Happy Weekend

I as so sad to say I accidentally deleted the photo of just R. He looked so darn good to.{sob sob} Great example of what happens when you ask a person walking by to take your photo. more sidewalk less temple

I hope everyone had a happy weekend!

We sure did. R and I have been wanting to visit the SLC temple

forever and we finally got that chance.

Can I just say that it exceeded all expectations.

Amazing. Beautiful. Spiritual. Just what I needed.

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

I have always grown up with stories of the pioneers.

What they went through, what they sacrificed, their righteousness.

I have always appreciated them, but I never gave it a whole lot of thought.

I was taught that these great people built this temple by hand. Sacrificing everything.

I always knew their stories, but I never felt their stories.

Being in this temple this weekend I was overcome with amazement and gratitude

for these people. They didn't just build a building. They carved a masterpiece.

Being an art major all I could do was notice every tiny, intercut, detail that

was done all by hand. And why did they do it? They had never had a temple.

They had never experienced the blessings and the feelings that come

from a temple. They worked hours and hours. Days, months, and years

in complete faith that this is what they need to do. And they did it.

If it were me I wonder if I would have had that much faith. I hope I would,

but I'm not sure. I am just so grateful that they did.

Their faith blesses my life every day.

little pretties

Despite the weather I'm moving on to spring.

That means cute dresses. Cute swimsuits.

That also means making my butt "cute" [if possible] for these cute swimsuits.

I'm working on both. [as I sit here eating girl scout cookies]

Check out a few of my favs

1.2.3.4.5

for all these and more come visit my pinterest

Isn't March spring?

Isn't March supposed to be the start of spring?

Then WHY IS THERE A BLIZZARD OUTSIDE?

I swear Utah and Idaho get everything backwards.

In January and February the skies were blue.

We were rocken' the 40s and sometimes even the 50s.

As soon as we hit March. BAM. Gone.

As soon as I start shopping for swimsuits, and buying pretty

little sandals. As soon as I start dreaming of sunshine, and

shorts, and road trips, and oceans our good karma is gone.

When I take a peek through my little grey curtains all I see

is snow. Crazy horizontal snow that makes you feel like you're

in a Star Wars movie traveling at the speed of light.

The kind of snow and cold that leaves an inch of ice in your

high school teachers parking lot. That as you are trying to run inside as

fast as possible you slip and slide and flail your body before landing on the ground

completely undignified as your students stare awkwardly.

Yes. It happened.

Needless to say I'm sick of thick sweats and layering my socks.

I'm sick of shirts, with sweaters, and coats, with scarves and gloves.

Spring I NEED you!

go pro fools

It finally happened. We got a Go Pro. And we LOVE it!

This beautiful little video/photo camera that can attach to helmets, longboards, any boards, and basically anything imaginable. We finally got to test it's magic is sunny Southern Utah.

This past week we got to take a work paid leave [my first ever!] and took off. The weekend was filled with an amazing art conference, long boarding, and hiking.

It was such a beautiful warm weekend. I forget how much sunshine makes me happy.

{It makes me almost as happy as Mr. R. Not quite. But almost.}

Hiking around with a 2 inch camera really brings out the random with R and I.

We have a million hilarious pictures and quite a few embarrassing videos that I may or may not showing. I'm counting down the days until we make it back for spring break.

aaaaa-mazing

This video blew my mind
This artisticly delicious video will make your day.
Enjoy

riden pretty

Guess what.

We FINALLY got a new car.

One that won't break down [hopefully]

when we take off on our adventures.

This is the newest + nicest car I've EVER owned

Needless to say we're pretty stoked!

We picked her up Wednesday and took off for St. George.

Super great weekend with a super great husband

and a super great car!

What is love?

I know Valentines day is past, but I can't get love off my mind.
I have been so lucky to have R as my best friend + husband.
As of late, {not that I haven't been a happy camper before}
I have been amazed at the love R shows for me and I for him.
It's a pretty amazing thing, love. By no means are we perfect.
We fight, we both get selfish. But somehow we work it out. We fix it.
And then we party. I have had so many happy days with this man.
I can only hope I get millions more.

My V is R

My sweet Valentine aka lover lips aka Ryley gave me the sweetest present for our love day.

A beautiful canvas photo of our wedding!

It's beautiful and sweet and I just heart it. I will post a picture just as soon as I find the perfect home for this work of art. My love gift was a little more lame. {R usually shows me up when it comes to cool gifts} I surprised him with a Matix hoodie in exchange for my picture. But the real surprise came for breakfast. I cooked up a little delicious surprise fully equipped with pink milk, red, heart-shaped eggs. *Sidenote: food coloring does NOT mix well with eggs and slightly makes your food look like it's bleeding! Eeek! Next to the sketchy eggs was placed some heart toast along with some bacon. I scattered lovely little love notes professing my undying love and devotion across the tray. And lastly, to add a little man to the morning, I placed his present next to his fork, which happened to be a manly knife. Which he happened to love because he is a man.

It was so much fun making those cards for R. On each card I wrote thing about Ryley that I love. I kept going and going because there are so many things I love about R. He is my sunshine and I am so lucky to call him mine. Happy love day!

life as I know it.

