Paris

Nate and I were supposed to be in Sydney to see my sisters best friend Amy but the flights filled up... So we ended up in Paris the next day! It was so much fun to get to be with Nate all day everyday. We pretty much saw everything we could: the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Ellyse, the Pantheon, the Lourve, the Musee D'orsay, the Latin quarter, the Notre Dame Cathedrial, and Luxembourg Gardens. We stayed at Hotel du Bois and it was so darling. It was a boutique hotel that gives you a real metal key. It was only one block away from the Arc and so it was such a great location. Everyday we would go get our breakfast at the market under us, I love their grocery stores. We had this amazing yogurt that they make in little ceramic pots. We didn't go 5 hours without having a baguette of some sort. We also got to meet up with our aunt Janae and her cute family. They took us to a Greek restaurant where we ate escargot and got to break our plates.  I wish we could have been there longer but we will probably be going back soon for the Disneyland Paris anniversary. Pictures will be coming soon... we can seem to upload them..

New York. Concrete Jungle where dreams are made of...

So my cute in-laws FINALLY got their mission call that said where they are going for the next 3 years! The home of the Empire State Building, Time Square, the Yankees, Knicks, Kings, Giants, SoHo, knock off purses, Broadway, and sooo much more! I couldn't be more thrilled for them, especially because I can fly to see them every weekend with Nate. I know this was an inspired call and that they don't just draw these things out of a hat. I couldn't have picked a more perfect place for them myself. The brothers are thrilled for such and exciting place and cute Ryan gets to go to school in a really nice Neighborhood in Scarsdale. I can't wait to see them take New York by storm, they will be so amazing. Love you guys

PS. No Sawyer did not know where they were going before this... purely a coincidence that he is wearing that shirt.. crazy huh. Oh and sorry that I cut off the movie where I did, I was too excited.

Love Day

I had to take a quick break from my grueling homework to write about my Valentine's Day. The day was crazy with different events, work, and school but Nate was able to make it special. He woke up early and drove me to work, which he knows I love because we get to start the day out together fighting over the bathroom space and haphazardly running around the apartment getting ready. But mostly I love just getting to hold his hand and sing to the radio in his car with him. He also left me a love letter by my cereal that everyone at work was jealous about. He raced around while I had class and planned dinner for us. He made the Wisconsin Trio from the Melting Pot with all the different cheeses and exotic flavors. I was so proud! We had ourselves an at home Melting Pot. Then he got us Beef Stroganoff, our very favorite from the Copper Onion. It was sooo yummy. Before he had to rush of to his class that night we ate chocolate covered strawberries (V Chocolate, only the best) and just loved each other for a bit. It was such a fast paced day but it meant so much to me that he made it so special even throughout all of the chaos.

PS. The sweet boy with the heart plates is my cute nephew Staton... so cute huh?

OURS

Is anyone else as in love with Taylor Swifts song 'Ours' as I am? I feel like Nate and I have this special little love that no one can figure out or copy. I also feel like everyone is against it; they try to break us down or make us feel inadequate in the world. They "throw rocks at things that shine." I am constantly inundated with people that think the way I choose to live my life and the things I plan to do are ignorant and foolish. We are best friends, as cliche as that sounds, and we take on the world together. It is so hard sometimes to ignore the worlds judgements, but this song reminds me that Nate is here with me through it all and that others simply just don't understand, they are the ignorant ones, not us...

Color Me Mine

For Date Night with Jaden and Sharon this month, we went to Color Me Mine. Sharon's car broke down on the way but we still made it! We were helped by a very enthusiastic girl named Pilar (Pee-lar). I always thought I had the most unique name but I think we have a tie with that one.

I put lace on my big plate

Jaden made a cracker holding cup and Nate made a mug

The bottom of my plate

Sharon made Buddha on the outside of her bowl and a bum with made in China on the inside

Miss Representation

"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any"-Alice Walker

For one of my classes I was invited to go to a screening of this film. If you can find a screening of this film I would highly recommend seeing it. It talks about the demeaning aspects the media portrays for women and the way it is attacking the self esteem and the self worth of all women. It is blunt about how women are portrayed and placed in second after men but it gave me such a realization to the power that us women really do have. ALWAYS be a role model for other women and girls. Make it a point to be accepting and nonjudgemental. A lot of the attacks on women come from other women. When was the last time you didn't critique the way a woman looked or acted. I find myself doing that to the tv screen all of the time... like "wow she has put on some weight" or "could she be wearing anymore makeup?" It is AWFUL! Love the women around you, support women and their amazing accomplishments, and help to bring them higher not lower.


