some thanksgiving fun

I've been making these way cute turkies/pilgrim hats/ out of candy and cookies. It's way easy and they turn out sooo cute! Hopefully they will survive the trip up to ogden when the time comes ;)


pilgrim hat: (the marshmallow(sp?) was hard to dip perfectly in chocolate)



cody's turkey that he made for fhe:



If you'd like instructions of how to do them let me know and i'll email you instructions with a picture guide too. :)

well this weekend was kind of a wash for me-Friday was good-went out to eat,lost and found my ring, and watched harry potter. Today started pretty good. I slept in and Cody made an amazing breakfast. I went out to print out the tickets to the football game and buy Cody a beanie cause it was going to be a cold and windy one.

Somewhere between the course of leaving and coming back and doing some errands with code my energy/health kind of spiraled. The typical things- weak, achey, chilled. I don't think it's that big a deal and after some serious sleep I think I'll be brand new-shrug, just weird how fast it came on...must have been the weather change. Code went to the game and I dutifully watched on the couch glad that I decided not to subject myself to that-I would have been a mess if I had.

We watched Meet Joe Black-code had never seen it. I love this movie. I love the messages. I love the soundtrack-thomas newman (highly recommend him). My favorite line from this movie is when Joe (Pitt's charater) asks Quincey (George Sr. from arrested development, haha) how you know someone loves you and Quincey replies: because they know the worst thing about you and it's ok.

It got me thinking about love and how come everyone (well most) seem to desire it, seek it, and sacrifice for it.
I think it's cause we realize that it is an eternal and unwavering thing in a very temporary and always-shifting world. Man whether consciously or not seeks the eternal. We sense that there is something beyond this frail existence. We're just lucky to get to experience a piece of it-love- in this life, but it existed before we entered the scene and it will exist after we leave here-just like we do. I'm sure it reminds us of that place where we were before we were here and reminds us that there is more to this life than what we simply see.

I dunno...I'm just greatful for code. Greatful that, even though we are at the beginning of our lives together, our love will have so much opportunity to grow. Sure there will be ups and down, times when our short-comings and frailities will sometimes cloud our judgement, but through those times our love can grow stronger, deeper. Every day I wonder how I got so lucky, what I did to deserve him. I don't think I'll ever find an answer, just that there is a wonderful, loving, and merciful Heavenly Father who wants me to be happy, even when i don't always deserve it. As beautiful as the depictions of love in film are, they really pale in comparison.

accio ring!

It was a close call. Almost started freaking out a bit. So the engstroms and ourselves got together for a quick bite and then we were off to see the 7th installment of Harry Potter (it was really good btw, prolly one of the most loyal to the books). When suddenly I realized that I wasn't wearing my ring (no, not my engagement ring) but my ring from ireland that I bought myself...oh i dunno years and years ago-I think 5-6 years ago actually). I had that horrible sinking feeling cause I could not remember when it was first not there.

Something you have to realize with me-I get attached to things. I name my car and talk to it like it has a personality. Our car is Henry (he's a hyundai)-he had to warm up to me-had to deal wih jealousies surrounding my car before I got married. Her name is Frida. She's a ford fusion (I say is cause she's still frida and I still think she's feeling mad at me for giving her up and sending her off to Texas). My laptop's name is Toshi (short for Toshiba) though cody may have come up with that....I can't remember, but you get the idea.

I NEVER take off my jewelry. I only wear three things. My necklace that I inherited from my maternal grandmother-the charm is from Ireland too, my ring that I bought from ireland on my right hand, and now my engagement ring. That's it. Those items never come off. Not to be tmi about it, but we're talking: sleeping/showers/etc.-doesn't matter I always wear them. I don't care if it's not good for them etc I won't take them off. With how scatter-brained I can be, they wouldn't last a few months with me taking them on and off all the time.

So I'm sitting there feeling very naked without my ring and also being reminded about how I'm not wearing my necklace because the chain broke and it's sitting at home. I'm beginning to think that something will soon happen to my wedding ring too the way things are going for me and my jewelry.

