Tuesday, December 28, 2010

You know what the best gifts are?  The thoughtful ones.
Like moisturizing hand soap from my friend Jamie.
I wash my hands so much when I do cake that they crack and bleed.  Dish soap probably isn't the best thing to wash them with anyways, so she got me this!  It smells so good!!
 And a hide-a-key from my friend Kira.  Because I lock myself out of my car about once a month.
These girls might have saved my life.  Or at least my hands from cracking and locksmith fees.

Monday, December 27, 2010

deceber 27















Today is my little sister's birthday!  Her sweet 16!!  She is really little, right?  I am the midget of the family.  I can't believe she is already 16!

I dropped ZaeLia off for her surgery this morning.  I left the vet just before 8:00 and cried the whole way home.  My anxiety was out of control so I went running because I figured that was better than taking a Xanax.  It helped a lot.  Now I am just sitting here, wrapped in my electric blanket trying to get motivation to work on my next cake.  I am a little sick to my stomach though and I don't want to really do anything until the vet calls and lets me know she is out of surgery and ok.  I can't go get her until around 4:00.  It's going to be a really long day.

I tried out my Vibram shoes this morning!!  My knees don't hurt and I didn't even wear my brace!  I am pretty excited about that!  The bottoms of my feet are a little sore and I have a small blister on the left foot, but that is normal with any new shoe when you are breaking them in.  I am really excited about them!!  I am either getting used to their weirdness or I am losing my mind because I am kinda thinking they are cute :-)

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Christmas



















I can't believe Christmas is over already. I swear it's the fastest day of the year!!  I got to spend it with lots of family and we got way too spoiled!!  Right now I am blogging from my new laptop from my MIL.  She also got me the Harry Potter series!!  I just borrowed them when I read them so I have been wanting them for years.  My mom got me my Vibram five finger running shoes.  I love them!!  We even got a new printer and gun safe.  That thing is already FULL!  We have so many guns.  How was your Christmas?  Leave a comment with a link to your blog with your Christmas story so I can check it out!!
I can't believe it's almost 2011.  This year flew by.  So many good things have happened this year.  We got married, visited Hawaii, I finished cake classes, registered for school, Josh got two promotions, we went hunting together for the first time, I got a lot closer with my in-laws.  I LOVED 2010 and I am a little sad to see it end.  I hope 2011 is just as geat!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas Eve



















I gave up my romantic Christmas Eve dinner to spend it with these girls.  And I couldn't be more excited.  My sisters are my favorite!!  And I might have cried when my lover said it was fine if we did dinner with my family instead.  I really love that guy.  I avoided cleaning my room this month because last time I called my sister crying... we always had to clean our room together if we wanted Santa Clause to come.  Last year I did it alone and called her bawling because I missed doing it together.  I maybe have a hard time not living with these guys anymore.  I will probably always be five.  I hope you all have such a Merry Christmas!!  I will talk to you all next week!  Say hello and tell me your plans tomorrow!  Pretty please?  I love hearing people's different traditions.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

new cake













Go HERE to check out more pictures of my latest cake.

I might have fallen down the stairs today.  Twice.  And ran my leg over with a car.  Don't you hate it when it hits that tendon??  Ouch!!

that time I called them Rio Speedwagon

Last year I pierced my little sister's belly button.  She wouldn't stop asking and I am basically pro.

When I was about 11 I was looking through my parents vinyls.  I really like the record player a lot.  I laughed when I found roll paper in the Cheech and Chong album.  I sang "Hey Jude" when I found The Beatles album.  And then I asked who Rio Speedwagon is.  They laughed for like a year then told me it is REO Speedwagon.  My bad.  I didn't think it was that funny.  But I fell in love with them.  My ringtone is "Time For Me To Fly."  I love, love, LOVE it!!  Well every time REO is on the radio my family thinks it's funny to say, "Hey, it's Rio Speedwagon!"  Ah ha ha ha... funny guys.  I thought I might have finally outgrown this.  It had been a while since I had heard it.  And then I got home from work and my lover was watching an REO concert on DirecTV.  And I asked why Ellen DeGeneres was playing a guitar...  I might never live it down.  Facepalm.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

lacking motivation

My baby sister on Christmas last year.  Isn't she cute!!  People always think she is mine.

I have so much Christmas spirit.  I am dyyyying for Christmas.  Mostly I am just dying for time away from this place.  I think we need a time out from each other.  All we ever do is fight.  I used to like my job, but it has really gone down hill.  I have so much Christmas spirit that I don't have any room left inside me for motivation.  And I am swamped.  I have so much stuff that I really need to get done.  Yet here I am, blogging.

Do you know where I will be spending Christmas eve?  In a strip club.  Yeah.  It's my brother-in-law's birthday Friday, and we always stop and Josh has a beer with him between doing our Christmas eve festivities.  This year he chose the strip club.  I guess I will finally get to see what all the fuss is about... I am a little nervous.  I won't hesitate to punch a stripper for lookin' at my man.  Seriously.  It's going to be a good night though.  We are going to my mom's to open our jammies, then to dinner at one of our favorite places.  Then the naked lady place.  And then CHRISTMAS LIGHTS!!  That is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season.  I usually go a few times, but I just haven't had time.  I am dying to see zoo lights.  I LOVE the zoo and I LOVE Christmas.  Both of them together... What?!?  Next year it's on.  At midnight my lover and I will do our gift exchange.  This year I am putting the camera on the tripod to get pictures of it.  Josh will love it.  Just kidding.  But he will play along to make me happy, and that is what Christmas is all about ;-)  Playing along, and Jesus.  After we stay up until two in the morning, I will be getting up at the butt crack of dawn.  Also known as 6:00 am.  I am responsible for bringing coffee for everyone so I get there around seven.  And then the madness begins.  I don't even see my lover til late afternoon on Christmas.  Divorce and remarried families = MADNESS on Christmas.  It's about to get crazy people.  I can't wait!!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

