Memorial Day

Life has been really hectic and busy lately. Sorry I have been slacking on the blog posting. I will be up and running soon :) Until then, I am sharing just one large tid from my week in replace of the usual tid + bits. Please feel free to still link up!

My parents came up as a surprise this past week, and I couldn't have been more excited. With Trevor gone, it was nice to do something! We spent most of the weekend helping Sarah and her fiance Sam move into their apartment, and doing wedding errands. It was honestly just fun to be together. Let's just say, we got ZERO sleep! hahaha

We basically ate a lot :) haha Oh and I don't know how I didn't get any pictures of my MAMA! Well I know I got some... but they were while she was eating... and she would kill me if I posted them :) haha

 yeah... there was ice cream in the middle... yummm.
The Love Birds.

It was such a random weekend, spent running errands and stuffing our faces... I guess that isn't so random at all actually :) Isn't that what we do most of the time?! haha Hope you guys had a great Memorial Weekend, I sure did.

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tid + bits




+A gorgeous shot of my beautiful little sister (who recently got engaged) and her fiance from their engagement session :) Beautiful no?

+Speaking of weddings, I went to a friend's bridal shower last night. LOVED the fun little cookies that were there. Who knew hearts could be so naughty? Perfect cookie for a shower or bachelorette party haha!

+I know I mentioned this beautiful Afghan blanket my Nana made me back in Christmas, but I have just got to say, I can't get enough of it. I absolutely love and cherish it.


+Have you guys ever had the Gourmet Garlic Herb Shrimp Tacos from Rubios? I replace the corn tortilla for flour, squirt some lime on them, and die in heaven. I mean... look at that avocado? I die. Go get it sometime,  and thank me later :)

p.s. doing a giveaway for an ad spot here, and there will be another giveaway on my blog tomorrow! :)


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auckie & sisha

 

We had just finished watching the Lady and the Tramp. We insisted on Spaghetti that night so we could reenact the famous scene :) haha

♥ ♥

When I was younger I couldn't pronounce my little brother's name.  Saying Alex was just too difficult for me. In result he ended up with a couple different names. Auckie is what I called him for a long time, which then turned into Auculux. Don't ask me why I thought those were easier to pronounce than Alex haha, but this is what I called him. As Alex got older, he couldn't say my name either, so I became Sisha.

Being only two years apart, we hung out a lot. Every single one of my childhood memories has him in it. My earliest memory of Alex is when he was a newborn. I remember asking my mother what the big purple chunk on his belly button was, and I was always trying to carry him myself. Being overwhelmed with his weight, but wanting to be a big sister so badly, I would do it anyways. I remember one night there was a big thunderstorm. I was really afraid, and I wanted to go to my parents bedroom, but I knew I couldn't leave Auckie behind. His crib was in my room, and I walked right over to it, and somehow managed to lift that kid out of it. I wrapped both  my arms around his body in a big hug and lifted with all my might, as I basically dragged him with me to go find comfort and solace in my parents room.

As we got older he would copy everything I did. When I wanted to be Jasmine for Halloween, he insisted on being Aladdin. When I wanted to be Sandy from Grease, he died his hair black and was my Danny Zuko. Even though we shared a room, and had bunk beds, he would beg and beg and beg me to have a "sleepover" up on the top bunk with me. He just wanted to share beds, he wanted to be with me. Some nights when he couldn't fall asleep, I would dangle my hands and feet over the edge of the bunk and put on puppet shows for him, a tradition that passed down to my little sister when we shared a room. We did everything together.

Because we did everything together, you can imagine that we fought the most too. Nothing serious, always something dumb and petty. But as the years went on, that closeness didn't go away. Even as teenagers we could talk about our lives, and cared about each others opinions. I would help him do his hair, or tell him which shirt and tie looked best. I would even trust him with telling me which outfit looked better on me, all while fighting for bathroom space mind you ;) haha

Even as adults we still call each other Auckie and Sisha. I have three brothers, and saying goodbye to each of them before they went on their missions was difficult. But I have found the waiting for them to come home part to be the hardest with Alex. I didn't realize why at first, but as time has gone on I have figured out what it is. He was so integrated in my every day life that I didn't even realize it. Every time a good song would come on that we thought the other would like we could call each other. We also have an inside joke texting game. Do you know how many times these past two years that I have called him, or texted him, all to remember later that he doesn't have a cell phone right now?! Countless. The year before he left for his mission he lived in the apartment above mine, and even if we didn't hang out, he would stop by to just say hi. Or I would wander up there to sit in his room for a bit. These last few months have been extra difficult for me with him gone, I truly miss him. 

