THE progress report.

I don't know why people take 3+ months to plan a wedding.

B and I are over here chill. as. a. pill. while we plan a wedding in 6 weeks.

Chill as a pill?! My butt!

Things are insane over here!

We eat, drink, and breathe wedding plans.

For instance.

In the last 24 hours we have...

------>> Gathered addresses for wedding invites (when people say it's the worst part, they ain't kiddin!)                              

------>> Found and purchased accessories for my wedding hair.

------>> Had my last dress fitting for the wedding dress (I think I'm in love)

------>> Registered @ Bed, Bath & Beyond.

------>> 700 stamps? Purchased.

------>> Had our final interview for the temple (psst...I'm going through TOMORROW!!!)

------>> Finished designing our wedding invitations.

Getting stuff done kids. Getting it done. 

Loved how our engagements turned out. This chick is the shiz.

and HEY! Married in 3 weeks from today. 

Seriously can't wait to be a wifey to my handsome man.

THE bridesmaid gifts.

 I wanted to do something a little cute to ask my best friendy friends to accompany me on my entire wedding day...

This is a big deal peeps.

So what did I do?

Stuffed mason jars with my favorite candy. 

Crafty Rik. 

Best part is, I didn't even need pinterest for the idea.

It's hard being purely original in this pinteresty world of ours.

So yes, I'll take a nice pat on the back for this one.

>>>>>>>

I know, I know...I should have said something more creative,

like...."you'd be a peach if you were my bridesmaid"

Or something like that.

But for some reason I thought it was too tacky at the time of making the tags. 

Oh well. 

So far they've all said yes.

So I'll consider my Peachie-O stuffed Jars a total success. 

THE good, bad, & ugly

Let me tell you...being engaged is super cool. Like so cool! It's basically the same as dating except we spend our time planning things for our wedding and using fancy words like fiance.

Super cool. 

But hey...not all blissful... 

(like spending thousands of dollars on wedding food kind of non-blissfulness).

What the crizapp?!

So far, wedding planning has been good...bad....and ugly.

So without further ado...

<<THE GOOD>>

We went to register and scanned the crap out of all the stuff at Target.

But B wouldn't let me scan food.

I dunno why...having food to eat is just as important as owning a spatula in my humble opinion.

So if you're at a loss as to what to get us for our wedding...

peachie-O's are my favorite candy and I can live off Kraft Mac & Cheese for a solid month. 

We also went to a little food tasting for reception stuff. 

If free Magleby's isn't good...I dunno what is. 

<<THE BAD>>

This is me at the Doctors for my pre-marital exam.

Nuff said.

<<THE UGLY>>

You should have seen us on Friday.

7 hours of solid wedding planning did. us. in.

'Ugly' pretty much sums it up.

Don't get me wrong, all this wedding stuff is bomb! I'm loving it.

But 7 hours of anything isn't healthy.

Not healthy at all.

But hey, great news!
B and I have been trying to go see the lights up in Salt Lake for 3 years now.
Seriously, it never worked out.
But this year we finally made it.
Can I get a who-rah?!

THE ring.

I'm obsessed with my ring...I'm serious, I absolutely LOVE everything about it. 

Ever since I can remember, I have always wanted a solitaire, princess cut diamond. 

So when B and I were talking rings, I would occasionally see a ring that I liked that wasn't a princess cut, but found myself continually going back to what I have always wanted. 

Since B proposed the day after I got back from Romania, he had to get the ring all on his own. 

I gave him ideas about what I wanted, but left all the little details up to him.

Like always...the boy didn't disappoint. 

A solitaire, princess cut diamond is pretty common. 

Yes it's timeless and classy (which is what I love), but definitely not unique. 

So... I paired it with two other rings to add a little bit of personality into it. 

(B knew that I have wanted to do this for awhile and got a ring that is perfect for stacking...seriously, he nailed this you guys).

One ring is from a place near and dear to me...you guessed it. ROMANIA!

And the other is my great grandmother's wedding band. 

Add these three rings together and you have some bling bling that I die over on a daily basis. 

It's seriously weird to see a diamond on my ring finger, but I'm loving every second of it. 

I love showing it off to peeps. 

I love that both B and I love it. 

And I love the boy who gave it to me.

So much love kids. 