choosing to be happy

I get e-mails sometimes of people saying that I either live in a dream world because nothing is perfect or that I am lying and hide all the bad pieces of my life.  Or I hear people say they hate blogs because nobody's life is as good as they make it seem.  My life really is this happy, but because I choose to be happy.  Yes, bad things do happen to me.  The world isn't made of marshmellows (wouldn't that be cool though??)  I had a horrible childhood.  I helped raised my two sisters, I got beat, and some other really bad things happened.  I learned to move on and not let the past ruin my future.  Sure, sometimes I get sad, but only for a minute because I realize how good things are.  I wouldn't take back any of those things either, because every single one of them made me who I am today.  And I love me.  I like the person that I am and the person I am becoming.
And no, my marriage isn't perfect.  We have our problems just like everyone else.  Like my husband snores and wakes me up.  But you know what, I elbow him in the face when I sleep and that wakes him up too.  I break things.  A lot.  But I fix it.  He spoils the end of about 80 percent of books and movies.  He rushes me which bugs the crap out of me.  I am always running late which bugs the crap out of him so he has to rush me.  I do stupid things like leave the hose on in the back yard and don't notice for six days.  Or leave the truck in drive because I am used to my stick shift.  He hates that mouth noises drive me crazy.  He makes mouth noises sometimes when he eats.  I am messy and leave things all over the house.  He is too nice and can't say no to people.
Everything isn't perfect, but sitting around complaining doesn't make it any better.  So blogging about it is pointless.  You learn to deal with things and not get mad.  Learn to love that your husband snores--don't just deal with it or it will always bug you.  I learned to love to lay in bed and listen to him snore.  It's the sound of him breathing, the sound of him living.  Put a happy spin on everything and you will be a lot happier.  Life is rough and nothing will ever be perfect.  But look beyond the imperfections and CHOOSE to be happy.  Choose to not let things bug you.  Only you can make yourself happy.  Happiness is a do-it-yourself kind of thing.  Happiness is in the little things.  Like melting peanut butter on toast after a horrible day... something so small is all it takes to cheer me up.

Monday, December 20, 2010

i love my life

I told you I am kind of obsessed with taking pictures of things with my ring.  I just really love that thing.

Is it just me or do weekends go by WAY too fast??  I wish the weekends lasted as long as work days.  I swear they last five years sometimes.  Like when I leave, I can tell my hair has gotten longer since I got here.
Yesterday I got up at 7 a.m. and worked on cake until 10:30 last night.  My lover even helped me!  He always helps by doing like dishes, or going out to buy me a new mixer in the middle of the night because I burned mine out.  But he has never actually hands on helped with a cake.  It was getting late and I had a lot left to do so he scrubbed up and helped me make "beads" to go around the base of the cake.  It was fun because he got so excited.  "Babe, look how round this one is!!"  "Look how well I marbled this one!!"  "Chili, yours are not nearly as good as mine."  See, helpful. I love that guy.  He calls me Chili Bean.  Or Chili.  Or Bean.  But Chili Bean because I am "spicy."  Yes, I am blushing because I told you that.  I think by "spicy" he means mouthy and strange.  Love me through it.  He is such a good husband.  Wanna know what kind of wife i am?  Either the best for letting him, or the worst for not making him something for dinner because he ate chips and salsa for dinner.  Poor guy.  At least he loves them.  I had ice cream for dinner.  The ice cream that he went and got at 11:00 on Saturday night because my throat hurt.  Ice cream for dinner... hey, it's the holidays.  And I'm busy!  AND I start school in two weeks.  I am terrified.  I am so so so excited for ten days off of work.  It will be ten days of cake, cleaning and I have two photography sessions scheduled.  And Littles gets surgery.  So I won't be any less busy, but I like my busy life, excluding this place.  Between mixing a new batter, taking a cake out of the oven, turning it out, getting a new one put in... I got all of our Christmas presents wrapped.  I wrap my in-laws too because my lover hates wrapping.  He isn't very good at it.  Apparently Zypper likes Scentsy because he snagged a block of wax from under the tree and unwrapped it.  I am glad I caught him before he ate it.  One time he ate the lights off of our Christmas tree.  Glass and blood everywhere... he didn't even care.  Something is wrong with that dog.  Seriously.
How about them Raiders??

Saturday, December 18, 2010

it was in the wedding vows

I finally washed my hair.  I had to.  It was Josh's work Christmas party.  We had a lot of fun, and Josh spanked me at pool.  I suck big time.

Don't you hate when you push the button to retract the cord on your blow dryer and it flies up so fast that the plug gets crazy and whacks you in the face?  I hope I don't get a black eye.  I also got smacked in the head last night  with a bar light... I have the worst luck.

I am starting to crave a new tattoo...  I want something this time that represents my family.

When my lover says ridiculous things, like he refuses to wrap my Christmas presents next year, I always tell him he has to because it was in the wedding vows.  Honor and cherish means wrapped Christmas presents, right?  Besides, it's not my fault I am such a good guesser.

I finally uploaded my cake from last weekend, and even the one from this weekend.  Check out the
football helmet, and the John Deere cake!

Friday, December 17, 2010

last night

Sometimes I leave the house looking like an orphan.  In fuzzy flip flops and jammies.  With my stuff lamb.  And sometimes I take blurry pictures with my blackberry because my hands are shaky.

