Slow Down... Christmas!

How come the Holidays can’t be like they were when I was a kid… Christmas took FOREVER to arrive, the anticipation and excitement would almost just cause me to burst! The highlight of my day was being able to take that little tiny chocolate out of the countdown calendar, just to make sure to get one day closer to the jolliest of holidays! Now I have a countdown calendar and it gets too far ahead of me… last night I changed it from 16 days left to 10 days left. Ahhhh! It just comes too fast now! I want more time to savor and cherish this special time of the year…

So to help remedy that some… I have been doing something Christmasy as often as possible. Started the season off with the annual Girls Christmas Get Together. So fun to catch up, reminisce, and dream about the future. Had a couple of craft nights, and made some super cute decorations to increase the holiday ambiance in my home.

Went and got a REAL tree! Ohhh how I love the smell of our apartment when I walk in…. Kelly and I really enjoyed picking it out together, had to make sure it had some “personality”, and strapping it to the roof of our car was quite the team work activity. Glad I have me a man now :)Found some random Christmas decorations that we are slowly adding to the tree daily.

Making yummy treats, such as hot cocoa stirrers. I created quite the mess in my kitchen… but they were sure yummy! And of course we can’t forget about making gingerbread houses aka a graham cracker ghetto rambler with hot tamale shingles. Had a triple date with some of our friends. It was so fun to get together and create our Christmas masterpieces.

We have several other festivities on our list… the Dickens Festival… Christmas movie-athons, the perfect stocking search, Temple Square Christmas lights, MY BIRTHDAY, ornament exchange, and creating new and lasting traditions for our future family. Oh how I love the Holiday Season… no matter what I do… I just need to soak it all in, not rush through it, and just enjoy the moment I am in!

Merry Merry Christmas to You, to You!!

Half FULL…

I need to be more positive! This is not a recent realization, just a realization that I constantly remind myself of, but do not continually act on. I feel that I am positive for the most part, but those sneaky Debby Downer attitudes like to creep in occasionally, and get the better of me. I hate when they do! I hate it because I know I am much better than that. I believe I am generally a happy person… then why do I take on such a cruddy attitude at times?!

As I have gotten older… not that I am old or anything ;)… I have noticed that this “Realist” perspective has begun to make its presence known. Why can’t I have that mind and heart of that little girl, where everything was great, and everything would work out?! Where have I hidden her?! I know I can find her. I am always so impressed with my Kelly and how positive he is… he takes each day as it comes… and does not get stressed over the little things that he has no control over. It really is a good way to be. He has already helped me take those “Realist” glasses off… to see how great I have really got it! I need to take that happy persona that I have been given… and use it to lift me up… along with others.

In honor of one of my favorite holidays… I really do have so much to be thankful for…

My Hubby: I sure got lucky with him! He is my best friend, who makes me laugh, holds me when I cry, packs my lunches, thinks I am perfect :)

My Family: A mom who loves and supports me no matter what, a sister who is there for me, who I can share every deep dark secret with, and a dad who makes me laugh and will give even if he has nothing.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ: I would be sooo lost without it! I love my Savior and all that he has given me. It provides the faith and hope to see everything half full… and more!

A great job: Grateful for the security it provides, the difference that I am hopefully making in student’s lives, and the supportive co workers I have.

Amazing Friends: You know who you are! Those who love me through the ups and downs, who I know will be there for me when I need them, most.

That is just the beginning… HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! Turkey Turkey!!!

Just Resting My Eyes...

Geesh! I am sleepy today! I don’t know what it is, but I could lay my lil ol head down on my pilla and take a snooze! This is a happy thought for me not just today… but often! 8 hrs or more… is common…so it’s not like I am not getting enough sleep. I either have too much energy…where I can be a lot to handle for some…or I am crashing. I feel like I am not often a happy medium. I am pretty sure my inner being is battling whether it is a hyper active 6 year old or a withering away elderly woman! Talk about inner confusion!
I just think about that 8+ hours of sleep and all the other things I could be doing… then I get exhausted and just sleep. I was talking a lifelong friend the other day about how we used to go out dancing and stay out until 3am then wake up in the morning at work all day. The topic alone exhausted me! How did I ever do that? I am certainly not that girl anymore… but dang wish that I didn’t have such a love affair with closing my eyelids for long durations of time! I hate that I have come to believe that 10pm is late. I can see it now… my grandkids (or kids at the rate of exhaustion I am on) nudging me to wake up in a variety of non-nap situations… and in reply I will open my exhausted lids to say, “Just resting my eyes”!
(In Memory of Grandma Pearson)

Biggest Looser...

Marriage has brought many things...including more than a few pounds :( I blame it on being too happy and not caring! But it is time to shed those pounds and get back on track. Still be happy :) but start caring!


