New york.

Look at the pics!

I was there for almost 3 weeks....July 21st to august 9th.

Things New York Taught me:
1. I am not ugly...guys in the west just suck.
2. Girls with curves are beautiful.
3. Hispanic Guys are the same everywhere.
4. A prostitute goes for about $150.00 in Chicago.
5. I have morals still...kind of.
6. Jews really are Jewish with their money.
7. Happy hippo candy = <3 (Germans make fantastic candy)
8. Living for myself is awesome.
9. Pack as light as possible (if at all...shopping!!!) and wearing hardly any clothes is preferable in NYC (too hot).
10. Millionaires would pay to date me.

I am going back for Christmas and New years.

Another cruise?!

Why yes...that is correct! Same time, same place as last year. Why not?! A cruise is better than no cruise. I would like to thank my husband, and our friends Michelle and Nels for harassing me enough (in a good way) so that it will actually happen. Hopefully one day we will make enough money to go somewhere else...but for now....a vacation is a vacation and I am not going to complain.

I hope everyone had a happy Easter...I did not do anything traditional this year other than getting my co-workers hopped up on sugar....however...I really wanted to make this....maybe soon...

Hopeful happenings for this year:
-A triathlon
-Red Rock Relay
-Maybe a half marathon...still kind of not over last years half marathon that made me so ill
-Breast Cancer 5 k which is May 7th...already booked (this will be my first 5 k)
-Maybe head to my dad's for thanksgiving
-Maybe head to Andy's parents for Christmas
-Find a new job

Recent Developments.

-I finished both major deadlines at work about a week or so ago
-Andy and I are planning a big vacation for sometime this year
-I talked to all of my advisers about possibly doing the PhD- they are excited
-My sister is getting married in October and I am supposed to go on a vacation with my Dad and step-mom to Yellowstone as well
-I am currently writing my second first author publication on all the work I have done recently (there is still a lot of work that needs to be done though so we can publish)
-My mom has decided to stay in Mexico as she is going to take over an accounting business down there
-I finally got the phone and printer moved out of my office at work...and now they want to move it back....I will fight this tooth and nail....
-I have been going to dance classes about 3 hours a day 5 days a week or working out about 22 hours a week....I am sort of cutting back I am super sore and exhausted and covered in bruises
-I applied for a job with TCI America...the job description specifically requires an Organic Chemist with a Masters degree....and I would have to travel about 50% of the time...and the job is not in Utah....yay! We shall see how things work out.


That is what has been going on lately!

I'm back!

But I don't want to be...

I had a blast on the cruise!

Andy and I headed down to Cali Friday the 17th in the afternoon and we arrived shortly before midnight listening to Harry Potter the entire way. I got to meet one of Andy's old mission buddies in St. George, Ut which was awesome and then we stayed in Downey with Aunt Martha and the gang! Love them! The next day We hung out with Ellen and Grandma Ellen and Grandpa Ralph. We also learned how to play a card game called golf and then went to a church activity with the Fam and ate lots of awesome foods. Sunday the 19th we got up and went to church with the gang and ran into Aunt Loir and got all caught up with her....and then Aunt Martha took us to our boat....

We arrived on the boat and started our week of binge eating on awesome foods with our friends Nels and Michelle....

We spent our first afternoon on the boat finding things and eating...the next two days we were "At Sea" and so we ate and read and rested....it was gloomy outside so not much sunbathing was done....

Our third official day on the Boat or Wednesday...we docked at Puerto Vallarta and hunted down the beach and laid out for a while...it was super hot and humid here...and we were bombarded with Vendors...so we didn't stay long...We wandered back to our boat and continued our binge and lounge fest....That evening we got to watch a Mariachi band with dancers and I think we even saw a comedy show as well....

Thursday we docked in Mazatlan and we rented a taxi and went all over the island taking pictures and enjoying the scenery....

Friday we docked in Cabo...which is gorgeous by the way...we only had a few hours to spend here however so we walked to the beach and then got some Gellato and then headed back to the boat....Saturday was our final "At Sea" day and we did a lot of resting and eating and then We docked on Sunday....and headed back home...sigh

On the way home we stopped at my Grandma's house and visited a bit with my dad's side..Andy gt to meet my aunts and cousins for the first time ever which was fun...my dad was even there too (he lives in Maine)...We stayed there for a couple of hours and then began the long drive home....I slept most of the journey home...poor Andy....and we arrived home around 3am....

I took yesterday off as well so we could put everything away and do laundry and such....I wish I didn't have to be back at work...

I have a bunch of pics up on facebook....

Camping trip...not to Zions

Andy and I finally went camping for the first time in 5 years...not to where we originally planned, but to Timpanogos...we had fun! It was a blast! Hope to do it again soon! Maybe after I lose weight though...I am trying to upload pics but am having issues...

We first took the camry off-roading trying to find a camping spot...which after going all the way up the mountain and realizing there was nothing there we turned around and found one around the front...hilarious..I am renaming my car Butch....or truck...or jeep...for its skills at handling super rocky roads...

Then we set up camp with our friends Phil and Jess and Cousins Kimmie and Thomas...we had hobo dinners and roasted marshmallows and all around had a blast talking, laughing, getting filthy dancing...and watching Andy and Thomas be hilarious...