So we get home from the movie and we start looking though I have no idea where or when it could have fallen off cause I didn't take it off. I said a prayer that if it was possible to find, that I could find it at the same time feeling the unlikeliness of it.

So we searched around pretty good and Cody even went to look out in the car even though I hadn't been in it since yesterday. I was beginning to accept its fate, and was surprised at how sad I felt (it's just a ring...) but what can I say-I get attached to things. I started to cross the room to get my journal to write some last words about this cool ring that had been with me through a lot when I kicked/stepped on something on the floor. I looked down and there was my ring on the floor. It was such a crazy feeling and having just seen Harry Potter-it felt a little like magic. I'm so greatful for tender mercies.

Even now I'm trying to shake my hand or do something to have it slip off but it won't-it's loose sure, but it won't slide over the knuckle on its own...shrug.

phew.

p.s. Harry Potter was way good-though dark enough to where I think I'd not have younger kids go to it.

Looks like tomorrow we'll have a cold snap and lots of cheering to do at a football and a basketball game (that is if we can get in-sorry, still bitter.)

Shutterfly!!!

Now I know that I'm normally slow in getting on the band wagon and using new websites etc, but I canNOT believe that I've never even looked at shutterfly! I mean, sure I had heard it mentioned but I never gave it a second thought until now. I read about it on a friend's blog and heard that they had great options for christmas cards. Just having been recently married and having grown up in a family that doesn't really do the whole christmas card thing, I had never thought about it before. I'll admit I was curious. When I looked through all of their designs, which first-there were so many, and second-they ranged from fun and cute to fancy and sophisticated, whatever style I wanted this Christmas I could find right there. I found a card-it's horizontal, with a deep red and brown design-perfectly formal to match the wedding picture we'll put on it since no one has seen our wedding pictures yet + it will be nice for those who weren't able to come to the wedding. I can tell it's better quality + variety than other websites that I've looked at to compare prices (I won't say which ones cause I don't want to disparage a company ;)

So yeah, if you don't have any ideas for a christmas card this year or want something that will be headache free-check out shutterfly (plus for any order over $30 you can get free-shipping!)

check it out:
shutterfly's christmas cards
christmasphotocards

mormon.org

So we went to an FHE on campus tonight put on by the missionaries who are in a mission that specifically is online. I had no idea that there was a specific mission dedicated to this but there is. They are on mormon.org ready to chat with anyone who has questions or is interested in learning more about the church as well as on facebook, twitter, and have their own personal blogs. You might wonder how affective this could really be, but they said they've been an actual mission for just over two years and have already had over 200 baptisms and we're talking only 12 companionships! The baptisms have been from all over the world and we talked about how important it is for members to go on and create a profile. This is where people who are curious or have questions/misconceptions can come and meet/learn about real mormons-our beliefs, our lives, what's important to us etc. Hopefully they'll be able to see just how normal we really are....well....some of us ;)

anywho, I thought it was way cool to see how connected everyone can be on the internet and how accessible information is to those who are curious and want to learn more about the lds church/mormons in general.

so if you are a mormon-go online and create a profile-it doesn't take long, just go to mormon.org, click create profile, and register/sign-in depending (I think if you have accounts with the new family search website etc it's the same username/password?) and just share about yourself.

If you're not mormon and have any questions/interests/etc you can talk to real mormon missionaries whose job it is to be there and answer them all day long through chat, email, skype, phone, or even can set up a meeting in person with missionaries near you-whatever you are comfortable with.
(though, if you're reading this-you could just ask me if you want).

It just makes me really happy to think of how far the gospel of Christ can reach and change/ help people through even the internet now-pretty cool stuff.
mormon.org

Stress. Isn't it about....time?

Have you ever thought about the concept of time? I'm sitting in the library attempting to write out a research paper that is due Monday in one fell swoop....well I got it half done anyway, and I started thinking about time. What an unnecessary concept. Think about it. It is the source of your stress, your rising blood pressure, and headaches. Just think of how many things that have gone wrong that you chalked up to "bad timing". I mean, time is really a man-made concept anyway and yet we are always complaining that we don't have enough of it....well, you made it up so make up some more of it-shrug, what's the difference.

