I want...

to make this




For the life of me, I can't find shutters anywhere. At least for a price that I will pay. I've checked the d.i., lowe's, home depot, craigslist, ebay, sutherlands, just about every shutter store and they are all around $40. I just need a cheap wood pair that I can paint. Even if they are old looking, I don't care. So if anyone has any ideas of where I could get some shutters let me know, PLEASE!!!!

(Shutter idea from www.howdoesshe.com)

23 things to do while I'm 23!

This list includes some of my goals as well as adventurous things that I would like to do. Thanks to everyone who gave me ideas. I don't know if I will get all these things done in the next year (less now) but it is a start to my Bucket List.

1- Run a half marathon

2- Apply to Nursing school

3- Snowshoe

4- Read the Book of Mormon

5- Add another $1500 or more to our savings

6- Tour the Seattle underground

7- Go white water rafting

8- Learn to play the organ

9- Learn a new language- most likely it will be Spanish

10- Sew/make pillows for our couch

11- Go to a Haunted House (a huge fear)

12- Try Sushi

13- Ride in a hot air balloon

14- Go Deer/Elk hunting

15- Make a patch work quilt

16- Lose another 10 pounds

17- Lear how to digital scrapbook

18- Learn how to can

19- Make salsa from scratch

20- Take more "random" pictures

21- Volunteer

22- Learn to let the small things go

23- Not be upset if I don't complete everything on this list before I turn 24

I'll keep you updated as I complete things and share pictures and stories of the more fun things that I do!

Thanksgiving....and Christmas is in the Air!

Thanksgiving this year was fantastic! My sister Natalie was in town and my sister-in-law Shiloh and her sweet baby were here as well, so we spent lots of time with family! We had a baby shower for Natalie the Saturday before Thanksgiving and she got lots of cute girl things. The morning of Thanksgiving I ran a 5k with my friend Julie. It was cold but still lost of fun. It will most likely become a tradition. Then we headed off to dinner at my parents and ended the night with dessert at the in-laws. On Friday morning Dan, Shiloh and I were up around 4:30 am and headed off to Target, JC Penney and Macys. We got some great stuff and finished most of our Christmas shopping. Then on Saturday I put up decorations and Monday Dan and I put up the tree. I'm very excited for Christmas this year because Dan doesn't have to leave right after like he did last year and Shiloh and her cute little family will be in town again.

Julie and I- almost to the finish line

Natalie said I am a freak because I'm obsessed with her prego belly. It's true that I am.

We had to to compare bellies. haha Next time I see her she will be a mommy!!!

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Christmas Decor

23 things...

I am making a list of 23 things to do while I'm 23 and I need your help. Just leave me a comment with your thought(s) and in a couple weeks I hope to post the list.

Birthday Weekend

This past Saturday was my 23rd birthday. The celebration started Friday night when some of our good friends decided to have a party for me. Pizza, Rockband, rootbeer, cake and girl talk were all involved. It was an absolute blast! (Thanks again Leslie, Kenna and Melissa). Saturday morning Dan had plans to take me to breakfast but I requsted that we just get steamed milk and a dougnut from 7-11 on our way up to Park City-where we went shopping at the outlets. Then we went to dinner with my parents and watched the U game (I was bummed that they couldn't pull out a win for my birthday). It was a great weekend and I got some great presents too. 22 was a good year and I hope that 23 is even better.

A Special Thanks!

Today while driving to work I was listening to the radio. They were playing a plethora (yes, I love saying that word to sound smart) of patriotic songs while family members of military members were giving their tribute. I found myself bawling and asking myself why. Could it be that fact that I have a husband in the military? Could it be because he volunteered to do extra security out at the base- in case of another Ft. Hood incident? Could it be because he is most likely going to volunteer for Afghanistan? Could it be that while listening to children talk about how their dad died in Iraq, I hope that our future children don't have to experience that? Yep, those all seem like great reasons to me. I am grateful for all those who have served or who are serving but mostly for Dan. He has such a strong desire to serve this country that not only is it enough that he is in the military he wants to be right in the middle of the fight-protecting each one of us and the US!! Thank you Dan, I love you!

Pondering...

Lately I've been pondering a lot about life. My Life. Our Life. Our Future. Thinking back to five years ago I realize that sometimes life doesn't take you where you think you are going to go. But it always goes in the direction that is best for you. Five years ago I thought I would marry a totally different person than I did. But I found my love. my best friend. my Dan. And I couldn't be more happy with my choice. I love looking back on the goals that I made for myself and now realizing that they are being accomplished. I look back to where Dan and I were just one year ago. Newlyweds, living in separate states, wondering what our future had in store. Now here we are today. Newlyweds, living under the same roof, making and accomplishing goals together. This leads me to think where will we be in another year. Will we have a house? Will we be starting our family? Where will we be with our school studies? The only thing we can do is wait and keep doing what we are doing to reach the goals that we have set for ourselves. My ponderings have led me to realize that I am happy with where I ended up today and where my life is going. It's a good life!