I have no idea when we fell asleep...but we got up at 9am ate some more and then decided to skip the hike and catch up later to watch Despicable me...which btw could have been a lot better...it had a lot of potential....Saturday was a very restful day and so was Sunday...I love 3 day weekends..I just wish I didn't have to go back to work after..sigh...and I love my husband and hanging out with him and being able to do things together....and now I am not going to see him for another 2 weeks :(

Happy Fourth of July!

I am so grateful that I live in a country that allows me all the freedoms I could possibly desire. I am so thankful for the soldiers who dedicate their lives to protecting mine. I am so happy that I can spend holidays with my family and friends...and am so grateful for these blessings and how they affect my life!!!!

We spent the fourth with family and friends by having a bbq at our hopeful soon to be house. We grilled kabobs, had homemade ice cream (cake batter and key lime), had better than-twilight cake (name changed from better than sex cake because I do not think it is better than sex and to not offend people ;), homemade strawberry cheesecake, fruit salad and mixed veggies. We hung out and chatted, played games, and then lit a few fireworks of our own. We had fun. I love the fourth of July! Happy Birthday/Independece day America!

Stadium of Fire!

Andy and I last attended Stadium of Fire back in the summer of 2007...so we were long overdo to attend again...this year it was Carrie Underwood as the main performance. They changed a lot of things from the last time we went, but I think that was mainly due to the fact it was the 100 year anniversary of the Boy Scouts...it was fun...I love hanging out and doing cool stuff with my hunny.

7 peaks!

I know I lived in Provo for like 3 years and yet I never went to 7 peaks...lame right?! That is how it is when you are a broke graduate student it seems. So Andy and I decided that it was time for us to experience 7 peaks since we had to be in Provo anyway for Stadium of Fire...We invited our friend Shelly to come and it was a blast! I want to go again...

Already counting down the days...

I need another vacation....I am already planning on doing something pioneer day and then taking that friday off as well...

Vegas.

It was a blast. We headed down Friday afternoon and checked into out hotel. Then we walked the strip some. Saturday we began the day with a little sun bathing and then walked the strip some more. We then went to an extremely expensive buffet- it was good though..and saw Phantom of the Opera...it was amazing....then Sunday we drove back and spent the evening grilling with family...I will say that Andy and I did some things just so we could say that we did things that will stay in Vegas ;), but I will not go into details...that is for me and Andy to know and to torture everyone else with curiosity ;)

Here are some pics though:

Not much to report.

This month has been pretty uneventful I have decided. I mean I have done things I guess, but not a lot to report...Andy and I are seeing each other every weekend whether I go to Idaho or he comes to Utah. Every time he comes to Utah we hang out with our awesome Cousins...and the last time I went to Idaho we went hiking and got sun burnt and then were sore for a few days...My allergies suck...I broke out in hives on Saturday...and as usual have no idea why...I still have them...although I have been upping my Allertec dosage to get rid up them...I hate waking up in the middle of the night because I am itchy.

So far I have really sucked on my church and temple goals this month...I am planning on taking Friday off and maybe I will be able to go to the temple then....I love my husband, but he sure does throw a wrench into my monthly goals ;) religiously speaking that is...

I can't believe we finally go to Vegas this Friday!!!! I sure do need the break from work. I have been so agitated lately.

What else....hmm...I haven't had sweets for 10 days in a row now...yay...yes I did indeed do the master cleanse...this is my last day...the only issues I have had really is dealing with my allergies...I wasn't hungry very often which is nice...and my hypoglycemia never seemed to peak it's ugly head either...I actually like the way I have felt on it and think I might do it again...actually I am pretty sure I will....It is a nice way to just press the start over button on my eating habits so that I can start fresh without all of my horrible junk food cravings. Although I wouldn't recommend this for everyone...it is a very extreme diet choice and you have to be willing to completely change your diet after.

Getting excited!

I can't believe my Las Vegas vacation is almost here! In just under 2 weeks I will be headin' down with my sweet heart for our first time to actually be in Las Vegas. We are trying to get swim suit ready as this will be our first exposure to swim suit season....We went hiking on Saturday for 2.5 hours for exercise and to get some sun...we are both burnt at the moment...and I was sore for 2 whole days after hiking...actually I am still a little sore...I am working on detoxing my body to overcome my addiction to sweets and junk in general and, hopefully to get rid of allergies and also to lose a few lbs to feel better about myself. My sis and I are doing this together...she got me on this bandwagon and I am doing it partially as morale support. Andy is currently taking his last 5 credits of school!!!!!! Yippee!!!! Please pray that no surprises pop up and that he graduates...please....I don't think either of us can handle this anymore...Also, it looks like I am going to need to find a place to live by June 15th.....if anyone has any ideas of housing in the Salt Lake area please let me know....

Las Vegas Baby.

Andy and I have never been to Las Vegas, we have driven past it but never stopped to visit. In honor of Andy graduating (sometime in the next year) I booked a short trip for us to go down Memorial weekend (Friday night), stay two nights in a hotel on the strip and see Phantom of the Opera (our favorite musical...I think...well at least it is my favorite). We will also be stopping and eating some steak at the restaurant that claims to have the best steak in America. Excited?! You bet! This will be our first vacation since 2007, even if it is a short one.