Kelly and I have challenged another couple friend of ours to the Biggest Looser! We are excited for this much needed motivation... not that our decreasing wardrobes, due to the fact of everything shrinking, was not enough! We are going to check in on the other couple monthly, whoever has the least weight loss percentage owes the most weight loss couple a fun and active date night. Then the ultimate prize is a trip to Vegas Baby in March! Where the winners (losers) gets trip perks complimentary of losing team. Yipeee!


We are super excited to get back on track and motivate one another along the way! So.... Goodbye late night Del Taco Runs, Weekly ice-cream tastings, daily 44 oz DDP stops, tasty baked goods, Holiday Popcorn retreats, and saying yes to any food paraded my way! Hello to...Feeling better about selves, fitting in to our "skinny jeans", more energy, healthier lifestyle, and more accountability to what we put into our bodies.


I shall keep you posted :) Expect Success!!!

Lazzzzy....

Laziness ….I have decided that this has got to be my biggest pet peeve! I just don’t understand the concept of laziness… maybe I am a little too far the opposite of lazy. I really have a difficult time just relaxing. I cry all week that I just want to chill… and then when I get the opportunity… I am go go go. I probably do not let myself relax enough…but I would much rather be too far this way then the other and be lazy.
It just drives me bonkers when people have so many opportunities in their reach and they do not go for them. People have so much potential, but are not willing to do what it takes to change and reach what they can obtain with a little hard work. I have seen so many people in my life that give up and not push through. There are some people who just expect things to come to them… I say… Get up…and move! Things may not work out perfectly, but at least you got some exercise (physically, emotionally, and spiritually) in the mean time. No effort, whether the desired outcome is the result, is ever wasted!
Be Buzzy...NOT Lazzy!

Skinny Potato...

Every day I walk by many offices and cubicles, and everyday one lady always sticks out to me for a certain reason… she always is eating a big bag of potato chips. Potato chips… Normal, Lady… Skinny, Petite, Fit!!! It just does not seem right to me that this lady can get away with eating a bag of potato chips on a regular basis. Potato Chips and skinny just don’t mingle well in my mind. I can count on one finger how many bags of potato chips I have eaten by myself… and I would not call me Petite or skinny on any level. I eat well, and work out regularly, and am ok with my body… but it still boggles my brains that some can get away with this. I like to think that I have a better heart and cholesterol then people like that skinny potato colleague of mine… Some folks have all the good genes (no pun intended)!

Hungry Hungry Hippo...

I constantly want food, food, and more food lately. I eat… and then I want to eat again! When I have a spare minute to think… only food filled thoughts prance across my mind. I am not sure what the deal is…
Am I not eating enough? Na! This girl and her limited food intake have seen better days…
Am I not eating enough of the right foods? Maybe… I could be better in that department…
Am I sick of the foods I eat on a constant basis? I think this could be a big part of it… Eating the same thing day in and day out can get pretty boring! I am super sick of sandwiches! Blah! Oatmeal makes me wanna vomit… just smelling it makes my salivating vomit glands hyperventilate! I am having issues with poultry as well…having a grilled piece with veggies every night for who knows how many months straight… not so much my favorite item of food these days.
Ok… So I may need to change my food up a bit…but what about all the cravings I am having to battle all the live long day!?! I guess deal with it and chew some gum… yum?!?
Or… I just stretched my tum tum out so much, that it has no idea how to eat like regular old me anymore. I think it may have discovered that it likes to be fed yummy, fattening, filling foods… I realize now what good aka not so good for you foods are delish…. And I don’t want to go back to healthy boring. I love food, but I know I can’t answer to every rumble and tumble… here is to Happy and Hungry!

Stay at Home Wife...

I could most definitely get used to the Stay at Home Wife lifestyle! Stay at Home Mom is one thing.. but a Wife is BLISSFUL!!!Having the summer off has been wonderful. It has been nice to go to bed late and sleep in, and not have too many cares in life. I get to spend all day long with my honey...but that has to come to an end now :(

My first day back to work was today... Boo! I am not a fan of early mornings, it will be an adjustment I am sure. Wish I got paid to stay home and just be :) One day... Until then I have a great job that I love, and I am completely, officially, finished, done, no more with my Masters Degree! Woot Woot!
What a great feeling that is... I am a Master of School Counseling!

So I will be happy with this position until that whole Stay at Home Wife position has an opening!

I Need to Update...

I Know... I Need to update "ALL" of my readers out there :)
So here is a quick update....

I AM A MARRIED WOMAN!!!

