i suck.

So it's been over a month since I've posted and i feel horrible. So much has happened, and i just feel so overwhelmed to try and catch up. I'm going to do my best, and i will definitely try to keep a regular tap on this blog so that i can write more than just "catch up" posts.

Hmm... So, Halloween happened, and we did nothing exciting. We dressed up like Darth Vadar and Padme, which was cute, but we had no parties to go to so, it ended up being kinda a waste.... I'll include a picture for good measure, but it definitely wasn't the most incredible Halloween.

Then thanksgiving came next. We had an amazing thanksgiving at Alex's parents house. We also had Alex's aunts and uncles there with all their little munchkins! We ate the most delicious turkey I've ever eaten, shared what we are most grateful for and stuffed our faces with pie!! It was delicious!!

We also shared our first Black Friday together!! We bought an awesome mattress topper to make our hand me down mattress a million times more comfortable. It was crazy!! But I think it's something that we will continue to do for many many years!!

After thanksgiving comes the holiday season! We bought our Christmas tree and attended Christmas parties. Participated in white elephant gift exchanges and frosted sugar cookies. We spent time with family and started our own Christmas traditions. Alex also had his birthday!! It was fun to dote on him all day! We went to dinner at Tia Rosas! And then had cake and ice cream and opened presents at our home later that night!!

We had a very special Christmas with my family! We spent the whole weekend at my family's house, playing games, eating food, making puzzles, watching movies and just enjoying each others company! We also had a HUGE surprise planned for my mom. My dad bought her a brand new car and it was the hardest secret I've ever had to keep!!! But the look on her face when she realized what was happening was priceless!! She loves her new Ford Explorer so much and I'm so glad I could be a part of the surprise!!

Some other things that are worth mentioning are my new job!! I stopped working at the law enforcement tactical store and became a nanny for a sweet family with two little girls. I loved my previous job, but now I work more hours for better pay... So it was the right move for me and Alex financially :) and since I took this new job we have started the process of buying a house!! We are actually under contract on a house out in San Tan Valley and I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly so that we can buy this home!

Also worth mentioning is our new kitty!!
His name is Franklin and he is such a fun addition to our little family!!

well I'm exhausted from playing catch up, but i hope this helped get you caught up on my life and I promise to blog a lot more frequently!!

Happy Fall

I just wanted to share a thought about the lovely fall season...

 

 Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin. God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off you. He opens you up, touches you deep inside and scoops out all the yucky stuff... including the seeds of doubt, hate and greed. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside you to shine for all the world to see. 

 

God Bless you all - and Happy Fall :)

25 Prayers for My Husband

 I pray… 

1. that he continues to grow spiritually through the disciplines of Bible study, prayer, and quiet times. (Proverbs 4:23) 

2. that his relationship with God will bear much fruit in his life, and that he will be a man who seeks wisdom and understanding. (Proverbs 3:7, Psalm 112:1) 

3. that he would walk humbly with God, and would always be convicted quickly about any sin in his life. (Micah 6:8) 

4. that he will continue to grow as the leader of our family, and that God would be glorified in our marriage. (Ephesians 5:25-29) 

5. that he would have a teachable spirit and a servant’s heart, and that he will listen to God and desire to do His will. (Proverbs 15:33) 

6. that he would always look to the way of escape from any kind of temptation, and that he would rely on God to remain faithful to our marriage, and to God. (1 Corinthians 10:13) 

7. that he would safeguard his heart against inappropriate relationships with the opposite sex, and this heart would pure and undivided in his commitment to me and to our marriage. (Proverbs 6:23-25) 

8. that he would continue to be able to provide for our family, and that he will not become discouraged by doing work he does not enjoy. 

