow thought the application deadline was april 1st. but it's not. it's january 15th! oh man! how could i mix that up? now i have to bust my butt to get everything done in time. wish me luck!

homeowners!!!

2008-12-20T21:00:00.002-07:00

holy crap. we are homeowners! we closed on a house in taylorsville, utah just the other day. we have both been so busy working, we haven't had a chance to get over there and be in our new home. it's a great place though, in a great neighborhood, with so much we can do to it. i am so excited at the prospects and to make this house our home.
steve will move in right away and get to work doing some things to fix it up for us. then i will move in after the wedding. for those of you that know me, you know this is my dream! for years i have perused pottery barn, crate and barrel, williams-sonoma catalogs picking out furniture for my "someday" house. and now i have it. and now i get to realize just how much my "someday" house will cost. holy moly house stuff is expensive! but nonetheless, i look forward to all the memories steve and i will make there.
as soon as we can get over there, i will attach some pictures of the new place. and of course, as we fix it up, there will be some before and after shots. let the chaos begin!

bummer!

2008-12-06T06:13:00.003-07:00

i just found out the temple steve and i were planning to get married in will be closed for "winter cleaning" on the date we want to get married.

so...now we have to decide if we want to change the date and get married in newport, or keep the same date, and choose another temple to get married in. san diego or LA...

some catching up...

2008-11-28T22:01:00.003-07:00

brace yourselves folks, this might be a long one. i feel like it has been a really long time since i have posted anything. i was just getting into this blogging thing, and then time just seemed to fly by and i hadn't posted.
the holiday season is here and with that comes a lot of chaos. but fun chaos. i love this time of year, so much. it's so fun to be with family, and reflect on all the blessings we have in life. not to mention the change of seasons and the snow fall. it's so beautiful. but let's not forget the frantic nature that comes with this season.
i have never been good at getting my christmas shopping done in a timely matter. i'm usually the one at the malls 2 days before christmas trying to buy something for everyone. and then add to it this year, trying to plan a wedding, oh yeah, and buy a house. it's madness! but i love it. it makes me so excited for the times ahead.
i am so excited for christmas. for decorating, baking. for spending time with family and friends. for reflecting on all the blessings in my life, and how grateful i am for my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. for the Atonement, the sacrifice He made for me, for all of us. I can hardly comprehend it. for how grateful i am to be a member of His church.
i am so excited to see all the christmas trees and lights decorating the houses. i can't wait for some good snowfall, to play in the snow, to go up to snowbird and take in those beautiful mountains we have in our backyards.
i am so excited to start the new year, with my love. and to start a family when we are finally married! i am excited to buy a house and make it our home. i just can't wait! 91 days for those of you who are counting... :)
so, to catch up on what's been going on in life...
i have decided to go back to grad school. it's something i have always thought i would do. i just didn't know which degree to get or when i would go. but in thinking about it, it seems like a pretty ideal time to go. i have been working for a couple of years, have some good experience under my belt. i don't have kids yet, but want them in the next few years, so i figure it would be good to be done with school before that time comes. this spring, i am taking a couple prerequisite classes, and then, if all goes well, i will start the program in the fall of 2009. i am planning to do the DNP program at the U. and then, someday, i will be able to make more money. woo hoo!
the wedding planning is coming along. looks like we have chosen february 28th for the big day. now if only i can plan the wedding by then, all will be well! i am so excited to be married to him. i feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be with him and to be able to spend forever with him.
thanksgiving was great. my mom has been in town to celebrate with us. my sister made an awesome feast for us all. it was so good, and i felt like i never want to eat again.
the house search is taxing, but i think we are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. we have found a few places that might just work for us. it will be so nice when we do find a place and i know we will have a place to live after the wedding.
other than that, nothing new going on. life is good. stressful, but good. i'm loving every minute of it. i really have so much to be grateful for. i look forward to the rest of the holiday season so much and i hope everyone else enjoys it as much as i do.
and i promise to make more time to keep you all updated on what is going on in life. stay tuned!

these guys have a special bond.
dinner at melting pot for steve's birthday. sooo yummy!
coldplay concert with my sister. they sure put on a good show.
some baking we did. the giant cookie was an experiment, but very yummy. sorry, i can't figure out how to rotate the picture :(
all bundled up and loving the season!

sorry

2008-11-21T05:28:00.003-07:00

it seems like it's been forever since i've posted. i really want to blog, really. but it seems like i have had ZERO time! there really hasn't been much of anything going on in life. just trying to get ready for the holidays, plan a wedding, and decide if i should go to grad school, or not. so yeah, i've been super busy, but i promise i will make time soon to post some pictures of what's been going on in life. i promise! but in the meantime, i love reading all of your blogs out there.

go utes!

2008-11-07T01:37:00.004-07:00

tonight was a big night. the utes played tcu and they WON!!! that means, they have been undefeated so far this season, and will hopefully stay that way. this game was even more exciting than the others because i got to go and watch it from the stands. and in good seats at that.
there is something awesome about a college football game on a fall evening. i just love bundling up, wearing the school colors, and cheering for my team. not to mention the crazy people around and the yummy food you get away with at sporting events. the bonding with your neighbors and the 2 days of a hoarse voice after the game is over...it's just so much fun.
i haven't been able to go to any games yet this season, with work, and whatnot. but my friend was able to hook steve and me up with some pretty sweet tickets to watch the game. and boy did i have fun. the game was awesome, well, especially the last few minutes of it. it was down to the wire, but the utes came out on top! and boy did the fans enjoy it. they stormed the field like mad, taking down the uprights, and mingling with the players. there was such a camaraderie among everyone at that game. it was awesome to be a part of it. that's the thing about the people of salt lake. they are so supportive of the university and it's fun to see the huge turnouts at university functions.
so now with the "W" from this game, we move on...to byu. our next big challenge. GO UTES!

