I'm addicted...

Do you have Instagram? It's an app for an iphone or ipod touch/ipad. Oh man, it's fun. It's an app that allows you to take pictures or upload pictures from your phone and put a cool filter on them and share them with others. Yeah, addicting. I'm having so much fun with this app!

So here's a little story...Ryan asked me if I wanted an ipod touch for Christmas. I said no. Why? Because I don't like to have lots of money spent on me, especially at Christmas time. I don't like saying, "ummm yeah please spend $300 on an electronic device for me". I just can't do that. I can't even buy it for myself. I'm more of a buy-a-whole-lot-of-little-things-for-$300-instead-of-buying-one-thing-that-costs-$300, kind of person. But secretly I have wanted one for a long time. I've just been using my little ipod shuffle for the last few years. I wanted an upgrade.

Anyway, Ryan has been contemplating buying an iphone - something i really want and have wanted for a long time, but i have a work phone and they pay for it, so why get another phone. And I was pretty jealous that he was going to get one, even after he had been saying for many years that we'd never get iphones because they're too much. blah blah blah.

Well, Monday Ryan texts me and says, "what kind of phone should I get?" I say "get whatever you want". "you're a lot of help" he replies. So I say, "just get an iphone!".....and then I send another one right after saying..."if you get an iphone then you have to buy me an ipod touch". He calls me after that and says, "I asked you if you wanted one for Christmas!" I proceed to tell him what I wrote in the 2nd paragraph above. He laughs and says, "i don't get you".

Anyway, a few work hours later I came home to a new ipod touch in white. I love it! I can't stop playing with it!

Which leads me back to Instagram...it's addicting. Here are some of the pictures I've taken below. So fun!

December in pictures

In no particular order...(it took me forever to upload these, and I don't want to take anymore time in re-arranging them...)

We finally got some real snow...but then in melted.

Isn't it perty?!

We went to Herriman to see the famous "UP" house. You can walk in and take a tour. It's amazing and they did such a good job re-creating every little detail from the movie. So cool!

Our Christmas tree from outside...pretty.

Threw a Family bridal shower for my sister Erin, who got married on Dec. 17th (more pictures from that eventful weekend coming up)

We had a department Christmas party and decided it would be fun to have each row create a mini golf hole, and make it into a cool theme. Our theme, if you can't tell, was from the movie "ELF". You know...first he walked through the Candy Cane Forest, then it passed the Sea of Twirly, Swirly Gumdrops, then he walked through the Lincoln Tunnel...and of course the Empire State Building played a big role in it as well. It was fun!

Max can pretty much sleep in any position as long as it's in our lap. He thinks he a tiny thing, but he's not. Oh well, we love him.

Picked up my sister Bridal Bouquet...so pretty!

Max is our new Yoga instructor.

This cutie pie came into town with his my, my younger sister Caitilin. It was so fun having them here for the wedding. We miss them and wish all of her boys could have been here.

Liam has perfected the "Old Man" face...love it!

Ahhh...so cute!

Another "Old man" face.

This handsome 11 year old nephew, Kai, was hospitalized after finding out that his blood sugar levels were over 600. Poor guy has Type 1 Diabetes. Makes me so sad, but man he is a trooper!

These cute cousins (Caiti's Liam and Sharon & Shane's Elizabeth) had their birthdays just 5 weeks apart. Here they are at 5 or 6 months old...

...and here are their 1 year pictures, with their "1" crowns, and 1-onesies.
HAPPY BRITHDAY LIAM & BUBSY!

I love how he looks just chillin' on his throne as the King. So cute!

Cutie pie Elizabeth, or as the family calls her, "Bubsy."

And the biggest thing that happened in December was my big sister marrying her amazing
Mr. Dean. Aren't they cute?!

We tried to re-creating this "Bunny hop" pose at the Temple...

Success! Point that toe more Shane!!! Sean, strike that pose even more!

Ready, set, JUMP!

The Fam. Just missing Caiti's Kurt, Gavin and Ryan.

...and I bought a hat. Sorta a first for me. I don't usually wear hats. But I thought this one was so cute, and on sale...so...why not!

And here are a few videos....

This first one is funny. For my sisters wedding we wanted to do a surprise number. We decided a Flash mob of Waterloo would be funny. It's the dance they do on the movie Muriels Wedding. Not the best movie, but the dance part is the best.


This next video shows what we got our Mom for Christmas. We gave it to her on Christmas Eve. Her reaction was great!

Right now...