9. that money would never become a source of discord in our family, and that we would be wise in handling finances and in stewardship. (Luke 16:13) 

10. that the words he speaks will build our family, and reflect a heart of love. (Proverbs 18:21) 

11. that our physical intimacy would be a positive reflection of selfless love. (Song of Solomon 7:10) 

12. that the men in his life would encourage his accountability before God, and that he would be a godly influence on his friends and coworkers. (Proverbs 13:20, 27:17) 

13. that he would choose healthy foods and activities, and honor God by taking the best possible care of his body as the tabernacle of God. (1 Corinthians 6:19) 

14. for his strength — physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. (Ephesians 3:16) 

15. for him to have wisdom and discernment in training/disciplining our children, and that You would enable him to love them unconditionally. (Ephesians 6:4) 

16. that he would always have an eternal perspective, and make the most of however much time he has in this life. (Ephesians 5:16) 

17. that he would always be a man of peace, who allows the Holy Spirit to lead his responses in all situations. (Romans 14:19) 

18. that he would have a balanced life in regards to work and play, and that he would submit his schedule to You. (Proverbs 16:9) 

19. for him to find favor with the Lord, but also with people he knows and interacts with. (Luke 2:52) 

20. that he would enjoy peace and refreshment in his relationship with the Lord. (Psalm 16:11) 

21. that he would always be courageous in his stand against evil and injustice, and that he will protect our family from Satan’s attacks. (Ephesians 6:13) 

22. that he would be a man of prayer, seeking God in purposeful ways. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) 

23. that he will serve God and others with pure motives, and that God would be glorified in everything he does. (Colossians 3:23-24) 

24. that he would offer all this dreams to the Lord, and pursue only those that bring God glory, and that count for eternity. (Jeremiah 29:11) 

25. that he will recognize the lies of the enemy in his life, and that he will always be guided by the Truth. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

i saw this list on Pinterest and just thought it was such a sweet list of things to pray for for all our Husbands, future husbands, sons & brothers for when they become husbands :)

for the love of laundry.

today i folded my laundry... the same laundry that i washed on tuesday... yay me.

i seriously need this sign hanging above my washer and dryer

source: pinterest

honestly, it's a REALLY bad habit that i've gotten into. i do the laundry and it sits in the dryer for about 2 days, then i decide to bring it inside and it sits in the basket at the base of my bed. i pick through it during the week trying to find my favorite black shirt, or the jeans that make my bum look awesome. then eventually, i have enough dirty clothes on the floor that i have to fold and put away the clean laundry so i can fill the basket with the dirty clothes that are piling up in the corner... hahaha. it's so so bad, and even though Alex doesn't complain about it i'm sure it drives him crazy.

but anyways, tonight we were catching up on our shows (mainly Modern Family and The Office) and i decided to fold the laundry <you're all shocked i know> and it was such a nice surprise when Alex sat down right next to me and grabbed a pile of clothes and started helping me fold. I looked over and smiled and we just kept folding laundry in silence, watching the hilarity that is Modern Family and enjoying each others company.

I love marriage. i love that folding laundry with my husband makes my love for him grow. i love that we can laugh over a random sock that we found in the dryer (seriously, neither of us had ever seen this sock in our lives... how it ended up in our dryer we will never know). and i love that the small piles of clean clothes will most likely stay in my family room until sometime later on in the week ;)

that's the funny thing about marriage. you live with someone who you are completely in love with and suddenly mundane tasks become these epic adventures that you look forward to every day. little things that most people would over look, or view as silly are the things that you love most about your spouse. you are able to look at each other and have conversations and read each others thoughts and finish each others sentences. you fall into routine, but somehow there is nothing routine about it. you can be a complete weirdo and you will receive kisses on the forehead instead of skeptical looks (okay, sometimes you receive skeptical looks)... haha. you always have someone to tell your secrets to. you have someone to root for you when you don't even want to root for yourself.

and most of all you will always have someone to help you avoid doing the laundry.

