New blog....

Okay, the address for the new blog is:

www.gorgeousborgesfamily.blogspot.com


There will be honeymoon pictures and stories soon posted on that blog so stay tuned!

Pictures

Alright, I'm only going to do the double-post thing for awhile... everyone remember to switch to the new blog!

Alright, there are about a million pictures from the wedding to post, so I'm just going to give y'all the link...
www.visualimprint.com/annieandsteve

Thank you to everyone who shared in our special day!

Executive Decision

Alright friendly neighborhood readers... the countdown is on, not only for the wedding but for (drum roll please) a new blog! Starting now I'm going to be working on a new blog for both Steve and I, not that he'll ever update, but just so we can fit in with the "family bloggers". I'm going to start posting a few things now, but mostly it'll be after the wedding. I'll let you know for sure when I'm going to stop this blog.

Time goes by...

Then and Now

20 years ago...
I was 3. I was having fun being a big sister, going to preschool, and hanging out with my buddies at Delcie's house. I was a big fan of Sesame Street as well.

10 years ago...
I was 13. Most of the time I was hanging out with Steph and Shauntel. I was getting ready to start 8th grade, and was enjoying helping my mom get her first classroom at Meadowmoor Elementary put together.

5 years ago...
I was 18 and just getting ready to start my first semester of college. I'd just started going to the student ward and was making lots of new friends. I was working at Bed Bath and Beyond and loving it.

3 years ago...
I was 20. I'd just moved into my first apartment with roommates and was sharing a bedroom the size of a shoebox with Lizzy. I was working as a CNA on the rehab unit at Dixie Regional and getting ready to start nursing school.

1 year ago...
I was 22. I had just moved home from St. George and was looking for places to buy with my cousin Greg. I was working as an RN at the Rehab Unit at LDS hospital doing night shifts. I was settling back into life in Salt Lake quite nicely.

Yesterday...
I was attempting to sleep through the parking lot construction so I could come to work tonight.

Quick Update

Well, I have a few minutes at work, so I thought I'd update everyone since I probably won't have much time in the weeks to come.

The wedding is now about 10 days away. I can hardly believe that. When we first got engaged we thought 4 months was going to take forever, and now we can't believe it's here. We've been wrapping up loose ends to finally be ready. My mom will be out of town all next week, so we wanted to have pretty much everything done before she left. At this point if we make it throught the day, everyone looks relatively good, and no one ends up hurt or dead I'll be happy. We might even come in under-budget to, which is pretty much the biggest miracle of all.

Last week my bridesmaids made an executive decision and changed the bridesmaid skirts. I told them as long as they matched I didn't care what they ended up wearing. The skirts are a good change, though, exactly what I was looking for 3 months ago and couldn't find. Now we've hit the wall of trying to find a cute cream-colored top to go with them. Too bad white looks funny, cause we had some cute shirts before. Anyway, I know every bride says this, but I really did want to give them something they could wear again, not just another bridesmaid dress. I think with these skirts they'll be able to do that. Really, who doesn't love polka dots?

I've finally settled into the apartment for the most part, now I'm just waiting for Steve to start bringing his stuff over so we can get him settled in as well. He needs to be out of his place by the end of the month, so he'd better get a move on! I know he'll get it done, I just hate to see him stress out about it at the last minute.

Also, I'm thinking that after the wedding I may pull a blog-swap and make us a family blog instead of just me. I'll keep you posted on whether that's actually going to happen or not.

And now, pictures of a few things I love this week:

One is the loneliest number!

You only get one word per answer... no explanations, either. Enjoy!
1. Where is your cell phone? .................... pocket
2. Your significant other?....................... sleeping
3. Your hair?.................................... dirty
4. Your mother? ................................. amazing
5. Your father?.................................. best
6. Your favorite thing?.......................... Steve
7. Your dream last night?........................ work
8. Your favorite drink........................... water
9. Your dream/goal?.............................. motherhood
10. The room you're in?.......................... work
11. Your ex?..................................... Dad
12. Your fear?................................... alone
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years........... mom
14. Where were you last night?................... home
15. What you're not?............................. ready
16. Muffins...................................... tasty
17. One of your wish list items?................. pots
18. Where you grew up?........................... Utah
20. What are you wearing?........................ scrubs
21. Your TV?..................................... cheap
22. Your pets?................................... dead
23. Your computer? .............................. internet
24. Your life?................................... crazy
25. Your mood?................................... meh
26. Missing someone?............................. always
27. Your car?.................................... mess
28. Something you're not wearing?................ earrings
29. Favorite Store?.............................. torrid
30. Your summer?................................. busy
31. Your favorite color?......................... pink
32. Last time you laughed........................ tonight
33. Last time you cried?.........................sunday

In less than a month...

Well, we are officially 20 days from The Big One. 20 days... that's less than three weeks. Holy canolli!

