The Drive Back...

I forgot to mention in the last post that we usually drive to Texas-becuase I doesn't cost as much as flying and we usually have tons of stuff! On the way out there it was just me, my mom, and Ryan, (dad and Barrett got to fly b/c he had basketball) and only took us one long day to get to Lubbock (16hrs). On the way back that was a different story. Ryan flew to Houston to do some work-yeah right he just didn't want to ride back with a bunch of girls. It was me, Kailey, mom, and my crazy cousin Taizsa-we picked her up in Tyler, TX. It was a lot of fun riding back together, we watched Pillow Talk, The Notebook, The Devil Wears Prada, the second season of The Office, and we stopped at a Best Buy near Dallas and got the best soundtrack ever-Garden State-Kailey and I use to listen to this cd all the time in high school but I lost mine a couple years back and it was great to listen to it again! I highly recommend it! We did end up having to stay the night on the road and didn't get home until Sunday at 430 but it was a fun trip back with a few of my favorite girls!

Merry Christmas...a little late

I was in Texas this Christmas, Ryan and I switch every other year and it was our second time to go to Lubbock. It was a great trip and I got to see my MoMo and GenGen (that is what I call my grandparents), my aunt, uncle and cousins that I almost never get to see. We always get together (15 total) Christmas Eve and eat, take a group picture and open gifts. Santa still comes Christmas day-my mom still writes from Santa on the packages- I got an AWESOME gift from Ryan! He is the best and really tried to make it a surprise but if you know me I am a snoop! I hate that I am and will try to do better because I can't act as excited and I ruin the surprise-I did the same when I got engaged but that time Ryan really hid the ring well! Anyway I had I great Christmas and I hope you and your family had one as well!

I passed!

I just finished my hardest semester of school so far and if it gets any worse I don't know what I'll do! I took Business Law, Business Comm, Computer Apps, Calculus and Accounting-I was told not to take the last two together, but I did anyway-I'm a glutton for punishment. B. Law and Comm. are upper division level classes and I got As-the rest were my last lower division classes and I was praying to pass them! I honestly thought I was going to make Ds-which isn't passing anymore-but I somehow got it together right at the end to put out some Cs! Next semester isn't looking any better (ACCT 2. Computer2, Marketing, Stats, Managment, and maybe one more?) Sorry for the downer post-I probably sound like a really pessimistic person-I'll have a more postivie one closer to Christmas!

PDA-Please get a room!

I am at school "studying" for my finals and just had to write about this couple in front of me totally going to town! They are all over each other and it is really nasty! I think it is so gross that people can do that in public without feeling trashy! Maybe I am just a little over the top about it because you should know that I am completely weird about that stuff. Taizsa, my cuz, pointed out to me how anti-PDA Ryan and I are, we hardly even hug each other goodbye if other people are watching. Anyway I am rambling on...all I wanted to say was I hate PDA so please don't do it infront of me!

Twilight-the movie

I went to the opening night of twilight-like many- and I have to say I have mixed feelings. I really did like it a lot! I know I said I wasn't happy with the characters but I have changed my mind on some-especially Edward-the more I saw him in interviews and stuff the more I liked him! He is really beautiful and perfect for the role. I was just sad that it was so short-it could have been Gone With The Wind long so it could fit in all the good parts. The other Cullens hardley said anything! I think if I hadn't read the book I would have been lost! But over all I really loved it and hope they make the other three books!...just longer!
-Sorry the pictures are in a random layout-

New York, New York!

I got back last night from an awesome trip to New York and I loved it!

Day1- My mom and I flew out of ATL Friday morning at 6 and the night before I did not sleep a wink because I put everything off until the last minute so, I started packing at midnight, took a shower at 1ish and we were heading to atlanta at 3am, I took about a 30 min nap on the flight but got my second wind whenever we got to New York. We met up with Kailey, ate some breakfast, and walked all over Manhattan. We took the subway down to ground zero and walked around the financial area and went up to SOHO and the Village. We ate at a place that kailey heard about in the village-she read it off of a peanut butter package-they made everything with peanut butter and if you know me or kailey you know we live off the stuff, so that was exciting. We were all very tired around 330 and went back to our hotel and slept until 8, thank goodness we got back up. We went to Times Square ate some good NY pizza and walked around until 1am.

