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

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!

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!

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.

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.

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

Fall Resolutions

I am an official blog slacker!!

Today at work I finally got the blog bug again, something that I have not had for a long time.

I apologize for the LONG absence,
(emphasize when reading the word long)

It is my favorite season!

I love fall........


The bright colors


the stormy weather


Carving pumpkins


This lovely drink


and.......


the fall fashion


In honor of my favorite season,
this weekend I have made a few new "fall resolutions"

1-Training begins: I have taken a month and a half off. I went from running 23-26 miles a week to 10-15 a week (if I am lucky). The new running season is around the corner, and the lotteries for races are about to begin. So I made myself a new schedule and it starts on Monday.

2-Long hair: I have made a commitment to grow my hair out again. Sorry not a very flattering picture, I am at work so my picture selection is limited. I have also made a resolution that when my hair is long, I will do it more often, rather than rely on the oh-so-convenient ponytail.



3.Catch up on all my reading: This is a tough one, but something that must be done. Midterms were last week, and although I passed all of them, none of the scores will be bragged about. So to get the grades that I am hoping, I must re-commit myself to school this semester.

4.Spend more time on the important things: Why is it that the most important things fall so easily to the bottom of the list? I am reorganizing myself to spend time each day reading my scriptures, or anything spiritual. I hate how easily I tend to let these things slide.

I love how each week feels like a new beginning.

I hope everyone is enjoying fall!

Half Marathon

On Saturday August 30,

I woke up at 5:30,

Strapped on my new running shoes,

and headed to Emigration Canyon.

The sun was slowly rising over the mountains,

There was a strong chill in the air

My stomach was filled with butterflies as I approached the 

Starting Line at the bottom of the Canyon.

Thirteen miles, 

I stretched out my chilled legs and patiently waited for the

 race to start.

Here are some pictures of the days event.

We started at the bottom of the canyon,  

the first two miles were all up hill.

The race was incredible, and the view was breathtaking!

I finished third in my age group 

and my overall time was 1 hour 51 min.

I was very proud of my accomplishment

Next race: Marathon

Over The Rainbow

I am currently sitting on a round lunch table,

a table that has spots filled with crumbs,

lap top open,

papers spread out everywhere.

School started a week ago, and I feel like I haven't been able to catch my breath,

trying to balance 17 credits and 35 hour work weeks.

Those last few moments at night between climbing into bed

and falling into an exhausting sleep,

is the time Adam and I spend together.

Catching up with each other, right before our talking becomes incoherent mumbling.

Being busy is when I function best.

Having a plan or task for every hour of the day keeps me organized.

I manage my time better and get more accomplished.

I have cooked more in this last week, than I have in a long time.

I live by my planer and check list.

The days begin to blur into each other, but hey, I am getting things done.

I feel productive because I am busy, always going somewhere

or studying something.

It is only now, in this moment,

in a room filled with hundreds of people,

where there is a constant buzz of noise due to talking and laughing,

have I felt more, than I have in two weeks.

There is a piano 10 feet away from where I am sitting.

A guy just sat down and began playing,

and suddenly everything seemed to disappear.

The song "Over the Rainbow" began to echo through the walls,

and I was overcome.

Overcome with gratefulness

grateful for his musical talent, for this building,

for music, for the opportunity to go to school,

grateful for family, for a body that functions well, for people,

the list continues.

He has been playing for ten minutes now,

one beautiful song after another,

I have put all my school work aside and just sat for a moment,

doing nothing.

In one of his talks Elder Ballard talked about

"enjoying the fleeting moments, the quiet moments,"

and although he was talking about motherhood,

his words resonated with me today.

Only in those quiet moments, where we pause

can we see and feel the tender mercies of the Lord.

Sorry for the long absence, I am back now, and will be more consistent.

At least that is the goal!

A long post coming this weekend with pictures of a race I ran in two weeks ago.