My favorite birthday present

Every year as my birthday approaches, I always remember my favorite birthday present.

It was my 18th birthday and a guy I had been talking to for a little while decided he wanted to come down to St. George to help celebrate my birthday.

I had only met him once about 6 months before and that meeting was a bit of a bust. I basically spent 2 hours following behind him and his friend while they tried to find a hotel to stay in for the weekend (mind you it was Spring break so there were no hotel rooms available). They finally gave up and decided to just figure it out later so we went to a movie. I sat between them during the movie and then went home. We hardly said anything to each other the whole night but we had still kept in touch over the next few months.

Back to my birthday... I met him in a parking lot since he didn't know the area and he surprised me with a card and a little bouquet of flowers. It was so sweet of him. When I asked him what he wanted to do, he said he had it all planned out and he was going to take me to the "mountains" ("mountains" to me were considered hills to him so he kept making fun of me for this the entire night because I apparently didn't know what a mountain was) and we were going to watch a movie on his projector as we sat in the back of his truck. He said he wanted to experience a "drive-in movie" since I had never been to one before and it was one of his favorite things to do back home. So, we went to Hollywood video and got a free movie since it was my birthday, and headed up to the "mountain" to find a spot to hang a sheet and watch a movie. After driving around for an hour we found the right spot and began to hang the sheet.

We talked non-stop on the drive and joked around as we tried to hang the sheet. Since I am a little on the short side (maybe a lot on the short side) my side of the sheet was no where near as high as it should've been. We both laughed as I struggled to hang it properly but in the end Thad had to hang my side as well.

Once it was hung, we started the movie - The Butterfly Effect. Honestly looking back I don't remember ANYTHING about the movie. We spent the whole night just looking into each others eyes (cheesy as it sounds, its what happened) and after the movie was about over and me secretly hoping he would kiss me, he leaned over and kissed me. And that was that! We were inseperable from that night on.

Since I still lived at home and had a curfew, I had to be home by midnight so once the movie was over we headed back down to the city and said our goodbyes. It was really tough! I didn't want the night to end but I had to get home and he needed to head home to be to work the next morning. So we ended the night with a kiss and headed our serparate ways.

It wasn't 15 minutes after I got home that my phone was ringing. It was Thad. He said he couldn't stop thinking about me and wanted me to stay on the phone with him to keep him awake and so it would feel like I was with him. So we talked for about 3 hours while he drove back up to his house. I knew after that phone call I needed to see him again.

2 days later I was headed up to visit him. We went to a real drive in and went to Lagoon while I was up there. Leaving was one of the hardest things I had to do. But, I had to head back home because I had school the next day. The whole drive home I kept thinking about him and wondered when the next time I would be able to see him.

3 days after I went back home I was greeted with a huge bouquet of roses and a note asking me to be his girlfriend and the rest is history.

It's been 7 years since that day but besides my wedding day it's probably the day I remember most in our relationship. I couldn't be more in love with him and I'm so glad I didn't listen to those people who were more than a little skeptical when I started dating him. Sometimes you just have to follow your heart, even if it is 300 miles away!

When you have a few days off work...

Since I had a few days off of work I decided I would do some projects I've been wanting to do for a while! And in the process of taking pictures for the blog, it turned into some of my favorite new things around my house! It's a bit of a random post but hey, at least I'm posting something, right?

First up is a project I've been wanting to do ever since we bought our house 2 1/2 years ago. My bedroom has NO decorations in it. Its the one room I've kind of neglected. The walls were this color when we moved in and we just happened to find a bedding set that matched the walls and our furniture, so I've just left it how it is. Anyway, this was semi-inspired by Pinterest.com but when I was at Hobby Lobby and found the quote I'd been looking for I just had to buy it!

I love how it turned out and it makes me smile every time I see it.

Next thing was my new washer and dryer! Now that I can actually fit clothes in the washer and dryer, I don't dread doing laundry as bad! Now I really only have to do 3-4 loads of laundry a week instead of 6-7 that I was doing before! It saves so much more time and is so much more convenient! I think my favorite feature is the delay start so I can put soap in and set it to start in any given # of hours- that way on days I work I can have it be done right when I get home so it can go straight into the dryer!

