Remember

In the last week, I have felt compelled to put a copy of the constitution and declaration on my blog. 

I am not the type of person who is an activist, I avoid controversy at all cost, 

which in some situations would be a fault.

That is why I decided today, when we celebrate the birth of Christ,

In a country where I can choose for myself what I would like to celebrate

I put up 2 paragraphs from the Declaration of Independence that have seemed to be forgotten.

Please take some time to read these paragraphs, 

and remember all those lives that have been given to ensure freedom,

and the laws and documents that forged the path that we are on.

We need to be careful that these rights are not taken away.

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

Cruisin

So, 

on November 19, 

Adam and I told the world 

"peace"

and hopped onto a large boat with our dear

 friends

Erin and Phil.

We went to the Bahamas,

We played like children at the Atlantis Water Park,

and we ate constantly for 4 days.

Here are the pics to prove it!

One of our favorite nightly activities was karaoke. 

Confessions

10. I dip my Oreos in smooth peanut butter. 

Can't eat them any other way.

9. I hit the snooze button at least 3 times every morning.

8. I am legitimately afraid of the dark. 

7. I haven't written in my journal for over a year

6. I am terrible at folding the laundry,

it usually sits in tall piles on the guest room bed.

5. I love Lucky Charms, 

I currently have 3 boxes in the pantry.

4. I thrive on making check lists, and then checking things off the list

3. There are still unpacked boxes sitting in my garage.

2. I play fantasy football every year with my husband.

I came in 4th last year.

1. I love running. 

It's Your Birthday, Shout Hooray!

October 15 was my 24th birthday,

It was a great day, and I feel like I am getting older!

Here is a document of the day, 

with some pictures!!

I started the day with a date to Guru's for a birthday breakfast. 

Then off to work as usual. 

We wrapped up the night with a family celebration.

Adam got me beautiful cupcakes from the delicious

Sweet Tooth Fairy

The birthday guests,

Jeff is behind the camera.

The gifts! 

I got some very cute clothes from the store!

The yellow Hobo wallet that I have been vying for,

+ some very pretty Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow.

Finally, last but not least. . . . . . .

My favorite movie, if you have not seen it yet, come over and we will watch it!

Thank you for all the birthday wishes!!!

It was a wonderful day!

Forever

So, 

we watched The Office wedding last night,

through all our giggles and tears, 

we had to figure out what YouTube video they 

not only talked about, but re-enacted.

So here it is:

Don't worry, Adam and I BOTH got teary eyed as we watched. 

New Beginnings

Well,

It has been quite awhile!

Here is a little update with a few pictures. 

I started new job last week, and it has been fantastic.

The first three weeks of being back were tough,

I was interviewing like crazy, but could not find something that would fit.

And then I interviewed here.

I am currently helping manage this Boutique, but also doing Expos.

I leave on Sunday to New York for a Clothing show.

The store is located in Pleasant Grove, and has FABULOUS clothes!!

At the end of August we moved into this house

We are house sitting for the next 18 months while 

the owners are on a mission.

I am in love with this dreamy new kitchen,

we cook a lot more now!

S0......

We are on to our next adventure..

We are so happy to be back home, and have the blessing to live here.

It has been a tough month as we have both struggled to find jobs,

But feel very blessed that we both have found companies that are a perfect fit. 

TWO YEARS

     Happy Anniversary!

Photo courtesy of Brandi Ginn Photography

Two years and going strong!!!

They have been the best two years of my life!

Announcement. . .

My handsome brother,

who is now all grown up

Is shipping out to

San Bernadino, California in August

where he will serve the Lord in Spanish!

Left my heart in New York

Well,

this is it

I am sitting near Gate 9, at JFK

Getting ready to fly to North Carolina to begin another adventure.

I am excited to be a wife again,

and see Adam daily instead of on the weekends. 