I stole this from my SIL Brianna's blog...she won't mind. :)

Right now i am…

watching: the computer screen, responding to emails, playing on FB, etc, etc.
eating: nothing at the moment, just finished my blueblerry sprotein smoothie for breakfast...THE BEST!
drinking: water, water, water
wearing: jeans, xango longsleeved jacket, warm slippers
avoiding: having to go out in the cold to run an errand
feeling: happy, calm, peaceful, cold.
missing: my little sissy and her boys
thankful: for family, husband, a job
weather: cold, cold, cold
praying: for a better job for the hubs
needing: to run said errand above
thinking: about christmas
loving: my hub, and christmas music

not much to post

Not a whole lot of new things have been going on. Thanksgiving was a nice day with my some of my family. It was low key and chill...just the way I like it. :) It was great having a 4 day weekend for the that Holiday, and I'm looking forward to another 4 day weekend for Christmas.

I woke up Thanksgiving morning to fine that Ryan put the Christmas tree up, and got the lights all perfect. So nice is he! He knows I love the moment when the tree goes up and asked over and over if we could put it up before Thanksgiving, to no avail. But he happily obliged that morning. The day after we got the house all Christmas-y; it looks and smells lovely! One thing I really love to have in my tree are those cinnamon scented pinecones. Ahhhh.....

Black Friday we slept in, there was nothing worth going out for...and if there was...I don't know that I would have deprived myself of sleep for it. I'm a grouchy pants when I don't get my sleep. Just ask Ryan...and my sisters. They all know.

However, we did do a little shopping after all the hoopla was over, about 10am. We went to Bed, Bath and Beyond and bought a new sheet set. I love good sheets, and was happy to get some 600+ thread count sheets on sale. Then it was off to another store to get some new pillows...two things I love...good new sheets and new pillows. Ahhh....heaven!

My sister Caiti and I have been busy planning my sister Erin's wedding. I can't believe she gets married in 2 weeks! Craziness! Things are coming together, and we're excited for it all. Her friend Bridal shower was today, and next saturday I'm throwing her a family bridal shower. Fun, fun!

Let's see...I'm sick for the 3rd time in two months...awesome. My dr. told me that Diabetics have a higher risk of respiratory infections. No joke! This is the second one in two months. In between both of those infections I had the stomach flu. So annoying. I just need it to be gone during the wedding and I'm good.

Ok, well, that's about it for this post. OH WAIT!!!!! I've got to share something that might be too much information...but it's very exciting to me...therefore it will be written....

...For the first time in 5 years, my cycle is regular. REGULAR PEOPLE!!!! Do you know how HUGE that is?!??!! SUGAR IS THE DEVIL I TELL YOU! It messes up women's hormones so badly! It's true!! Ok, so sugar and eating healthier are the big things for me, and the reason it's normal again. HALLELUJAH! Having it for only a week is heaven! Be grateful for a week long visit from Aunt Flo! Let's hope this helps things get moving with the 'expanding the family' part of it all. :)

Ok bye.

Thanksgiving tomorrow

I love this time of year! love, love LOVE IT! It's been especially cool this year with my journey to healthy living and getting excited about Thanksgiving and Christmas...not because I want to eat and bake all these sugary things, but because I'm excited to introduce new desserts and things that I can enjoy that aren't made of white sugar and that are healthier. I'm excited for that challenge! I'm excited to make these things a staple in our home for the holidays and holidays to come. I'm excited that I have no desire to indulge, and over-indulge, in things that are bad for my body.

Do I sound crazy? Maybe to some...and maybe to my former self. But yes, I'm excited!

You wanna know what I'm bringing to our Thanksgiving feast tomorrow? Well, I will tell you.

Roasted Parmesan Green Beans.
These are healthy little suckers roasted with a little Olive Oil, minced garlic, salt and pepper
and then top it off with a bit of shredded Parmesan...yummm!

Chocolate Pie
made with 85% Cacao Godiva dark chocolate, low fat ricotta cheese, real whipped cream sweetened with agave...yumm! Recipe found here

Turtle Pumpkin Pie
Who says you can't have a healthy version of Pumpkin Pie? You can with this beauty!
Made with Sugar free Caramel syrup, pecans, pumpkin, whipping cream sweetened with Agave or Stevia. Who doesn't love pumpkin, pecan and caramel all together? Can't wait to try this!
Recipe found here

I can't wait to taste these! Hope you have a happy, healthy Thanksgiving!

No snow????

Thanksgiving is next week and we have yet to get a consistent snow fall that will stay on the ground, here in Lehi. In fact, the only real time it snowed this season was a few weeks ago and we had a light dusting on the grounds but quickly melted away.

I was disappointed when the weather forecast called for snow in the valley this weekend...and we got none of it. I guess Salt Lake got slammed. Bummer. I even had to cancel a foto shoot because I thought there was going to be snow!