black outfans storming the field after the winhappy faces after the utes won!

happy birthday babe

2008-11-05T01:38:00.004-07:00

today is steve's birthday. i wanted to take a minute to tell him how much i love him and how grateful i am to have him in my life. i never thought i would be lucky enough to find someone who treated me so well and who i could be so madly in love with. i can't wait to spend eternity with this guy! he's turning 32 today, so here is a list of 32 things i LOVE about this man.
1.he's 6'3". i love myself a tall man.
2.he has the most beautiful baby blues.
3.he's super athletic. he gets me out there and keeps me active.
4.he loves to get mani/pedi's with me.
5.he's a california boy.
6.he rubs my feet after a long night at work.
7. he is the most loving man i have ever met.
8. he knows how to and does protect me. he's a cop after all, it's his job.
9. he teaches me new things.
10. he loves to travel and explore new places.
11. he's spontaneous.
12. he loves my family, including my stinky, slobbery dog, marley.
13. he supports me in all i do.
14. he's not afraid to tell me his opinion.
15. he's loyal and stands up for what he knows is right.
16. he sings along to songs even though he has no idea what the words are.
17. he has a rough and tough exterior, but he's such a lover.
18. he can retain information he hears or learns somewhere and keep it in his mind forever. it's amazing! i so wish i could learn that way.
19.he loves to cuddle with me.
20. he makes me feel like i am the most important thing in his life.
21. he is a "fix it" guy. totally handy around the house and knows how to do things.
22. he's not afraid to ask for directions or admit when he doesn't know something.
23. he isn't a father yet, but he is so good with his niece and nephews. i can't wait to start a family with him. he's going to be an amazing dad.
24. he is such a great communicator. i don't know that we have ever been upset with each other for more than all of 5 minutes.
25. he leaves me love notes in my purse, pocket, wallet, etc. so i find them later.
26. he buys me flowers just because.
27. he still opens my car door for me.
28.he is so thoughtful and considerate of others.
29. he is romantic, chivalrous, and always tells me how much he loves me.
30. he does things he may not like, for no other reason, than because he knows i like them.
31. he considers me in making decisions.
32. he wants to marry me and be with me FOREVER!

there are so many more things that make me absolutely ADORE this man. if you know him, you know what i mean. so on this day, i hope you know how much i love you 55. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!

guilty pleasure

2008-11-01T19:08:00.002-06:00

so i totally busted out the christmas music today. i know it's too early, but the month after thanksgiving and before christmas is simply not enough time to get my fill of that good stuff.

happy halloween!

2008-10-31T20:28:00.004-06:00

halloween is one of my favorite holidays. maybe because it marks the beginning of the holiday season. or maybe it's the pumpkin carving and pumpkin flavored treats. all the kids dressed up as their fascination of the moment, going door to door, giddy with anticipation of the loot they will get. i think it's a combination of all of the above.
so tonight, my sister got her kids all dressed up in their costumes and we tried to sneak a few pictures before they started their trick-or-treating time. it's a much more difficult task than it sounds, as the kids were just crawling out of their skin to run up to the first house. the last thing they wanted to do was pose nice and still for a picture...or 10.
finally, the time had come, and they left on their way. i was left at the house to be the designated candy-giver-outer, a job i love. it gives me a chance to sit in the front room, with candles lit, a blanket, a hot chocolate, and watch all the little kids come up and get candy. man are those kids adorable! and boy there sure are a lot of them! my sister lives in kaysville. a cute town full of families with young children. so all night, for about 3 hours straight, the doorbell kept going off. here is a picutre of the candy bowl before the madness...
and here is a picture of the end result...
amazing. in california, we lived in an area that was lucky to get 3 trick-or-treaters all night. so this is super fun for me.
the kids with all their loot...
i hope everyone had a safe and happy halloween. and LET THE HOLIDAY SEASON BEGIN!

addendum:we had a few stragglers after i posted this blog and the cauldron ended up getting emptied completely!

body worlds...and new hair

2008-10-30T06:01:00.003-06:00

so i have been wanting to see body worlds for so long. i wanted to see it in LA when i lived in california. i even went to vegas to try and see it this summer. my luck, it was "in between" hotels and wasn't open. so when it came to salt lake, i was super stoked.
the other night, steve and i, along with my awesome sister, went to see the exhibit downtown. man, oh man, was it amazing! the human body is so extraordinary. i work with the human body everyday at work, but seeing the outside, is so different than seeing the inside. when you think of all the organs, vessels, tissues, bones, that make the human body do the simplest of things, it just amazes me. i feel so lucky to know what i know about the human body, and to get to work with it everyday. i also feel so blessed for my own body. it's human nature to criticize ourselves...i mean, who couldn't stand to lose a few pounds, or tone some muscle, right? but i am so thankful for the body i was given, and after seeing that exhibit, it just reminded me how amazing it is and how much i need to treasure it and take care of it.
and on that note, after the exhibit, we went to a yummy, and way too fattening dinner for that matter, at buca di beppo. sooo much food, but soooo yummy. side note, did you know buca di beppo translates to "joe's basement"? steve told me this and i was sure he was lying. but i asked the waiter, and sure enough...that's what it means!
oh yeah...and i got my hair changed for winter. it's dark. i usually have dark hair. i went blonde for summer. but i think i got really used to the blonde, and now the dark, i'm not so sure about. i'll give it some time to get used to it, but who knows...maybe blondes do have more fun.