I am still in honeymoon mode...so I promise I will start sharing my random thoughts again soon.
But Life is Good! I love us! :) We certainly were made for each other.. NEVER a dull moment at our place! Keeps life interesting!

P.s. I need to get on that name change thing... I am seriously considering changing it to RuddRocks! :) So Rad!!!

22 DAYS...

It's the truth... ONLY 22 days until the BIG DAY!!! It's just 3 weeks and a day away...but that also seems like eternity to me!

I love my Kelly, but I am not in love with engagement! Lots of planning, lots of stress, not being able to be together, just wanting our lives to get going! I am so grateful that Kelly is a patient man! I tend to take roller coaster rides now and again (ok maybe daily), but he is just so calm, and helps me see that everything will be ok. There is so much that goes into planning a wedding... I never knew! What color this, where to put that, who needs what! I wish there was a wedding planning fairy... POOF... it would all be done!

There is no wedding planning fairy... But I have lots of little helpers! My sister April, aka maid of honor! I would die without all of her help! She deserves the Noble Peace Prize for all she has done for me! Me Madre… who has helped make phone calls, came on appointment after appointment (a floral one on her birthday even!), and found me a FREE wedding planner!!! My bridesmaids who helping with the final countdown, and showers, my good friend, Hoppes who was ever so thoughtful and wanted to throw me a bridal shower, who is keeping me in line until the big day, and reminding me and helping me with the small details I tend to forget about along the way. Of course my honey man, who runs all my errands I can’t get to, who stuffed, stamped and sealed envelopes for countless hours, and reminds me to enjoy it all and brings me back to reality!

There are so many more… So thanks for all the help I have been receiving! I have so much on my plate right now, and I am so thankful for all those who have been understanding, and taken a serving or two off my filled plate! It has helped this whole engagement thing become doable

22 DAYS!!!!!!

Where's the Fire...

We were on our way to have our engagement pictures done on Saturday... we were running late of course! Kelly was driving...a bit too quickly... 20 over to be exact.... when flashing lights appeared behind us. What? Where did he come from!?! The H.P. Officer moseyed on up to the passenger side... my side… And asked "Where's the fire?!

Wanna know where the fire is? My life is the fire! School full time, work full time, doubling up on classes, graduating, moving, still R.S. Pres, and you know, planning a little party... MY WEDDING!!! It's all good, but it may or may not be leading to a breakdown... and quite possibly to numerous speeding tickets!

You may be wondering what happened that Saturday mornin, near mile marker 291, pulled over to the shoulder... Nothing!!! He was the friendliest officer I ever encountered! When asked where the fire was, we explained, and he let us go... NO TICKET! Told us to slow down, drive safe, and to stop being flustered! How thankful were we? Mucho!

It was a good lesson for me! I do need to slow down, take one day at a time, and enjoy the ride! This is probably the greatest time of my life so far, I should take it all in and not wish it away!

Thanks Officer Friendly! ;)

Prom...

I never got to go to prom... Kelly brought prom to me with a lil bling bling!!!

Kelly called me Wednesday afternoon and told me we have dinner reservations at 6pm...and to dress up... "I am taking you to your "Prom" tonight baby!"

I could not focus for the rest of the afternoon...I was a kid on Christmas Eve (or just me on Christmas Eve). I went home after work and got all dolled up for the night. Curls, heels... the works! He arrived with bouquet of choral roses in hand, a snazzy suite (with a tie that matched my dress Perfectly!), and a smile that made my knees weak. We rolled away in a brand new black BMW (something borrowed).

Our destination... Millcreek Canyon's, Log Haven restaurant. ( I had always dreamed about going here as a young girl, when I would fish with my daddy just across the street. I imagined my boyfriend taking me there for a fancy dinner, or having an outdoor wedding by the stream).

After the waitress took our orders, Kelly showed me around, since he had been there before. We found a nice quite room, with a nice open floor, and twinkly lights, that over looked a water fall. Kelly then took my hand and introduced the dance portion of the night... fiddled with his techy phone... and my favorite slow songs entertained us from his suite pocket. He held me close and told me how much he loves me and can’t wait to start his life with me. During this time his hands were fidgeting in the small of my back. Lifehouse’s, Everything, began to play… soon after, a giddy school boy grin stretched across his face, and he slowly shimmied down to one knee. I was in shock… and of course began to cry! He then told me how he wants to be with me forever and asked me to be his wife! Through my whimpers and tears I managed to get out an “Ofcourse!” and he put the stunning ring on my fing!

He stood up, seeming to still want an answer from me… “So…?” “Of course, you silly!” Then I cried some more. I am pretty sure some tears weld up in his eyes too! :) We danced for a while longer… then went back to our amazing meal! My stare was torn between looking at my hunk of a FIANCE and my blingy ring, for the remainder of the evening.