Day2-We slept in til 9 and then went out onto 5th Ave. We started at Saks and ended up at the Park. It was a cloudy but very warm day, I think 65. We shopped and walked around until 630, then went back to our hotel and got ready for the Rockettes Christmas Show. After the show we went back to Times to this place that we THOUGHT looked good. We should have just gotten cheesecake there bc that was the only good thing, the food, not so much and way way way over priced! Kailey and mom split a tuna dish which was so gross they couldn't finish and kailey got sick off of. Its kinda funny-kailey didn't choose the best things to eat the entire time.

Day 3-We had planned on running in Central Park! HA! We had been walking around pretty much nonstop for two days and were not in the mood to get up really early and run while on vaca. Instead we ate a nice long breakfast at the hotel and took the subway to the Empire. We didn't go up. The line was around the building and it dropped like 20+ degrees that night so we were too cold-next time we'll do it-We walked up 34th street to some shops and to the Macy's where they have the parade! It was really awesome, it had some of the original esclators (I don't know how to spell that) that were made of wood and it was huge! After that we went on a boat tour around the city which was really cool. Mom , K, and I all love history and our tour guide rocked! He told us all kinds of things about the city we never even knew. From there we went to Grand Central and ate at Two Boots-pizza again!(Our tour guide recommended it-and it was good) We went over to the Crystler Building-I like it better than the Empire-then back to the room. Kailey wasn't feeling too good from the tuna so she stayed in while mom and I went out and guess where to--back to Times Square. If you know what TRL is they were having thier final show that night and we wanted to see some of the stars that were going to be there, the people we saw were rappers ( 50 cent, Nelly, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Kid Rock) and Taylor Swift-it was still pretty neat becasue it was PACKED with people.

Day 4-We woke up, packed up, and went out one last time for one reason, Magnolia Bakery, I have heard of this place from I don't know where? I think Sex and the City somehow-but I never watched it so I don't know but anyway, we wanted to try one and I loved it! Very tasty-k and mom said it wasn't their fav but I liked it very much and you should try it whenever you go! We then went back to the airport and were in atl at 430 and I got to go to school that night on my way back (FUN FUN)...I had a speech today and I hope I did ok bc nyc wore me out-in a good way and can't wait to go back!

Sorry so long, I couldn't stop writing...

Yes, I listen to Christmas music this early!

I love love love Christmas! It is my favorite time of year! I just bought an awesome Christmas CD on iTunes and am already listening to it! I can't help it! When Ryan and I lived in Utah I started listening to Christmas music after Halloween bc it was already cold and starting to snow some but here its not even that cold! Does anyone else listen to Christmas music this early or am I just being crazy?!

*This is a picture from our Christmas tree in Provo! So Chalrie Brown but I loved it-and we still have it!

Go Team America!

This was my first time to vote in a Presidential Election and I am so glad that it was one of the most historic elections in American history! No matter who you like, it was great to see that a black man or a woman could go to the White House! I really wish I could have either been in Chicago or NYC last night to be with all the other voters watching history be made! I am so proud of America, it really is the best place to live and I think its great that countries all over the world are excited for our future president! It is so awesome to know the American Dream is real!

Movie Weekend

Ryan and I hardly ever go to new movies, we usually wait until they are at the cheap movies or on video. But, this weekend we wanted to try that Mellow Mushroom deal where you get a medium pizza, 2 drink, and 2 movie tickets for 30 dollars. Well...that was a rip off! The "free" movie tickets were only $6 dollar off cupons and don't even work for some new movies! We ended up going back to FT.O and watching the movie at that new little theater, which is really nice and cheaper. I have blabbered on about that to talk about the movie we watched, Nick and Norah, which is a really cute, funny movie. It was a lot like Juno. The next night my mom and I went out with some close family friends for a nice girls night. We ate at Big River and went to see Mamma Mia! afterwards, OMG! Why have I only heard good things about this movie?! IT was AWFUL!!!! It was the 1st movie I have ever walked out on. We were all trying to sit through it but when Pierce Brosnan started singing we were out of there, back to Big River to eat some yummy dessert and to talk about how horrible that movie was!