:)

insomnia

It's late, and i should be sleeping. i can hear my husband snoring in the other room, my kitten in asleep on the couch and nothing new has been updated to Facebook in the last 30 minutes... the world is asleep... and yet, here i am. typing away. kinda at a loss for what i will write. but i hope that whilst i randomly jab at the keyboard sleep will find me, and i can go snuggle with my hunny and dream happy things...

but until that happens, you're stuck with me and my randomness... you lucky person.

hmmm... i feel like there are never an new pins on Pinterest... i go and scroll through all the pins, and i think "hmm i am pretty sure i've seen ALL of these before..."
but i still never log off!! it's like CRACK i tell you. seriously so addicting, it's bad bad bad!!

 I should try and do something productive with my life...

 My house has successfully stayed clean all week! Which is a big deal if you know me... usually, i clean and then i see that as an excuse to bake something complicated or scrapbook... which then ends up making a bigger mess... it's a vicious cycle. But don't get too excited, i still haven't put away the laundry i did on tuesday... i'm not a super hero.

In other, still unimportant news I did actually make something off of Pinterest the other day! <insert applause here> I made a magnetic make up board... but since it is late, i'm not going to bother uploading a picture... but just know that it is really awesome and handy and cute and crafty and has totally solved the Cosmetic Clutter Epidemic of 2011. and it was SO easy and SO cheap. I highly recommend it. :)

hmm what else is new. OH. i saw The Help today. ohmahgooooddddddnnnnesssssss!! so fantastic. i cried and laughed and clapped and gasped. I thought it was wonderfully executed and even though i haven't finished reading the book, i feel like the movie is a very great representation of the book, and i truly love it when that happens.

I also got to spend time with my mom and sister today. and man it was just so great to talk and laugh and be with someone who understand my quirkiness and who can quote Jeff Dunham and The Ringer in normal conversation! It is nice to feel loved and to have someone to laugh at my stories and listen to my random ideas... i miss having girlfriends... everyone i know and love has moved far away from me and i feel abandoned and sometimes i just really need that old familiar feeling... and sometimes it's hard to come by. so i'm grateful for family who lives so close by and will still agree to be seen with me in public... ;)

and lastly, i just wanted to announce that my dearest sweetest friend Hope Andersen is engaged! I can't even begin to explain how happy i am for her and Mark. they are our special friends and i can't wait to see what the future has in store for them. <3 yay weddings.

i've rambled enough. and my eyelids are finally starting to droop. so i'm gonna head for bed (haha rhymes) and hopefully have more intelligent things to say in the near future!

:) Night Y'all

21 Suggestions for Success

i just love this... :)

 

21 Suggestions for Success by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

1. Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.

2. Work at something you enjoy and that’s worthy of your time and talent.

3. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

4. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.

5. Be forgiving of yourself and others.

6. Be generous.

7. Have a grateful heart.

8. Persistence, persistence, persistence.

9. Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary.

10. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.

11. Commit yourself to constant improvement.

12. Commit yourself to quality.

13. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.

14. Be loyal.

15. Be honest.

16. Be a self-starter.

17. Be decisive even if it means you’ll sometimes be wrong.

18. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.

19. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.

20. Take good care of those you love.

21. Don’t do anything that wouldn’t make your Mom proud

and there you have it my friends...

now, go out there and be successful ;)

Leave of Absence.

Good Grief it's been a long time since i last posted... i apologize.

nothing too incredibly exciting has happened, but still a few things that are at least note worthy... hmm i feel a Top Ten list coming on!!!

1. We attended some fun sports games! My dad had tickets to The Cardinals Pre Season Game! He had tickets for the US Airways suite and it was Awesome!! Unlimited hot wings and hamburgers and chips and salsa and CHOCOLATE and diet coke... i mean come on! Plus the game was really great, even though we lost at the last second... literally.

             
2. We also went to a Diamondbacks game on the night that the tickets were only $5!! We just ran to downtown Phoenix, waited in line at the box office, asked for tickets in the nose bleed section, and loved every moment of it! It was just a fun spur of the moment trip to the ballpark! I love that Alex and I both love sports.