This is on of my little craft projects I've done lately! The little stars are boxes from the craft store with scrapbook paper modge-podged (sp?) on them. The vases were from Tai Pan and probably my favorite part is the cute "S" I found at Hobby Lobby and painted black. I've been looking forever for a cute letter, not just the plain block letters most places usually have.
Next item was a splurge! I don't like to cook that often, but I don't mind baking! The mixer we had before was a pretty weak one and wasn't powerful enough to make bread or cookie dough so I would have to do all the mixing by hand, which usually meant I wasn't about to make anything! But Costco had this baby on a really good sale that also came along with a free ice-cream attachment so we decided we would pick one up! I love making homemade bread and other sweet treats with this and I love all the attachments! I just wish I had more of them so I could start making my own pasta and such!
I can't take credit for this next thing, but ever since Thad gave it to me for the first Valentines Day that we were married, it has been my most favorite thing we have in our house! It is a little hard to tell from the picture, but it's a mosaic of all of our wedding pictures. Most people that come over think it's a puzzle or something, but once you get up close you can really see each individual picture. I love it!
I'll admit I still really don' know how to use my sewing machine, but I would love to learn! I can hem my pants and sew a straight line, but that's really all I have done with it! If anyone wants to come over and teach me how to sew I'd be forever grateful!
This was also I gift from Thad. I pretty much love all the scents of perfume from Victoria's Secret and Im lucky enough to have a husband that surprises me with some new scents every once in a while when he goes to get his cologne. I particularly love the look of this bottle! From the black lace/pink fabric pump to the lace detail backing I think it's freaking cute!
This game and I have a love/hate relationship! Its super fun to do but I am so uncoordinated that I'm sure I look like a fool when I'm working out. It really doesn't feel like a workout though because im just dancing along to the music! Its also nice to be able to do it in my own home and not have to worry about going anywhere to be able to workout.
This little beauty is probably the best birthday present I've ever gotten (besides when I got Thad on my 18th birthday - that post will be coming up shortly). Its an Amazon Kindle. I love reading so it's perfect! So many free books that are really good! If anyone else has one let me know and we can share books!
I know everyone has seen the infomercials for these next two items, but let me tell you, they will change your life! Every vacuum I've had in the past works great for a month or so, but once it gets clogged with dirt, it never works the same again. We bought this vacuum shortly after we moved in and it still works as well as it did the day we got it. And mind you, we have 2 cats we are constantly having to clean up after because they shed like crazy!
This is our new counterpart to go along with the vacuum above. Since we don't have any carpet downstairs we usually just sweep and mop. However, since the cats shed, cat hair can build up in the back corners where you can't really get a broom. This little beauty gets into those places and cleans it right up! Its also nice when you have a few things on the floor but don't want to pull the broom out to sweep it up.
And, last but not least, our collection of board games! We love to play anything but lately our obsession has been Settlers of Catan. We recently bought the cities and knights expansion pack so it adds a whole new dimension to the game that's a lot of fun! We play with our neighbors all the time and they enjoy it as well.

So, there you have it... things I love! What things around your house do YOU love?

Happy Birthday to Me

Ok, so my birthday isn't for another week and a half but I've already been spoiled!

First, on Saturday I went and got eyelash extensions for the first time! I love how they look! I didn't go too crazy with them (I don't think) and I love waking up in the morning and not having to put mascara on, or even clean it off my eyes from the day before! I don't know that it's something I will actually keep up on - probably more of a special treat for special occasions as it's a little pricey but we'll see.

Then on Sunday I was sitting on the couch watching TV and Thad brought down a wrapped birthday present! He told me he didn't want me to be bored while he was playing on his new computer so he gave this little beauty to me early!

Its a Kindle, from Amazon! I love to read so it was the perfect gift! I'm pretty much obsessed with it at the moment. If anyone else has one let me know so we can swap books :) Its nice because in Saratoga Springs we don't really have an established library yet so books there are sparse and going to the bookstore to buy them gets expensive. Amazon has tons of free books and also books that are only a dollar or two which makes it really affordable! I'll also be able to get the new books I want right when they come out and won't have to wait until I can make it to the store to get them!

I am, however, in search of some good books to read! If anyone has suggestions let me know!

I don't know how I feel about turning 25! I don't know what it is about turning 25, but I feel like it's finally the age where you are expected to be an adult. I mean, technically I have been one for years now, and for the most part lived my life like an adult, but once I turn 25 there won't be an excuse! I'm sure it won't be that bad once it actually comes, but until then, I'll just dwell on it!