Anniversary Weekend Part 1

Our anniversary weekend was WONDERFUL! We started out the weekend by packing up the car and heading to beautiful Lake Powell. We had tons of snacks, good food to cook over a fire, and our books to read while we cuddled. The weather was perfect, the drive was really nice and we got out earlier than planned because Race's boss was really sweet and let him leave an hour and a half early as she wished him a happy anniversary. :] We headed out after promising each other we wouldn't bring up stressful topics for the weekend {monies, school, jobs, etc.} and enjoyed good conversations and good music in the car. We headed to the Lone Rock camp site {just across the Utah border} and immediately got our truck stuck in the sand. Luckily, a nice family of six or so cute, blond hair blue-eyed boys {from about age 4 to age 15} came up and helped us push the truck and then had their dad come up and pull us out in his truck. Then we set up camp {a little ways away from everyone else} and made our fire. We cooked a yummy dinner of hot dogs {I only like them cooked over a fire} and then had a delicious dessert of s'mores. After dinner and dessert we spent the rest of the evening cuddling and reading and doing other fun things. We went to bed earlier than we would have if we were at home because we knew we would have to get up early in order to get our jet ski from the rental place and spend as much time as possible on the lake.

We got up early on Saturday, got the truck out of the rest of the sand without getting stuck {yay!}, and then headed into Page to get our jet ski! We got into town early so we grabbed some breakfast and sat in the truck trying not to fall asleep! We got the jet ski right at 8:00 am and were talked through how to work it since neither of us had ridden one before. We headed to the State Line unloading zone and successfully got the jet ski into the water without damaging it. I was a scaredy cat and couldn't drive the car out of the water afterwards though {we have a stick shift and I was scared the truck would just roll back into the water before I could gun it back up the hill}. So I stood with the jet ski in the water while Race parked the truck and ran back down to me. We quickly figured out how to ride it and headed straight back to our campsite for provisions {TONS of Mountain Dews for Race and some lemonade and water for me plus lots of snacks}. We spent the ENTIRE day on the jet ski and it was so much fun. We rode it super fast in the super choppy water {it was a busy weekend being labor day and all} but didn't crash it. And when we wanted to take a break we would just turn it off and stretch out on the jet ski and/or jump in the water to cool off. It was the most perfect day. We just got to enjoy each other's company without any interruptions {no phones, video games, TV, computers, etc.}. I think we need days like that more often because it's so nice to actually talk and get to know each other again without modern day distractions. 

Don't mind my makeupless face in all of these photos and my weeeeird bangs {jet ski wind does that to you}.

We returned the jet ski on time {after spending almost an hour in traffic} and headed to our campsite to clear out. We didn't get stuck in the sand but had to walk all our stuff further to our truck. It was good exercise though. Haha. After loading up we headed home to Flagstaff. We were EXHAUSTED but decided to head down to the valley on Saturday night so that we wouldn't have to drive down early in the morning on Sunday. The rest of the weekend was spent doing a mini family reunion with my immediate family that has grown so much recently with marriages and new babies. It was a great weekend and I will post more on the rest of it so look forward to: hopefully a video of some cool stuff we did {still trying to figure out how to make a video...}, cool sewing projects, cute pictures of the most adorable babies, and just more fun family stuff. Also, I will have another outfit post coming up soon so get excited!

Thanks AGAIN to my guest bloggers! They made my weekend so much more relaxing and they all shared the sweetest stories. Go and check them out in the posts below!

P.S. I'm excited for Zooey Deschanel in New Girl. I'm not sure what the show is about but Zooey is ADORABLE! Is anyone else excited? I already know I will be falling in love with ALL of her clothes.

We're Back!

We had a wonderful weekend and we made it safely home a few hours ago. I have lots of things I need to post about but it will have to wait for a little bit because first I need to sleep, figure out school stuff, clean my house, unpack, etc. But, get excited for anniversary posts, {Kinda} Crafty posts, lots of pictures, possibly a video {if I can figure out how to make one}, and other goodies. Also, if you haven't already you should check out my three awesome guest posters I had this weekend! Kaycie of {Redhead} Memories, Autumn of Stay gold, Autumn , and Katie of Sparky. {Click on their names for their guest posts and their blogs for well, their blogs!} Anyway, I'll be back soon with lots of cool things to share with you all. For now I'll leave you with a picture of the cutest Cheerio in the world!

Guest Post: Katie, the new Mrs. Devey!