halloween house

2008-10-28T00:17:00.003-06:00

last night, steve and i went down to his brother's house to spend time with his niece, nephews, and mom. we had a great night of games and sweets, and fun with the kids. on our way home, we stopped by a house that is all decked out for halloween. it was super cool, and it reminded me of how much i LOVE the holidays. it's funny how much i like halloween, because growing up, my mom never really liked it and so she didn't really celebrate it all that much. but since i've been an adult, i just love it! anyway, here are some pictures of the decorations from the halloween house...enjoy!

i'm not sure i will ever love halloween so much that i will decorate as much as these people did, but i sure enjoy seeing it. HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!

date night

2008-10-23T00:28:00.003-06:00

what an awesome night! i had such a great afternoon/evening with my awesome man, and just had to share it. after sleeping most of the day since i worked last night, i woke up and had a date with steve. it was so much fun to just spend time with him and enjoy a beautiful evening. us ladies loooove to get pampered. massages, mani/pedis, facials. but i think we forget, that men like those things just as much as we do.

soooo, to start out our date, steve and i went and got mani/pedis. we spent an hour in those fabulous massage chairs and got pampered like crazy. it was awesome. then we headed over to nordstrom rack and got steve some nice church clothes. he's going to look quite handsome next sunday if i do say so myself.

here is the aftermath of the pedicures. notice the festive colors steve chose.

then we did one of my favorite things and got hot chocolate and looked around in barnes and noble. it's such a perfect activity for a cool fall evening. and what date would be complete without a fabulous dinner. we went to stoneground and had a fabulous meal while watching game 1 of the world series. we practically had to roll ourselves out to the car because we were so stuffed! but it was sure yummy.
i know it wasn't some spectacular night of unusual events, but spending it with my "fiance" made it so special. i treasure nights like this and i have to thank him for being who he is and putting up with me. because, let's face it folks, i'm not the easiest to deal with all the time.

octoberfest

2008-10-22T05:09:00.007-06:00

what a wonderful past few days! a little recap...

A NEW PHONE! i have had the same phone, which i have totally loved, for the past few years. as much as i hated to admit it, it was getting a bit archaic and it was time for an upgrade. so i headed down to the sprint store and got myself, what i think, is a pretty fancy phone. i'm still getting used to it and all the features. for the first time in my life, i feel like an "old" person because i don't know how to use my phone and it takes me 10 minutes to send a text message. but nontheless, i am loving it. it's super sleek, and will no doubt be outdated in a year, or less.

A NEW CAR! i wasn't one of those kids who got a new, or any car for that matter, when i turned 16. i always have shared cars, or had used ones. my PT cruiser was absolutely adorable (at least i thought so) and i loved it for the last 3 years. but let's face it folks, it's by no means an "all season" car. and that's what i need now that i'm living in a 4 season environment. it held up pretty well last winter, (only spinning out on me a few times) though i didn't even attempt to take it up the canyons. betty zip, as i liked to call her, was getting to the point where she needed some tune ups, and some pretty pricey ones at that. i started thinking if it was really worth putting all that money into a car i probably couldn't keep that much longer. so....i opted to put that money into a new car. living in utah, i figured i would join the club and get myself a nice subaru. i am the proud owner of a new 2009 outback! i am super in love with it. i love everything about it, especially that it's safe and that it will handle the winter well. here are a couple pics of the new beauty. now i just need a name for it...

HUNTING! that's right. you heard me, hunting, for deer. well, not so much me in camo, with a shotgun, but me riding along in the backseat while steve, his brother, and 2 of his nephews went hunting. what an adventure! beautiful scenery, and some major off roading. it is so pretty up there and marley had a blast with all the new smells in the great outdoors. i've attached a few pictures of that trip. we saw plenty of deer, but they were all doe's, and the boys only have buck tags, so no luck there. the season isn't quite over yet, so hopefully they will get a few more chances to claim their prize. but i don't think i will be going along for the ride next time.

so that's about it for me. other than that i have just been working and LOVING fall in my time off. i'm a little sad that my red sox came to an end of their season, but at least they claimed the division series, and there's always next year for the rest of the shebang.

no more birthday surprise

2008-10-12T02:42:00.002-06:00

steve's birthday is coming up next month and i wanted to get him something i knew he would like. he's been wanting a softshell jacket for the winter and he found one at rei that he really liked. but i knew he wouldn't spend the money on himself, so that's what i decided to get him. i bought it and was SO excited to give it to him on his birthday. he's a really hard one to keep surprises because he's always guessing his gifts and it drives me nuts! so i was trying so hard to keep this under wraps and have it be an awesome surprise for him.
but the other day, when we were out shopping, it was so stinkin cold, he found a jacket he really liked at another store and said "okay, i think i'm going to buy it". what?! i did all i could to deter him from buying it, but nooooo. so i had to tell him his birthday surprise. i felt so bad...not as bad as he did though. he knew how excited i was to give him his birthday present and how disappointed i was to have to tell him the surprise early.
at the end of the day though, he got an awesome jacket that will keep him super warm this winter in all the snow, and up on the slopes. and he looks pretty handsome in it to boot!
but now, i need new ideas for an awesome birthday surprise. help!

