General Conference

Since I was traveling over the weekend I had little time to watch General Conference. For anyone reading this who is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I encourage you to go to THIS site and learn about it and to learn about General Conference where we get to hear from the leaders of our church.

For those who are members... Am I wrong or is Conference one of the best weekends of the year. Am I wrong or does good old Dieter always has the answers!! I have been catching up on Conference today and I wanted to talk about President Uchtdorf's talk.

I'm in a time in my life when I'm counting down days. I am always looking forward to the next day because it means I'm one day closer to getting married. I'm not stopping and smelling the roses.

President Uchtdorf talked about how we need to enjoy each day. We can't start each day waiting for it to end. "There is something in each day to embrace and cherish." I need to remember this because there will come a time when I want time to slow down. There will come a time when I want moments to last forever.

One of his most powerful statements....

"We cannot take for granted one single day. I pray that we will not wait until we are ready to die before we truly learn to live."

Sure, it's OK to be excited and anxious for your wedding day to arrive, but it doesn't mean that good things aren't happening around me right now! My new goal is to have something different to be grateful for each day. Something that might not have happened the day before, or something that may never happen again! Be excited for special events in your future, but don't forget to enjoy the journey along the way :) Happy Monday!

Aunt Carolyn's Shower

This weekend, I have been home because my Aunt Carolyn threw me my first bridal shower today! It was a very nice brunch with some close friends that have seen me grow up over the years. We had some yummy egg casserole and fruit for breakfast, and while everyone was eating they had little cards to fill out about what their first or favorite memory of me is and any advice they had for me going into my marriage. Then as I opened up their gifts they would read what they wrote. I heard some pretty funny stories and also go some great advice. Always remember to laugh and always communicate were the big ones that a lot of people mentioned.

Today really made this whole wedding sink in. I got lots of things that will decorate my future home and lots of kitchen accessories that I will be using to cook my hubby dinner! Yup, I'm going to have a husband! It really is right around the corner and I didn't think I could get more excited, but today added a little more. :D

The shower was kind of hat themed...just explaining why everyone was in hats. My grandmother Loraine (where I get my middle name from) had a TON of hats. So that's what made the center pieces for the dining tables and everyone had quite the laugh trying some of them on!

close ups always look better in b&w to me.

THANK YOU AUNT CAROLYN

I made this gardening hat for tootsie when I was maybe 5-6

My grandmother, Loraine's wedding hat.

Dave's griddle. The one thing he made sure to register for!

Go Army!

ribbon bouquet!

And I had no idea that if you cut the ribbon off the gifts it counts as a future child...looks like we're having at least 6 kids! (I lost count..uh oh)

70 days! Happy Saturday! Also, Happy Conference! I'm so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

WARNING!

WARNING!! DO NOT LOOK AT THIS POST IF YOU DON'T LIKE GROSS/REALLY RED EYEBALLS!

So I decided to get eyelash extensions on Tuesday for my engagement photos next week. Let's just say it's a good thing I got them the week before and not two days before! Sadly, I love my eyelashes...but there's a good chance the process of getting them gave me a chemical burn on my eye. Ouch. Here's a NICE picture of my eyeball:

Don't they look pretty and long and curly! I know don't get me started... So I left the salon with pretty red eyes and my eyes were really tender. I figured it was normal cause she did say the glue burns a little and it causes some redness. However, later that night my eyes were still extremely bloodshot and it was pretty painful to blink or move my eyes in dramatic movements. By the end of day two this is what they looked like.

 

To be honest, I'm not freaking out at all. It's more of my mother that's freaking out. I know it's slowly getting better, but it sure is taking it's sweet time. I sleep fine, I can wash my face now and hopefully get whatever residue was left off, I can see perfectly fine. It's just really red and really tender.

Dave and I went to Walgreens to get some eye-drops. Thought it would give me that soothing feeling...complete opposite. Every time I put the drops in it burns even more. Hence my next adventure (also to make my mother feel better) I'm heading up to student health in about an hour to have them check out my beautiful browns. Hopefully they will give me a steroid or something that will make it go away by this weekend and at the latest next week!

Now for the gross up close picture from today. Please note, I just woke up and had just splashed my face and eyes with water and yeah...it's not that bad right? haha :) I'm all smiles I promise. Happy Thursday! I'm going home tomorrow!!!! Ok...picture time I guess...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!?!?!

It does scare Dave haha.

Pumpkin Time

Happy October!!

I really love fall. I'm 99% positive that it's my favorite season, but that 1% thinks it's suppose to be my birthday season. I do love the month of February and I do love winter clothing over summer, but fall just has the all around package.

To welcome in the glorious fall season and to celebrate October 1st I made this bad boy...