Newest Miss Representation Trailer (2011 Sundance Film Festival Official Selection) from Miss Representation on Vimeo.

Ok lets start fresh 2012

I am forgetting about and forgiving myself for the things I didn't get done, the things I wanted to do but didn't, the messes I made (not metaphorically, real cluttered and unorganized messes), the people I didn't spend time with, the things I forgot about, the days where I was way less than perfect, and every little mistake I made in 2011.

The things I get to start this year out with: my fairytale husband, my best friends, my darling apartment, the awesome University of Utah, my supportive and loving family, excitement, ambition, and everything good.

The things that have to go.... Laziness, selfishness, taking the easy way out, stressing out over small things, not forgiving myself when I make mistakes, sadness, anger, and anything that holds me down from being the ultimate person I can be.

In 2012 I will make time for the people I love most, I will treat everyone with love and not be afraid to help them, push myself when I think I can't go on, master the things I have been putting off, set my priorities straight, make myself and others proud, do many things outside of my comfort zone, eat good food and get off my bum, make the people around me happy, be giving even when I feel I don't have anything to give, swallow my pride, never let the world get to me and make me feel insufficient, and I will be happy to be who I am and love myself.

T'was a Great Christmas

This past month has been pretty crazy for me just like any young married couple that is still in school would be. Finals were straight up hard, work was super busy, and I procrastinated for Christmas til December 24th. I got pretty good grades though and the presents turned out to be good. I also have a plan to graduate in the spring which seemed impossible because I only take 12 credits and I took a semester off. But now I should be back to the graduation that I was supposed to have. Nate and I had so much fun shopping on Christmas Eve and we had a bunch of gift cards that paid for most of our stuff and it made it even more fun. We themed the presents with exercise so that we can get back to our pre marriage body. We got Zumba for the wii, Jillian's Butt and thigh toner, and this shaking stick thing. We are still in love with our apartment and feel right at home. He still makes me so happy even though I am a handful to take care of and he is still the cutest thing in the whole world.

Hawaii... A couple of times

For Thanksgiving I got to go with the Morgan Family to Maui. It was super fun but completely different from what I was used to. When the Duncan girls go to Maui we just relax and lay at the pool and get really tan but this trip was dominated by boys so we just kept going and going and going. We went to Hana and that was really pretty and fun on the way up. Then we got to stay over in this cute beach hotel. On the way back though I was not feeling well at all... I have never experienced getting car sick until that trip down from Hana. It was fun to see someone else's traditions and to see different things in a place that you have been to 15 times. Yeah I know that I am spoiled but that's what you get for working for the airlines.
After finals week my dad went to Maui to finish some computer programming for work and I decided to tag along for that too. It was super cloudy and rainy but I finished a book and got to relax for a few days. I think I am all airplaned out for a while now.

This is the airport when I landed.

Bubba Gumps

The MOVE

So Nate and I have been living at the apartments at the gateway for the past 6 months. We sorta got sick of it overnight. Don't get me wrong the location is prime but it just never really felt like home. There are new apartments in the City Creek development that we fell in love with. We didn't even finish up our lease at the Gateway before moving in. My cute families (Duncans and Morgans) got us completely moved in 2 hours to beat the snow storm that was coming in. We have been there for a couple weeks now and we are so smitten with our new home. Yes, home. We finally have a place that makes us feel excited to come home to. Every thing is brand new and smells so good. There is also room for every thing and it feels so much bigger! I told Nate the other day that I don't think there is anywhere else I would rather be right now and I am soooo happy.
We have to paint our apartment back to white and I just wanted everyone to see our cute bedroom before it is gone...

I will post pictures of our new home when we get all settled in, or if you know me come stop by and see it!