I moved into our new place yesterday. I spent most of today (well, Tuesday, it's still today to me) decorating and making our house a home. We still don't have cupboard doors, they come in a week, but I've got some decorations up, things put in cabinets, etc. I haven't hung any pictures yet, but I'll probably do that this weekend. My neighbors will LOVE that. I love, Love, LOVE our kitchen. It's big enough for both of us to be in there doing things at the same time. There is probably triple the counter space from my last place. The kitchen was really the deciding factor for me in getting this place.

The saga of today is that for some reason Questar turned our gas off instead of turning it on. This means no pilot light in the water heater, which means no hot water. Without hot water I can't do dishes, I can't do laundry, and I can't shower. No bueno. I'm going to call them in the morning and hopefully get it straightened out.

We have a lovely spare bedroom that will (hopefully soon) have a futon of some sort in it, so we can have people come stay with us. We're pretty excited about that. For now it's got the computer desk (which will most likely become craft central since we both use laptops), my keyboard, my primping station (our bathroom is tiny, I had to put it somewhere!), and lots of empty boxes. Mostly we're just grateful to have lots of storage space.

And, miracle of miracles, we get tv in this house! Hooray! In my last place we were supposed to get cable but my tv would never pick it up. In the new place I had no problem getting channels galore. It's a lovely thing to know I won't have to watch back episodes of my favorites (Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, Psych, and Chuck) online anymore... if I'm not working I can watch it from the comfort of my own couch. I'm also pretty excited about the papa-san chair we're getting from Nik and Lena. We've actually got the space for it!

So, that is the apartment-to-home transformation update. I can't believe that in less than a month I won't be living there alone anymore. I'll be a Mrs., have a husband, and be sharing my bed, my life, and so much more.

Hope everyone else is doing well!

Memory

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Pedigree - Draw family tree

My Mosaic

So, this is a fun little project I found on a friends blog. You can check it out here: http://www.naturallymeg.blogspot.com/. I like it, thought the mosaic I made described me, and wanted to share.

I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts...

Well, my summer is quickly cranking along. Steve and I have been doing more house shopping. We made an offer on a place last week, but it went under contract the day before we could get to it. I looked at several more today and we've found a few that we're going to try for. Definitely exciting times.

We were also able to spend the weekend at one of my favorite places in the whole world, Panguitch Lake. I've been going to the lake every summer for about 15 years now, so it was really special to be able to take Steve this year. He got to meet my whole crazy family, experience playing with the kids (he was awesome, and my little cousins LOVED him!), and experience some of the best fishing ever. We were only able to fish Monday morning cause we didn't arrive til late Saturday night, but we had some good times on the boat with my brother Zach and his best friend Kellen. We sang some songs for the fish (I swear they like it and we catch more), gave tributes to Bill and Shirley (the God of Panguitch lake and Poseiden's brother, and the fickle Goddess of the Panguitch winds), and lost some pop-gear. All in all a good morning's fishin'. Also, on Sunday my awesome little brother was ordained as an Elder at the Panguitch Lake Branch. It was a great experience for all involved, and we were drafted by the branch president to, as a family, give the whole Father's Day sacrament meeting next year. I guess it's a good thing we've got some talent.

We also got our engagment pictures done last weekend. I recieved the proofs today and they look pretty good. Some are better than others, but there's definitely some useable ones. Steve, of course, hates them and says he looks forced. I think he looks as handsome as ever. If you're interested you can check them out here: http://www.visualimprint.com/annicka. Please, let me know which ones you like best. I won't be able to decide on my own. Also, we're quickly getting close to the time where I'll send out announcements, so if you would like one and you haven't yet sent me your address, please do so.

Oh, and I decided to go without a veil. I found a really beautiful (okay, 4 really beautiful) brooches on ebay that will be easy to convert to hair clips. I happened to win all of my auctions, so I may use the extra brooches to make some hair clips for my awesome bridesmaids. Other than that nothing new is going on. Just trekking through one day at a time. Hope everyone else is doing well and having a fantastically rainy June.

To Veil or Not to Veil...

Alright, fair readers, the time has come for your input on my wedding (via my blog). I've been having a bit of stress lately deciding on what to do with my hair. Part of me wants to be a bit more traditional and do the classic updo with a veil. And then there's a part of me that wants to nix the veil and put a cute accessory in my hair.

Now, for the veiled side of the argument:

I have great hair for an updo... longish, dark, and naturally curly. My grandma would be making my veil for me, which would be a nice thing to pass on as a family heirloom someday. If I choose a veil I'd like for it to look something like this:

Medium length, two layers, pearl studded, and on a comb. I'd do my hair up in a higher style and attach the veil underneath. Very simple.

And for the naked side of things:

If I decide to go sans veil things will be quite a bit different, I realize that this style is much more contemporary, casual, and less traditional. I'd do my hair in a simpler style, it'd still be up, but it'd be more on the nape of my neck and less elaborate. I'd also accessorize with some sort of flower, comb, or combination of the two like these:

So, please, give me your input, ideas, suggestions, or just plain commentary. I look forward to hearing from you!