I am so excited for him to be coming home soon. I am so proud of him. It is funny how our roles have seemed to swap as we got older, at least they did for me. When he was younger, all he cared about was spending time with me. Following me, and playing with me. He looked up to me so much. But sometime during the teenage years, I started looking up to him. My younger brother became my role model. He became someone I wanted to be. He is so kind, loyal, loving, compassionate, strong, smart... so many things and all the good things you ever wanted to be all rolled up into one.

 I love him so much, and I wont lie, sometimes I wish I could rewind the clock... just so we can spend all our afternoons together again out in the backyard playing, pretending, imagining.
Not worried about anything else in the world, except for each other.

♥ ♥


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+ Enjoying this beautiful Succulent plant I got from one of my roommates at Breathing Space It just brightens up my mornings each morning as I walk into the kitchen.

+I got to talk to my little brother Alex via Skype this past Mother's Day! He will be home soon from his mission that he is serving in Chile. I can't even explain how excited I am, I miss him so much. I am at the point where I literally cry if I talk about him too much. He has been such a great missionary, but I need him back in my life! :) So happy it will be soon!

P.S. I love my brothers, haha if you notice Ben is making a crazy face with peace signs while my other brother Brandon is shaving during our Skype call, haha. Love them. 

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Marathon.






























Back in 2009 I ran the Salt Lake City Half Marathon. I had been wanting a big goal for myself to help me get back into shape and be healthier. I had never thought I would ever run any type of marathon because lets face it... they seem totally crazy, right?!

I have always been extremely active, and played sports year round growing up, but I never considered myself a "runner." I liked to play sports where you were focused on something else besides the fact that you were running. Truth is, I absolutely hate running... but I LOVE the way you feel after you have ran. Nothing really beats it. So because of this, and along with the fact that I like to be healthy, I run.

I remember the first thing that came to my mind after I finished the half marathon was... "I will never do a full marathon!" haha Yet, I couldn't shake how amazing finishing that half marathon felt. To do something you didn't think you could actually do, or pull off... is one of THE best feelings in the world. I remember how proud of myself I was, how in awe I was of the capabilities of our bodies. I loved setting a goal for myself, and completing it.

So I knew... I just knew deep down, that someday I had to try and do a full marathon. At least one. Just to say I had done it, and because I knew if the half felt that great, I could only imagine how amazing finishing a full could be. Especially because I am petrified I will fail. Fear can drive the best out of us, and I have learned that I love making goals I am afraid of, because completing those goals tend to have the most rewarding outcome.

So with that said, me and some members of my family have signed up and were accepted into the St. George Marathon this year! Let the training, complaining, crying, "why did I want to do this again?" all start! Ready or not, here I come. One more life goal will be marked off my list come October 2012! :)


"She turned her cant's into cans, and her dreams into plans."


InstaLOVE♥


Thankfully I have had enough stuff going on I have been keeping myself busy with Trevor gone :) It really has helped!

The blogging retreat made the first weekend just fly right on by! And then I had a girl's night with a dear old friend of mine from San Diego! Love me some Stephanie time :) Thanks to my amazing boss, I went out and got some new running shoes - can you believe that?! nicest guy ever, love working for him!

Then I had a good friend's wedding, which is always fun. I love going to weddings! I love when you see two people so genuinely in love. And these two... oh boy... were they in love! They made me cry :)

While I have been staying busy, I wont lie... I missed Trevor when I was at that wedding and thinking of my own. It was the perfect day. Trevor always dances with me at weddings, and being solo on the dance floor without my partner in crime did make me a little sad. I guess I better keep up with the great weekends to keep my mind off of his absence for the next couple weeks! (LOVE YOU TREVOR!)