It's outta this woooorld. 

THE story.

Hey kids!

Riki and Blake here.

Great news...

We're engaged!

Aaaaand we're here to tell you the story.

HER side and HIS side. 

So hey....here we go!

The whole week before I came home from Romania...B was being so sketchy! Whenever I asked what he was doing it was always "stuff." or "nothin." or something like that. Supes sketchy.

K yeah sketchy. Whatever. I would say more like, like.. Well I don't know, but not sketchy. I just had a sweet proposal plan and I didn't want her to know about it. My plan was to deck out this old rustic barn and just make it look super cute. You know, gotta create a nice environment for her. So like the hardest part was finding a dang barn. I would drive around for days looking for the right place. Finally I found out about the place. It was perfect. So I measured out how many lights I would need to light up the place and off I was to Lowes.

You see....just busy doin' "nothin".

Anyway.

I got home from Romania on Sunday night (best night of me and B's dating life, FYI) and Blake told me we were going on a date the next day. He said he had a study group from 3:30 to 5:30 and would be at my house to pick me up afterwards.

Yeah definitely wasn't at a study group. After three days of setting up the barn I still had a few last minute things to do.  So my brother and I went straight to the barn to finish setting up. I was getting super antsy and nervous. 

I got a text from B at 5:45 telling me he was running late.

Setting up took longer than we thought. 

And then a call from him around 6:00 telling me that he was outside my house.

Look at my man...being all gentleman like and calling me to tell me he was here for our hot date. What the heck?!

I wasn't really outside.

But his friend Eric was.

We got in his car and started driving away. We talked and laughed as if nothing was out of the ordinary...clearly avoiding the MAJOR elephant in the room. 

AKA: Why the heck was he driving me around and where the freak was B-dawg?!

Def. knew something was up. 

Meanwhile I'm back at the barn freak-a-leakin! It was all set up and ready to go, but I was pacing like a fool waiting for her to arrive. I was checking and checking and re-checking and re-checking everything to make sure it was perfect. Holy freak I was nervous. I don't know why, I mean, I knew she was going to say yes but I was going crazy. I told Eric to text me when they were 1 minute away and after what seemed like an eternity I finally got the "almost there" text. AH! Got in position and waited...

After driving way in the heck out to Mapleton, Eric finally pulls into this empty, black field. I was supes confused at what was going on. But as soon as he put the car into park, I see all these lights go on. When I looked over at them, I see a huge barn all lit up. There are white Christmas lights all over, wrapped around poles, and draped across the ceiling. There are tons of pictures of me and Blake hanging from the ceiling, rose petals in a pathway leading to a big haystack with a huge "R + B" sign hanging down, and the most handsome boy dressed in a suit standing in front of the sign...holding flowers and smiling at me. My heart seriously started racing. I basically ran out of the car, walked up to him as fast as I could, and gave him the biggest hug. 

Finally I had her in my arms and was able to calm down. I was so happy! And she looked so good too. I had a song playing and we danced. She had been back from Romania for less than 24 hours and it felt so good to be with her. I love her so much. So we danced, but I don't know for how long. We were just so stoked to be together.  

Ya...who knows how long we danced for, or what the heck we even talked about. But I just remember being so happy and so smiley and thinking how insane it was that this was actually happening.

I told her how much I missed her and that I didn't want to have to miss her anymore.

His eyes got all watery :)

They didn't get watery. Maybe I was cold or something. Actually I think I got hay in my eye. Or now that I think about it, the lights were super bright and my eyes were sensitive.

He cried. 

K, this is lame because all of you that read this are friends with Rik and you're going to believe her over me.. But I didn't cry. Eyes may or may not have been watery though. But can you blame me??  Asking the most beautiful girl in the world to be your wife??? Intense stuff.

Anyway, the boy got on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of forever with him. I basically shouted "yes" and went to pull the ring out of box to put it on my finger.

I'm like dude let me put the ring on your finger, I bought it.  But pharell she was so excited and I was the happiest boy on earth.  

To be honest, the rest of the night is kind of a blur. It all seemed surreal! But B and I were on such a high. We couldn't stop touching, and kissing, and hugging, and talking about being married to each other. He's going to be my HUSBAND! That idea still gives me the butterflies, how in the world did I score Blake Sanford? I have no idea...but I seriously can't wait to be his wifey. 

