...Merry Christmas...

Christmas Eve.... oh how much i love you! I cannot wait until tomorrow when I can rip open all my presents Rand wont divulge. I cannot wait until I can watch Rands face as he opens his presents. Oh boy I seriously must admit I am a 5 year old! I have to shake, shake and shake some more my wrapped presents under the tree. You see each year I submit a list, and so I assume that people buy things off of it. I make amazing guesses each and every year, and if I cant stand it well..... I used to open it and seal it all back up nice and neat. These past couple years Rand had put an end to that part of it. He even wraps things in bigger boxes, Seals the boxes with duck tape and surrounds my Christmas item with newspaper and whatever else he can find... its horrible. I was lucky my parents never caught until I was married.... ha.

We just wanted to wish everyone happy holidays, and happy new year! We hope all of you have had a great year, we hope to see you soon! If there is anything we can do for any of you please let us know! Merry Christmas everyone!

{christ}mas..

Dear Santa(again),

Okay so let me start by saying that I know my last post was little selfish. I do want those things but to be honest that is just what it is a "want". It would be nice to have the watch(which is the one really big "want"ahem...), and I can honestly say I would get plenty of use out of it. But.....

What I really "want" is to be as blessed this next year as I have been this year. This year has had its challenges, but its also had some of the best moments of my life. I have been greatly blessed with a loving husband and family. I have been blessed to have them all apart of my life, and there to lean on when I need a hug or a piece of advice. I have been blessed this year with great health, and happiness. I can only hope this next year brings as much, if not more that I can possibly deserve.

I have really been trying to re-focus my thoughts (as of 30 minutes ago) on Christ. He is what this holiday season is really about. He is the one who was born to give us all the greatest sacrifice and gift, his life. This season is truly about giving and helping those in need. I am pretty sure Rand has had this thought in his mind all the way. I on the other hand have been constantly side lined due to the commercialism of Christmas.

Looking back as I was a little kid, I cant tell you what presents I received throughout the years. The times I remember most are when we have helped others as a family. I can recall one moment specifically in mind where this is the case. Our family was able to help another family and somehow I got to help. I cannot tell you the feelings I felt when I watched them open the door to find gifts they could have never have imagined to have received. The burden that must have been lifted I would guess was very over powering emotionally. The thrill I had afterward was one of sweet satisfaction, that I indeed got to help someone. I know slot of people say they like the Christmas season because people are "nicer", "kinder" and even "happier". This comes from truly doing what the Lord asks us to do all year round, just serve others. I know this next year I am going to make a bigger effort to do just that. To make someone else's day better, not because I have to, but because I want to. I have seen the effects first hand of the sweet blessings you receive when you are in service to your fellow man. I want to receive those blessings in my own life.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas Season!! I hope we all can remember what Christmas is truly about.

Dear {Santa}....

Dear Santa,
I know you might be a little busy and quite possibly a little tight this year, but all I really want this year is the following:

- Garmin forerunner 405 GPS fitness monitor(green)

Reason: well to be honest I am a little bit of a Fitness and Gym junkie. This little baby would be the best to train for all of my up-coming events. She keeps my pace, tracks my distance, and speed. It also has a virtual partner which I can race against to better my time. Finally, this gorgeous baby would be the center of my attention and would get the best care.... while also looking cute on my wrist!

-Steven Madden "Intyce" boots (from Nordstrom) Brown

Reason: simply because I am in love with them! I have them in black, which I am loving! Every time I work a Jazz game without fail I see someone with the these cute babys on and I am reminded how much I need them! I would give them a good home, and they already have multiple outfits planned for the future.....

Oh yeah and one more thing for the future christmas's to come....

- Kay Jewelers

Reason: None other than its gorgeous and I really want a ring that is really different from everyone elses! I love my wedding ring and its got some great history behind it(it was rands grandmas I believe). I just love switching things up. I love the unique-ness of it! One day maybe santa will bring it... for now I will just dream!

Happy {Turkey} Day!

Happy Late Thanksgiving! I cant even tell you all how grateful I am for this holiday season. I am so happy to live where we do, and have the frequent opportunity to visit with friends and family! We enjoyed having Rands sisters and their families in town, which filled the nights with laughter, discussions, plenty of cute little kiddies, and just plain enjoyment. We are really grateful they were able to make it safetly, and in great health.