Last night was a good night.  We went to bed around 9:30 and laid there for two hours talking about our relationship.  Like how we both only agreed to go on a date to be nice.  And how he almost canceled because he started to like me before he even met me and that scared him.  He told me from day one I was trouble.  Look where that got him.  Married.  He didn't do too bad :-) ha.  We like to argue about who chased who.  He chased me by the way.  He invited me up to the yacht club the night after our first date.  He said he only did it to be nice and he didn't think I'd really come so it doesn't count.  It's so cute that he is so embarrassed that he did all the chasing.  He text first, called first, made first contact after the first date, said I love you first... cute little sweetie.  We talked about the first time he told me a cheesy movie line and we laughed like crazy and he has done it ever since.  The first one was from an optometrist... "I've looked into ten pairs of eyes today, but my day doesn't start until I look into yours."  Very smooth, right?  We talked about how we used to stay up until 3 a.m. just talking and then he'd get up at 4:00 for work.  Our first few months were rough.  We NEVER slept.  We talked about the time during one of these talks that my ex broke into my house and walked into my bedroom screaming.  Exes are crazy ya'll.  I'm glad I'll never have another!!  We talked about our really long drives that we took just to be together and talk.  We went everywhere.  The first time he told me he loved me I was scared to say it back so I asked him what he said.  Then the next morning in the tent was a little awkward until he told me that he really meant what he said the night before.  I probably tell that guy I love him at least 20 times a day.  At least.  I think at least 3 of them are when he is trying to leave for work in the morning and I don't want to let him.  The first time he yelled at me I cried.  I broke a piece of the cabinet off and he asked me what the hell I was doing.  Oops.  I started crying and he didn't really know what to say.  It's pretty funny now.  I told him I break stuff a lot so if we were going to be together he'd just have to get used to it.  I don't mean to.  I'm just clumsy.  During the summer we like to make a bed on the back patio and just watch the stars all night.  Buying a puppy together and going to pick her up was so exciting!  The night he asked me to marry him was just like the night he told me he loves me for the first time... we got to watch fire works, look at the stars, and crawl in a tent to sleep.  What I remember the most about our whole relationship is how much that guy makes me laugh.  We laugh a lot.  The couple who laughs together, stays together.  He's stuck with me.  Sometimes I might feel a little bad for him... I am really nice, it's just that I am SO WEIRD!!  And I still haven't washed my hair... poor guy.

The chocolate in my advent calendar is a little stale... I pretend it's delicious and eat it anyways.  How many times a year do you get an advent calendar??  Besides, chocolate is chocolate.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

no, I am not pregnant. thank you for asking...

I took this the night I put my bouquet together for my wedding.  My favorite flower.

I walked into work today and a guy asked me if I was pregnant.  It took me a second to answer because my confidence had the wind knocked out of her.  My first thought was, "Hey!!  It's the holidays man.  Lay off!"  I cautiously answered, "Um... no.  I am not."  He apologized and said I definitely don't look pregnant, but why am I wearing maternity pants... Oh!  That!!  I have this thing where I refuse to spend $70 on a new pair of jeans and wear them to this dirty, oily place.  So I buy jeans and wear them until they are pretty much worn out, then they become my work jeans and I buy some more new jeans to keep nice.  Well last time I bought jeans was in April.  So my every day jeans are the right size, but my work jeans are two sizes too big.  They fall off me any chance they get.  And I can't wear belts because they bruise my hips.  It doesn't hurt, but black and blue hips just look freaky.  Also, it is VERY cold at my desk.  Like 20 degrees.  So I wear leggings under my jeans.  Well they come half way up my torso, so I fold them over the top of my jeans so they aren't so annoying, and they hold my pants up.  I am either a genius... or really, really cheap.  Take your pick.  I never realized they looked like maternity jeans until this morning.  Thanks for pointing that out buddy.  It saves me from looking like a fool for the rest of winter.  It already looks like I am wearing my husbands jeans... Speaking of wearing mens things, once I had to wear my dad's shoes for a week.  They are about six sizes too big.  But it was the only way my wrapped feet would fit in shoes.  And my feet were wrapped because I burned the crap out of the bottom of them.  I hate shoes so I ran on the treadmill barefoot.  I guess the friction heated it up and I didn't notice as I ran.  When I stepped off I fell backwards just to get off my feet because it hurt so bad.  I looked and the whole bottoms were one big, bloody blister.  Like I said, I am a genius.  And the doctor cleaned them and insisted I keep them wrapped.  He wrapped them the size of softballs!!

Is it weird for me to get
THIS with my wedding pictures all over it?  Even if it is, I am still doing it.

I had two good nights in a row.  I thought the insomnia was gone.  The little jerk came back last night though.

I wish I could remember to turn my Kindle off.  It's a good thing the battery lasts like a month.

I guess
I don't know everything I am getting for Christmas.  My lover put a few surprises under the tree because he knows surprises are my favorite.  Have I mentioned how much I love that guy?

Today is nail day.  Or back scratch day.  It all just depends on which person in this marriage you ask.

I love when I type a blog this long and spell check it and the only thing that it highlights is "Um."  Fabulous.  I know I am going to find all kinds of mistakes when I read this later, just because I said that.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

place yo bets!

I may or may not pick all the sick nasty tan things out of my Lucky Charms.  Let's face it, I only buy it for the marshmellows.  I think something is wrong with me.  I can eat a ridiculous amount of food.  Like a whole pizza by myself.  I rarely allow myself to eat that much, don't worry.  If I ate all I could at every meal I would be 350 pounds within a year.  Yes, that is 220 pounds.  In one year.  I am a fat kid at heart, what can I say.  My husband always feels so bad when I diet... I eat half of what he does when he knows I could eat triple.  But I like being skinny a little more than I like food.  That's a lie.  I don't like the sadness being overweight brings me more than I love food.  And I am sick of hearing my doctor complain about handfuls of Hershey bars daily being bad for my diabetes.  Whatever.  They FEEL right.  Ha!  Before my brother-in-law had ever seen me eat like a freak (I try to keep it hidden around strangers... you think my lover woulda married a girl that could eat her weight in food?  I kept it quiet until he was stuck with me muah ha ha ha ha!!) we made a bet.  Josh told him I could eat a ridiculous amount of food.  He didn't believe it so we are having an eating contest... two footlong subs from Subway.  He wasn't worried until he watched me eat dinner.  Two plates.  And a bag of Cheetos.  Not a little wimpy bag either.  I am talking a BAG of Cheetos.  So then he started training.  He ate a footlong then made himself sick trying to eat nine tacos.  He ate eight.  Weak sauce.  I coulda ate ten.  I even talk crap on Adam.  You know, Man VS. Food guy.  He's got nothing on me.  I am not even worried about this Subway dealy.  I got this.  I might feel a little bad for beating him so bad after he has trained so hard while all I did was run on treadmills to keep from ballooning up.  I am sure I will get over it though when I get to finish the last half of his second delish sub cuz he wimps out.  My husband already did.  Yeah, he used to be in this bet.  He got scared.  How sad is that??  So who is your money on??