I am so excited to have Katie Devey {that's her NEW last name} of the blog Sparky posting here on my blog! Katie and I are new blogging friends. I actually found her blog while she was on her honeymoon and had guest posters {this one in particular}. But then I started perusing the rest of her blog and I loved what I saw. Katie married her childhood sweetheart{ish} in August and is so in love! I love love and I love reading about love. It's so fun to hear about her relationship with her new husband and to see how much fun they have together. Without further ado, here is Katie!

Hello friends!

[Isn't Emma great?  We only recently became blogging friends, but I love her already!]

Ok, kids, let's get down to the nitty gritty.

I just got married.  [Almost] a month ago now.  And it's the best thing that's ever happened to me.

Tim and I met when I was about eight and he was about ten.  

He would come to my older brother's birthday parties.  I would see him around at church.  Scouting functions.  Youth activities.  [You name it, I remember seeing him.]

Romantic, right?  Childhood sweethearts.

Wrong.  [Wrong, wrong, wrong.]

He doesn't really remember me.

And why should he?

He was the cool older boy.

I was a nerdy little girl.

Then I moved away, grew up, and eventually moved away to school.

And it just happened to be the same place that Tim went to school.

To make a [very] long story short, this time, the tables had turned.

I was no longer interested in him, but he suddenly became very interested in me.

And I ran him through the mill for quite a few months before I [finally] consented to be his wife.

And boy, am I glad I did.

I write about our lives and our love, but mostly, I write about our silliness.

Come take a peek, relax, and maybe stay for awhile.

I love blogging friends.

Thanks for having me, Emma!

Isn't their story great? And aren't her wedding pictures amazing? I can't imagine looking that good in Phoenix SUMMER weather! But Katie pulled it off wonderfully! Now you all need to go over to her blog and read more about her wedding, her love story, her life, and see more beautiful pictures. Have fun perusing!   

Guest Post: Meet Mrs. Autumn!

My second guest poster of the weekend is Autumn from Stay gold, Autumn. I found her blog pretty recently and it is inspiring, honest, and so sweet. I love reading her posts and seeing the beautiful pictures she takes. I love hearing about her marriage and her life after college. She was married in the Mesa temple {same place Race and I were married!} almost a year ago and she's here to share the adorable story of how she fell in love with her husband.

My name is Autumn.  I'm a first year teacher and a graduate student who is married to...another graduate student.

This is the story of when I knew I had fallen in love with my husband.

I met my husband on a blind date that took two years to set up.  A month after that date Devin took me skiing for an accounting recruitment event.  At this point I was still largely in denial about even wanting to date much less going on the same dates with the same person.

It was the first time I had really seen Devin interact with people and I remember a recruiter coming up to him and asking if he was an avid skiier.  To be honest, it was Devin's first time and I was showing him.  The man said: "My first day of skiing...I wouldn't be smiling like that.  You must always smile."

To be honest, that was also my first impression of him.  Always smiling.

When we walked to his car he opened the backdoor and handed me a blanket..."I packed this blanket because you're always cold and I figured this would help."

I smiled and he helped wrap it around me before I sat down in the car.

He closed my door and walked around to his side.  I remember thinking "he will always take care of you" and I knew it.

That is when I realized I had fallen in love.

We were married a little shy of Christmas that year.

We picked somewhere warmer.

I loved Autumn's story! And I hope you all did too. :] It's so great having someone to take care of you. Also, Autumn, I absolutely love your wedding dress--GORGEOUS! Thanks for posting on my blog today and sharing your sweet love story. Now everyone head over to Autumn's blog and read more about life after marriage. And be prepared to be inspired!

First Guest Post Ever: Kaycie

I am in Lake Powell. Just waking up to a beautiful sunrise or something cool at the moment. Headed off to get our jet ski and tube for the day and then have some fun and SUPER sunscreen all day so I don't burn. But, you all get to hear from the lovely Kaycie! She is visiting from {Redhead} Memories where she blogs about newlywed life, delicious recipes she makes for her husband, and proclaims herself as a lover of  soft and mushy bananas. She is the cutest, funnest {is that a word} redhead that I have met in blogland and I am so excited to have her taking over my blog for the day.  

Hey friends of Race and Emma! I’m Kaycie and I blog over at Redhead Memories.

Since Emma and Race are out celebrating their anniversary, I thought I should talk about marriage. And then I realized, I haven’t ever shared my proposal story on my blog before! So I’m going to take this opportunity to do so!