I am also excited to live by friends and family,

and let's be honest: lay by the pool every morning,

but as  I sit here, my heart aches a bit,

this crazy city has become a part of my life and a bit of who I am.

This has been such an incredible experience,

one that I thank my Heavenly Father for daily.

There is something so exciting and thrilling to ride the subway to work every morning,

and then walk along Madison Avenue and pass millions of other people walking to work. 

I loved having our door men greet me by name and with a smile. 

I have learned so much about myself,

not only about who I am, but about what I really want in life.

I also learned that I have been blessed with a lot of good things and that I should never take them for granted, or let them define my life,

because it could all be gone in a moment.

I cherish the friendships I have made here,

Workings along side some of the most talented people in advertising,

and Sunday night games in the "Spooky Room."

When you are bored in the city. . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . .You dye your hair

(Caitlin, don't be mad)

Before:

During:

After:

Nothing too drastic, just a lot darker, the pictures don't do the real color justice.

Story from the Weekend

I went to visit a boy who lives here........

His house has a cute yellow door, and wrap around porch.

Here is the boy who lives in the house

with his cute grin.

This is the pool and pool house

where we took a nap while we soaked up some rays.

Here he is slicing up some fresh watermelon,

and kindly eliminating the black seeds!

Nothing like fresh lime juice on watermelon

Here is the boy getting ready to get beat at Wii tennis.

Here is our picture as we prepared to say our goodbyes.

The End

Dedication to my Mom

Today is a day dedicated to celebrating Mothers.

I have been very blessed and fortunate to have an incredible mom. 

She has done so much for me, and has influenced my life in so many ways.

Today I wanted to share 20 reasons why I love and am grateful to you, Mom:

1. Your decision to join the LDS church while she was in college,

This is such an incredible blessing that not only affected me, but my children.

2. Your testimony

3. Your laugh

4. Your willingness to play

You were always down on your knees playing with us when we were children,

imagining all kinds of stories,

and you still like to play games with us

5. Your smile,

It is very contagious!

6. Your love of reading

We grew up watching you read, and you instilled that love in all of us

7. Our late night talks

8. Your patience

9. Your sewing talent

10. Your desire to help others

11. Your decorating style

12. Watching you at work

You are so great with the kids, so patient, I can wait to see you with our children

13. The support you give each one of us

Sports, school, life, you have always been there cheering

14. Your cooking talent

15. Your ability to make friends

16. Your righteous example

17. Your patience

18. Your drive to always do better

19. Your loving disposition

20. The sacrifices that you have willingly made for me, as your daughter.

Week in Review

My first week in New York has been great!

We have done a lot of walking and discovering.

I have adjusted well to living in the I House, 

and am really enjoying being here.

I am having a hard time adjusting to the humidity, 

I am averaging at least two showers a day, 

and have kissed my straight hair goodbye!!

I am excited to start work tomorrow!

Here are some pics from the week,

(thanks go to Lindsay our group photographer!)

Fuss Ball tournament at the I-House Pub.

Can you feel the intensity

We enjoyed some delicious Arepas with Pat and Lindsay,

my favorite was beef and cheese!

We went to the Sony Wonder museum.

It was amazing, and I even got to try my skills 

as a news anchor.

We rode the Ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Both incredible sights, and take your breath away as you see and learn

about how the immigrants came across the ocean. 

New York, Day One

After a long day of travel,

I have arrived! 

It has been a long day, full of emotions

so my view is a bit skewed. 

Tears fell freely as I kissed Adam goodbye at the airport this morning. 

The first day is over!

We ate delicious pizza tonight at Patsy's Pizzeria, and walked the streets a bit.

This is where I call home:

View from the door:

bed on right,

desk on left,

window behind-only form of air-no air conditioning.

 

View from the bed:

Closet on right

Shelf on left

I am a bit tired, but excited for the adventure that lies ahead!!

I start work on Monday morning and can't wait!