I am really sick of hearing about Miley.  There is FINALLY snow on the ground!!  Christmas is in nine days (because I don't count Christmas day, you don't actually have to wait that day for it because it's already here.  Duh.)  I made it to the gym at 5:00 this morning.  I need to get back into that habit.  I really miss it.  I REALLY need to wash my hair.  It's been six days.  We have another Christmas party on Friday... suh-weet!!  I made a bet that Oakland will beat Indi... please don't let me down boys.  I like bets.  I am a little obsessed with coffee mugs.  Women bug me.  The ladies I work with have been complaining all morning that their husbands don't get them a diamond ring every year for Christmas like a guy here does.  All he got her was something that cost like $600 that she had been wanting all year.  That's ALL.  Seriously, be more snotty.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

a cop for Christmas

We are basically gangster.

Remember how I said my family is... well not stupid, but we have our moments?  Everybody does, but we have a few too many.  Like how I lock myself out of my car at least once a month.  And get lost when I go places I have been ten times.  And how my (giant) little sister stands up too fast in a five foot room and knocks herself out.  Not a big deal.  We find a way to deal with our handicaps.  We are used to being hurt from falling down.  Last year on Christmas we were at my mom's pretty late.  My sister pulled in around 10:00 and left her car running because she was only coming in for a second to say goodnight.  We said our goodbyes and took off.  Well Ashton got talking with my mom and her kids fell asleep so she decided to stay and made a bed on the couch.  About 3:00 am there was a loud knock at the door.  It was a cop asking my mom if that was her car running with the door wide open.  She said no.  He explained that the neighbors said it was and they were concerned about a possible abduction.  Because there is no other reason a car was left running with the door open and a purse on the front seat.  Unless you are part of my family.  When we do stupid things we try to laugh at ourselves.  It's easier than feeling stupid or getting upset.  We'd be pretty depressed people if we got too upset over our idiotic moments.  So my sister came out and turned her car off, grabbed her purse and locked up.  And laughed a little.  The cop didn't think she was very funny... Oops!!  Maybe this year we can have a cop free Christmas.  Remember how we wear weird outfits for Christmas?  My sisters voted and decided they want to wear footie jammies... this is not ok.  Nobody looks good in footie jammies after the age of five.

Monday, December 13, 2010

getting a little awkward

Have you ever thought something was so funny, and you knew you probably shouldn't say it out loud, but it was just so funny that you had to tell someone?  And then you tell them and there is that long awkward silence while you laugh at something that only you find funny?  Well this is like that.  So if you don't like awkward stories, feel free to stop reading now.  I was reading a story in cosmo and a girl was saying how she had on short cut off shorts that were all frayed.  It was her time of the month.  Her and her boyfriend sat down on a bench, straddling it, and facing each other.  He thought her tampon was a long string on her shorts and thought he'd help her out by ripping it off.  Well if that isn't awkward enough, as I am reading this I kind of thought of Woody.  You know, off of Toy Story?  When you pull his string he says things like, "Reach for the skies!!" or "There's a snake in my boots!!"  And that is what I thought of when I read about her string getting pulled.  If it were me, I would have probably said, "There is a snake in my boots!"  And now every time I think of tampons I think of Woody and one of his little lines goes through my head.  Maybe everyone should wear their cowboy hat during that time of the month to go with their pull string.

Last night was a good night.  My MIL came over and we sat and talked and she told all kinds of stories about Josh growing up.  He maybe got a little embarrassed.  We stayed up way too late, and I was a little late for work.  We went to bed at 11 though, and I just couldn't fall asleep until 2.  Wanna know why?  You know those touch lamps that turn on when you touch the metal?  The last week mine turns itself on.  When we are not even close to touching it.  It wouldn't be so weird if I came home from work and it was on.  But it ONLY does it when we are in bed.  Something is turning it on.  And it scares the crap outta me.  This will probably not help with my insomnia.  I did get an appointment with a specialist though.  In February.  Two more months of this crap.

Today my lover and I have been married for six months.  I can't believe Hawaii was six months ago.  I can't believe six months has gone by since we were walking down the beach hand in hand at six in the morning.  I miss that place a lot.  It will always have a special place in my heart.  And at the same time, I can't believe we have only been married for six months.  I feel like I have known that guy my whole life.  I think he has always been a part of me.  Even when he was going on his first date and I was only eight years old :-)  I really love that guy.  I miss him a lot today.

Friday, December 10, 2010

rambling... again

You will never see a greater picture than this one.  Ever.  I die every time I look at it.  My nephew is a goof.

Christmas is in two weeks.  TWO!!  Where is all the snow??  Why is it raining in December?
I am doing all my shopping this weekend and I am so excited!
Yesterday my GPS drove me around and around in circles.  With my gas light on.  I maybe want to choke that lady on occasion.
I spanked Littles yesterday for being mean to Zypper.  Zypper is annoying and deserved it.  But she is too big to be mean.  And then I cried because I felt so bad for hitting her.  Why does she have to be so cute??
I like the OB/GYN.  Is that weird?  I don't actually like the exam, I just like my doctor.  She is awesome!  And she even referred me to a sleep disorder specialist.  I asked my endocrinologist too and she was no help... I generally don't like doctors.
Christmas is in two weeks.
I elbowed my lover at least five times last night.  One time I woke up as my elbow made contact.  I woke up because I was yelling something and my voice woke me up.  How lame is that?  Poor guy.
I am one for one on my football picks.  Which isn't a big deal.  But it's a good start.  I am a little worried because I chose a few iffy upsets.  My team better not let me down.  I probably shouldn't have picked them...
The cake I finished on Wednesday made me madder than any cake ever has.  It was awful and I kind of wanted to throw it in the garbage.  The birthday boy loved it though.  It was a football helmet.  I'll post pictures this weekend.
Oh, and did I mention that I am excited that Christmas is just two weeks away??