3. Also, part of the adventure of going to aforementioned game was that we drove my car, which is a cheve Aveo... and it's manual {aka. stick shift... aka. REALLY REALLY hard to drive up a hill} anyways, we had to park in the parking garage under the Bank of America building, and they have those horrid hills when you are trying to get out. I was basically about to have a heart attack, i was so afraid of driving up those hills. Basically for those who don't know, in a manual car you have to have your foot on the clutch while you accelerate, but while on a hill you have to also have your foot on the brake... and unless you have three feet and can hold down all three pedals at one time, it's almost impossible to go up a slight incline without rolling backwards into the car, tree, or small child that is behind you. And since there were people lined up all behind me, rolling backwards down the hill into them wasn't really an option. I'm still amazed that i made it out of that parking garage. prayer is a beautiful thing. and i will leave it at that.

ps. here is a cute picture of my car :) i loves it.

4. I went shopping with my mom on friday and we got lots of fun make up and nail polish. Plus we went to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch... and that alone is happiness. We got the Red Velvet Cheesecake and i died and went to heaven. There is something so wonderful about shopping with ones mother. I always have the best time. We talk about real life stuff, no drama, she gives grate advice, and she buys me things that i feel to guilty about buying {nude colored lipstick & fuchsia nail polish}


5. I finally took all the junk donations in my trunk to Goodwill. I can now fit all my groceries in my trunk again. and i can see my closet floor. mission accomplished.


6. I started taking photos again. my boss needed some family photos done and he was brave enough to ask me to do them. I think they turned out really great :)

7. Labor day!! We spent an awesome weekend at the Lake with my familia! We went to Lake Roosevelt for 2 days and spent time working on my freckles and eating ourselves silly and tubing and just floating in the water listening to brad paisley and Ke$ha :) Alex got up on the Wake board for the first time. and i almost got up for the first time... small improvements every time i tell ya.

blue.

freckles

love of my life.

aren't we adorable.

matching teal shirts :)

8. I made my husband happy and learned how to play Magic the Gathering... if you don't know what it is... well that's okay. but just know it's kinda a nerdy game, with the same gist as Pokemon... you have cards with certain powers and you have to try and destroy the other players... super nerd fest, but Alex loves the game and i figured it would be a good thing for me to know how to play. so he taught me and then a couple days later we went to a Magic tournament together and i actually WON a few competitions!! Go figure. haha i actually really like the game now. We play together and it's fun to have a little healthy competition ;)

the Planeswalkers

9. I'm not a bad teacher. A few weeks ago Alex and I got called to teach the 13-14 year olds Sunday School class at church. I wasn't too thrilled about the assignment, but i'm learning, and every week gets better and better. The kids love my baking so there is a good incentive for them to behave! haha. Also, i make killer Word searches with the key words from each weeks lesson and they like that a lot too :)  Woot!


10. Abby went to homecoming on saturday and i took their pictures. here are my favs. :)

So there is a quick update... and i know i say this lots and lots, but i truly will try and write more often.


peace off. <3

Another Mushy Post

Haha, sorry but this is gonna be another story about how my hubby loves me. <sheepish grin>

Scene: kitchen, eating cereal.

Me: "you should play hookie today"

Him: "yeah.... no."

Me: "WHY YOU WANT TO LEAVE MEEE!"

Him: "Oh, trust me, I don't wanna leave you. Especially last night in my dream.."

Me: <cue curious look>

Him: "Okay, so I was on this yacht with a SUPER hot model. She was seducing me and things were getting pretty hot and heavy.  But as I was kissing this Super Model, I remebered that you and our baby were on the other boat. So i told this super model that I didn't love her like i love you and I jumped off the boat and swam to be with you!!"

Me: ":D"

Haha, it's good to know that my husband will be faithful to me even if he is unconscious  :)

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

A Really Good Feeling.

Ya know what? 