Where do liars go?

I'm too A.D.D. for long car rides. I need tos tart packing myself an activities bag anytime I take one and I'm not driving. (Note to self: buy some coloring books, crayons, books on cd, etc)

Steve and I took our first real "road trip" together this past weekend. A friend of his got married in Idaho Falls on Saturday, so we hopped in the car and drove the 3.5 hours to get there. He drove, I controlled the iPod and talked his ear off about stupid stuff. We got to the wedding, jumped out of the car, and promptly realized that we didn't have jackets... and it was cold. So, we ate some meat off the pig they'd roasted, hugged the bride, shook hands with the groom, shivered our way through the wedding video, and turned around and got back in the car.

A few points of interest about Idaho: We waved to the families of Toffer and Cy as we drove through Pocatello. We decided never to live in Idaho, but we will someday return to explore the wonders that are to behold at the Blackfoot Potato Museum. A whole museum dedicated to my favorite food, what could be better?!

Anyway, we decided to stay the night in Smithfield with Steve's best friend Jared, and his wife Brittany. We made the trek back by way of Preston (quite the detour, let me tell you), but got to see Jared's new store there. It's very cool and I recommend checking it out if you're ever in Preston. It's a new/used/scratch & dent store right next to the DI. I was gifted with the best dish scrubbers EVER, we checked out Jared's piles of junk still needing to be sorted, and then we jumped back in the car for more driving fun. We arrived safely at the lovely Jorgensen trailer-home, and got comfy for the night. After kicking everyone's trash at Skip-bo I decided I was ready to crash. So, we turned in for the night with high hopes for small town church the next day.

Sunday dawned a lovely morning... except for the fact that the air mattress I was asleep on had deflated in the night and I was now lying on the hard cold floor with achey hips. Not to worry, however, because my lovely fiance soon came in to wake me up because it was time for breakfast. Since Brittany is pregnant she can't fast and was kind enough to make breakfast for the whole clan of us. There's always next Sunday to fast, right?

A short while later we attended the Smithfield first ward and I got to go to Primary with Brittany. It was a joyous experience all around. I love small town church! We heard some random testimonies in sacrament meeting, and then returned to the lovely Jorgie abode for some dinner.

All in all it was a lovely weekend and great to spend so much time with Steve. We're headed on many more adventures in the next few weeks, so I'm sure I'll have more stories to follow!

It's a good thing I don't own a gun...

Well, it's been awhile since I've updated anything blog-wise, so I figure I'll throw one down with the highlights of the past few weeks...

Wedding stuff: Nothing new here, really. I'm still trying to decide what to do for cake and invitations. One of the few requests Steve had for the wedding was that we have chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, if possible. Since my colors are coral and brown this shouldn't be a problem. As for invitations, my sister has graciously put together a few prototypes for me and I think we're going to make them (in all of our spare time). We changed the fabric for the bridesmaid skirts... again. We finally settled on a semi-satin-y fabric. It's kind of creamy khaki colored with white bullseye style polka dots. It sounds goofy, I know, but it's really cute and will allow my bridesmaids to choose their shirts in a whole range of options.

Work stuff: Work is good, we're dropping patients again which means I've floated to other floors lately. Everyone else has had bad experiences with a certain floor, but they treated me really well. I would float there again.

Other stuff: About a month ago a bird took up residence in my wall. Without my knowledge (it wasn't like I could ask, after all) it built a nest and laid some eggs. So, what started out as one bird in my wall, annoying but I could live with it, has turned into a family of them. Let's just say it's a good thing I don't own a gun or we'd have a whole bunch of dead birds on our hands. It took me three weeks to get in touch with anyone from the HOA, and when I finally did the dude told me he'd put me on a list of things that needed to be taken care of. Now, if I were any other person, the birds wouldn't be a problem because they sleep at night and are awake during the day. Unfortunately, I work night shifts, which means opposite schedules for me and the family of winged creatures in my wall. I hate being kicked out of my own bed by unwelcome and unwanted guests.

In other news, Steve and I bought bicycles this week. We went for a ride the other night, and even though I hadn't ridden one in probably a decade I jumped on and started pedaling away. I guess when they say "it's just like riding a bike" they aren't kidding... My plan is to eventually be in good enough shape to ride to and from work. The way gas prices are looking I think it'll save me some money... plus I could use the exercise. Speaking of exercise... some coworkers and I are doing weight watchers together. I'm pretty excited, it's time to get rid of the pounds I put on during nursing school. We've also started a team here called Naughty Night Nurses. If anyone else would like to join please feel free, even if you're not a naughty night nurse.

I've got a few bridal showers planned in the near future in various places throughout the state, so if you'd like an invite to one please let me know. St. George on June 28th, one in my parents neighborhood July 9th, and possibly a few others.