All I have to say is that I'm glad I got her while she is young and doesn't know any better because I for sure don't know how I got her to say yes.  

Man, I LOVE RIK.

And I LOVE B!

So we're getting married!!! 

And here's some pics...what's a blog post without pics?!

 It wasn't much to begin with, but I had a pretty good vision of what I wanted it to look like.

 Stringing all of the lights was the longest part...

 I got so stoked when it started coming together.

 Just after she said yes, happiest moment ever!

Once you're engaged...PDA is totally acceptable. 

High fives for lovers. Holla!

B did amazing, right?!

 This was me just a few minutes before she got there making sure everything was ready.  I was so nervous!

He looks freaking gooooood huh? That jaw line...I die.

January 17, 2013

Save the date!

                          --and her lover boy!

" What ever you 

decide to do, 

make sure it 

makes you happy " 

I've never been more happy in my entire life.

[Story and ring pic coming soon...I can't wait to tell you everything. You guys are going to die.]

Don't Mind Me... Just hacking your Blog.

Surprise! It's your boyfriend.  Most of the letters I write to you I like to keep secret.  Ya know, just between you and me.  But I think this little post will speak for everybody when I say how excited we are to FINALLY have you back! Lots of peeps say to me, "B can you believe how fast it has gone?!" And I always think to myself.. FAST? Are you crazy?? These have been the longest 3 months of my life! But you know what? It's probably felt like an eternity to me because I am crazy, madly, head over heels in love with you.  Thats why.  I've absolutely missed your guts Rik.  It's been hard not having my best friend with me everywhere I go. But hey, I'm ok with that because you have been doing amazing things in Romania.  I couldn't be more proud.  Romania is a better place because of you.  The stories you tell me about the kids say everything about how much you love them.  Gosh I can't wait to kiss your face and tell you how amazing you are! Thanks for being an example to all of us Rik. I can't say enough about how much I've missed having you around, but I'm equally happy because I know you have been giving your heart to young ones that totally need it.  I guess what I'm saying is thanks.  Thanks for going.  You're the best.  But lets be honest, I'm so stoked to have you back! You're my everyting and I miss you so much.  I love you Rik.  Have a good day, I can't wait to see you!

love b.

Happy Birthday lover boy!!

I guess it's no surprise when I say that I'm in love with Blake Edward Sanford!

And guess what?! 

Today is his 24th birthday! 

And guess where I am? 

In Romania! 

Sucky. 

Not the fact that I'm in Romania...of course. 

Just the fact that I'm in Romania on his birthday...obviously.

So in honor of his birthday, I'll tell you a bunch of pointless things about me and him. Mostly him. 

What kind of girlyfriend would I be if I didn't do that?!

A bad one. 

The answer is, a bad one.

Some Randoms------>>

There is NEVER enough ketchup on B's burgers. I swear the thing could be jam packed in ketchup and he'd still dip it in more. Ketchup lover? Or just a habit? I have yet to decide.

He keeps all of his shoes in the shoe box they came in. He has STACKS of shoe boxes.

I can't sing in Sacrament with him or pray out loud at family dinners if he is there. I always get a bad case of the giggles. I don't know what it is, but it's no bueno. 

He loves to write letters. I have an entire binder full of surprise love letters from him. 

His closet is super organized.

English accent? Terrible.

He always finishes his food last. Kills me! But we can't decide if I'm just super fast at eating, or if he's just super slow.

Once we bought a fish together and named him Wiz. We decided to alternate weeks taking care of him starting with B. After Blake's week, I decided to make it HIS fish, instead of OUR fish. Sorry Wiz...it's not that I hate you, it's just that I hate fish. BUT I really want a dog. Unfortunately, B said I have to prove to him that I can take care of an animal by taking of Wiz for 3 WHOLE WEEKS! So either Wiz will once again become OUR fish. Or, we'll never get a dog. Or, Wiz might "accidentally" die in the first week under my care... making it possible for me to not take care of that dumb fish and still get a dog.

