September?

OK, check it. Summer is pretty much over. I busted out the cardigan today for work and wore it the whole day (granted I wore a short skirt and sandals, but still). Tomorrow is officially September which means we are one step closer to breaking out the Fall decor and hoodie/cardi/sweater shopping. Bring on the fall-wear!

September also means three big things:

#1. It's the last month of the VA training surge at work. Don't worry that I will be handling/planning the logistics of 200 VA events. It's big. Things have gotten so crazy at work but thank goodness I have wonderful assistants. They rock my work.

#2. Alex is leaving tomorrow. Don't worry, I told him I'm not going to throw a tantrum as I sent him out the door will a 24 pack of Diet Pepsi..But I'll admit I'm a little emotional about it. When he came I had just moved into my new apartment so I was starting fresh anyways, so basically I just had a month delay of going back to where I was at the beginning of the summer when I didn't have a job or any friends in the area... But this time I'm still starting fresh but from a good place with a secure job. I have an apartment that I love, a great roommate that I'm still getting to know and I'm starting to go to a ward that I think I'm really going to enjoy. So I'm thinking that this time I'm really going to have to make an effort and I'm OK with that because I know I'm in a good place. So watch out!

#3.. and this is the BIG one. WEDDING PLANS. I was talking to my mom today and we realized that we really only have 11 days to get all of these wedding plans complete. I told mom that this wedding is really a reflection on my planning skills but really people, don't judge too hard! We're planning a wedding that is going to take place in Idaho while mom is there and Jamie and I are in Utah. We're going to make it chill and darn it, we are going to look good and have fun! I told mom that we would bring it all together the Friday before and my job is going to be DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS (which I just can't help) and my other thing is to "make sure things don't look ghetto!" I think my mom was offended by that comment because she was all "OH, you think I'd make it ghetto?" hahaha oh mom!

But It's been confirmed that I'm totally a planner. I love this. I love detail. Give me a pen and a piece of paper or my Blackberry for that matter and I will go through EVER second of the event and I'll have every detail dowwwwwn..from traffic control to the silverware holder!

....I'm just glad Jamie is getting married first so it will ease mom into it for when it's my turn!

whew.. 11 days... So much to do!!!

Events.

This week I've been helping my friend Alex with the sale (we like to call it an "event,") that he was in charge of putting together. The sale was today and since I had some prior engagements I had to attend to, I was only able to go to the sale for about an hour this morning. But Jamie and I wanted to make sure we were there to see the final product all put together...This little Gem of a quilt was her "must buy" item of the morning! :)

I could go on forever about all of the cool stuff at the sale and how much fun Alex and I had rummaging for the old stuff but I won't. Just take my word for it! Really though, this old house and school will go down as a highlight of my summer.

This is a pic of some of the stuff in a room Alex staged for the Event--I have to give him a big shout out.. It was awesome.

After the event Jamie and I drove to Glenns Ferry for a Bridal Show at Grammy Stump's. It was so much fun spending time with all of the Aunts, Grandma, my mom and especially this little cutie...

This is my baby cousin MaKenzie. She is pretty much one of the cutest babies EVER. Remember cabbage patch dolls? Well, she's WAY cuter! .. I just need to find someone who will love my chubby cheeks and thighs like we all love hers :) haha. Really though, she's adorable!

OMG.

I will be the first to admit that I like gifts. I'm also a fan of unexpected gifts! Alex showed up for the RHWNJ finale yesterday with a "Hunchback of Notre Dame" gift bag in hand. I opened the card and it said, "sometimes friends don't need a reason for gifts." I pulled the yellow tissue paper back and before I could make out what the object was I said, "OMG!" I pulled the object out of the bag and realized it was a mug with my favorite candy in it! I turned the mug around and it simply read "OMG" in black letters right across the front. hahaha, really though.. great gift--He knows me too well!

Laughing.

There are so many different stories I could write about from my experiences this weekend. Really though, I think it can be summed up with "Laughter." There are just some people who can make me laugh more than anyone else. I mean it. People who can cause you to laugh so much that your stomach hurts well after the night is over. That happened this weekend.

The topic came up about laughter because we were laughing so hard that we starting laughing about the way we were laughing.. if that makes sense. For a minute I thought that I probably need to control my laughter because #1.) I'm super loud and it sometimes embarrasses the people I'm with. #2.) Sometimes I start shaking really hard sometimes causing spillage of drinks I may be holding at the time and#3.) Other people sometimes think I've been drinking or smoking things that I've never drank or smoked!!

For example: our waiter, Pepe, last night asked me what kind of Cigarette I had been smoking. Really? Can't a girl just laugh her natural laugh without having to worry about toning it down?

Like I care though.... Mary Poppins taught me not to!!

Mr. & Mrs. Andrus

McKenzie and Austin's wedding reception was absolutely gorgeous. It was such a cool experience watching them walk out of the temple sealed for time and all eternity to her love!! Of course, I immediately started to cry when I saw them walk out, but it was only because they are such a happy gorgeous couple.. and it didn't help that I asked Austin how he felt and he said, "I am the happiest i've ever been." Seriously, so cute.

I forgot my camera but megan should be posting some pics soon. But a good wrap up of the whole night: We stayed all night. I couldn't stop starring at the darling couple. I didn't catch the bouquet (some little girls did.. wtf?) McKenzie has a hot uncle. I was in the slide show (but they were pics from HS..can you say chubbbbbby?). I only cried a little. They cut the cake while I yelled, "kiss her already!" Really.. it was such a fun night. Perfect reception!