Disney on Ice & H&M

Nate and I got to go to Disney on ice this week! We were the only people there without children. haha. Nate was probably going crazy because I was freaking out over all the cute little kids in their costumes. I used to be one of them. I dressed up as Belle when we went to see Beauty and the Beast on Broadway and I lived in princess dresses until I was 6... school got in the way of my fashion sense. I even wore a bridal gown and veil to my preschool class. So I was OBSESSED with Disney on Ice. I couldn't really take any pictures because they turned out super bright but I got one of Mickey.

H&M is opening today and people are lining up to get prizes and be the first ones into the store. I am miserable with a cold and I have to be to class before they open the doors. So guess who woke up at 3 AM and went to go stand in line for me? The one and only love of my life.. Nathan Morgan. He is so crazy! But he has a companion Pete (his bro) who slept on our couch last night so he could go and spend time together. Those Morgan boys... I tell ya... are one of a kind. Right now they have been there for 4 hours and only have 4 or 5 left. Oh my goodness. Well I hope they get something cool, otherwise I am sure they are having a fun time together.

2nd Halloween together

The night before Halloween, Nate and I lied in bed so delirious from the days events and brainstormed what we could be the next day. Ideas like: strapping a broom to yourself and saying that you were a broom or wearing yellow and holding candles in your hands to be Lumire from Beauty and the Beast, and a Q-tip.  Well we went with the last one for Nate and it was a lot harder to complete than we thought. We ended up just making him look like a cloud. He looked darling though and it was a hilarious concept. Next year we will try to decide more than hours before...

So what's new??

So let's just say school is hard.... I am trying so hard not to quit but every assignment and exam is telling me... "honey, maybe you are not cut out for this."I have been trying to figure out the best major for me. I used to think that was education but my "holding on by a thread" attitude for school might not get me through that one. I have been thinking about writing a book.. I know my blog isn't great but I have a lot of good ideas for romance novels, being the romantic that I am. I think it will be the hardest just to start it, and just to pull all of the ideas together. Also I have another problem in my life right now... I want a baby. I know... I am too young, I need to live more of my life first. But what people don't get is that by having a child I will be living my life! I am sooo excited to be a mom and I honestly think that is my calling in life. I just pray that I have a healthy body that will give me that. Right now though, Nate and I are moving into a new apartment in City Creek and we are spending a little more than we can probably afford on it. That will delay the baby making process for a little bit. Also... My cute mother-in-law and father-in-law were just called as mission presidents and are leaving in July! They don't know where they are going yet but we know it will be 3 very long years. They are the perfect people for this calling and I know that they will do an amazing job wherever they get called. I am so thankful for the life I have and I just hope that I can have a little guidance to what I need to do next.

Huntington Beach

This past weekend, Nate and I went to the beach for a couple of days with Nate's brother Ryan. We went specifically to go to the beach so even though the weather was pretty bad, we were out there playing. Ryan played in the waves all day long both days. We stayed at the Hyatt across the street from the beach. It was so nice! We shopped a little and ate lots of good food. We got our first rental car that we had to pay more than double the normal price because we are not 25 yet. It was pretty ridiculous but fun to have a car there. Nate and I walked on the beach every morning to burn off all the 10 pounds of food we ate every day we were there. It was a perfect weekend trip...

For those of you that are Say Yes to the Dress Fans...

I have received many messages about my SYTTD episode. I thought I would put up some pictures for those of you that are curious about my dress choice. After dress shopping for quite a while, I realized that I wanted a dress that was actually comfortable! I also realized that I didn't want all the bling and fluff and puff that most dresses had. I wanted something more simple elegant. One of the things I was most discouraged about with getting a modest wedding dress was that you would be able to see the alterations. I didn't want anyone to be able to tell that I had added sleeves to a sleeveless dress. That is when I went to a seamstress and had her create my dress from scratch. I think my dress really portrayed my personality and let me feel completely comfortable on my wedding day. I loved how light and flowy it was as well. I am so happy with my decision to design my own dress and have it made perfectly for me. Thanks to everyone for all the sweet facebook messages and support!

PS. I spent WELL UNDER 5000 dollars on my dress ;)