I know, people say I'm crazy for wanting the snow when it's a beautiful 50 degrees outside. But...you see...I'm like my Dad...thanksgiving just isn't the same with out some snow! On Thanksgiving we put up the Christmas tree. But what's the fun in that when it doesn't feel like Christmas outside? Do you see what I'm saying? Yeah, there's Christmas music playing on the radio station, but I can't seem to get into the holidays without the dang snow!

I remember Thanksgiving back in...gosh...I don't remember the year...but I think I was 11 or 12...so 1990? I got all bundled up, went outside, stood on a chair (yeah there was a tin chair out in the backyard) and fell backwards into the 2 feet of snow that we had (or at least it seemed like it was 2 feet). It was magical!

I need that magic that snow brings!! Once the holidays are over I'm ok if we don't have anymore snow...but I NEED IT HERE FOR THE HOLIDAYS! Please, oh please weatherman...tell me we'll get some REAL snow for Thanksgiving and Christmas!!

Amazing...

Beauty in this world really moves me, and this is no exception.

...and I love the music in this too.

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

Video Description: Two young women are out in a canoe on the River Shannon in Ireland when a murmuration of starlings comes flying overhead, swooping and swirling in amazing shapes. They laugh and exclaim with wonder. Set to music by Emmett Glynn and band.

Erin and Dave are ENGAGED!

My big sissy, Erin got engaged to her beloved Dave Dean last Friday evening. SO EXCITING!!!

(gorgeous ring, yes?!)

Although we all knew it was coming, and have already been planning the big day, and Erin has purchased her wedding dress, and honeymoon tickets have been purchased...it's now official.

They're the cutest couple. Dave is a great guy and I'm so excited to have him a part of our family. CONGRATS you two!

December 17th can't come fast enough! :)


**For updates on my Journey to Healthy Living click here.

tonight

Tonight after coming home from work I sat on the couch and watched Ryan put together some pictures at the kitchen table. We chatted about the day.

Something about this night was good. There was a good feeling in the air.

I felt complete peace and joy. I smiled and told Ryan I loved him. He responded with the same.

I told him how much I love our little family. I know he felt the same.

Although the day was tiring. It was great coming home to such peace and sincere joy.

I love my Ryan. More than words can express.

5k

I did one today. Check out my thoughts about it here at my "Journey to Healthy Living" blog. :)

catching up

This past month with not eating sugar, and all things "white", and soda, has been really good. I'm way over the cravings of any of that junk.

It's funny but the one thing I really crave is meat. Red meat. A nice juicy steak. I've never been a red meat eater; always stuck to chicken or turkey. But man, I can't get enough of steak. I don't eat it everyday or anything like that...maybe once a week...but man when I crave it I CRAVE it! Ryan and I have gone to Rodizio a few times this month just to curb my meat cravings. You'd think I was pregnant or something, but I'm not. I guess my body just needs red meat.

Water is my best friend and I drink a lot of it each day. Overall from my highest weight I'm down 26 lbs. not too shabby.

I have a lot more to go but progress is being made and I'm crossing my fingers that when I go back to my Dr. in a month he'll tell me I don't need to be on insulin.

I like trying on pants that used to not fit very well and having them almost fall off of me. It's a good feeling.

******

Last week my brother Quinn called me to say he had a late b-day present for me. He said he had tickets to Josh Groban for me that night. Woot Woot! I've always like Josh Groban. But I'll be honest. It was a Saturday and I was tired from just finishing up shooting a wedding with my friend. The last thing I wanted to do was go to a concert, but I did and I'm glad I did. He was good! The best part is that I was on the floor and 6 rows from the front. It was awesome! That guy is really funny and really cool. He's a great entertainer, and of course a great singer, musician. I went with Darlene, and my sister Megan. So fun!




******

I wanted to document a dream I had the other night because I don't want to forget it.
I had a dream that I was pregnant, and ready to give birth. It was my due date and Ryan was anxious for me to get to the hospital, saying we needed to get going and we needed to get going now. I kept telling him that I wasn't even in labor yet. He said it didn't matter but that he wanted us to go so they could check. I thought he was being so silly, but then saw that he was just being cautious and was so concerned that everything would go well. It was cute. I just kept thinking..."but I'm not in labor, I have no pains".

It was a good dream. One that I hoped was real. I think Ryan and I are both feeling that we are closer to having kids - whether by giving birth to them or adopting. It's a good feeling. We'll see what happens. :)

******

Oh! I have changed positions at work, and I couldn't be happier. I've been XANGO's call center Manager or 6 years now. As much as I enjoyed working with the agents and working so closely with our Distributors I'm grateful to not be a manager any more. I'm now an Administrative Assistant to my boss. It's a good move and the timing was perfect. I was burned out big time.

Ok, I think that's about it! Hope you all are having a great week. :)