It's really fun to go through The Hubby's work folder and find papers where he has written your name over and over and over again.

and

Yeah, we are still in love with each other. 

and

Yeah, we still flirt like we are meeting for the first time.

 and

Yeah, we still hold hands in the car.

and

Yeah, we still kiss at red lights.

and

Yeah, I still text him when I hear 'our song' on the radio.

and

Yeah, we still think it's really fun to call each other "hubby" and "wifey".

and

Yeah, we still give each other butterflies.

 and

Yeah, we still laugh at the inside jokes we made while we were dating.

and

Yeah, I still count down the minutes until my hubby gets home from Work/School.

and

Yeah, he doodles my name in his notebook just because he is thinking about me. 

and

Yeah, that's a really good feeling.

peace and love and stuff

The Versatile Blogger Award

I cannot believe this! I've always read posts about girls being nominated for being a FABULOUS blogger.. and i have always admired those girls and tried my darnedest to be as cute, and as clever and as intriguing as they are. And you should have seen my surprise when i was nominated by the fabulous Elizabeth from Love is the Adventure :)

I was so so so pleasantly surprised and honored to receive this amazing award!! :)
and so, without further ado "The Versatile Blogger Award" rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you: THANK YOU ELIZABETH!! YOU MADE MY BLOGGIN DREAMS COME TRUE!!! :D

2. Share 7 facts about yourself

{one} When I was 9 years old my family moved to Madrid, Spain. We lived there for 3 years. I went to a Spanish public school, lived in a 20 story apartment, rode the metro and 2 buses to get to school, and traveled to Paris and London on 3 day weekends. I vacationed all around Europe every summer and experienced culture like never before. I speak Spanish {almost} fluently. And i have a ridiculous love for Flamenco dancing :)   

                                           

{two} I work at a Tactical Law Enforcement & Military store. It's very manly and tough. I sell knives and gun accessories and batons and uniforms. I see guns everyday. I frequently play with tasers and gas masks. I talk to snipers, SWAT, DPS, Patrol, Marines, firemen, and state Gang Force everyday. I love my job.

{three}My favorite food is Thai. I love Pad Thai,  Tom Ka Ga, Panang Curry, Lard Na, Satay Chicken, Mango Curry and Green curry!! All over sticky rice, with a HUGE glass of water and my loved ones all around me. seriously, there is nothing better in the world.

{four} I am an aspiring photographer. My sweet dad bought be the most fabulous SLR camera for my 18th birthday, and i have been in heaven ever since. I love to take pictures of babies, nature, and couples in love. My sister has always been my model, and has done a superb job, if i do say so myself... hmmm maybe i'll post some of my favorite pictures in another post... yes?

{five} I'm a good cook. I never cooked anything before I was married, and i'm pretty sure Alex was scared for his life... He was expecting a couple of years of Ramen, Mac-n-cheese and a lot of burnt stuff. But i think he was pleasantly surprised and all the delicious things i come up with (I'm not trying to brag, i promise, this is just one thing that i do well that i am sorta proud of...) Alex loves coming home and trying my latest invention that suddenly becomes his new favorite over last nights meal. It's a fun game to create something to tasty out of a few random ingredients.

{six} i love to sing. I have been in choir since Elementary school. I sing in church choir. I went to school to be a music major. I took voice lessons for 6 years. I was in Jazz choir in High School & College. I am now in a fabulous choir run by my In-Laws called Resonance. I sing in the shower. I sing in the car. I sing while i make dinner. I make up my own songs.

{seven} i have a fantabulous husband. (side note: i really should do a whole post about our dating/ engagement phase of life) But anyway, Alex is kinda the best thing that ever happened to me. He just showed up in my life when i had no faith in the male species, he surprised me with his wit and charm and spontaneity and slowly helped me believe that not all men are scum bags. He is kind and patient and silly and fun and adventurous and brave and in-tune with the spirit and makes me feel like the most perfect most beautiful most amazing girl in the whole world... and that's a really good feeling. I love him. <3 it's a fact.

Now, after the 7 facts, you must pass this fabulous award on to 5 new bloggers!!!

A Little Bit of Hope
Peace Love and Cupcakes
Causality of Purpose
The World As I See It
Alexis Laughs

Honestly these are some of the best blogs that I read!! Go read 'em!!!

That's all. <3