Oh and did I mention that I talked to my Mom probably ALL day yesterday? haha Love that we talk to each other every single day, and that I can talk to her for hours with out even realizing how long it had been.  

Happy Mother's Day to all those wonderful Mamas out there!


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tid + bits




+ I didn't even realize it until later... but the nail polish I wore on my toes to the Cinco De Mayo party was an Essie color called Olé Caliente! Love this color, and very fitting for the day might I add :)

+ How cute were these gum packets from the blogging retreat? adorable.

+ So I thought it was pretty funny when I walked into the dinner at the blog retreat, and saw that the decor match perfectly to my "business card" I feel weird calling it a business card, I want to call it my Social Media Card :) haha

+ I have heard so much about this Ben & Jerry's Ice cream flavor, the one with fudge covered potato chips in it. I usually find Ben & Jerry's too expensive, but it was on mega sale so I decided to try it. Not sure if I love it or not yet. They don't really taste like potato chips, which actually bothers me. There more like just a crunchy cluster? hmm. 


Oh and I promise, no more blog posts dedicated to the blogging retreat, I will be back to the regular schedule next week :) haha It was just TOO much to not share!


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Breathing Space Blog Retreat {Part 2}

The first day was only the start of the best second day! I was supposed to wake up and go to a running class at 7:00 A.M. but seeing that we stayed up talking all night and I didn't even get to bed until after 3:30 A.M., when my alarm went off, so did any way I was getting myself up! HA! So I slept in for another hour :) Breakfast was scrumptious and perfect, and then me and Savannah headed to a knitting class! I am proud to say that I learned how to knit! Thanks to Anna Adams, I know how to start it (forget what that is called), and do a knit and pearl. Now I just need to practice, practice, practice. My Nana is amazing at knitting, so now I want her to make sure I keep at it! I have always wanted to learn, and finally had the excuse and time to just do it!

After Knitting it was off to on awesome lunch and some walking around the adorable shops they have up in Daybreak! What a beautiful community. Told Trevor if we end up living in Utah for good, that is where I would want to be, perfection!


 Me with the man responsible for the whole shin dig! :)
The house we stayed in! The outside does NOT do the inside justice, let me tell you...

We attended an inspiring Interior Design Class. Something you might not know about me is that if I hadn't gone to school to be a teacher, I wanted to go into Interior Design. I have a passion for design, and I can't wait to have a budget for my own place someday! I loved Brian's class.


Brian Clark Designs just celebrated 5 years in the business. During this time he has also consulted for CH2Mhill as an architectural lead and Drake Design Associates in New York City as a designer. I think what really impressed me was his extensive background in theater and film. He has toured all over the world in various performing groups, for Hol- land America Cruise Lines, and tours, including the Broadway National tour of Les Miserables. He has appeared as a guest designer on Home Team and as an actor on TV. Some of his TV credits include: Everwood, Touched by an Angel, and The Showtime series Paradise. He has also been seen in many films, most notably The Worlds Fastest Indian with Sir Anthony Hopkins. Impressed? Yes! haha I for one LOVED watching Everwood growing up, Touched by an Angel, and the movie Touched By an Angel! :) Just sayin'


Then I headed to a make up class which I can't believe I almost missed! Deidra Smith taught the class, and the second I saw the 858 area code on her business card, I knew I was going to love her! She graduated from The Paul Mitchell School in San Diego. She has worked as a Regional Make Up Artist for Laura Mercier. Her talents have lead her to everything from Spa Management to Runway Shows, Weddings and Photo Shoots. She taught us all about skin care, make-up application, quick hair styles and simple ways to look great. Honestly her class was a treat. Loved her!

And of course, since it was Cinco De Mayo, we had a big dinner that involved some awesome Cafe Rio Enchiladas and some props at the photo booth... which you will see we took full advantage of!
 
 THE most Gorgeous Cake No?!
Olé!

An incredible weekend! So much fun :)
Wish you ALL could have been there!