Steve and I have been house shopping and we've come across a few that we're interested in. Once our loan application is completed and approved we're going to make some offers. I hope we get a cute little place to start our lives together.

I can't think of any other updates for now, so I'll leave you all in peace (wait, you came here to read this...)

Bridezilla

I'm really, really trying not to be a bridezilla... and I think I'm doing a pretty good job of it. With a wedding 4 months and 2 days away I have almost everything planned already. A big sealing room at the temple is reserved, the reception center is booked, menu is decided upon, dress bought, photographer chosen and booked, flowers arranged, fabric chosen for bridesmaid skirts, etc. About the only things I have left to do are: order the cake, help find ties for the men involved, okay the mom dresses, make and send out invites, make a music mix for my iPod, and wait until August 5th. All in all, not too shabby.

I just want to give a special thanks to my mom and my sister, Maddie, for being so patient with me through these last few weeks and for helping with all the plans. You guys have been awesome and your support has made all the difference in the world.

And now, a few links for those interested:

The dress (obviously, mine is white)
The reception center
The bridesmaid skirt fabric
The bridesmaid skirt pattern (It's the middle one)
The photographer
The shoes

Hooray for weddings!

VIP

I saw this on another blog and thought it would be fun to do one for myself. This is an all-about-me in the format of an elementary school VIP poster- including pictures where the students would put them. Oh, and it might be because I've been up all night, but the thought of being the VIP made me think of a song my mom used to sing. Weird. Anyway:

All About Me

I am 23 years old.

My favorite color is pink.

My favorite animal is the giraffe.

My favorite food is potatoes.

This is what I look like:

My Family...:
Home is my favorite place.

When I grow up I want to be a mom:

My favorite thing to do is be with Steve:

If I had one wish I would wish for everyone I know to be happy:

Five

I stole this from Lena... thought it would be appropriate to fill out at 5 in the morning. :)

5 years ago I was ... getting ready to graduate high school, still trying to decide where to do my first semester of college, singing with the a'cappella choir, finishing up my cna license, and working 3 jobs.

5 months ago I was ... still waiting for Steve to figure out how amazing I am, working on decorating a house, settling in at the new hospital post-move, reading tons of books, and making my Christmas list

5 hours ago I was ... turning patients, checking a blood sugar, settling someone into bed, taking vitals, and deciding what to eat for dinner

5 minutes ago I was ... listening to someone talk about how he eloped, getting a warm blanket, eating chex mix, copying this survey, and trying to stay awake

5 things on my 'to do' list today: pick up Mac, library, grocery store, call the seamstress, and cook dinner

5 recent pieces of mail I've received: wedding announcement, gas bill, zoo party invite, t-ville news, victoria's secret catalog

5 of my bad habits: nail biting, swearing, gum popping, cracking my knuckles, and sarcasm

5 good memories: slurpees with Ally, the night Steve proposed, receiving my endowment, anything with my sister, long talks with my mom

5 films I watch over and over again: Princess Bride, Grease, 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, Transporter, Transformers

5 places I've lived: Creek Road, Sandy, Saint George, Taylorsville, and Murray

5 songs I love: Question (Old 97's), Habanera (Kate Nash), Hotel Song (Regina Spekter), Don't Move (Butch Walker), Cigarette Lighter Love Song (Butch Walker)

5 jobs I've had: Janitor, Piano Teacher, Wedding Server, CNA, RN

5 things most people don't know about me: I can't whistle, I can say the alphabet backward, I make a really good monkey face, I once had my belly button pierced, I am now the proud owner of a wedding dress

5 things in my virtual shopping bags: Tungsten wedding band for Steve, Hot shoes for the wedding, some digital prints I just sent to walgreens, a super cute dress, some new make up

5 books I love to death: The twilight series, Agnes and the Hitman, The Book of Mormon (I'm counting the series as the three books it actually is)

5 things that are out of place around my house: Some dishes in the sink, some shoes on my floor, a cup on the coffee table, a blanket on the living room floor, and my second set of sheets (they're in the dryer)

5 films I want to see: Definitely, maybe; Kung Fu Panda; the original Italian Job; Indiana Jones; Wall E

5 things I love to eat: Ice cream, steak, baked potatoes, homemade stuffing, brocolli

5 destinations I'm dying to see: New York City, D.C., Portugal, Africa, South America

5 scents I love: Steve, my laundry detergent, fresh cut grass, rain, pot roast

5 people (who are not blood relations or in-laws) who have had a positive impact on my life: Ally, Steve, Bishop Decker, The Brighton Babes (I'm counting you all as 1 person), Lauren

Developments

Well, I have a lot to say and not sure how to say it. I could play a mean joke and tell you all that we broke up, but I won't do that cause I'm just so happy. :)

Steve was acting a little weird yesterday about making plans for last night. He went to priesthood with my dad and brother and then went out to dinner with them. He wanted to take me to dinner but my mom talked him into going with the boys so he could be part of the family tradition. After he got back he told me that he wanted to go take a walk on temple square or at a park somewhere, so despite it being freaking cold we trekked it up to temple square.