Thursday, December 9, 2010

housekeeping

The first picture is what the window ledge looked like at my house before I moved in--minus my bamboo plants and cute sign.  So basically just cleaner.  The second picture is what it looked like after I moved in.  You can definitely tell only a guy had ever lived there.  He wasn't thrilled about cleaners going under the sink... but look how pretty!!  Why are women so much better at housekeeping than men?  I will admit that I am the messy one.  I leave things everywhere.  But when I clean, I CLEAN!!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

wish list

I already know everything I am getting for Christmas this year.  Which is a little lame, since I love surprises.  But I am getting exactly what I want :-)  My lover got me a new lens for my camera that he got me last year.  I love this thing.  He also got me a new battery for it, a filter, a new case, and Photoshop!!  I am excited.  My mother-in-law took me shopping and bought me tons of clothes.  My mom is getting me LiLash and a giftcard for Amazon to download books.  When my little sister saw the two things I asked my mom for she told me I am lame.  I love my family.  And I am ok with being lame.  The only thing I asked for that I don't know if I will get is the Harry Potter series.  I have two or three of the books but I want the collectors edition, and the whole set.  Harry Potter is my boyfriend.  Really.  I luff him.  Maybe my little sister has a point?  Ha ha.  Oh and you gotta read Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.  Seriously.  I looooove it!!  You can tell I have been busy with how long it has taken me to read this... it usually takes me less than a week.  And it is so good, and I am dying to finish it!!  Maybe over my week off after Christmas??  I'm just over half way done.
Do you Tweet?  I just barely got a Twitter account.  Leave me your link and I will check it out!!  Mine is choosetobhappy.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

ZaeLia

This is my baby.  Her name is ZaeLia.  I call her Littles.  She is my baby.  She was a week old in this picture.  She is a year and a half and 70 pounds heavier now.  As a puppy, she was always sick.  First her legs were growing wrong so we had to get braces, change her food, and her wasn't allowed to play.  My lap was where she spent 90 percent of her first year of life.  After her legs got better her face swelled.  I took her in and they thought she just had a sliver in her throat or gums so they knocked her out to check.  Her jaw bone didn't grow right and had a hole in it that caught some infection.  They had to pull her tooth and clean it all out.  From being babied so much, she is a sissy la la.  And more like my baby.  I love her.  She is getting spayed at the end of the month.  Usually, that isn't a big deal and it's easy.  But she is accident prone and things always go wrong.  So I am terrified and I kinda wanna puke.  It's going to hurt her feelings so much when I leave her there.  Poor, sensitive baby.  I have about three weeks to stress about it.  And then about a week after it happens.  I am going to be sick for the next month.

In happier news... I went home on lunch and my Christmas tree cheered me up.  I wonder if my husband will let me keep it up all year...

Monday, December 6, 2010

what love looks like

I don't remember what we needed, but we went to Wal-Mart for something.  We were walking down the aisle holding hands.  You know how in the center of the wide aisles they always have displays in the middle?  Well we were coming upon a tower of big red gas cans.  I was probably saying something nice and sweet to my lover.  Probably something like how cute it is when he blushes and his read face matches his sexy hair.  Or how I can't live without him... you know, something nice.  He pulled his hand out of mine, placed it on my shoulder, and shoved me into the tower of gas cans.  It turned into less of a tower, and more of a pile.  With me in the middle of it.  And everyone staring.  He looked down at me and said, "What are you doing?  I can't take you anywhere!!"  Then stormed off.  I got up like nothing happened, and looked around like I was trying to find who had made such a mess.  I started walking and a few aisles down he was waiting for me, laughing.  That guy is lucky I have a sense of humor.  And I am lucky I don't get embarrassed!!

Saturday, December 4, 2010

saturday













Check out my latest cake!!  For more pictures click HERE.
It's been a good day.  I woke up early and finished this little lovely.  My friend Jamie came over and kept me company while I worked.  Then she helped me deliver it, so I took her out to lunch.  The birthday girl loved her cake.  On our way to lunch my mom told me her and my sister were hungry so we all met up at Chili's.  Have you had their chicken enchilada soup??  Oooooh I love it!!  Get in muh bellay!!  Then my lover and I watched a movie.  I watched half then slept for a bit.  After shopping for my next cake that I start tomorrow, I sat and drank hot chocolate through a Twix.  I am one lucky girl.  Life is goooood!!

Friday, December 3, 2010

rings

I have bad luck with a lot of things... printers, copiers, phones, sharp objects, electronics, jewelry...  My current wedding ring is my fourth wedding ring I have had.  When Josh asked me to marry him we went and picked out the ring together a few days later and this is the one I chose.  I loved it!  Three weeks later I looked down and a center stone was missing.  I almost cried!  I was instantly sick to my stomach.  We took it back, they gave us a brand new one, same design.  The second one lasted three weeks.  The third lasted three months.  It was getting really close to our big day by that time and I was so frustrated and sad, so I decided to pick out a new design.  Which is the one we got married with, and my current ring.  No problems so far!!  It's lasted eight months.  It's a record!  But I love my wedding ring a lot, and even more than my first choice because it doesn't fall apart.

I actually have three wedding rings currently.  I have my normal one I got married with.  An aluminum band my sister made me at school that I wear to my job in aerospace.  And a small one with an opal and diamonds that will fit under my gloves for phlebotomy.  I like rings :-)

So I guess what I am trying to say it, don't buy your jewelry from Kay's.  They were difficult to work with and hassled us.  When they told us we could pick a new design they told us we had to pick one double the purchase price of the first and pay the difference!  What??  After just a few months of having it.  Then my mother-in-law bought me a necklace from there and the chain broke within a month.  Steer clear of Kay's!!  Which is a bummer because they have some really pretty stuff!!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

"type"

We have a Christmas Koala.  His name is Murray.  He appears in our tree every year with Christmas earrings and a Christmas beer.  Josh loves him.