L-O-V-E

2008-10-11T14:39:00.004-06:00

last night was possibly the best night of my life. why you ask? well, i got to spend it out with my sweetie, just him and me. i love those times. times when we don't have a million things to get done, or work to be at, and we can just do whatever we want, or nothing at all.
we have a favorite look out place in bountiful. you have to do a little "off roading" to get there, which only adds to the fun. the sunsets have been so gorgeous lately, we decided to go up there to watch the sunset. well yesterday was a bit chilly and the sky was more full of clouds than sunset, but it was still gorgeous.
as we were sitting there, in the bed of his truck, trying to keep each other warm, steve knelt down in front of me to block the wind. i just kept thinking, how chivalrous of him to try and keep me warm. he told me how much he loved me and how happy i made him. all of which i thought was really really sweet. but then he just kept saying it over and over again, and kind of started pacing around the truck, knealing down, then standing up and sitting next to me, then keanling down again. i kind of started wondering what was up with him. he just seemed nervous. "but maybe it's the cold" i thought. but it wasn't...finally, he simply ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM! holy crap. i was like "WHAT??! ARE YOU SERIOUS???" he said yes, and then pulled out the little blue box. my heart melted, and i started crying. that kid is seriously the best. and he makes me so happy. i am so excited that we get to be married and spend eternity together. i couldn't ask for a better partner to go through life with. here are a few pictures from the night. enjoy!

so i know you can't really see the ring. it's a thin band with a single diamond in the middle. perfect for me and my work. i absolutely LOVE IT! i should have done my nails though.

welcome fall!

2008-10-08T06:34:00.002-06:00

i can't tell you how glad i am fall is here. i have been looking forward to it for awhile now, and it's nice to say it's officially "here". sadly, it's almost gone, with winter fast approaching. fall has hugely surpassed any other season as "my favorite". there is just something about it that is invigorating, and just plain old lovely. maybe i appreciate it more now, living in a place with 4 distinct seasons. whatever the reason, I LOVE IT!
here are a few things i love about fall and look forward to this season...
-changing leaves. the reds, oranges, greens, yellows.
-crispness in the air.
-pumpkin bread, candles, carving, and pumpkins in general!
-decorating with all the fall colors.
-wearing scarves, jackets, and sweaters. my fall clothes are so much cuter than summer clothes.
-hot drinks on cold nights
-nights by the fireplace, candles burning, and a cozy blanket.
-all my favorite shows back on the air.
-going on walks at dusk.
-baking pies, and big feasts, spending time with family. fall is the start of the HOLIDAY SEASON!
HAPPY FALL EVERYONE!

going for the kill

2008-10-03T01:05:00.002-06:00

HAPPY ELK HUNTING!!!

for those of you like me, you have no idea when hunting season is or what it's all about. but in the last few months, i have come to learn so much about this thing they call hunting. steve is an avid hunter, and he looks forward to hunting season all year. this year, he's hunting elk. going for the big stuff. he's gotten his tags, packed all his guns and camo gear, and is hitting the road for 2 weeks up in the mountains. he would love nothing more than to come home with a huge elk (and then have to buy a freezer to keep it in, but we'll worry about that later). it may not be my scene, but i love him, and thus, i love hunting. and i hope he gets a big one.

so here's to you babe. good luck out there. and i hope you get a good one!

moving...again

2008-09-28T06:16:00.003-06:00

oh how i hate moving. but i'm doing it yet again. this time, to save money. i know it's the smartest thing to do, but it sure isn't a fun process. i'm moving from salt lake out to kaysville to live with my sister.

it is actually a pretty good situation. i get free rent, and she gets a free babysitter. she started nursing school this year, so i will be around to help take care of the kids so she can get study time in and all that.

the commute won't be fun, but it sure won't cost as much as my rent has been costing me! and now i will have all that extra money to shop...or pay off debt.

all i know is the next time i move, it better be into a place i will be staying put at for at least a few years. somewhere like this...

see, nothing extravaggant. just a simple place, with lots of windows. a place i can xeriscape, and place with a porch so i can have a hammock. oh yes, and on a nice, quiet, tree lined street. is that too much to ask for?

be attitudes

2008-09-21T05:59:00.003-06:00

there is no doubt that as we get older, life gets busier and more chaotic. it seems there are a million things that need to get done and so little time to get them done. or i start to think of all the things i DON'T have instead of all the things i DO have. i start with the "if only i had this...then i would be set". at times, i find myself so caught up in the stresses of life, i forget about all of the things i have to be grateful for.
in the scriptures we read about the "be attitudes" and pres. hinckley also focused on those attitudes and the important role they play in leading a more christ like life. gratitude was one of those attitudes and i really agree that it is so important to remember those things to keep us heading the right direction.
with the holiday season fast approaching, i find myself thinking so much about all the things i have to be grateful for in my life. and when i think about it, life is pretty dang good. i don't think i can complain about a thing!
here are some of the things that bring me joy (and stress at times) and make me so thankful for this life i'm living.
living in salt lake city. i grew up at the beach and still think it is an awesome place, but these mountains that surround us are just amazing.
experiencing the 4 seasons.
family who loves me
friends that make me laugh
my dog marley
my job
my education
traveling and seeing the wonders of this world
freedom of choice
imagination
hopes for the future
a safe roof over my head
...and so many more. i just hope that when the stresses of life begin to overtake us, that we can remember just how many blessings we have and how truly lucky we are. here's a challenge...write down some of the things you are most grateful for and share them with me in my comments. i would love to hear them!

lucky hound

2008-09-19T02:39:00.006-06:00

for the last 2 years i have been the proud mama of a boxer named marley. i adopted marley from a boxer rescue when he was around 2ish years old. i don't really know the story of his first 2 years, other than he was found wandering the streets of watts, underweight, malnourished, and no home. a teacher found him and turned him into the rescue. a few months later, he was mine! as his "mom", i of course think he is the greatest thing in the world. he has been my constant companion for the last 2 years and you know what they say about dogs being (wo)man's best friend...so true. all he wants is love and he will be by your side no matter what.

with that being said, he is not the brightest dog there ever was, the sharpest tool in the drawer, however you want to say it. he has his fair share of "issues". i find them endearing most of the time, other times, he's just plain old stupid and thick headed...literally. he runs into walls and tables with his head all the time and doesn't even skip a beat.