We were walking around and he told me that he wanted to show me his favorite spot on temple square. So, we walked over and sat on a bench. I, of course, had to ruin the moment by complaining that my bum was frozen cause the bench was cold. Before I could get up and walk away, though, he dropped down to one knee and pulled out the ring box. He opened it up and before he could even get any words out I burst into tears. I think he got a little emotional too, but I was so mesmerized by the sparkle that I'm not sure. He looked me in the eyes and said, "Annicka, I love you. I want to spend eternity with you. Will you be my wife?"

I, of course, said yes.

And now, my lovely readers, some pictures...

A few more pictures...

Steve is very against having pictures taken of him, so I'm slowly gathering them over time. Here are a few more taken at the last Sweater Friends concert.


Hopefully more to follow soon!

Extra, extra, read all about it!

Alright, so it's been a little while since I've done a real update, I hope you all haven't been bored in my absence. ;)

Things are going exceptionally well here. Work is good, my family is good, and I'm still looking at going back to school this fall. I do, however, have some news. Prepare yourself, friends, this is pretty big...

Steve and I have been ring shopping. I think we've got it narrowed down to a few that we both love, and from here the choice is all his. Yeah, we're moving fast, but when it's this right you don't waste time. (Plus he's not getting any younger, he'll be 29 in August). We've discussed it and we both feel very strongly about tying the knot before my brother leaves on his mission, which will be sometime this fall, so look for a real engagment announcement sometime soon.

Hope everyone is doing well! Love you all!

The Big 50

Well, I've seen this done on a few other blogs and I'm going to attempt it here. This is my 50th blog post (my, how time flies when you're having fun) and I'm going to tell you all 50 things about me. You may know them already, you may not, you might not care at all. But, for your reading pleasure, here they are:

1. I have the greatest job ever. Seriously, I meet some great people and I love watching them heal and go home.

2. Peppermint tea makes me happy. Really happy.

3. My new favorite online cartoon is www.ponandzi.com. Seriously, those little emo dudes are so cute.

4. I love being in love.

5. I want to travel. I have a goal to visit as many countries in the world as possible.

6. I am SO excited to be a mom. I see cute babies and little kids at the store and other places and they always make me smile.

7. Music makes the world go 'round. I truly believe this with all my heart.

8. I am completely addicted to shoes. I love them. "Clothes never look any good... food just makes me fatter... shoes always fit."

9. I am trying to quit drinking soda. So far, so good.

10. I have a think for polka dots. I think they are so flippin' cute.

11. I haven't seen my natural hair color since high school.

12. I think that every girl should get a bikini wax at least once in her life.

13. I believe in monthly pedicures. When my feet look and feel good, so do I.

14. Victoria's Secret makes the best bras ever. I won't wear anything else.

15. My favorite color is pink.

16. I think crocs are the most comfortable shoes ever... Ugly as sin, but so comfy.

17. I love to read. A lot.

18. I once had my belly button pierced. It was uncomfortable to wear denim.

19. I have a strange affinity for station wagons. I love 'em.

20. I think it's time for dinner.

21. I did some intense shopping today. It freaked me out a little.

22. Ikea is amazing. If you haven't been you need to go.

23. I've lost 30 pounds in the last 6 months. I've got about 30 more to go.

24. I check out peoples' veins in the grocery store. It's a nurse thing.

25. I have the greatest family every. Seriously. They're the best.

26. I don't like real diamonds. I think it's ridiculous to pay that amount of money for a rock.

27. Doctors annoy me.

28. I would really like to be asleep right now.

29. I think spooning is fantastic. Everyone should experience it regularly.

30. My favorite food is potatoes. I love those little buggers.

31. I've only ever had one patient die on me. It was a very spiritual experience.

32. I like treasure hunting at the D.I.

33. I have a weird thing about people touching my neck. It makes me all shivery.

34. I believe that holding hands is one of the fastest ways to feel connected to someone.

35. If I had a super power I'd want to be able to fly. Think of the money you'd save!

36. I'm a jean snob. I'll only wear Gap.

37. I'm a list-maker. I have all kinds of lists.

38. Most of my lists live in a Jessica Rabbit journal.

39. I think animal prints are hot.

40. Tomatoes make me gag. It's a texture thing.

41. I love it when my boyfriend calls me Babe.

42. I have expensive taste but bargain shopping has been bred into me. I love finding a good deal.

43. The next car I buy will probably be a Subaru.

44. I bruise easily.

45. I love candid photography. People make the best faces when they think no one's looking.

46. I won't take any drug stronger than ibuprofen. I hate feeling out of control, even just a little bit.

47. I text Google on a regular basis.

48. I can't go a whole day without talking to Steve.

49. My legally blind coworker is sitting next to me and has no idea I'm writing about him. He also rides a motorcycle which scares the hell out of me. Blind people should not ride motorcycles.