I don't get it when people say, "He's just not my type."  Single people--the ones I know anyway--are always complaining that there is nobody to date.  But when they do meet somebody, that is their response.  What is this "type" they all speak of??  I never had a type.  I'd give anyone a chance if they were nice.  I'd go on a date with anyone who asked.  Because I really like meeting new people.  And maybe 99 percent of the time I knew after an hour they weren't the guy for me, but I still had a good time.  Maybe you are country and a guy wearing skater shoes asks you out.  Maybe you are and outdoors type person and a pretty boy asks you out.  Why would you tell them no based on their clothes, hair, shoes, look....  I just don't get it.  Maybe it's just me?  Maybe it's just because I don't really fit into a "type."  I do what I want, I wear what I am comfortable in, I will give anything a try and I usually like it.  I am just up for pretty much anything.  I have horses, but I wouldn't turn down somebody who wears baggy jeans.  I love anything outdoors, but I wouldn't turn down somebody who'd never actually seen a gun.  What if I had turned down Josh because he is so different than me?  He's never worn cowboy boots, his hat is always backwards, and he hates bagels.  (The bagel thing is weird, right??)  I almost turned him down because he is eight years older than me.  Look at us now.  So before you turn someone down for something stupid, consider that maybe they are the man of your dreams.  The man of your dreams hidden by a scruffy beard, tattoos, and holey jeans.  They just might be the one :-)

I am not feeling the holiday spirit today.  Which is weird because I have been feeling it for a least a month now.  Maybe it's the lack of sleep.  Because I never sleep anymore.  These nightmares are killing me.  So to cheer me up, my lover is taking me to get an advent calendar after work.  I've told you before, but I really love that guy.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

correction...

By the way... that's supposed to say I start school a MONTH from Friday.  Oops :-)

family

Sisters. Cierra (14), Ashton (21), Me (19).
Christmas about two years ago.  We dress weird for Christmas.
I have heels on and I am still shorter than them.


My family is a little...  I don't want to say stupid.  But we say some really stupid things.  A lot.  We are all spacey and clumsy.  It's hereditary.  My little sister had to clean up the dog poo one day.  She went outside and for a while and came back in and said she was done.  My mom looked out the window and said...
Mom: "There is still some over there."
Ashton: "That's the neighbor dog's.  He always lets it go in your yard."
Mom: "Well then pick it up and throw it back in his yard.  Just get it off of ours."
Ashton: "Mom, I don't think she can pick that dog up!"
Funniest thing ever.  Now when one of us says something stupid, the response is always, "I don't think she can pick that dog up!"  I love my family :-)

I start school a week from Friday.  That is so scary!!  I haven't been in school for almost four years.  I have a strange obsession with pens and notebooks though.  So school shopping is gonna be fun!!  I am actually really excited.  But needles FREAK ME OUT!

Monday, November 29, 2010

kindle

via
I seriously love this thing.  Love, love, LOVE it!!  I am obsessed with reading, and this little guy fits right in my purse.  I looked into the Barnes and Noble Nook, but I just liked the Kindle so much better.  It is always with me, and I read pretty much everywhere.  I talked my doctor into getting one for his wife :-)  They ended up fighting for it so now they have two!  And my sister who isn't a huge fan of reading is thinking about getting one to get into reading.  I have always loved my Kindle.  But I love it extra lately.  Maybe because I read a real book and had to carry that thing around in my purse all week.  It was HUGE!  I wish I was wrapped in blankies on my couch hanging out with my Kindle.  Work is getting old.  And cold.  I don't have a heater in here so it's a little chilly.  It doesn't help that I am such a wimp about the cold.  Is that a girl thing??  I kinda wonder if guys are really freezing all the time too, but they just like to act macho.  Maybe?  Plus, they like to keep the thermostat at below freezing temperatures.  It's fun for them.  Let's go on strike.  Maybe we could pass a law that says if it's cooler that 75 outside every building must have a heater and it has to be kept at 72.  In January of this year I brought a thermometer to work.  It was 14 degrees.  I may have complained about this before.  I will probably complain about it again.  It hasn't gotten any better and I haaaaate being cold!!  Is it just me, or is it a lot harder to make yourself get outta your nice warm bed and go to work during the winter??

 

Sunday, November 28, 2010

time off













My new ornament

Time off work is the best.  And much needed.  That place has been rough lately.  It's been a good four days, but they go so fast!!  I decided last minute to try black Friday shopping.  That was a nightmare.  My MIL and I stayed up and headed out at midnight.  The line to check out at Wal-Mart was a least four hours.  The line just to get into Old Navy had a least 300 people in it, and they'd been open for two hours.  So we gave up.  After 48 minutes.  Ha!!  I will pay an extra $20 for something before I will stand in the cold all night for it.  Plus I hate crowds.  I don't know how people do that.  Later in the afternoon my lover took me shopping and got me my Christmas presents.  He got me a new lens that I have been wanting for my camera and an essentials kit with photoshop and a new camera battery and lots of other things.  We decided not to do surprises this year... we wanted to make sure the other got exactly what they wanted.  He was nervous about getting the lens I asked for, I was nervous he wouldn't like the grill I picked.  So yesterday we went to Lowe's and he picked out his grill and we loaded it up and brought it home.  I still have a few little things to get him, but I am pretty much done!!  And the rest of my family is easy.  After getting his grill we went ornament hunting.  He buys me a new ornament each year... it's tradition :-)  I loved the green on this one.  It's so pretty!!

My dog has only tackled my tree twice since Thursday.  A mouse crawled out of my fireplace so I sat up all night with the blow gun waiting for it.  I like blow guns.  I love food, but I am actually excited to get back on my diet and back to the gym tomorrow.  I wore leggings for the first time yesterday.  I have drank at least 20 cups of hot chocolate this week.  With whip cream.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

thanksgiving













I did my bridals underwater

Last night...
The drive was icy.  The weather was cold.  Shopping was fun.  Dinner was yummy.  The Jazz game was fabulous.  The blood Marys were delish.  The hotel was fancy.  It was such a good night!!  We loved our little get away.

Today is Thanksgiving.  What are you doing to celebrate?  Whatever you do I hope you have a fabulous day surrounded with people you love!!  Be safe!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

a little bit of this. a little bit of that.

Aren't these the cutest buddies you've ever seen?  They smell so good too!!

So our "blizzard" was quite the joke.  That was nothin' for Utah!!  Hey Utah, remember how we deal with snow every year and most of us are really good at driving in it?  Yeah.  Not a big deal.  It IS November after all.  I might not have gone over 20 mph the whole way home, but that is normal for this time of the year.  We got this.