Some Funnies--->>

Once I was in my bathroom and he hid in my closet. When I walked into my room, he jumped out of the closet and it scared me so bad! I screamed so loud, stumbled backward and sat down on my bed. Except for, my bed wasn't behind me like I thought it was. So then I was completely off balance and continued to stumble backward until my back slammed into my window sill, I sprained my thumb trying to catch myself, scraped up my arm on the side of my bed, and then finally landed in a ball on the ground where I started to cry. Yes cry. I was so scared, I was in some serious pain, and I was supes embarrassed!  I just remember looking at B standing still with wide eyes. All he said was, "I'm so sorry. That was just supposed to be a 'haha. I scared you!'..type of moment".

 Once B and I were making out (sometimes I hesitate to say making out...so I'll delete it and put "kissing" but we all know that "kissing" basically means "making out" so I decide to use "making out" anyway. Plus, I'm 20...20 year-olds make out all the time). As I was saying...we were kissing making out and he got a bloody nose! GROSS!!! After cleaning up [both] our faces, (like I said...gross), we decided to give making out a break. But then somehow we ended up kissing again. Figures. All of the sudden I feel something wet on my face... "freaking B! You have another bloody nose!", (double bloody nose? DOUBLE GROSS!). But he pulls back his face and realizes he doesn't have a bloody nose. Which only leaves one person. Me. I ran to the bathroom and low, and behold...I had a bloody nose. Freaking gross. What are the odds that we both would get bloody noses on the same night? We both died from embarrassment that night. But also died of laughter. So I'll call it a win.

Some Lovey Stuff---------->>

I'm so in love with this boy of mine. Somehow through our crazy lives, we became the best of friends. He really is the best person. His infectious personality is something that I have always craved being around. He makes me laugh every single day of my life! Not to mention the fairy tale type of love he gives. He makes me feel like the most beautiful and loved person in this world. I'm obsessed with every single thing about him.

So B,
Happy Birthday!
I wish I could be there with you today.
But thanks for supporting me while I'm here.
And thanks for loving me.
Even though I sometimes get makeup on your squeaky clean white shirts.
And fall asleep 5 minutes into every movie we watch.
And make you drive everywhere we go.
And beat you in chess all the time.
And eat all your food when I order something gross.
You're the coolest, and bestest, and funniest, and hottest, and most romantic person I know. 

I LOVE YOU LIKE WHOA!!!

xoxoxoxo, Riksie

No shame.

So....I got to see Breaking Dawn part 2 in Romania. I'm not sure why it came out so early here, but hey, not mad about that. 

I'm not going to lie...I loved it. 

Saw it two nights in a row. 

Whaaat?!

I know. 

I know. 

No shame. 

I think it was the fight scene.

Bella about to rip off Jacob's head.

The end meadow scene.

ALICE.

And the fact that both Bella and Edward looked like TOTAL babes (this movie did them wonders, admit it) that made me over look the cheesy lines, horribly fake baby, and Jasper's awkwardness (I wonder how much he gets paid for his one-liners and ability to stand there and do nothing in every scene...sign me up for that job ASAP or sooner!)

Go see it. 

You'll love it. 

Either because you're laughing at all the cheese...or thoroughly enjoying every second of it.

But either way...it's love.

Also...why do people still say Team Jacob and Team Edward?

I'm like...dudes, she married Edward.

And she's a vampire. 

And vampires don't like werewolves.

And Jacob is a werewolf.

And Team Jacob ain't ever gonna win.

But if you enjoy being a loser...go Team Jacob!

At least you're going down with a sexy sexy Indian/werewolf boy. 

So I guess I can't blame you.

Rambles from Romania.

I'm sitting here in my little apartment in Romania.

Writing papers and catching up on school work is supposed to be getting done. 

Lo and behold, here I am.

 Blogging. 

Figures. 

If you haven't been reading my Romania blog...you probably have no idea what's even going on in my life.

So as a gift from me to you, imma catch you up in one long run on sentence. 

You can thank me lates. 

I love my life here and I never want to leave because I get to work with the most precious angels in the entire world and most days they make me really happy but other days they make me want to cuddle up in my crappy bunk bed and cry my eyes out because I love them so much and they are experiencing the most sad and heartbreaking lives that make me look like the most disgustingly blessed person to ever live yet they are so happy and are so loving and give me big hugs and smiles all day and I've never been more happy/sad but my eyes have been opened to life and how important all of God's children are and I want to have 20 babies of my own and adopt 20 more so I can give them happy and blessed lives.

