October 29, 2013

I'm a changed woman.

Tuesday. 
I hate you, but I love you. 
It's like I used to take pride in my ability to live a happy life without knowing how to cook, or be crafty or have a Pinterest account. 
But now, with a solid 3 hours of an afternoon alone on Tuesday before my sexy husband gets home...
I'm finding myself looking up recipes on Pinterest and actually cooking them for dinner. 
And doing gross stuff like grocery shopping, and cleaning, and being like a really good homemaker.
Even worse...I like it. 
I actually look forward to fetching Tuesdays.
So weird. I know. 
But I'm not very confident in my skills. 
I basically think I'm the worst cook alive if B doesn't get 12 servings and compliment dinner 20 times. 
Seriously. 

Anyway. 
Today for my Tuesday "put-Rik-out-of-her-comfort-zone" activity, I crafted. 
Check this out...
My good friend Kali, texted me this a couple of weeks ago...


Yup. 
We saw the exact same pic and had the exact same thought of re-creating it to save ourselves a whopping $780 buck-a-roos!


Luckily, Kali is like the craft master professional DIY-er of the universe. 
I couldn't have done this without her!
I was watching everything she did like a hawk to make sure I didn't botch my project. 
She's truly a saint. 
I need to be more like Kali. 
Maybe after 50,000 more Tuesdays??


Whoa. 
I know, I know what you're thinking. 
I neeeeeed to start a lifestyle blog with a "yummy meals" and "DIY crafts" tab, ASAP. 
It's like I'm a changed woman. 


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October 27, 2013

Welcome to the world, baby Carolyn!


First, let me say that I am NOT a professional photographer. 
Nor do I think I am. At all.
I am sooooo not!!!
But, if people ask me to take some piccys for them...no way am I gonna turn them down!
Who doesn't want to take pics of adorable kiddos?
So enjoy some very non-professional, rookie status pictures of some very cute nuggets whom I'm lucky enough to call my cousins.
And welcome to the world, baby Carolyn!












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October 26, 2013

Romania was a YEAR ago?!

As of late, I am constantly finding myself thinking about Romania. 
I miss it. 
More than I could ever really explain to you, or anyone for that matter. 
It is so special to my heart...
how does one put 3 months of intense emotion into words?!

I know that I keep thinking about it because this time last year, I was there. 
Days consisted of holding babies, forgetting to shower, living in scrubs, and eating weird food. 
I remember time was such a weird thing there!
I was wishing time would slow down so I could take it all in
But at the same time, I was counting down the days until I would see Blake again!!!
I missed him!

Oooohhhh Blake and I. 
That time was good...but hard for us. 
It's extremely difficult being away from someone you love so much, while simutaneously loving where you are. 
But I will tell you this. 
We became masters of all things skype, text, facebook, and email. 
And I could look at the time in Romania, and know exactly what time is was in Provo as well. 
I found these pictures of us on B's computer and it brought back a flood of memories of the countless hours spent on the computer with my babe. 
Wow I miss Romania. 
But I DO NOT miss that. 



What am I even saying here?
Good question. 
I'm not sure. 
I think what I want to say is that I miss Romania so bad. 
And I'm so grateful for the experience I had there.
(If any of you are debating an experience abroad....don't think, just go. 
It's life changing!)
But also, I'm glad to be home. 
And married to my homie, Blake. 
I can't believe a year ago we were thousands of miles away...and now we're all old and married.
Time...you're such a crazy loco. 

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And to all my Romanian babies...I hope you're happy and being taken care of. 
You are so special and I think about you everyday.
I LOVE YOU!!!
Ah man...I'm getting all teary eyed right now. 
I swear, I'm bringing Blake to come meet you one day. 
Even if it's in that big ol' awesome place called heaven, woot woot!
See ya lates, muh babes!

October 23, 2013

Just a few minor obsessions.











 1. I have an obsession with Blake. and taking pictures. and my new camera. 
I can't get enough. 
B's a gem for being my model. 
And KSL classifieds, I love you. You never disappoint. 

2. Blake has an obsession with nature. 
His latest? 
Fishing.
And did you know he looooooves moose?
I mean, I knew they were his favorite animal, 
but I was unware of his obsession until the following instances happened this last week...

#1) Going to Scheels and spending an unhealthy amount of time standing in front of a stuffed moose with him. 
#2) "I'm about to watch the saddest video of my life, Rik"
He presses the play button on YouTube.
Cue the moose hunters. 
BANG. 
Dead moose. 
Angry Blake. 