I am sick of people having no compassion for others.  Like when I have a bad day at work.  And all I hear is "be grateful you have a job."  I am.  I am veeeeeerry grateful.  But sometimes this place sucks.  Sometimes I have a bad day.  And sometimes, I am gonna complain about it!!  I know others have it worse for me.  And I feel very sad for them.  But just because it could be worse doesn't make it any better.  When the mean lady I work with takes two hours of my work and destroys it and tells my boss I didn't do anything all morning, you bet I am furious.  I am not thinking, "You know, this is awesome because at least I have a job!"  It still suuuuucks!!

Remember how I planned a fun date for my lover?  No?  Maybe because it's been planned for months because I plan everything way to far in advance.  But that day is here!  I am taking him to dinner, a Jazz game, and I got us a hotel in Salt Lake City.  One of my best friends, Kira, is letting my doggies out and checking on the house for us.  I love friends.

Confessions:
I had cake for dinner last night.  With an oreo on top.  And I haven't been to the gym all week.  Judge me.
I have hit snooze at least six times all week long.  Like to the point where I have to decide if I'd like to brush my teeth, or be on time to work.  Don't worry, I was late for work.
I have a terrible potty mouth.  What do you expect when I work with a bunch of people who say the "f word" every other word.  I'm workin' on it though.
Keys... where to even start.  I locked myself outta my car on Sunday, so when my lover had me take the truck to my hair appointment yesterday he made me take five keys.  Seriously.  I told him a was a bit much.  He said something sarcastic about me being a scatter brain... he has a point.  After my appointment I dropped the key in a snow bank.  I dug for it for 25 minutes so he couldn't say I told you so.  I might have to have my fingers amputated... Frostbite ha.  I thought I did pretty good.  Then I got a text at 5:00 am from him saying he made it to work safely.  And that my car keys were on the back seat of his truck.  Awesome.  I might be half retarded.

 

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

kids are creepy

My nephew jumping off the bleachers!

The other day my nephew was sitting on the couch.  He had his head facing down, like his chin on his chest, and his eyes rolled up to the top of his head so he could still see in front of him.  After sitting that way for like ten minutes my sister asked him what he is doing.  He didn't look up.  He didn't move.  He just calmly said, "They're here."  She asked, "Who is here?"  This time he looked her right in the eye and in a nervous voice told her, "I don't know.  But they're not human."  What!!  She asked him what he was talking about and he just ignored her.  He started playing with his toys like nothing happened.  Creepy!  Ugh... gives me the chills!!  I used to be a creepy kid too.  I still remember it like it was yesterday, and I still swear these thing really happened... we had these two recliners that sat side by side and I remember I always felt like I had to sit in the one on the left.  I used to sit there and cry really hard.  When my mom would ask what was wrong I'd ask her "to make that man go away."  When she'd ask what man I'd tell her, "The one with the hole in his head."  He had a huge hole in his head and he would sit and talk to me all the time.  He was never mean.  He'd usually ask how school was or something.  I never answered him because he freaked me out so much.  I remember seeing people walking up and down our hallway.  A few years ago I was riding in a car and there was a couple about 15 holding hands walking down the middle of the road together.  The person driving wasn't slowing down.  We were about ten feet away when I screamed.  They were two inches in front of us when we stopped.  I turned and said, "You almost hit those people!!"  When I looked forward half a second later they weren't there anymore.  Maybe some of us are Mediums.  Or just crazy.  Who knows.  But to me, it is real.

How do you feel about this storm they say is coming in?  Everyone is getting real nervous and getting 72 hours kits together.  I have an appointment after work...  I hope getting home isn't a nightmare.  I do hope that work is canceled tomorrow.  I'd really love a snow day.  I have NEVER had one!!  If there is no work tomorrow I am sleeping in, drinking hot chocolate, reading by the fire, and decorating my Christmas tree!!  Sounds like such a good day.  If Mother Nature could clear up by 4:00 pm that would be great though.  I'd really like to go to the Jazz game.

Monday, November 22, 2010

our weekend

That guy makes me laugh.

~ finished my first wedding cake ~ finally got my nails done again ~ raced a creeper in a crappy rice burner because he wouldn't stop staring at me ~ celebrated Thanksgiving with my family in Gunnison ~ had so much fun spending time with my family after dinner ~ stayed in a hotel (I love hotels) ~ two photography sessions ~ locked myself out of my car again (at least it wasn't running this time, right?) ~ met a new friend at my favorite coffee shop ~ took a nice hot bath ~ watched lots of football (freakin' Raiders!!) ~ prayed this week would be better than last ~

 

Friday, November 19, 2010

curly hair

Last week I learned how to curl my hair with my straightener.  I have never spent less than three hours curling my hair.  This took 20 minutes.  I love it!  It even looks better than when I do it with the curling iron.  Sorry about the blurry pics, I used my phone.  But you get the idea.  It was so easy, and so fast!!  Plus, I slept on it last night.  It still looks just like this today after rolling around on it all night.  I didn't even have to turn on my straightener to fix anything.  My hair has never held a curl more than a few hours.  And that is just with walking around.  If I slept on it I would usually look pretty frightening in the morning.  I am soooo excited!  My husband has never seen my hair curled because it's been like four years since the last time I did it.  He absolutely loved it.  He couldn't stop playing with it all night.  That might be my favorite part about curly hair :-)

Thursday, November 18, 2010

saucey

Sometimes my lover tells me I am a freakin' weirdo and there is something wrong with me.  Maybe because sometimes I drink hot sauce straight from the bottle.  But only with good reason.  My favorite part of food is sauce.  It's the best!  I smother everything.  Most people crave pizza... I crave something to dip in my ranch.  I also looooove spicy food.  It is my favorite.  So of course, spicy sauce is the best thing ever.  I am really picky about it though and there is ONE brand that I will use.  It is my favorite and I eat it on everything.  Burritoes, sandwiches, cheese burgers, chicken, veggies, mac and cheese, top ramen, fish, tacos, burritoes, enchiladas, quesadillas, soup, bread, chips... everything.  I love love LOVE it.  Well about three months when we ran out, we went to the store to get some and there was none.  It's not where we usually buy it though so I didn't think anything of it.  After checking six stores and not finding it I got a little depressed.  We have bought lots of other kinds for me to try and I hate every single one.  It's been a terrible week.  I haven't been very happy and I am just ready for a weekend.  So when I got home yesterday to a nice surprise, I was feeling a lot better about this week.  I got home, we kissed like usual and he told me to check the fridge.  I'd had a bad day so I was expecting a Hershey bar.  Oh no.  A bottle of Crystal!!  It was the best news all week.  So I ripped the seal off and poured it all over my tongue.  I have the BEST husband EVER!!  You know what else that guy did?  He bought every single bottle they had.  He is my FAVORITE!!