That is pumpkin cheesecake from the cheesecake factory. I found the recipe on pinterest and totally made it from scratch! Sadly, I haven't tried it yet, but Dave says that's what we are having for dinner tonight. Life of poor college students. 

Want to know another awesome thing about the start of fall? I took my first test of the semester yesterday and I got a "Fantastic!" next to my student id number. Now for those of you non-BYUers when you get a 90% or higher you get some type of comment next to your name. Starting off the semester strong!!

Want to know ANOTHER reason why I love fall? It's the most decorated season. Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas! Sadly, I might actually be moving into our married housing apartment in November so we will have to see how much decorating actually happens this year. Lots going on!!

Well, that's all for now. Happy pumpkin eating! Happy decorating! and Happy Fall!!

3 days until I go home!

50 days until I go through the temple!

74 days until I get muuurrieeed!

Meet The Fam

Toots came into town on Tuesday with Mary Lou! Dave and I had a yummy lunch with them and then I met my great-great aunt (Tootsie's paternal aunt) who lives 5 minutes from me! You'd think I would have met her sooner. She is the last of her generation that is still alive and it was fun to be with her and some of Toots' cousins. And if I look as good as Nettie Marie does at 94 I would be a very happy person. Her comment about being in assisted living, "I don't like living with all of these old people!" haha.

Let me introduce you to my heritage...

My great-grandpa Otis (Tootsie's dad)

My great-great grandmother hazel (Otis' mother)

Samuel Rose Parkinson and Charlotte Smart Parkinson
My great-great-great-great? grandparents 

Nettie Marie's generation and her mother
Kirma, Claire, Nettie Marie
Otis and Hazel

And then I think you all might know these people...(sorry for the blurry picture)

Yes... that is my lovely grandmother in the nice checkered pants, my grandfather with hair, my mother with hair, my aunt Debbie...luckily her style senses kicked in later in life, my uncle Geoff setting a pick, and my uncle Scott looking like young Michael even in a blurry picture.

Hooray for family! I'm so glad I was able to meet Nettie this week and see Toots and Mary Lou. Even though I'm going to be home one week from today. Bridal showers are perfect excuses to come home, right? :)

Also, bought "evening" wedding shoes today and bridesmaids tops this week! The guys suits came in too - it sure is all coming together. 78 days!! Happy Friday :)

Find A Man, Learn To Cook

I've always liked cooking dinners, but it's not always easy or fun to cook nice dinners for yourself. So, when Dave and I started dating I finally got my chance and now I cook almost every night...and yes left overs still count just as long as you eat at the table. I probably cook 3-4 meals a week and then we eat leftovers the other nights. This past week I made Taco Soup and Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup. Here are some pictures:

In the past I've also made pesto stuffed shells and chicken and avocado quesadillas. 

The soup looks really bland, I know, but it tasted pretty darn good. I'm trying to use recipes that hide vegetables or something healthy! The stuffed shells have spinach. The quesadillas have avocado (not really hidden). Taco soup has lots of beans, and cauliflower soup...that one's a little obvious.

I'm so excited to be able to cook in our own little kitchen and have dinners at our own little apartment. Most of the recipes I find are from pinterest, so go follow my "Yum" board and they should all be on there. Happy Cooking!

Time flies...

12 days until my first shower.

59 days until I go through the temple.

83 days until I get married!

Just Call Me Jillian

Oh wait, my personal training client already did that today!

Yup, my dreams have finally come true! I was compared to Jillian Michaels today at my internship. Although, I am for sure not as intense as she is - I obviously pushed my client enough that she felt extremely challenged.  (plus, I finally got my name tag today and I feel really official!)

Maggie Ingersoll

Personal Trainer & PT Assistant

Speaking of Jillian...did you know she is coming back to Biggest Loser?! Yup, that's true too! In January I will be able to start watching TBL without feeling like my girl crush is missing. 

Also talking about training, I've decided by the end of the semester, aka by my wedding day, I want to be able to 2 pull-ups. Just 2! I've been working on the assisted pull-up machine almost ever other day and I'm not going to lie, I'm feeling stronger! I feel like my muscles are taking over. I'm running faster and longer. Yeah...the scale isn't saying much, but I think having this "feeling" is better than what the scale says. As long as you feel good that's all that matters! That seems like enough motivation to me. 

Anywho, I'll stop my workout rant. Classes are still rolling! My internship is kicking my butt time wise, but I LOVE it and I'm learning a ton. Things couldn't be better! (OK, maybe seeing Dave more) PS. He had to get pepper sprayed last night as a part of "training" for his new security job. Poor guy was one of the first to get sprayed and the very last to leave. He's "the one that doesn't react well" according to the police officer. He's fully functioning today though! Happy Thursday!