Time came about in order to make man feel better because man just can't seem to accept chaos. It helps man find meaning. I have two weeks to do this assignment, I can sleep for 5 hours before I need to get up and do something else etc. Well ya know what? there can be meaning in the chaos and rather than focusing on how many things we can cram into an alotted time frame, we can actually focus on what we're DOING and find meaning in that. Embrace the chaos baby-you don't need fluffy time. The only problem is that I have to convince the rest of the world of this otherwise I'll just seem apathetic and late all the time and will most likely flunk out of college.
Whoops...it's late, better get going. (see?!)

San Antonio(USAA) or Houston(Exxon)?

Some hints....

Where we're going there's some real weather like this:





some things to do in this city....







Some sports teams:




some famous quotes:


"Houston...we have a problem"

um...and incase that didn't give it away:






Ok, so who had it by the first pic-kudos my friend, kudos :)
We're pretty excited and can't wait to start our new life outside of the bubble! Code starts in early June so we'll have a nice long break in between school and work- hello vacation/visiting family :)

Texas it is...

So a couple of weeks ago Code went to San Antonio and Houston to interview with USAA and Exxon. This week we heard back from both of them-Exxon contacted him pretty quickly afterwards-said that they would contact him by Nov 12th and they contacted him on the 2nd. USAA contacted him yesterday and.....



BOTH want him!!!!! Both gave really good offers though the difference in the salaries are pretty substantial-though that will happen whenever you pit a company up against what Exxon does. So we still haven't 100% for sure decided but we're definitely leanin'. It's crazy to think I'll be back in Texas-I don't mind it though, I love Texas. Good schools, cheap living, lots of major metropolitan areas a few hours away either way, nice suburbs, and....big things? The only thing I will miss is 4 seasons- I like snow...maybe not as much as we get here in Utah, but a lil so that I can wear cute winter clothes....when everyone looks cute and modest (NOT the case 8 months out of the year in texas-I could tell you some horror stories believe you me).
Anywho, we're both really excited and feeling VERY greatful for these great opportunities and know that we are luckier than most :)



more to come on which city we choose ;)

My Life Savers:

.....oh yeah, and of course this too:





I swear this past week or so has been ridiculous and it's just getting started. I know that I would have had a melt down already if it wasn't for Code and some divine intervention :)

So to sum up this week...I studied pretty much non-stop whenever I wasn't in classes and went to bed early (10:30) and got up early (between 5-6) for the past few days....um...all I gotta say is, I was told I would wake up feeling refreshed.....yeah, still waiting on that one. anywho, but yeah, yesterday I took the first part of the test for Music History (92 baby!) and today was the listening/identifying portion (we'll see but felt pretty good about it) then tomorrow is my Art History test-I'll get back to studying for that one right after this post, and then there's the library assignment due that I have to do tomorrow for music history and then I have to do this major project for my museum class due monday, and then the research paper for art history, and then the MEGA research paper (ok, proposal-but still)for my capstone class.....all in the next two weeks. No wonder I have a headache...

In other news I went to sunflower market today to look for bearcreek soup-it wasn't there, but I'll tell you what was: the MOST annoying sales person in the world! I didn't hear him when I first walked up (of course they were at a table right by the only entrance and exit of the store). I thought he was just trying to give me a free newspaper and so I said sure, next thing I know he's pushing a paper into my hand to fill out all my credit card info etc. um...don't think so! but you know how they are- it's really hard to let go when you were teased with an almost sale so he kept trying. When I told him I couldn't fill anything out without talking to my husband first he gives the reply: you're married?! how old are you?! (ok buddy your chance of making his sale went RIGHT out the window). So he tells me to me call my husband while i'm in the store. Whatever, I called my dad and talked with him so I could keep talking to him as I left the store and ignore the shouts of: "hey come on! you're not really on the phone with someone!"

officially not going back to the store just because of that sales guy-they should think twice before they let people stand out front and heckle their customers.

anywho, I've also decided that I shouldn't read labels of pain killers. I swear they make something as innocent as an advil seem like a poison that's going to kill you. I can't wait til the ibprophen wears off and I can try the excedrin :)