Folks, it's been a while. But I want you to know I'm back, I've slept for a week straight, and I am ready to go. Dance has slowed down. It's not over, but it is incredibly less stressful. February was the first time that I was actually able to do something I wanted to do [besides sleep all day Sunday]. It's crazy what a wonderful feeling it is to be able to do something fun. Do something selfish that is purely for my enjoyment. The past 2 weeks I have lazily watched tv without falling asleep within the first 2 minutes. I have started working out once again. [something my body has been in desperate need of] I have painted a canvas that has been sitting blank and lonely for almost an entire year. I got to take a weekend trip [I haven't had a weekend off since August] home to Idaho to see my family. And I haven't broken down into tears every night! [yea]

Looking back on my past 6 months of teaching at Weber high is good old Ogden, Utah I have been on such a roller coaster. I honestly don't even know how to explain the trip I've been on. It's not just leaving my home, my family, and my friends and coming to a new place that may not have been my first choice, to a scary new job, to an even scarier coaching position. It's the emotions and the lessons I've learned. I have pushed myself mentally, emotionally, and physically harder this year than ever before. I have never been so exhausted in my entire life. I have never been on the verge of tears so many days in a row. I have never learned so much either. I feel like I have learned so many life lessons. What's important. What isn't. What is worth stressing about. What should never be given a second thought.

I know there was a reason I came here and did what I did. I feel like it was a training ground for the post Rexburg bubble life training me to be able to handle and enjoy what's to come. These past months I have been able to enjoy my husband. We were forced to only spend time with each other [since we are now friendless in Ogden] We rely completely on each other. I could not have pulled it together this year if Ryley didn't listen to me vent. To force me to calm down and take a hot shower. If he wouldn't have hugged it out with me instead of yelled it out. It takes one strong man to deal with one mentally unstable woman.

Now the future looks bright. I am working 50 hours a week instead of 80. I actually am able to sign, and paint, and be happy. Ryley is graduated and working with a photographer he loves. We have lots of big ideas/plans for summer and for life. I make no guarantees, but you may find me in Alaska or California soon. Maybe neither. You may see me rolling up in a new [well newer] car. One that, cross your fingers, won't break down every other month. You may find me with a new job, or no job. Honestly I'm not quite sure, but I know whatever comes is gonna be good. I have spent the last 6 months stressed and unhappy and I am done with that. I am now on a strictly enjoy life policy. Regardless of where I am or what I am doing I am going to enjoy life. [if possible I would love to enjoy life by an ocean] I have a man I love more than life. I have a roof over my head. I have some pretty clothes to cover me, and enough love and blankets to keep me warm. I am done wishing for the future. I am ready to sit back and relax. [if you know me, you understand how hard this is for me to do. I'm an obsessive overachiever] Life will be happy if I live in Idaho or Hawaii. Life will be happy if I don't loose 10 pounds. Life will be happy because I choose to be happy.

Love Day Favorites

I hope everyones day of Love was happy and great.

Enjoy a few of my fav love cards I found....

images found here

My life..... my entire life

My entire last 5 months have been consumed by drill team.

Dance in the mornings.

Dance moms calling all afternoon.

Dancing at games at night.

Dance competitions on weekends.

This week is the last brutally long week of dance.

It's the week of regions.

I am completely exhausted.

If I can make it through Wednesday alive I will let you know.

Cross every finger for me + my team!

Go Warriorettes

re-post poster

Yes I know I've posted this before..... Almost a year ago to be exact. The crazy thing is, no matter how many times I watch it I am still just as amazed as the first time. This video inspires me to create. To get off my couch potato scared butt and get work done! If you haven't seen this video yet you must watch! If you have already seen it you still must watch. I promise, it's 3 minutes you won't regret.

PS I hope you all had a wonderful holiday today! Mondays are so much better when you aren't working!

date night

R and I had a much needed date night.

I loaded up on pills [I'm STILL sick, going on my 3rd week]

We grabbed some Chinese food from Golden Jade

And headed to a hockey game.

This was one intense game! 3 times the players threw off their gloves and punch it out. For those of you non hockey watchers, if the players throw off their gloves the refs don't even get in the way. It's basically saying whatever can happen and until someone is on the ice you keep going. CRAZY. We were there 2 hours and it felt like 30 minutes. Ladies, I'm going to throw this thought your way. Valentine's Day is coming up. If you're like me you NEVER know what to get your love. Valentine's is such a girly day and it's hard to find a present that isn't covered in pink and lace. So why not take your guy on a manly date? Go to a sports event, a band they like, or even just an action movie. I guarantee they will love you forever.

I hope you all are loving the weekend. Do something fun. [if you have no ideas the Bronco's are playing tonight. It's going to be intense!]

everything wood

Lately I can't get enough wood.

Just look at these beauties!

Find them all here on my pinterest

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Trying to think of anything but dance...

All I can think about is dance, dance, and more dance.

I've got to get it out of this crazy head of mine!

So what do you do when you have no energy to be creative,

but you need a creative boost?

Say it with me my friends. Pinterest!

Pinterest is my happy place when I am in a desperate need of a 5 minute fix at work, or when I'm laying on the couch too lame + lazy to do anything but don't want to feel like I'm doing nothing. I go to Pinterest.

Come look at some of my top pins on a cold + lazy January day.

Beautiful things = beautiful day

Oh please enjoy