Thursday morning we did the annual Sargent Turkey Bowl game. Of course it was a blast, but sadly we didnt take any pictures. All I can remember is just laughing my head off the entire game! We then headed home to shower and move on with the day. We attended my family thanksgiving dinner at my grandmas, which my dad made the yummiest rolls!! There we got to see all my cute cousins, aunts and uncles. We always have a great time when we all get together. Then we headed out for dessert to Rands brothers house. Boy were we in for a treat, Rands mom made amazing pies! The dinner looked great, there was no way I could have possible fit more in my stomach. Then of course the guys went and watched football and we girls hung out and talked. Sadly my night with them ended early thanks to the Utah Jazz game I had to work that night. Amazingly enough that night flew by! Then it was on to black friday shopping with Katie and Kalli. Boy was this a fun night, even though I didnt go to bed until 7 that morning it was worth every penny, and minute un-slept.

All in all Rand and I had a great thanksgiving. We have really come to appriceate both our families being as we are about 5-10 mintues away from both. I really felt bad for those who dont live close to their families or are unable to travel. That for me would have been a really long and hard day if I wasnt able to see the people that I love. Rand and I have really grown to apprieicate having jobs with the struggling economy. I am grateful that we have a place to live, and food to eat. I am grateful for all the wonderful blessings in our life, especially as I looked around at our families, how amazing each of them are! This year has had its trials for us, but looking back we wouldnt have it any other way. Next year is going to be a big year for us, and as we look forward with our lives we know that the experiences that we have had the opportunity to face this year will un-doubtably be the very foundation that we fall back on later in our lives. We are so grateful for the gospel in our lives, and the assurance that we have knowing we are together forever, with our families. Its just a peaceful feeling to know that families are forever, and that we have a father in heaven looking out for us, loving us, and most of all helping us along our way in this life. I hope we will always remember to have him first in our lives at all times.

{ Birthday Boy...}

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RANDALL!

This is a shout out to my little/big birthday boy! Yesterday was Rands 25th birthday (I know he is old...) and we were so busy that I didnt get to post about it.





For those of you who dont know me super well, I am horrible with surprises. I cannot handle them for myself or for others. So of course naturally I gave Rand is presents the night before only because I couldnt keep them a secret any longer. So he was excited with what he got which mad me even more happier that he liked what I had bought for him.


That night we went to dinner with some friends to get sushi, which we ate in all in a matter of minutes! Then we went and watched The Office.


Overall I think it was great day! Rand seemed to enjoy it and he got his favortie meal! I cannot tell you all how grateful I am to have such a loving husband. He is my best friend whom I can always share my deepest secrets with. I cannot express how lucky I am to have him, and I have seen this over the past year and half we have been married. I am grateful for him pursuing an education, in hopes to provide for me and our future children one day. I know he will be successful no matter what may comes our way, because somehow by nature eveything just does. I would swear if he wanted something bad enough that he gets it every time cause he is just so dang lucky, and a hard worker. I am happy that Rand has a great personality that just makes me chuckle. I think there is something every day that just pops out of his mouth, that some way or another we end up laughing histerically about. To sum this up, he is an amazing husband and i love him! I cannot wait to see what comes our way this next year babe! Your the best-est-est-est-est(inside joke)!!



I am nothing special of this I am sure. I am just a common man with common thoughts. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, that has always been enough. Nicholas Sparks


A great marriage is not when the 'perfect couple' comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.
-Dave Meurer

{ Best of the oldies...}

I dont know about all of you, but I have to speak for myself. When I see a gloomy day out side, more so during winter, I just want to curl up at home with hot cocoa and a good movie. I have grown up with some great family members(mostly my aunt Connie) who have taught me that the best movies are the oldies. I can remember being a small little kid up at our cabin with aunts, uncles and all my cousins piled on the floor watching Doris Day, Rock Hudson, and Audrey Hepburn. There is nothing better to me then just watching the chemistry between all these great actors. I cant explain my love for these! Just pure enjoyment for the sappy love story I guess.

Rand here is a great idea for christmas you can get me the box set of these greats!! I would prefer; pillow talk, the thrill of it all, breakfast at tiffany's, it happened to jane, lover come back, send me no flowers, that touch of mink. Just to name a few...

For Attractive Lips speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you will never walk alone. People, even more that things have to be restored, renewed, revived reclaimed and redeemed; Never throw out anyone. - Audrey Hepburn

Not to live for the day, that would be materialistic -- but to treasure the day. I realize that most of us live on the skin -- on the surface -- without appreciating just how wonderful it is simply to be alive at all.-- Audrey Hepburn

You can always tell what kind of a person a man really thinks you are by the earrings he gives you.-- Audrey Hepburn

Your heart just breaks, that's all. But you can't judge, or point fingers. You just have to be lucky enough to find someone who appreciates you.-- Audrey Hepburn

Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty. - Doris Day

Wrinkles are hereditary. Parents get them from their children. -Doris Day

Pretty Amazing...