i live in a house on a fairly busy street and no fenced in yard. marley has actually done pretty well with not running off, but when marley sees something he wants, he has an eye single to the glory and nothing and no one can get between him and "the goal". i have tried to train him not to run in the street, but it's hit or miss if he decides to listen. a few days ago, while watching out the screen door, he saw a guy walking a dog across the screen. marley took off after the dog (our screen door wasn't latched), not seeing the busy street that lie between him and the dog. along came a truck, the same time as marley, and BAM! guess who won? now i didn't see this happen, so this is all second hand. but the story goes, the truck side swiped my poor, stupid boy, ripping his collar off, knocking him to the ground, leaving him with some nice road rash, a hurt leg, and a majorly chipped tooth. but don't think that left marley down for the count. oh no, he was right back up chasing after the dog as soon as the truck passed.

here are some of the pictures of the damage...

road rash on his leg and chin...

the chipped canine tooth. notice the dark spot on the tooth. that is the exposed root. the reason the tooth had to come out.

look how docile and sad he looks. poor guy.

the vet cleaned up the road rash and a couple days later, the leg didn't seem to tender, but that chipped tooth was a problem. it fractured down beneath the gums and the root was exposed, which equals major possibility for infection! verdict was, the tooth had to come out. for those of you who know my dog, or boxers for that matter, they don't have a lot of teeth to begin with, and this was one of his 4 canine teeth. poor guy, has to loose one of the few teeth he has.

yesterday was the day. i dropped marley off at the vet at 7am, and didn't seem him until after 7pm. it was a loooong day, for both of us. i was a little teary dropping him off (he's my kid, give me a break!), and my sister picked him up because i had to work. she was nice enough to come by my work so i could see him and see that he was okay. he seemed fine. maybe a little drugged from the anesthesia, but for the most part, his same old self, minus a tooth.

here is an after pick of the tooth surgery...

notice the lack of a tooth there in his mouth. now the poor kid has only 3 of his canine teeth.

so all in all, he's still my boy, minus a tooth, and oh, about $700+! get dog insurance people, i highly recommend it! and now that i know he's going to survive, i want to give him a serious beating for being so naughty. i hope he learned his lesson not to run in the street, but sadly, i doubt it.

californ-i-a!

2008-09-07T22:53:00.003-06:00

last week i took a week off of work and headed home to california for a visit. i hadn't been home since christmas and i was missing the beach so stinking much. i had an awesome time enjoying the sun (even though it was sooooo humid!), seeing friends and family, and just being on vacation. the beach is an awesome place and i truly love my hometown. i feel so lucky to have been raised there. but i must say, i don't miss living there. if anything, this trip home made me realize how much i love salt lake. i mean, it's gorgeous! we have it all, at least i think so. the mountains, lakes, the seasons, and the great outdoors in our backyard. i'm loving living here and i feel so grateful for the beauty that surrounds me.
a few pictures from the trip...
all the years i grew up in southern california, i never made it to dodger stadium...until now. dodgers vs. padres, dodgers won! it was a great time, and of course, great food.
...not to mention, a great view of an amazing sunset!
we went to lunch at this restaurant in newport and everytime i go there, there are hundreds of jellyfish in the water. it looks so cool!my future yacht in the background...maybe?

so now it's back to work, until i can plan the next trip! where to go, where to go???

back to school

2008-08-21T20:48:00.007-06:00

I have always said Summer is my favorite season. i love the sun, the warmth, and all the things you can do with good weather like that. but in utah, the summers are so dang hot. i think Fall is quickly taking over as my favortie season. it's still warm and sunny, but much more bearable to be outside doing things. not to mention, the beautiful colors of leaves and the crisp air. man i can't wait for fall.

i also love it because of back to school time. i always enjoyed school and i think my favorite part was the back to school shopping. maybe i'm weird, but i love the smell of feshly sharpened pencils, and new school supplies. when i was a kid, i used to play "office" because i loved all the office supplies so much. i used to want to be a secretary when i grew up. the day "the container store" opened in my home town, was a good, good day.

someday i will go back to school, but for now, i am living vicariously through my niece and nephew. i get to take them to their first day of school this year. i am so stinkin excited to get them all dressed up and all their school supplies in their backpacks, and take them to school, take pictures of them at their desks. oh it's going to be so fun!

another favorite thing to do is decorate my house for the holidays. back to school time marks the beginning of the holiday season and i can't wait. i have a basement full of decorations that only get to be seen for a month out of the year.

yay fall!

worst blogger ever!