#3) "Rik...I read an article today about how the population of moose is decreasing."
"Oh really? That's horrible"
"Ya. So I called Yellowstone and the Central Division of Wild Life and the The Salt Lake Division of Wild Life to see why this is happening...I also called The State of Maine, but no one answered. They gave a biologist my number and he's gonna call me and let me know what I can do to help..."

Hahahaha! I died. 
Not because it's a bad thing.  
I just never knew the extend of his love for the moose!
Totally took me by surprise. 
I mean...how did he even know to call those people?!
And why Maine?!

Anyway. 
With my new camera and nature loving husband, 
Provo Canyon seems to be our go-to place for awesome pics and awesome views. 
I mean, seriously. Provo Canyon, could you BE any more beautiful right now?!
You all need get up there. 
ASAP or sooner. 

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October 22, 2013

The R+B Series PART II: The Friendship Days.



So we met at Vans in 2009.
Had some run-ins with each other at random places like Costa Vida and Timpview High School where we'd chat up a storm like we'd been friends for forever. 
I continued to date that other boy until he left on his mission beginning of August 2010. 
and B and I had our first date exactly 2 weeks later. 
I know what you're thinking. 
Whoa Rik...two weeks later?
I know. 
But Lover Boy here was persistent I tell you. 
I remember I kept pushing back our date because I felt guilty for going out so soon after mission boy left! 
So...our first date. 
We went to Inception and Cold Stone.
Can you say, roooomaaaantic?!
haha! It wasn't. 
Just FUN.
And check it. 


Our movie tickets are hanging up in our kitchen right this second!
How we managed to keep these?
It will be the mystery of the universe for forever.
Anyway, we ended up staying at Cold Stone for a few hours just talking.
I still remember some of the stuff he told me, like...
"I can't eat yogurt with a metal spoon...strictly plastic"
and something about short nails being a must. 
And is it super pathetic that I remember exactly what he wore? a white tee, a light grey jacked with sweet wrist cuffs and these jeans that had lime green and orange stitching.
Boy had style, had to give em that. 
And he was hot. 
Wow, so HOT!

Here's a legit journal entry after our first date. 

"For the date, we went to go see Inception. He hadn't seen it yet and I told him how amazing it was, so it seemed like a good idea. Afterwards, we went to cold stone and got some icecream. It was so fun. Seriously he and I could just talk for hours and that's what we did - just talked and talked for the rest of the night. I really like Blake, he makes me laugh. But only as a friend. He's kind of a hooker, plus we're going to different colleges - so we'll see how long this lasts."

As a disclaimer: I called everyone a hooker who had kissed more than 2 people. Okay, exaggeration, but I was a pure, innocent person back then, and Blake was a flirt. Therefore, a hooker. 
Also. "plus we're going to different colleges". 
hahahahaha
What the what, Rik?
That excuse doesn't work when your schools are literally 5 minutes away from each other. 
Oh, what a young rookie I was. 

Now listen up. 
I was 100% positive that I was going to marry mission boy. 
Like SO set on it. 
And I made that super clear to Mr. B-man from the get-go. 
But for some reason, after our first date, he just kept sticking around.





Oohhhhh...here we are. 
Stadium Terrace Apt. #25. 
Both our freshman years in college. 
Me at BYU. 
Him at UVU. 
We hung out all the time. 
Literally just hung out. 
Sometimes we'd go on dates...Oh what up Sundance Moonlift Ride on opposite sides of the lift. 
Sometimes we'd watch movies together with lots of pillows or a roommate between us. 
We'd go get ice cream a lot. 
He'd hang out at Stadium Terrace with me a lot. 
We'd do homework together a lot. 
He'd tell me all about his women prospects a lot. 
We'd flirt a lot. 
But I never ever let anything happen between us. 
Like one night, he hugged me a little bit longer than our usual, "see ya lates!" hug. 
I freaked. 

*Cue Journal Entry*
  
"I think Blake really likes me. Last night he came over and when he left we hugged for a really long time. He rubbed my back and even picked me up! Sounds cute right? But I didn't feel a thing. Nothing."

Now this is important. 
I'm not trying to sound vain. 
Buuuuut B wanted me. 
Bad. 
And I don't even feel bad for being all vain-like. 
You know why?
There comes a part (later on in the story) where I wanted him SOOOO bad and he just wasn't having it. 
Yup, karma's a beezy, kids!
So, just let me bask in this memory where I was 100% in control, okay?!