Just saw this video a little while ago and found it fascinating. Hoping you do the same...by the way, this is Rand...

{. . .Just a thought...}

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, ... That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends,it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it." -Declaration of Independence

{So not Chicken....}

So I just thought I would post for those of you who havent seen me yet to let you know that I overcame my little chicken inside me. I finally succumbed to the wishes to cut my hair off. All nine inches to be exact. I have to say I was really nervous the day before, and was still in debate over if I really wanted to get rid of most of my hair. Why is it that hair has some emotional connection to us? I cannot figure it out.
After the initial "chop" of the hair I felt as good as I could. I would go to play with it and nothing would be there to twist around my finger. Emotions decided to check in at that point. I think the worst day was the very next day when I washed it, I started to cry when I felt like, "I looked like a boy!" as I balled to Rand.
Still I am getting used to it, but I have to confess that its super nice to get ready faster than I did before.

I have now enetered the short girls hair club... the sad pictures are below:

Before


Here is the after, and as you an see I am a little unsure of how I like it, lets just say its growning on me.

After

Keep Educated...

Rand here...

I just received an e-mail from my mother (the most faithful e-mail forwarder of them all!) that included a link to this video. If you haven't had a chance to see this yet, it is well worth the four minutes of your time. Congressman Mike Rogers is the type of man that I am glad is still in politics, for he is doing the right thing and standing up for what is right (at least in this situation)...even if that means it is hard and unpopular. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did and that you understand why I wanted to share it with everyone...our country needs to be more educated about things like this!

{ Food Insurance. . .}

I am not normally one who would promote my work on my blog but I think there are many of us out there who aren't prepared when it comes to 72 hr kits. Rand and I have recently been thinking of purchasing a product that my company does. They are something that in a emergency you can grab and go and not worry about what you will eat or how you will survive until help arrives.

I strongly believe in having food storage not only because I am employed with them, but I have seen the cost for those who have not been prepared when a emergency arises. I am also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, that being, I have heard over the course of the years that we should be prepared. Rand and I however at this point are not prepared, and due to the economy would like to make sure if anything were to happen that would have a back up plan, and something to rely on. So thus being we are going to be getting some type of plan in place.

The second reason I have included this on my blog is because we don't have the means to spend thousands of dollars on a package, so this is a lot more affordable for those of us who are currently in school, or young and maybe have a kid. The price is extremely reasonable for us as well considering that I want to be prepared, but also want to have a great price. If you are interested please go to http://www.foodinsurance.com/ for more information. I have included some more information below for you all to look at. Let me know some feedback!

The Essentials Kit includes:
lightweight weather resistant backpack
2-week food supply, 3 meals per day
delicious freeze dried food
reusable heat source
quick heat fuel pellets
waterproof matches
single serving cooking tin
water filter
$199.99

The Emergency Plus Kit includes:
The Essentials Kit plus the following
350 piece first aid kit
emergency all-in-one tool
flashlight/radio combo
dust/pollutant masks (2)
$249.99

These are the options with the backpacks that you can get. You can also just get the 2 week supply of food separately as well. Its all available on the website. I hope this helps any of you who are looking for some type of food storage.

{Long Week. . .}

This is how i feel as of this week. I have nothing imparticular that is really stressing me out, but i feel like this cartoon!! I think this week might just last forever. . .

{..Inspiration...}

October inspires me to create more color, and have a warm cozy feel. I have found some of my latest images, and addictions and posted them below for you all to enjoy. I pulled them from everywhere so you can feel the magic/ influence that design can have just by looking at someone elses work. To put it simply it is art. I love art, and therefore I am drawn in by all its most beautiful appeal it has to offer me.

One day I too will have a space enough to add my own touch with color, textures, and light. I dream of that day!






I love the bright red dresser, its sure to make every day a little brighter, right?!

I want this headboard!

I love the fire place

This is specifically one of my favorites since its so different. I love how the stairs go over the front door.

I love the splash of color that catch your eye!

I feel like this room is any girls dream. Its romantic, but very girly at the same time.

Love this bedroom!! Its almost just a soft touch here and there of personality, but i love the soberness of the room.

I hope you all enjoy a little more of what art can capture, in any form.

Another Great Book

Rand again...anybody out there looking for a good thriller about Islam, the United States, and terrorism...this is it. It's pretty short (only about 300 or so pages) and it is a pretty fast read. Just like Dan Brown's writing, Brad Thor (author of this book) writes short chapters and leaves you wanting more. It's easy to say "just one more chapter" and end up reading three or four. Let me know what you think!

INCREDIBLE!