2008-08-19T21:21:00.004-06:00

okay guys, i'm so sorry. i stink at this blogging thing! i have every intention of posting cute blogs about all the exciting things i do in life, but i have been unable to post as much as i want for 2 reasons.
1. i don't really do very many exciting things.
2. i don't have internet at home to post pictures with my blogs. and let's face it, half the fun of blogging is looking at all the pictures.
so here is my non new years "resolution". i am going to try my darndest to be more diligent at this blogging stuff. i enjoy reading everyone's blogs out there, so in return, i am going to try and give you all something worth while to read about.
so, here are the cliff's notes of my summer...
Bee's games. i LOVE baseball! summer just isn't complete without a couple trips to the ballpark, with friends, good weather, good games, and hot dogs. i was able to go to a couple bee's games this summer, and it was awesome. and let's not forget the great fireworks at the end of the game. fun stuff.
Mirror Lake. i took a couple trips up mirror lake highway and spent some time in the great outdoors. i LOVE camping, almost as much as baseball. but i wasn't able to stay overnight. but it was still great to be in the outdoors and enjoy nature. utah is such a beautiful state with so much to offer and i'm so grateful to live here. and there is still some summer left, so maybe i will get to go camping yet...
Vegas. I took a quick weekend trip to Vegas. Didn't really do much, but enjoy being out of town.
Seattle. I was able to get away for a few days to hang out with my mom and sister in seattle. i had been there once before, but it had been years. it was perfect weather and perfect timing for a vacation. we enjoyed the sun, the market, the views. everytime i go to the northwest, i just fall in love with it more and more.
Jack Johnson. Last night, my love, jack, came to town. he is perhaps my favorite artist, and i enjoy his concerts so much. he played at usana, and i couldn't have asked for a more perfect night. it was clear skies, a warm breeze, great music, and great friends and family all around. just lovely.
so there's the rundown. the last 2 months of my life condensed into a few short paragraphs. i will try to post some pictures of all these good times when i get internet at my house. and let's not forget my "resolution" to be a better blogger from now on.
next on the agenda...a trip home. finally! it is my mom's birthday coming up and i get to go home for a few days to help celebrate her fabulousness. i so look forward to seeing friends, family, and the BEACH! so there is just a taste of the exciting blogs to come.
until next time...

still here...

2008-06-10T06:07:00.002-06:00

so i know i haven't written in a really long time. but honestly, i feel like i have nothing to write about. my life lately has consisted of working and sleeping. plus, i love reading blogs that have tons of pictures on them and i don't have any good pictures to post right now. but i promise, i will do some mad picture taking this summer to document all of the incredibly exciting things i am going to do.
some things i have been thinking about lately...
i am so grateful that, for the most part, i love my job. it's summertime and things are picking up in the ER and i definitely have my nights where i am exhausted and never want to come back. but most days, i have a blast at work. there is so much to learn and so much to see, and i work with some really really awesome people. plus, my schedule is freaking awesome and i scheduled a week off starting tomorrow!!! without having to take any vacation. not too many people can do that.
i am so grateful for friends in my life. my sister who lives in kaysville and who i see at least weekly just took a trip back home. i am so jealous that she gets to hang out with my mom and be at the beach while i am working so much. i think i need to take a trip home...anyway, last night, my friends and i got together to make dinner and watch some movies. it was so much fun to just spend time together, especially while i am feeling so homesick.
i seriously can't wait for summer. it's going to be so much fun. i don't think i realize how much i miss it during the winter because i really do enjoy the snow. but by the time early may comes around and the sun starts shining again, i get total summer fever! i can't wait for the long summer nights where it stays light until 10pm, and the boating trips to the lake, and the camping trips, oh and the bonfires...good times.
so yeah, on that note...let the fun times begin!

april showers bring may flowers

2008-05-13T06:07:00.005-06:00

it seems that spring has finally sprung. i don't want to jinx the weather gods, but the trees are blossoming, flowers blooming, and everything seems green. it is really gorgeous out. of all the seasons, spring is probably my least favorite, but i am really enjoying the weather and all the new growth going on. it's pretty cool to watch the cycle that plants go through as the seasons change.
as beautiful as it is out though, i still can't wait for summer.

life as of late

2008-05-09T21:19:00.004-06:00

every 2nd thursday of the month, i get together with my sister and a bunch of women from her neighborhood and have a girls night. last night, we were all catching up and exchanged blog sites. so today i have been reading their blogs and it kind of inspired me to blog more. it is so much fun to read up on what is going on in everyone's life. so here is my pledge to do better.
i know i don't have any pictures up here yet, but i promise, as soon as i can my computer to get a stinkin' internet connection, i will download mass pictures for all you visual learner types out there.
so here is my life as of late...WORK. thankfully i like my job so it's not a bad thing to be there. that's actually something i'm really grateful for. granted, i have only been working for about 1 1/2 years, but i still enjoy going to work most days. talking with friends, i realized that is a rarity. so anyway, back to the point...i have been picking up extra shifts at work so i can have some extra money to a)pay off my trip to europe that i took almost a year ago, and b)buy fun things for my house and pottery barn and crate and barrel (which i heard is coming to utah, yay!), to name a couple.
the weather is finally getting warmer, which i am ecstatic about. i really do enjoy winter and all the fun activities that come with it, but after 6 months, it is nice to change it up a bit and be able to do fun "warm weather activities...like riding my new bike, hiking, camping, bonfires... for example, the other day i went on a walk with my friend and my dog, marley. i live fairly close to sugarhouse park so we decided to walk there. rather than walking the straight route there and back, we meandered up and down all these side streets, looking at houses and neighborhoods. 4 hours later...it was crazy! halfway through the walk, marley just laid down in the shade, panting, looking at me with those eyes that say, "okay, i'm done". i have never been on such a long walk, but it was absolutely incredible. the weather was beautiful and it felt so good to be outside with the sun beating down. especially after what has felt like such a looooong winter.
i look forward to many more beautiful days like that one this spring/summer. now, if i could just have the ocean nearby...maybe i need a trip home for a little visit.