50. I need a haircut.


Phew, I did it. It only took me 3 hours and many, many breaks in the middle, but I listed 50 useless things about myself. Hooray!

Hope all is well with everyone. Life is good here.

Experimental Poetry

Sitting together,

Talking about everything, and nothing all at once.

Equal in our opinions of the world.

Perhaps this is our future.

Here with you, I've found my home,

Even though we must say goodbye when

Night falls.

Remember, I will

Always love

You.

Before I knew you there were

Others, but none that

Really caught my eye.

Give me your hand,

Everything is perfect,

Simply wonderful.

This is a style of poetry I've tried before and thought I'd revisit. Mostly I just felt the need to post something. I guess that's what comes of being up all night...

Photographic Evidence

It's sideways cause we were laying in the lovesac
Awww... kisses are the best!
Steve looking seductive and me looking goofy



I just wanted to take a moment and share a few pictures... you know, as photographic evidence.

The "L" Word

"This is true love, you think this happens everyday?" ~Wesley in The Princess Bride

Well, my ever so devoted readers, I really don't have much to update you on, but I figured I'd give it a shot anyway.

On Sunday night he told me, for the first time, that he loves me. I haven't been able to stop smiling all week. Every time he tells me my heart does a little flip and I start smiling all over again. It's been a long time since I've been in love and I'd forgotten how good it feels. He finds little ways to tell me all the time, too. One of my favorite things is waking up to a text message that simply says, "Have a great day, I love you!"

My roommate is out of town this week and I was a little anxious about being home alone (I don't like staying in an empty house, it freaks me out a little). When I was talking to him about my anxieties he looked me in the eyes and said, "Babe, you really think I'd just let you stay here and worry? I'll be here with you on all your nights off until I have to go home and go to bed. Don't worry about anything." It made me feel safer just knowing that he wants to take care of me.

About a week ago we had a weird day. For some reason we both just felt weird about things and we weren't sure what was going on. He went to the temple and then we talked about things. We decided that everything happens for a reason and there's a reason we're together and we wanted to just take things one day at a time and see what happened. In the words of the movie Because I Said So, "We're just having an off day, and if we stay together I'm sure we'll have a few hundred more." Things are better now, don't worry. :)

He finds little ways to surprise me and make me smile. I love that.

So, that's about all the updating I can think of. I'll keep you all posted of things to come.

You asked, I'll tell...

Well, I guess after my last somewhat cryptic blog an update is in order.

Greasemonkey and I went out on a date Friday night and, in case you didn't get it, he kissed me. It was incredible. He's easily the best kisser I've ever come across. When we were "just friends" he always told me that he wasn't interested in me because he didn't feel that "spark". I think he got more spark than he expected.

Saturday he had to go to a funeral in Newton (near Logan) and asked if I would go with him. He said he really felt like he needed me there with him. So, bright and early Saturday morning we left for Newton. We spent the day with his good friends Jared and Brittany (a married couple). The day went really well, and in the car on the way home we discussed our status, future, everything. We came to the conclusion that we're now officially together. So, my friends, for the first time in over 2 years I've got someone to call me Baby, someone to open car doors for me (he gets mad if I do it myself, even getting out of the car), someone to snuggle up with and watch Fiddler on the Roof (we have a thing for musicals, ok?), and someone who's not afraid to kiss me in public.



We spent a few hours together this morning before he went to work. We didn't even do anything exciting, just a little car shopping (for him, I'm happy with mine), and a few other errands. I was happy, though, because I was with him. He knows how I feel about the new 2008 Subaru Outback wagons, so he made it a point to take me to the Subaru dealership to "window shop". When we pulled into the dealership I asked him why we were there, he can't afford a new Subaru, and I'm happy with what I've got, and he said, "Sure, but we can look and dream, Babe." I melted a little. Then about 10 minutes after he dropped me off back at home I got a text from him telling me that he felt a little silly, but he missed me already. I teased him a little until he said, "I'm falling for you more everyday." I melted again.



I realize that we're still in the "honeymoon phase" of our relationship, and that things won't always stay like this. I hope, though, that my knees will always go a little weak when he kisses me, and that he'll continue to do little things that make me melt a little.

A Friday Night Story

You'd better believe that sparks flew tonight...

Things are good.

Things are going well... really well.

Maybe this week he'll finally kiss me.

Poetry in motion

A poem I am stealing from the blog of Mr. B. (If you want to steal the format you can find it on his blog):


I am tall and amazing.
I wonder what the future holds.
I hear music when I walk.
I see stars in lovers' eyes.
I want utter and complete joy.
I am tall and amazing.


I pretend that I am confident.
I feel love for those around me.
I touch the hearts of patients.
I worry about being alone.
I cry daily.
I am tall and amazing.