I leave here in 3 weeks. 

Can you believe that?

I remember having 3 weeks until I was leaving for Romania. 

Now I'm coming home and it's so bittersweet for me.

A part of me, a big part, never wants to come home. 

I literally have spent the last 2 months forgetting the busyness and stress of my life and devoting my time to serving those in need.

I have been so happy and I have been so blessed. 

Sometimes I get stressed just thinking about all the stuff that is waiting for me back in America. 

And not to mention my babies.

The thought of leaving them makes me cry.

I don't ever want that day to come.

I know I'm going to come home with a huge hole in my heart and I'm dreading that in every sense of the word. 

But there's also a big part of me that misses home. 

I miss my family. 

My friends. 

Dance.

Playing the piano.

BYU (I knooooow! What the crizapp? No shame).

And especially that lover boy of mine. 

To avoid sugar coating, I'll be brutally honest.

Being away from B has been hard. 

Super hard. 

Emailing, texting, and Skyping is never enough.

I'm craving that kid in the flesh. 

And not just in the, "I can't wait to make out with him" kind of way (although I SERIOUSLY can't wait to make out with him :))

It's just been hard to hear about everything he's doing instead of experiencing everything with him. 

But bless the heavens for technology.

It's been enough to keep this little love of ours alive. 

Who ever said "distance makes the heart grow fonder" sure must have been a fan of understatements. 

I've never missed or loved someone so much in my entire life!

//Sneakily snapped this screen shot while we were skyping. Creepy I know...but since we're so in love I feel like I have FULL stalker rights. But that face! And those glasses! I die. //

Anyway.

You get it. 

Bittersweet.Bittersweet.Bittersweet.

fjpwoiwejfawoiej

Back to writing papers and wishing 3 weeks will never end and go by faster all at the same time. 

I never know what I want. 

I know. I know!

B informed me of that when I couldn't decide what colors I want for our wedding. 

Wait whaaaa?

;)

Jokes?

Who knows.

BYE!

Oh Lachelly.

This beaut turned 21 today. 21! Can you believe that??

In honor of Lush, I'll tell you some cool things about her. 
Also included, for your enjoyment, are the ugliest pics of us....

Once, Lachelly asked me what the stuff is called that you floss your teeth with. 

Once, Lachelly didn't know if New Mexico was in the United States. 

Once, Lachelly lost a bet to me about what city she was born in. 

Once, Lachelly washed her car at a gas station with the gas pump thinking it was water. 

Once, Lachelly had to talk to our health teacher after class because she put "examine your testes monthy" on the question "What are 3 ways to take care of the female body". 

Once, Lachelly "double-spaced" a paper by putting two spaces in between each word instead of between each line. 

Once, Lachelly thought frozen dinners were all dinners that you ate while they were still frozen. 

Once, Lachelly signed her name on her drivers license and completely spelled her last name wrong. 

Once, Lachelly was scared to marry a black person because the right side of their baby would be all white, and the other half would be all black. 

Once, Lachelly asked how water bottles get cold in the fridge if they have their lids on.

Once, Lachelly asked what the time difference from St. George to Provo was.

And guess what else?

Once, Lachelly cleaned my whole room as a surprise because I was stressed with finals.

Once, Lachelly bought me tickets to a New York Giants game.

Once, Lachelly came home from New York for a vacation and COMPLETELY surprised me.

Once, Lachelly dyed my hair for me.

Once, Lachelly shared a bed with me for a whole summer.

And lastly...

 Lachelly lets me wear and borrow her clothes.

Lachelly tells me how cool I am, or how stupid I'm being.

Lachelly is the best cleaner.

Lachelly is the best with kids.

 Lachelly is the most thoughtful person.

 Lachelly makes me laugh.

and Lachelly is my BEST FRIEND!!!!

I'm seriously you guys.

I love her so much.

Wish her a Happy Birthday, won't ya?

I miss this kid.

 Just came across all these pics on my computer.

They made me smile.

Can you say struggle city???

Don't get me wrong. 

I love Romania...like loooooove it. 

But.

Maybe some quality snuggle time

and a few maybe a lot  of kisses every night from this boy would make Romania 

that. much. better.

Sure do miss my B-man.