gracisms

2008-04-18T06:31:00.009-06:00

i'm still new at this blogging thing, but i've seen this on other blogs and really enjoyed it. so here is a list of my gracisms...things about me you may or may not know.
1.i am the youngest of 3 children. and i love it that way. the baby seems to get everything.
2. i wish there were more kids in my family. i think having large families may be difficult at times, but i think it would be awesome anyway, and so worth it.
3. i am afraid of flying. i never used to be, but i have become really really afraid of flying the last few years. i don't know why, and i don't like it because there are so many places i want to travel in the world.
4. i went to elementary school on the beach. that's right, 100 yards from the school yard was the pacific ocean. and i am so grateful for that experience.
5. i hate seafood. i grew up in a town that thrives on the seafood industry, yet i can barely manage to tolerate eating it twice a year.
6. i love tiffany&co. come on, what girl doesn't love the little blue box?
7. i love to travel. something about how seeing a new place and the similarities and differences between cultures. i love how it enlightens my understanding of the world.
8. i love experiencing all 4 seasons. summer is by far my favorite, but each season has something awesome to offer.
9. i prefer dogs over cats, but growing up, we always seemed to have cats instead of dogs. dogs have way more personality!
10. i love being in nature. it doesn't really matter what i'm doing, as long as i am outside, i am happy.
11. i love my job. i learn something new from it everyday. and there is rarely a dull moment.
12. grace is my middle name. it was my great grandmother's name.
13. catherine is my first name, but i think it's too formal for me, and i can't find a shorter version that i like.
14. growing up, everyone called me cici, but i always kind of hated it.
15. i have a wild imagination. i have always been a day dreamer, which makes it hard to pay attention sometimes, but i wouldn't change it for the world. i believe imagination is an awesome thing.
16. i was born on the ides of march, which is apparently the day caesar was murdered.
17. i always wished i had a summer birthday.
18. if i was born one day later, i would have been named martha, after my aunt.
19. i lived in mexico for a month and worked in a hospital during nursing school. it was an amazing experience, which makes me grateful for the technologies we have in the states.
20. i love to cook and bake, but i have absolutely no "instinct" when it comes to the kitchen. but i'm getting better...
21. i try to do one thing everyday that is out of my comfort zone. i think it helps me grow and better myself.
22. i consider myself adventurous. i have been skydiving and bunjee jumping, and am usually up for just about anything.
23. i'm a pisces, and i am usually pretty close to how pisces are described. even though i really don't believe in all that astrological nonsense.
24. i sometimes wish i had curly hair. my hair won't even hold a curl if i try. but people with curly hair tell me i'm lucky to have straight hair. guess the grass is always greener...
25. i like cemeteries. i don't know why, but i think there is something really cool about them.
26. i want to travel all over south america one day.
27. i love to people watch. i could do it for hours...and sometimes do.
28. i love everything tropical. the beach, the ocean, palm trees, pineapples...
29. i love to swing in hammocks. so relaxing.
30. i love the acoustic guitar. it is one of the most soothing sounds to me.
31. someday i want to do a road trip all across america. i would love to visit all of the 50 states.
32. i think the earth is such a beautiful place. the forests and mountains, and deserts. i love it all.
33. i am a really picky eater, but i am trying to be better about trying and liking new things.
34. i really like to dress up, but when i do, i feel really out of my element. i need lessons in walking in heels.
35. i love the sound of children's laughter.
36. if i wasn't a nurse, i would want to be an interior designer or photographer.
37.my favorite shoes are flip flops. i think they comprise 2/3 of my shoe collection.
38. i love the spanish language. i wish i were more fluent in it.
39.i took piano lessons twice when i was younger and quit both times. i wish my mom had made me stick with it. i've tried to teach myself as an adult, but it's not so easy.
40.my favorite food is mexican. particularly spicey food.
41. i don't think i have ever tasted a fruit i don't like. which is good because there are very few vegetables i do like.
42. i want to adopt children. i would love to have some of my own, but also adopt some. i think there are so many children in this world without loving families, and i would love to provide a loving family to some of those children.
43.i want to do a triathalon someday, but i hate running, so it may be somewhat of a challenge for me.
44.i fall asleep with the radio on.
45. i love to get lost in thought.
46.music makes me sentimental. if i hear a song, it can take me back to an exact moment from my past.
47.i love the water, but am kind of afraid of the ocean. i have been pummeled by one too many waves.
48.i prefer summer over any other season. there is no better feeling than sitting with the sun shining down on you.
49.i love to watch movies. comedies are my favorite.
50.i LOVE to laugh.
51.i love road trips, but i prefer not to drive. i don't think i'm a good driver.
52.i wish i liked to read more. i get bored easily, but i am trying to be better.
53. i love to listen and watch the rain.
54.i am a huge fan of sports. except for golf. i can't stand to watch it, but i do like to go to the driving range every now and again.
55.i have what some may call an "additction" to shopping. mostly home furnishings. but it's pretty much under control, since i don't have much extra money after payday.
56.i think i am clumsy, yet i've never broken a bone.
57.i don't really watch very much tv, but i do love The Office, and Lost. and i'm kind of a sucker for some reality shows like The Bachelor.
58.i love going to college football games. something about the crisp fall air...i just love it.
59.i am super sensitive and cry easily...i blame my mother for that.
60.i love watching sunsets. there is a peaceful calm about that time and it's a great time for reflection.
61.i love camping. you wake up so early and the days feel so long. not to mention the campfires and spending time outdoors, talking, and listening to the guitar.
62.in high school, my favorite outfit was overalls, sadly.
63.i had to wear my bathing suit during graduation because i had gotten such a bad sunburn the day before.
64.i want a house with a porch someday so i can have a hammock. i also want to be able to have a garden.
65.i love all the holidays because you get to be festive and decorate and spend time with family and friends.
66.i dream of having an audi someday. but for now the car i want is an outback.
67.i want to go to graduate school and get my master's in nursing and work in program development. it takes too long to explain what that means so just ask me and i'll tell you.
68.i want to live in boston someday. maybe not forever, but i just love that city and want to experience it for awhile.
69.even when i have kids, i want to work part time. but with my job, my schedule is super flexible so i could still be home to take care of my children.
70.i love pictures. and i love having them displayed in my house. it reminds me of all the awesome memories i have and the wonderful people who are in my life.
71.i love to have candles burning. the atmosphere it creates is so homey and warm.
72.i have a 4 1/2 year old boxer named marley that i rescued from a dog shelter 1 1/2 ago. he's the best!
73. ice cream is my favorite dessert. i can't get enough of it. my favorite is ben and jerry's phish food.
74.orchids are my favorite flower. but i also love dahlias, chrisanthimums, and plumeria.
75.i was grounded once in high school for telling my mom i was at a friends house and going somewhere else instead. i have never been able to lie to my mom since. and that was the only time i was ever grounded.
76.i had someone tell me i was the fastest text messager they had ever seen. i prefer it over talking on the phone.
77.i was in a sorority when i first went away to college. it was such a great experience and i am still in touch with some of my sorority sisters today.
78.right out of high school, i went away to university of kentucky. it was an awesome experience to be away from home for the first time and have the true college experience, living in the dorms.
79.but after my first semester, i felt too far away from home and transferred to university of utah.
80.i attended 4 different colleges before i graduated. and it took me 6 years to get my bachelors.
81.i once cried and got out of a speeding ticket. but i wasn't even crying to get out of it. it was an honest reaction to the thought of having to pay for a ticket.
82.i changed my major in college once. i started out as an elementary education major. there is something wonderful about being responsible for teaching children. they are so innocent and i love surrounding myself with them.
83.when i was younger, i used to want to be a secretary. i loved organizing things on my desk.
84.i was one of 4 students in my 6th grade class that did there homework everyday for the entire year. as a reward, our teachers took us to barnes & noble and we got to buy a book.
85.in high school, i was voted most gullible.
86.i swam and played volleyball in high school. to this day, i love love love to swim. it's so therapeutic.
87.i want to be married for a few years before i have kids. but i want to have a big family...well big for me, like 4 kids.
88.i consider myself traditional.
89.one of my favorite memories is baking at christmas time with all the women in my family. it's one of the few times during the year that everyone is together.
90.when i get married, i want a really simple wedding. and it would be awesome to have a destination wedding. but i want my family and closest friends to be there.
91.i love the feeling of being barefoot in the sand.
92.i want to fly in a helicopter someday.
93.wherever i settle down, i hope it is near family. i love being able to just have lunch with my sister or my mom.
94.my biggest area of improvement is jealousy. and when i get stressed, i swear. and i hate both of those qualities.
95.i am so happy to have the church in my life. i can't even say how much joy it brings me.
96.i always have to have my nails and toenails painted. i feel naked if they aren't.
97.i think it would be cool to have an aquarium of tropical fish, but i'm not sure i would want to do all the upkeep it requires.
98.when i was younger, my dad had two horses, and i loved to ride them. but i haven't ridden for so many years.
99.i hate traffic. especially since i drive a stick shift.
100.the greatest life ambition i have, physically speaking, is to hike the 7 highest peaks of the world.