I understand who I am inside.
I say what I feel.
I dream about the future.
I try to have hope.
I hope for love.
I am tall and amazing.

A girl can dream...

So, I've had the future on my mind a lot lately (go figure on that one, eh?) and I've found a few of my "dreams" for the future. I'd like to share some of them with you.

My Dream House:

I've always wanted an old victorian and this one is perfect. I love the size, the angles, and the fact that it has 5 bedrooms. All in all, fantastic.

My dream cars (practical and impractical):

The Porsche is obviously my impractical dream car, the Subaru is actually attainable...

My dream ring:

The best part is: over 2 carats worth of stones and only $700. Man, I love fake diamonds!

My dream kitchen:

Simple, sunny, and gorgeous. I love it.

My dream jobs:

And until I can have that particular job, I'll take this one:

So, my friends, just a few of my hopes and dreams for the future. I guess I'll just wait and see which of them come to pass...

Wait and see

This week I was inspired by an episode of Scrubs. Silly? Yes. But let me share what I learned...

I am not a "wait and see" person. Pretty much the moment I feel like I know what I need to do I jump right in and get 'er done. I don't beat around the bush over-thinking things, I don't sit around waiting for life to happen to me.

Well, when it comes to recent events in my life it has been incredibly hard for me to not just jump right in and act on what I feel like I need to do. I feel like I know what Heavenly Father has in store for me, I feel like I know what path I need to take, and I feel like I know what steps I need to take to get there. So, for the boy, we'll call him Greasemonkey, to be so unsure of what to do is frustrating to me. I realize I can't force him to see things the way I do, I know that I have to wait for him to draw his own conclusions from the incredible experience we had.

My issue with the whole experience is that I am a firm believer in everything happening for a reason, especially in the temple. There is no such thing as chance or coincidence. We pray, we receive answers, we act, and we are blessed. I feel like I know why this particular experience happened, but he's still not sure. He's so busy analyzing it looking for a deeper meaning that he's missing what's right there on the surface: we both went in praying about what to do with our respective love interests, we were asked to do sealings, kneeling across the altar from each other felt right, and we both got the feeling that the Lord was trying to tell us something. Granted, I was already several steps ahead of him by being interested in him.

He says he just doesn't feel that "spark" with me. Now, I have a theory on this matter... we're both very physically-oriented people. When it comes to the 5 love languages we are both very much "physical touch" people. We have yet to explore that aspect of our "relationship". We've never held hands, we've hugged maybe twice in the 4 months we've known each other, and we've definitely never kissed. We cuddle occasionally, but it's just not the same. My theory is that the "spark" is going to continue to be missing until we finally venture into the great unknown of kissing, etc. (And believe me, I want to!). I think Greasemonkey is always going to view me as just a friend until he makes an attempt to make me more than that.

So, herein lies the problem: he's a "wait and see" person. He feels like we should just continue on the way we've been going and see what develops. I want to act. And here, we've arrived at an impasse.

So I guess for the time being I'll wait and see, and maybe someday (hopefully sooner rather than later) he'll decide to cross over to my side of things and take some action. (And in the process give me some action ;) ).

Like Sands Through the Hourglass

Wow, what an interesting few weeks it has been. So much has happened, and I have so much I feel the need to write about. The question is: Where do I start?

I guess I'll start with the biggest event of recent days... I went through the Salt Lake temple on Saturday and recieved my endowment. It was a very special day that I've been preparing for for a long time. It also just so happened to fall on the day of President Hinckley's funeral. I figure what better way is there to honor the "temple prophet" than to go to the temple on that day. It was a wonderful afternoon spent with family and friends, and I know that I will be blessed for keeping the covenants I made that day. I feel so blessed to be a member of a church that utilizes temples. It is so comforting for me to know that I have a place where I can go to be surrounded by the spirit, converse with my Heavenly Father, and recieve answers to prayers. On that note, I'll move on to the second big event of recent days...

I wanted to do another temple session soon after receiving my endowment, just so I could better focus on the whole process. Well, I decided that on Tuesday I would go do another session. A close male friend of mine offered to come with me since he had the day off work. Well, I happen to have a bit (okay a lot) of a thing for this particular friend, but he hasn't been reciprocating the feelings. Well, I went to the temple on Tuesday in fasting and prayer, specifically looking for an answer to whether I should continue to pursue something with him or not. Let me tell you, I got my answer loud and clear. I'm a firm believer in everything happening for a reason, especially in the temple. There is no such thing as coincidence. Well, as soon as we walked in the door, the sweet little man scanning recommends asked us if we'd be willing to help out with sealings. We said we'd be glad to help, and went to get dressed. Obviously, the little wheels inside my head were turning at this point. I knew Heavenly Father was trying to tell me something, and I was going to do my best to pick up what he was throwing down. My friend and I went up to the sealing room and patiently waited our turn. The moment we knelt across the altar from each other it all fell together for me. I knew I had my answer.