 


Wednesday, November 17, 2010

i'm selfish. obviously.

My lover and I.  He hates this picture.  It's one of my favorites.

Before I tell you this story, I should probably tell you that our ridiculous conversations are never serious.  Just hilarious.  Maybe you had to be there?  Anyway, I finished working on my cake for the night and finally got to spend some time with my man.  I changed into comfies and sat on the couch.  Like usual, as soon as I sat on the couch he handed me the remote.  That's true love right there.  I started scrolling through the menu to see what was on TV.  I noticed myself squinting really bad.  I told him how bad my contacts were and I think it was time for a new prescription.  He said, "Or we could just get a bigger TV.  Then you wouldn't even need new contacts."  I told him that the TV wasn't the only thing I looked at and it might be more beneficial to get contacts.  And thanks for the input.  Of course.  So he told me that I am selfish.  He was looking into the option that was best for the whole family.  You know, me, him and the dogs.  I guess the dogs just don't appreciate football on the TV that's almost as tall as me already.

 



Tuesday, November 16, 2010

childhood memories

Me and my momma in May

Did you ever get lost in the grocery store when you were a kid?  Remember how it was the scariest thing ever?  A stranger would take you to customer service, they'd page your mother over the speaker system, everyone was looking at you, your parents were a little embarrassed that they lost you....  It's kind of a big deal.  Most kids get lost because they see something they gotta have and wander off.  Not me.  I had a virus in my eyes and couldn't keep them open very long.  My mom was holding my hand, leading me through the store.  How sweet, huh?  Well I guess she forgot about me!  I stood in the same place for like an hour with my eyes closed.  It was probably really only two or three minutes, but it was a long time for a kid.  So I asked her what she was doing and she didn't respond.  I opened my eyes and coudln't find her.  So I blindly made my way to the front of the store.  I remember sitting on the customer service desk crying while everyone looked at me.  It maybe traumatized me for life.  I'll remember to remind her of this at a family function in front of everyone.  Good thing we have one coming up!

I'll just be working on my very first wedding cake for the rest of the week.  Check out my cake blog this weekend if you wanna see it.  I will schedule it to post after the wedding, so Saturday at like 9:00 pm.

 


Monday, November 15, 2010

things to look forward to

This is fletcher trying to figure out what my camera is.  Silly little guy.

This weekend wasn't a very good one.  It was really frustrating.  Mostly because I don't feel good, and I think my dog has pneumonia.  And my new ring didn't come.  But there were some good things too.  Like I got to sleep in on Sunday.  And football.  Oh, and I started my first wedding cake yesterday too!!  I can't wait to see it all finished and pretty.  I am determined to have a better week than the weekend was.  I am going to keep smiling, and I guess it'll all work out.  Besides, I am sooooo excited for next week.  You already know this because of the holiday.  But that whole week is going to be great.  Friday I get my nails done.  I took them off to do this wedding cake because I want it to be perfect and they have been sore and swollen since.  Sunday I have two photography sessions.  Monday my lover is taking me out for Monday night football to a place he has been wanting to take me for at least a year.  Tuesday I get my hair done.  I really wish that stuff would grow faster.  It's been two years and it's grown about five inches....  Last time it took seven years to get down to my waist.  Why did I cut it off??  And Wednesday I am taking my lover on a fabulous date that I have been excited about for months!!  I also decided to not take any orders next week, so I have the whole week to just relax with that guy.  Have you seen my latest?  Check it out
HERE.
I am already so excited for Christmas!!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Thanksgiving tradition

Part of our ceremony
Washing our hands clean of the past and beginning our marriage with a fresh start.

Have you ever tried boot camp?  I did it for the first time today and I kind of thought I was going to die.  Hardest class ever!

For Thanksgiving my family all gets together the Saturday before.  And when I say all of us, that means like 50 people.  Seriously.  My family is HUGE!  I love it so much.  And what is better is that we are all so close.  My grandma has seven girls!!  Which means I have six aunts and lots of cousins.  Every year my grandma makes the turkey, one of my aunts makes the best rolls.  Another makes the best mashed potatoes.  Another makes the best pumpkin rolls.  Best green bean casserole.  Best deviled eggs.  I am a big fan of food.  I am a fat kid at heart.  Food + Family = Best day ever.  We all get together and cook and eat appetizers and have some wine.  After dinner we go around the house and everyone announces what they are thankful for.  Then we all sit around and talk and hang out.  It's kind of rare that we all get together like that.  So Thanksgiving is the best time of the year.  Then on the actual day of Thanksgiving we all go with our husbands, and some just do their own small celebration at home.  We go to my MIL and she makes a fabulous dinner.  She always makes celery filled with cheese 'cuz she knows it my lover's favorite.  Then we all sit around and watch football and be lazy.  The day after Thanksgiving my lover and I go with some friends and cut down our Christmas tree.  Then we I decorate the house.  We also avoid going to the store as much as possible too!!  What are you holiday traditions?

This year I am thankful for my husband.  He is such a good man.  And he is so supportive.  He has been amazing with me going back to school, and getting my cake business going.  I have been crazy busy and he never complains.  He sits and keeps me company while I bake and make icing.  When my mixer burns out he runs to the store and grabs me another one.  When I fill cupcakes he sits and tells me I am going to be doing that to somebody's arms in a few months, minus the frosting.  Ok, so that last one isn't very helpful.  But he makes me laugh.  I couldn't have asked for a better guy to spend forever with.