Scott and I were traveling down to Las Vegas, where his family lives, for the summer break. Because we’d be passing by the Grand Canyon and neither of us had been since we were really young, we thought we would stop by!

You would think that going to the Grand Canyon when we had been talking about getting married would ring a bell. I thought about it, but didn’t think it was going to happen. Scott still had to talk to my dad and said he wouldn’t get the ring before then.

Yeah. Boys lie when they’re about to propose to girls.

Scott and my naïve self traveled to the canyon anyway. When we got there, it was pouring rain. I thought it was fun! I guess I hadn’t seen rain in a while. Scott was way upset, but didn’t show it. We pulled into a parking stall and right then, it stopped raining. Scott likes to say, “the heavens parted”.

He walked me to the edge, (also, he is terrified of heights) found a spot that was semi-secluded, and took advantage of that perfect moment. It totally caught me by surprise and of course, I said yes!

Of COURSE I wore old pants and a t-shirt. I thought I was getting comfy for the road trip. Ha! At least I work makeup, ha ha.

I guess he really loves me. :)

I hope you all enjoyed Kaycie's adorable engagement story {I sure did}! And now head on over to her blog and learn more about her and her exciting life in Vegas as a newlywed! 

Outfit Post the Sixth

Last Thursday I went with a friend {and old roommate} of mine to a little party for a cute etsy company called The Apple Avenue. This shop has lots of cute stuff and it was fun to go look at all of it. I got myself this one except for with some cute little buttons/pearls on it. {I will wear it soon to show it off!} Anyway, I decided that I had to look cute to go look at such cute stuff so I wore a cute and comfy outfit. And here it is! 
 

Breakdown:Shirt- from a friend, Calvin Klein I believe; Cardigan & Scarf & Purse- Old Navy; Belt- Charlotte Russe I think...; Jeans & Shoes- Target

Well, that's all for now! I'm headed off for the most wonderful weekend with my huzBAND {that's actually how I pronounce that word almost all of the time in case you were wondering...and I know you were}.

{P.S. I just reread this and realized I used the word cute way more times I should have. Oh well. I did look cute and I did go look at cute stuff and the etsy shop is super cute so I wasn't lying just lacking in the creativity with words department and too lazy to change it.}

Life is Kicking My Little {er...Big} Bum.

Mostly school is just kicking me in the butt. But other things are too {like trying to find a job while kinda half working, and searching for books for cheap was a LOT of work}. Anyway, I really don't think it will be that bad eventually but this first week I feel like I have been running nonstop. {It didn't help that I had cramps ALL week from that obnoxious thing that has to come visit every month. Sidenote: How are you supposed to talk about periods in blogland without it sounding nasty like it is?} Anyway, I should be sleeping, reading books, studying, cleaning, packing, etc. right now but I just finished washing {with the help of Race} and folding {without the help of Race} a billion and one loads of laundry. My back is sore and I am exhausted so I am going to sit, relax, and blog instead of doing more important things.

I have some exciting news to share! First, Saturday is Race and my ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! :] It has been the most wonderful year being married to the most wonderful person and I love that we still have eternity to go. I plan on doing a legit anniversary post when we get back. I'll do one about being married and how awesome it is and then one about our awesome mini vacation that we are doing this weekend.

The second thing that I have to share is that I will be having three awesome guest posters! This is my first time ever having other people post on my blog...other than the couple of times that Race wrote on here forever ago. Anyway, I am excited to announce that Kaycie of {Redhead} Memories will be visiting on Saturday, Autumn of Stay gold, Autumn will be visiting on Sunday, and Katie of Sparky will be visiting on Monday! I can't wait to share all of the sweet things that they wrote about love, marriage, weddings, engagements, and all things good. :] I will be back on Tuesday and ready to share all of my adventures with you! But, please give my guest posters some love and go visit their blogs because they are all awesome!

Well, I hope to get in one more post before I head off in the next 24 hours but if not come back during the weekend to learn all about some cool ladies while I enjoy Lake Powell and spending some quality {much needed} time alone with my hubby. No TVs, no phones, no computers. It will be pure bliss!

I will get to be with him for hours instead of seeing him while he's on his way to class while I'm headed home as seen in this progression of pictures:















He's cute. :] And he started walking funny right when he realized I was taking pictures. But yeah, I am really excited for this weekend!