Hey, Rand here....so Madi brought me home a surprise last Wednesday night. I had no idea what it was and she wasn't willing to budge on giving me a hint or anything! I got home and she brought out the surprise..."The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown, the latest in the adventures of Robert Langdon. I read chapter 1 on Wednesday night, read over a hundred pages Thursday, over two hundred on Friday, and finished it on Saturday! For any of you who liked "The Da Vinci Code" or "Angels & Demons," you will love this. It was my favorite of the three! Enjoy! And thanks to Madi, my wonderful wife for the amazing surprise!

{Reading....}

I just started to read this book. Its call the book thief, and I have heard nothing but wonderful things about it. I will let you all know how it goes! In the meantime find a book and get yourself reading! I want to hear about the current books that are great reads.

{...Chicken...}

So I am officially declaring myself a chicken. That's right you all heard me right! Let me explain why I feel this way, first off I have really been debating about cutting my hair short, and by short I mean Victoria Beckham short. Last time I went in to my hair dresser I had talked myself into doing it. I needed a change, and yet I walked out with my long locks still attached. I couldn't bring myself to do it, I sat in my car ashamed at myself for not doing what the initial plan was. So here I am 4 months down the road thinking about it again, knowing that I have to "man-up" (or woman-up) and just bring myself to doing it. So I wanted to see what you all thought. Should I cut it so short or should I just keep on trimming it? I need some advice!




Moving on to the currency of our lives, I had a couple things I wanted to post about. Such as the 1/2 marathon that I completed in Logan last weekend. I cannot tell you how excited I was that morning, cause to be honest I was more worried about my time and body than really enjoying the moment. I thought to myself many times through out the race that life would be so much simpler if I wasn't so addicted to running my guts out. I love to run and feel the breeze as it crosses my face. I love the stress that just melts off, and the simple peace of mind I have while doing it. This very day I hit a wall around mile 11 and as soon as I saw that cone I thought to my self man this should be the end, can I just finish right here?! I wanted to stop but I had to keep pushing myself to continue and before I knew it there is was the big finish! I started to sprint only having had a Charley horse since mile 7 my legs were beat. I finished at two hours 7 seconds a little shy of my goal for one hour 50 minutes but I am attributing that due to my friend charlie who happens to be a horse.....


Last but not least, in my earlier post I talked about my brother Garrett getting home from his mission Aug 20th. Boy was that a great day! It was so exhilarating to see him coming down the escalator and knowing that I haven't seen this kid for 2 whole stinkin years! He looks great a little shell shocked but I don't think that isn't something I cant change, nor my family for that matter. All in all we are grateful he came home safe and we are happy to have him back!

{Recognize this person...}

Do any of you recognize this boy..I mean man? This is my brother Garrett, he has been currently serving a mission for the LDS church for the past 2 years! He has been the best missionary, and his letters and calls home are always such a joy to read and to hear how he is doing and what he has been up to. He is still the same guy that left, but I would say a little more mature!! Oh and did I mention that he gets home tomorrow from North Dakota?! I cant wait to see him again, and of course we have all changed so much. First off, Garrett has never met Rand. We started dating and hanging out alot right after he left, so I am excited for them to meet each other. Second my younger brothers are completely different, mostly they have grown taller but one is driving now and the other is just about to get to puberty... haha. So life has defiantly changed around the house.

If he gets the chance to read this I hope he knows how excited we are to see him again. He has been a great missionary and we have had the pleasure of watching him grow into an amazing man. He has been a great kid to grow up with and I cant wait to see him tomorrow!!

{Bear lake...and Golf}

So we ventured up to the bluest of blue....Bear Lake! The weather was perfect all except Saturday. That's when it got a little cloudy and rainy but we made the most of the situation with cards, naps, laughter, and great company. The very first day Rand had a bad experience with a flying hairy bug we all call bee's. He was stung right on the elbow... Ouch! He of course whimpered in pain for about five minutes and then there after was okay. As we got up to the cabin for the day, we noticed how swollen his elbow was only because he was violently scratching it. So we decided to take some pictures. So for your enjoyment here they are the first is the stung swollen elbow and the other is his normal elbow.



A couple days before this trip we went golfing for the first time together. Yes i know that is pathetic but seriously I am way too competitive for a sport that involves a small white ball(seriously i need some color) and a majorly small hole! To satisfy Rand's curiosity i went and played along. I actually had fun, although i did loose a ball, but to be honest I really didn't mind golfing even though i really only golfed about 4 or five holes (i liked driving the cart the best! shh... don't tell Rand)











Oh yeah then we went and saw some puppies!! This is the Little girl i want, but Rand says no... i need help changing his mind!

Last but not least I found the house of my dreams! I really can see myself here one day, i guess its just not soon enough!!