RefLecTion

It feels like these past two weeks

have been a whirlwind,

and I am slowly drowning in my to-do list.

I have not had a moment to sit and think,

and really enjoy the moment.

I am trying to box up our house,

finish school, and spend as much time as possible

with my dear husband.

Today was our presentation 

to Volkswagen,

our final advertising pitch as members of the BYU Ad Lab, 

and as BYU students. 

Living on little sleep,

we were the last group to present to them, 

and it was amazing.

The creatives did an amazing job with the ads, and execution

and our strategy was right on.

It hit me this afternoon,

once the presentation and lunch were over

that this was it.

Another chapter in my life is closing.

All too often it feels like I am counting down to the next mile marker

without actually stopping to enjoy everything in between.

I have always said that I couldn't wait to graduate

and now that the day is approaching,

I feel a bit weird,  a bit lost as I leave the comfort of being a "student"

I feel so blessed that I have my best friend next to me,

that seems to make each new change easier.

I feel less afraid to start a new "adventure

when I know that Adam is right beside me.

New York, New York

Now that is official, 

I thought I would share,

On April 27, at 7:30 am I will board an airplane and fly to 

the JFK airport in New York!!

I got accepted to do an internship at Y&R Advertising Agency, 

and will be there for 6 weeks.

I am excited, nervous, happy, thrilled and very grateful.

It is going to be an incredible 6 weeks and I am going to learn so much

The downside?

I will be missing this guy:

Here's To Life

The Tap Project was started by UNICEF and a big New York agency three years ago.

For one week in March, they collaborated with all major restaurants in the city,

During that week restaurants asked their customers

 to pay $1 for the tap water they usually get for free.

That $1 provides 40 days of clean water 

for children across the world.

This year, Utah was invited to participate in this now global water week. 

The BYU AD Lab was asked to be the state's advertising agency.

This has been a huge opportunity for us to show off our skills,

and use those skills for an amazing cause. 

We have recruited restaurants like crazy,

and created some amazing television and radio spots, and billboards. 

Water Week begins on March 22 and goes till March 28

Please go out to a participating restaurant and donate $1 to help a child. 

Find participating restaurants here

Utah Tap :: Here's to the World from Mike Morris on Vimeo.


Utah Tap :: Here's to Doing from Mike Morris on Vimeo.

Deserve

While I was climbing into bed this evening,

after a long day, 

my ulcers acting up because of stress

I checked in with Seth Godin's blog and I came across a post titled "Deserve,"

and I started to think.

Yeah, life is currently stressful:

Working 35 hours a week, and making enough to cover our bills,

Taking 17 credits at school

Seeing Adam for the first time each day at 11:00 at night

Getting ready to join the job market

The current economy

. . . . . . . . . . . . 

But after reading that article I began to think

Do I deserve to be attending such a great University?

Do I deserve to be married to such an incredible man?

Do I deserve to be part of the BYU AD Lab and have so many incredible experiences?

Do I deserve to have the opportunity to be a part of such a fantastic internship program?

Do I deserve to live in such a nice condo that provides a roof over our heads?

Do I deserve clean water, and a daily meal?

My list could continue. . . . .

Who knows who really deserves what, but like Seth said,

What am I going to do with all that I have been blessed with. 

Things That I Do Care About

In Response to Previous Post:

Things That I Have Passion For:

• Beginning each day on my knees in prayer
• Successfully following through with every commitment I make
• Training hard to beat my previous race time
• My education-doing all that I can to make myself an valuable asset in the Advertising industry
• Keeping my New Year's resolutions (week two and still going strong)
• Trying to do something out of my comfort zone each day.
• Biggest Loser-give it a try, you will get hooked
• Clean Sheets
• Realizing my true potential
• See the positive through the trials-sometimes it is more blurry than other times
• Being grateful
• Seeing others' potential and talents
• Soft Hands
• Being organized-take a look at our closet and you will see how OCD I really am