Simplicity...Embrace it :)

I took a couple days off to come home for McKenzie's wedding festivities. It's always nice to come home but I'll admit that I was dreading the trip a little bit. I didn't want to take two days off because things have been so crazy at work.

I think it's funny how I've changed so much over the past few years and have become accustomed to a certain "busy/city" life style. But really, when it comes down to it, Parma will always be home. I love the simplicity of this place and the fact that there aren't stop lights AT ALL. I met Hyrum in town for lunch today at the Bistro and we drove around for a bit and I enjoyed taking it all in. And for some reason last night when we were boating and all day today, I've noticed white butterflies flying around everywhere which has really made me think about the beauty of this town.

So, If you feel like your life is a little crazy and you just need to get away for a little while.. you should really come to Parma, Idaho. There may not be a ton to do but it is a way laid back town filled with simplicity, great people and of course good drama (you can't get away from that!)

As I was driving back to my house the song "American Honey" came on my ipod and I got a little teary eyed... Listen to it! So good.

Down with the Down.

I just purchased a new down comforter insert for my big bed. The only step left is choosing a new Duvet Cover. These are the top choices from Urban. I'm personally digging the first one... But the second one also matches the picture in my room really well (bringing out the yellow) but it's a little frilly. Jamie likes the third one but that was my last option.

Thoughts?

People make me laugh. --Quotes from the last 48 hours.

"Are you designers?"

"I feel like we're kindred spirits." --Macy's Employee

"LESBIANS!"

"You need to come see my apartment." --IKEA employee

"You're getting old... You need to find a man"

"I picture you with someone metro."

We all have talents....

We all have talents. Some people are great at singing, making cute crafts, cooking, sports and a choice few have a great eye for fashion. When I think about all of the people I love and the talents they have..it kind of makes me sick. I mean really, can a girl get some talent in painting a house even?

Yesterday was a testament to the fact that I need to work on some more talents. haha. You think I'm kidding, but I'm so not....

Yesterday I took a half day off from work, put on some grubbies, and headed over to Ogden to help Alex paint at the Estate he is restoring. First, he took me around and gave me the grand tour. I really enjoy looking through old buildings and random old crap so it was exciting for me but, on the other hand, I also really like scary movies so it wasn't surprising that I was creeping myself out quite a bit. Stepping into the basement and the creepy greenhouse I felt like I was stepping right into the basement on a Haunting in Connecticut. really. Like at any moment I was going to go around a corner and see hospital beds and tools where the creepy old tennent used to experiment on bodies. You know what I'm talking about. Yeah, not even funny. Oh and it was friday the 13th so that didn't help.

Anyways, Alex decided we were going to paint the ceilings in 3 bedrooms and the Hall. I was given a step ladder, a small bucket of divine white paint and a brush and was told to paint the trim while Alex perfectly rolled the paint onto the top of the ceiling. After the first room was completed, it was time to move on to the next room where Alex said, "Let's switch." So I was given the adult ladder and the roller. Let me tell you what, that crap isn't easy. Not only can you not see where you are painting... you have to look up, which hurts your neck and your arms KILL. I knew I was bad at it and I pointed it out to Alex a couple of times as he quickly finished the trim job in room 2. We were chatting about random stuff and I was painting (the best that I could) while I told Alex a story. Then out of no where.. Alex says sometime like, "You couldn't see me but every time you weren't looking I couldn't help but laugh at you." REALLY? He was laughing at my inability to paint the ceiling. I didn't think I was THAT bad, but he totally had a valid point.

#1-- I was all over the place.

#2-- I was freaking slllllllllowwww.

And you know what? That was a little upsetting to my ego. But, what can you do? We can't all add "Successful Ceiling Painter" to our list of talents. Whatev. I will just stick to adding "Good Friend" to my list. Because, not to brag, but I think I'm a pretty good one. Two words, MANUAL LABOR. That's a true friend!

But really, it was a lot of fun. I needed it for sure. And afterward we were starving so we ate at Olive Garden and didn't feel bad about the carbs because we had worked so hard. Gotta love it.

Roommates.

So tomorrow I'm getting a new roommate.. Well, she's moving her stuff in tomorrow night but isn't going to be sleeping over until the next week. This is her first time living away from home and well, I have a little big of a nervous stomach about it.

I've had my fair share of roommates so after graduation I went through this "I'm sick of living with girls" stage. But I got over that fast as I was bumming around by myself for 2 months (bless Alex Trost for rescuing my summer and social life). Anyways, I decided that I don't want to live alone. I'm a social person. I NEED to be with people. I was taken back to my days at BYU-Idaho and this got me thinking about my last four years of roommates and the experiences I've had with them. Some of my roommates will be my best friends forever and others.. well, we had some interesting experiences to say the least. Here's a list I came up with (listed by semester)

Savanna

Kelli

Shelley

Jessica

Mindy

Mandy

Eden

Jessica

Rachel

Crystal

Megan

Becca

Emily

Kim-ba-ly

Katelyn

Rachel

……? oopps

……?...yeah, what a semester!

Julene

Betsy

GRACE!

Val

Jenn O.

Molly

Anna

Josie

=26 @BYU –I alone.

+Jamie (sister) and Kenzi for a little over a month post college = 28 roommates

Ashtin will make number 29 which happens to be my lucky number. What does this mean? It's my first real roommate after school and probably the start of many more roommates. I'm glad that I'm not going into it blind. She's super cute and way nice so I'm excited for her to move in and for a new friend to go to church with!

Really though, think about all of the roommates you've lived with. Try to remember all of their names. HA. Each one--so unique.