isn't she lovely?

2008-04-18T06:02:00.005-06:00

well folks, here she is. my brand new, k2, road bike. growing up in southern california, i was issued the standard, one speed, back pedal breaks, beach cruiser. i loved my beach cruiser, so much. so much in fact, that i still have it today. it was the first thing i ever purchased all by myself. i worked an entire summer doing errands for my parents just to earn enough money to buy it. and once i got it, i rode it to school everyday. it even had the cute basket in front. there is nothing better than riding your bike on a warm summer day, feeling the wind all around you.

but living in salt lake city, i don't think i would get very far with my beach cruiser. so...i thought long and hard (at least 3 days) and decided on this lovely piece of heaven. now i can have all the joy of riding a bike again and i look forward to the many long rides i wil enjoy in the years to come. now all i need is a name...suggestions?

winter wonderland

2008-04-18T05:53:00.010-06:00

one of the benefits of moving back to salt lake is the opportunity to experience the 4 seasons. growing up, i never really had that. there were maybe 2 seasons at best: summer and winter (60 degree days).

i have always been more of a summer girl, but this last winter was really good to me. utah is known for the best snow on earth. i mean, it even says so on the license plates. and this winter, i learned why. i was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time at snowbird and a few days at brighton as well. below are a few pictures of the wonderful time i had.

there is something really amazing about standing at the top of a mountain and just taking in the view. or riding down the mountain with the "swoosh swoosh" sound of fresh powder beneath you. it's times like that, i can really appreciate the world i live in and see the hand of God and what He has made all around me. i am so grateful to live in this world and for the beauty that is all around me. i really am so lucky and i am thankful everyday.

as great a time as i had playing in the snow this season, i look forward to spring and summer and the many great times i know they hold.

come one, come all

2008-04-18T02:36:00.001-06:00

So i have had this blog for awhile, but have not gotten around to starting it. I am a big believer in journal keeping and I see this as another venue for expressing my thoughts, and getting your thoughts in return.
To start, a little about me. I am a nurse in the emergency department at the university of utah hospital. I have worked here for a little over 6 months and worked for a year on a telemetry (cardiac) floor before that. I absolutely love my job. There is never a boring day and I always leave having learned something new. Not to mention, the people I work with are incredible.
I am originally from Orange County, California and relocated to Salt Lake City in October 2007. I can't tell you enough of how much I love this city. I love just about anything outdoors and salt lake is an outdoor woman's delight! I also love the seasons and am particularly happy for summer to arrive, though my days at snowbird this winter were absolutely amazing.
Here is a list of things I plan to do this summer. If you want in on any of this action, just let me know...

hiking
road biking
wakeboarding
bonfires
kickboxing
jiu jitsu
raquetball
cooking/baking
camping
traveling
...and probably a lot of other things i can't think of at this hour.