So back to the story, remember how I had big plans of marrying my missionary boy? 
Well that's basically why our friendship period lasted so dang long. 
And why I freaked out anytime B got remotely romantic and cute-sie. 

But I honestly can't complain.
I think he figured out how "friend-zoned" he was at this time and things just got chill between us.  
We got to know each other so well! 
And we loved being with each other. 
I remember he'd come stop by my house just to say hi before going to do his "date thing" with the other chickies. 
Or I'd call him over so I could complain to him about some stupid guys I went on dates with. 
It's like we were BFFs. 
I'm serious. 
We told each other everything. 
And I loved it. 
But, now that I think about it, there were times where we wouldn't hangout at all. 
It's like we would hang out a lot for a long time, and then not hangout, and then go back to hanging out. 
Sounds a little rollercoaster-ish to me. 
Uh. No. 
Wait till you get Part III: our dating days.
Prepare yourself for the most drama, bi-polar, "dating" story you've ever heard. 
Well, maybe I'll save you from alllllll the details. 
We'll see how I'm feeling. 

Until then, enjoy basking in our friendship days and my lame journal entries as a little 18-year old. 
("...plus, we go to different schools."
Oh gooooosh.)

Oh, and B wants to say something...
Yeah, she can call them "friend days" all she wants but I was just keeping my foot in the door for when she finally got over her missionary that she was "definitely going to marry".  But until that day came I had to play it cool and just be friends with her.  But I do remember pulling up next to her one night while driving with my dad.  She was stopped next to us at the light and I said hey dad, see the girl in that jeep? I'm going to date her one day.  But I had to wait my time.

Have to give it to him...boy played this one very nicely (seeing as we're now married).
What a guy. What a guy.

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October 18, 2013

Month 9.





Part of me is like, where did the time go?
Nine months is speedy quick!
Pregnancy ain't got nothing on me.

And there's this part of me that is like, only nine months?!
I swear we've been sleeping in the same bed for the last 12 years!!!

So that's something. 

But let me tell you this. 
Marriage is hard. 
Oh what?? You've never heard that before?
I know, it's like this blog of mine is so inspiring and eye opening. 
But really...especially those first couple of months. 
It's so flippin' emotional.
It's like, 
I'm excited that I'm married. 
Frustrated because he isn't checking in with me every 5 minutes.
So in love.
Stressed becasue, you know, money money money.
Crying all the time...hello birth control (you little fetcher). 
But just so happy, too!
And don't forget those dang "discussions" that just naturally come with figuring out your new life together. 

Does ANYONE know what I'm talking about?!

Well, if not, what I'm trying to say is this. 
Marriage has been great all 9 months. 
But I'm finding that the more we have been married, the better it is. 
Month 9 has been better than month 1 ever was. 
I think it's cuz we're settling into marriage. 
We know each other. 
And while we don't have the system perfect, 
we're a whole lot more familiar with it than we were 9 months ago.
I feel like we're enjoying life now, instead of trying to figure it out.  
So month 9...I love you so much. 
You literally have been the most fun and the most not emotional. 



^^ and you boy, up there!...I love you so much. 

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October 15, 2013

Oh Today.




Today was a, "do bad on your test even though you studied a lot and slaughter dinner even though you tried really hard" kind of day. 
But a bad test score never killed anyone.
And cereal is better for dinner anyway. 
And really, there's nothing a little hangout/makeout sesh with the boyfriend can't cure.
So ya, you could say my bad day has fully recovered.  
Hope you all had a happy day!

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Making Time.


My new goal is to make more time for this place.
So you all have permission to hold me to it. 
Better yet, come with me?

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October 14, 2013

Kali + Travis






This past weekend, one of my dearest friends, Kali, got married. 
First, it was the most beauiful wedding I have ever been to. 
The decorations were insane. 
Second, the whole thing was just freaking awesome. 
Can you say fireworks (yes fireworks) during their sendoff?
Lastly, I have never been so happy at a wedding. 
You guys, I could NOT stop smiling!
Especially during the temple stuff...my heart was just so full and happy for them!!!
So Kal and Trav...your wedding was seriously unforgettable and I could not have been happier to be a part of it!!
Love you guys so much!
You are literally perfect for each other. 

 ^^okay, stud.













 ^^killer dress.



I know, I know...I should have taken more pictures of the wedding decor. 
I'm literally killing myself right now because I didn't. 
Don't ever hire me to be your wedding photographer, kids. 

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