The Secret Life of Bees

I just saw a preview for the new movie The Secret Life of Bees and I am so excited! I read the book in high school and I loved it! I recommend everyone read it so I can have people to go with to watch the movie. It comes out Oct.17! Yay! If you have read the book click here to watch some trailers.

I HEART FALL!!

Oh my goodness! Have you been outside in the past few days?! Isn't it amazing! I serious love this time of year! I do love summer but the HOT, STICKY southern summers are horrible! I am so happy that the weather is cooling off so I can break out some cute fall clothes!

My Fall Favorites: leaves changing, fall clothes, weather, college football ( GO DAWGS), comfort foods, Thanksgiving, Halloween, this list goes on!

*The one thing I don't like about this time of year is the time change! I don't like it getting dark at 5!

What are your favorite things about fall?

Back to School!

Summer is over! Back to school. Well, I have been in school for about a month now but it has been a non stop month! I had a really large picture frame order (28 frames to be exact) and have had tons of busy work for school! I don't think I have ever had this much busy work! I am taking 15 credit hours which is normal for me but I don't remember ever having this much work! I was thinking about taking more next semester but at this rate I don't think so. To the girls out there that have finished their degrees...did you have tons and tons of busy work in your upper division classes?

NYC or BUST!

YAY!! This past weekend my mom, sister and I booked tickets for NYC!! I am so excited! We have been trying to plan this now for the past couple of years and its finally here! I have never been to the BIG APPLE!! I am finally going and have always wanted to go when all the Christmas stuff was out! To see NYC at that time of year is going to be awesome! I could go on and on about how excited I am to go but I don't want to be annoying! I just want everyone to know how dang happy I am!

More Chicago Pictures

On the Ferris Wheel


Robin and me on the Ferris Wheel

A really cool water fall!

Sushi

Sears Tower

Chicago!

I had a great Labor day weekend! I got to go to a city I had never been before! Chicago! I loved it! It was so awesome seeing all the sites you hear about and being in such a large fun city! I wish we could have stayed longer! We (Robin and I) got to ride the ferris wheel and we walked ALL over Chicago, never getting a taxi! We were stupid enough to go running that night after walking all day and paid for it the next two days:)! I ate some Gino's deep dish pizza and tried sushi for the first time! It was good going down but...lets just say I won't eat it for a while! All in all I had a blast and would love to go back! Thanks Robin for being such a great tour guide! Happy late Birthday!!

Hookin' up at Wally World!

Yes I know, I shop at Walmart sometimes! I wish there was a Macey's out here or we had enough money to shop at Greenlife and I would never have to go to that place, but anyway...This was just too funny and I couldn't stop laughing! I was at Walmart looking for yogurt when this older man (like 60) was making small talk about yogurt( I was telling him the bad things in a lot of yogurt-thanks Kristi!) and he mummbled (Spelling?) something and I asked him what he had said and then he asked if I needed a SUGAR DADDY! I was totally caught off guard, here is this nice looking old man is asking me if I would date him! I said NO! and started laughing at him and I was totally embarassed! I left the store pretty much right then so I wouldn't see him again! It was creepy! Random entry, I know but it was funny!

....I thought afterwards maybe I could have atleast gotten him to buy my grocerys, I'm always needing more money!! Just Kidding!

LovelyLaurel

I have put some of my frames on Etsy and hope to put more on there during the week!

What I've been working on...

I have tons of talented friends that make super cute things and I thought I might try to join in all the fun...I am working on some frames and other little knick knacks. I would like to make a lot and sell them at our Homemade Holiday sale this November and I think I'll set up an Etsy account as well so just tell me what you think of some of the stuff I have right now...Thanks

Curse you Stephenie Meyer for my sleepless nights...