We arrived back at my place… much to my surprise this magical evening was not over! We walked into my apartment, and the prom fairy had visited and threw up everywhere. Kelly and my sister, April, got a bunch of our friends together to surprise me. They were all dec’d out in fancy prom attire. Cake, group photos (with a full on backdrop), and a dance party followed!

All I can say is… I am one LUCKY LADY! He is soo soo good to me! They still do make good guys, and I got one of the best! I can’t wait to marry my best friend!

I love you Kelly Horrocks :)

(p.s. June 8th 2011...Save the Date!!!)

Never Say...Never!

Ok, this title has nothing to do with the incredibly cute pop icon, Justin Bieber...But these words are words to consider, and realize we have all had to eat up a few "never(s)" a time or two!

(Warning: if you have a weak stomach, you may not want to continue...possible goosh and moosh may be dripping from this blog entry!)


I NEVER thought I could be so happy I wanna cry! Crunch...Smiling with tears!
I said I would NEVER find a man that treats me like the princess I am! Chewing...Found Him!
I was adamant about NEVER letting anyone get too close... Come on Over Baby!
I NEVER knew Good Guys existed...GOOD? I got the Best!
I said I would NEVER be a producer of PDA! Swallowing Whole... SMOOOOCH! :)
I for sure would NEVER want to give all my time to one person! Gulp... Can he come to girl’s night too?! :)
I NEVER understood how goodbyes could be hard!? Hard? Painful more like it! And that's if he is just taking out the trash!
I NEVER knew I could be so sure about something! Chomp! I am sooo sure about him!
I may have mentioned I would NEVER be all eewy...gooey, mooshy...gooshy, lovey...dovey! Yum Yum... Call me all of the above!

I always said I would NEVER fall in LOVE...Ate that Never right on up! I am so in LOVE... it is quite disgusting!

Glad I was wrong! Glad I am eating all those Never(s) right on up!
I never knew it could taste so good!


(I NEVER thought I would write an entry like this! I bet you are wishing I NEVER did! ...I warned you!)

Is it over...

I have had the LONGEST 3 days ever! During these longest 3 days...EVER...the following may or may not have occurred:

Changed over 200 students schedules ... Never Never Never Ending! Come on kids, I am not your personal scheduler!!!
Had thoughts of possibly causing a number of students to loose useful limbs...
Dealt with a "parent" who insulted my life as a independent, happy, single woman. even though I fixed her problem... she kept insulting... and i kept telling her to get out of my office.
Consumed unheard of amounts of chocolate and Diet Dr. Pepper!
Cried several times over possibly unnecessary reasons... We all deserve a good cry now and again :'(
Woke up at 3:45am a few times to fit the gym into my packed tight schedule.
May have looked up several getaway vacay destination...
Thought of switching degrees... this happened more than 10 times.
Said "Damn it!" in front of a few kids...uhhhhh....sssshhhh, don't tell!
Closed my eyes as walked down halls... just to give my eyes much needed, and deserved rest.
Skipped way too many meals... Not good... I get grumpy!
Typed up this blog entry to help these last painful 30 min go by quickly!! It worked! I am outie!

It is over!!!

Your Life is Sad when....

You get excited for the Temperature to reach 38 def. F!!! Ok, maybe my life is not sad, but the weather sure is! I am already counting down the days until spring... 68!!! Spring oh Spring... Come to me!

To Cali...and Back!

For my BIRTHDAY and CHRISTMAS gift I was given a road trip to Southern CALIFORNIA from this amazingly awesome man in my life!!! He had read a previous blog entry about how much I love Long Beach Cali, and he planned a trip for the 2 of us to spend a few days there. He waited until my birthday to tell me where we were going exactly. I opened up an envelope on my b-day, and the destination was placed inside! I was so excited I nearly..ok I did attack him!

We started our fun field road trip on Sunday December 26th, and ended on New Years Eve.
Road Trip Adventures included; Coke Factory, M&M Factory, H&M, car dance parties, sing-a-longs, and several Diet Doctor Pepper (DDP) stops.

I had the time of my life, non stop fun, adventure and relaxin! Amazing sunsets, walks on the beach, ice cream on the pier, morning swims, window shopping, lots of pictures, sushi sushi sushi, tooooo much food...nearly exploded (literally), wind and rain, SUNSHINE, hotels on the beach, palm trees with Christmas lights, drives along the coast, and I must mention DDP at McDonalds :)

I cannot forget to mention the road trip home! Not much to say except: -14deg temps, shorts, and road side stop in Santaquin Ut as the clock struck twelve-OO...HAPPY NEW YEAR!

(I LOVE CALI! thanks Kelly!!!)