Announcement . . . . . . . . . .

We are moving to here:

www.underagrayslateroof.com

We are closing on a house this week. A house that needs some love, so we are moving blog locations to share our journey!

We are excited about you joining us!

Blog Hiatus

Clearly blogging hasn't been my thing for the last few months.

Here is a quick update:

1. We rang in the New Year with the best Christmas gift EVER........


2. My handsome husband celebrated his 29th year of birth

3. I survived Accutane and am now waiting for that lovely drug to leave my body

4. We (yep both of us) spend Monday nights glued to the tube as Mr. Womack finds his true love on The Bachelor

5. One of my resolutions for the year is to sharpen my sewing skills - will keep you posted

6. Adam has become best friends with this gem in the mornings:

(Sidenote: I decided to do the Plyometrics DVD one morning - couldn't walk for three days)

7. We love the Avenues and are in the midst of making it our permanent residence - we love our ward and have made such wonderful friends here.

Grat-i-tude

I have been terrible at blogging because I have been in a slump.

I have had a rough month and have been struggling.
Yesterday I came across my friend Caitlyn's blog.
For the month of November, each day she is writing something she is grateful for.
This really touched me, because although I am going through some difficult times, I have so many wonderful blessings.

President J. Rueben Clark said:
"Hold fast to the blessings which God has provided for you. Yours is not the task to gain them, they are here; yours is the part of cherishing them.”

So I thought I would join the band wagon, and catch up.

1. This Guy


2. This Book

3. Friends (We missed you Paige)


4. Freedom


5. My Family


5. A body that allows me to run


6. A place to live

7. Eternal Marriage

Update with thoughts

1. My favorite season is starting, I cant wait to wear jackets and sweaters again

2. I have currently fallen off the running wagon, and it is bad

3. We just passed the year mark of Downing's mission, and the countdown begins to the day when I get to see my handsome brother

4. I am currently on Accutane and spend what little spare time I have sleeping, this medicine is kicking my trash.

5. I am extremely baby hungry, but cannot have one yet because of the the reason above - anyone need a baby sitter?

6. I just purchased a sewing machine and am starting a life long dream of sewing - will keep you updated.

7. Adam just got a new job that he loves and which is a lot closer to our home so he does not have to drive to Provo at 6 am every day.

8. I am obsessed with garden vegetables-especially Zucchini sauteed with olive oil and onions. My parents send me up a bag each week and that is all I eat for days.

9. I have started a little side venture - www.closetonlimestreet.com, received new clients that I have helped style, this is where my spare time goes, which leaves this place a bit neglected.

10. My youngest brother Jeffrey is starting Varsity for the Provo High football team as a sophomore so we spend our Friday nights reliving high school memories, and I must admit, I miss football season

Hero

I have an Aunt, who is my hero.
When I was a little girl I would dream about
one being a grown up who was as fashionable and fabulous
as her.

She would take me to the best shops every time we visited,
She played "Harriet the Spy" with me writing letters in our
secret code and using her spy name "Ursula."

As a teenager I looked forward to visiting her in the summer
where we would shop, lay by the pool and cook delicious food.
It was like having an older sister.

In 2003, my aunt and dear friend was diagnosed with LuGehrig's Disease or ALS.
It started in her hands and would cause her to drop things,
And slowly attacked the rest of the nerves in her body,
Causing her to lose the ability to walk, cook, shop, hug, and dance.

7 years later she is still bravely fighting this awful disease.
And as she watches all her mobility disappear while her mind remains unaffected,
She continues to smile, laugh, and even thank God for the blessings that she has.

She truly is my hero, and on Saturday my siblings and I will all be honoring her
by pushing ourselves and challenging our abilities by running.
We are running different races but will be wearing matching shirts
And pushing ourselves for our aunt who can no longer run.

Inspiring

I have now watched this at least a dozen times over the last week, and it still brings tears to my eyes.

This is my inspiration for the week

Welcome

I know this is a lot later than I originally said,

but after much ado

here are some pictures of our new residence

in Salt Lake City.

It is still a work in progress, but here is a peek.

P.S. There are a lot of pictures

Part of our bedroom

Coffee table I found on KSL and refinished

Our beautiful wardrobe my dad made

Another angle of our living room

Our Lovesac couch

My first sewing project: I sewed all the pillows!

I got this beautiful clock yesterday with my two 

sister in laws!

The Paris picture is from my Study Abroad

Our Kitchen

The kitchen island Adam assembled

Our antique cabinets,

not a lot of space but love the charm!

Our Master Bathroom

Large tile shower and pedastool sink

My favorite feature:

The exposed brick wall in the master bathroom

The entrance to my closet

A little peek into the walk in closet

We have an additional bedroom, but that is a "work in progress"

which is code for a storage room for all of our things that don't have a home yet!

I am hoping to get it organized in the next two weeks.

I am also embarking on making a bed skirt, so I will keep you posted!

We love our new little home and the beautiful location!

Haitus

We moved,

to SLC on D street in the avenues.

For the next two weeks I will be unpacking,

sewing, painting, and organizing, 

and then........

I will post pictures and give you a tour. 

See you in two weeks. 

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.