I think I have turned into a vampire this week! I have hardley done a thing because I have been so consumed with reading new moon and eclipse!(And I was sick for the first part of the week) Edward may have really come over and bit me I was feeling so bad, but anyway, I loved eclipse it was my favorite out of the three! I am really excited that I dont have to wait for the last one to come out! I wonder whats going to happen...I really love Edward but Jacob is really great too! Poor Bella, even though I don't know why they are fighting over her, she is annoying as heck
Please ignore all the grammatical errors I probably have I'm running on little sleep and am preparing for another sleepless night!

Twilight

Well I guess I caught to other bug that was going around our ward. Twilight. I just finished the 1st book and am reading the second one now and should be onto the 3rd one by tomorrow or this weekend. I have to say it was a little slow at first but then I couldn't put it down! Is it bad that I think I love Edward?! He is amazing. I looked up the movie trailer and was a little upset about the kid who is playing him...I had him totally different in my mind. Oh well I guess I'll keep reading and then get ready for the movie this December...I guess thats what we'll be doing for girls night that month!

I've caught the bug!

Well I guess I am jumping on the Brainerd Ward bandwagon and starting P90X. I started today with my mom and I have to say that I feel it already! I hope I can make it another 89 days. It was really funny watching us trying to do all the pull-ups and push-ups! Tomorrow should be really funny with us trying to do the plyometrics. I'll keep you informed.

Team Challenge

Team Challenge is a non profit organization that raises money to research Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis and they have different fundraising programs and since my family has a history of both these diseases. I thought I would sign up to participate in one. The fundraising program that I am taking part in is a half marathon in San Antonio, TX this November. I am raising money to travel down to Texas and run the half marathon all while raising money for research. I think these types of organizations are really great to get involoved in and I hope to raise all the money needed to help further the research!

Happy Belated Anniversary!

Ryan and I celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary on May 6th and we went down to Daytona and Disney World. Ryan planned a business trip at the end of May to go down to Daytona and thought it would be good to have it be our anniversary present since I really just want to travel a lot before we have a baby! Last year on our way back from Utah we stopped in Vegas for a night and it was great! We got hooked up with a penthouse (probably because it was a slow Tuesday night) but anyway...We went to Daytona this year, def. not as glamorous, I think it might be redneck heaven next to Gulf Shores! Sorry to anyone that I offended. But I did love our hotel and it was super nice! We got to go to the Orlando Temple and drove past the Holy Land, it was a theme park for Jesus. Interesting. Disney was great! We only had one day and I have never been to Disney World only Land and that was years ago. We hit all four parks and rode the rides we wanted to and saw the awesome fireworks at Magic Kingdom! 9-11 we walked around, got back to our room at 12:30AM and the next morning we had to get up at 530 to make our flight at 730! We were pooped! But It was Wonderful!

Recent Events...

I have been doing a lot of different things this summer and thought I would talk about them and put some pictures up since my blog is still very boring. I've been able to hang out with my cousins a lof this summer which is great because I usually don't see them as much as I would like and we had such fun times growing up! Our moms and grandma would drive us all over the country during the summers and we would have to best time! We haven't been anywhere together in a long time but we did go shooting with Garrick because he loves guns and is going to school to be a gunsmith. I thought it wouldn't be too bad but I didn't realize I would go deaf! I really only liked the handguns and the 22 ( I think thats what its called). I am not big on guns but it was a new and fun thing to do with my cousin.

I can't run anymore!

Ok ever since my half marathon I have not been in the mood to run at all! I have run a few times since then but I seem to hate running and I don't see how I ran 13.1 miles! I ran 3.5 mi. last night with my mom, sis, and Ryan and I could have died! I blammed it on the humidity which is awful but still! I need a kick in the butt to get me going again!

This should be interesting...

Ok this is my first time blogging and I am blog challenged. So I hope it will only get better. I really like looking at other peoples blogs and thought I should get my own so we'll see how it goes.