Later, as we were walking back to his car to go run some errands he looked at me and said, "Well, that was about the strangest day at the temple I've ever had." Not having much to compare it to I asked him to elaborate. He smiled at me and said, "Do you think the Lord is trying to tell us something?" I laughed, and told him that I'd received the same message. We talked about it a little further, ran our errands, and moved on with our day. Well, last night we went out to dinner and spent some time together and we talked about it again. He's still not sure about what the Lord was trying to tell him... I'll wait patiently til he figures it out. :) If nothing else the whole experience strengthened my testimony that the Lord hears our prayers and answers them, not always in the way we expect.

Well, my friends, that's about all I can think of for now. Just know that life is good. I'm happier than I've been in a long time, and I can definitely see the Lord's hand in my life everyday. I will for sure keep you all posted on things to come. Know that I think of each of you daily and pray for you.

Much love, my friends!

Pushing through the dry spell...

So, for the last little while my life has had a complete lack of any sort of physical relationship. Not gonna lie, kind of dying right now. So, instead of forgetting about it, here are a few quotes on the subject of kissing:

"If you are ever in doubt as to whether to kiss a pretty girl, always give her the benefit of the doubt." ~ Thomas Carlyle

"A kiss without a hug is like a flower without the fragrance."

'"May I print a kiss on your lips?" I said,
And she nodded her full permission:
So we went to press and I rather guess
We printed a full edition.' ~John Lilientha

"Kissing is like drinking salted water. You drink, and your thirst increases." ~Chinese Proverb

"It takes a lot of experience for a girl to kiss like a beginner." ~Ladies Home Journal 1948

"A man's kiss is his signature." ~Mae West

"A kiss can be a comma, a question mark, or an exclamation point. That's basic spelling that every woman ought to know." ~Mistinquette

"Kisses are like tears, the only real ones are the ones you can't hold back."

" Women still remember the first kiss after men have forgotten the last." ~Remy De Gourmont

So, my friends... if you have someone to kiss, please do it.

Much love!

Secrets, secrets are no fun...

I swear, if I didn't know better, I'd think I was living in a Nickelodeon teenage soap opera. My life has secret crushes, disease, disaster, friendship problems, make-outs that screw things up, and so much more... about the only thing I'm missing is a pregnant 16 year old named Jamie Lynne. Okay, so that might be taking it a little far.

There is a theory I've heard that bad things happen in threes: Natural disasters, death, personal issues, etc. This week will be the test on whether this particular theory holds true in my own life.

Bad Thing #1: The Dreaded Phone Call... I won't go into anymore detail than that, except that my life hasn't been the same since. I'll let you know if and when this particular issue resolves.

Bad Thing #2: The Ultimate Back-Burner Girl... Yes, this is my lot in life. Not only did I waste my entire vacation, but I came back home more stressed than when I left. A vacation shouldn't do that to you. Of course, someone you consider your best friend shouldn't do what he did, either. Sorry, I realize I'm being totally cryptic, but this all makes sense in my head. If you want more information let me know and I'll fill you in.

Bad Thing #3: The Suicide... I recieved word last night that a friend of mine in St. George killed herself this week after learning about her much younger husband's affair with a teenager. It just made me realize that life is short. She left behind three already somewhat screwed up kids, a family and friends that care about her, and what could've been the remainder of a great life. Maybe it's just me, and I realize this is going to sound harsh, but I have a hard time mustering up sympathy for someone who doesn't have better problem solving skills. My first reaction would've been to leave the lying, cheating, low-down bastard... not drive my car off a cliff. Maybe it's just me. Anyway, I know she can't read this where she is now, but Kolette, this is for you: I'm sorry you felt like you had nowhere else to turn. I hope you've found the peace you were so desperately seeking.

In other news, despite the recent piling up of stressful events, I'm surprisingly calm and at ease with my world. I'm happier than I've been in a long time, and I think it's because I've finally let go. I'm giving myself the opportunity to grow, change, and be happy by myself. Life is good, I really don't have much to complain about, and I feel a change in the winds.

Please, keep me in your prayers as I face the continuous mounting of challenges while Satan tests what I'm really made of.

Much love!

Growing pains

He brings out the best in me.

He makes me laugh when I am down.
He gives me a shoulder to cry on when I can't hold back the tears.
He gives me "that look" out of the blue.
He always knows just what I need to hear, even when I don't want to hear it.
He treats me like a queen, even when I don't deserve it.
He always knows how to make me smile.
Even his bad habits don't annoy me.
He is a fantastic kisser.
Our hands just fit together.
He can take it as well as dish it out.
He'll rescue me when I'm in a bind.
He knows how to push my buttons to get what he wants.
He gives me a place to stay when I have nowhere to go.
He is my refuge from the storm.
He brings out my temper.
He has no idea how amazing I am.
He'll buy me dinner.
We make a great team.

He brings out the best in me, unfortunately he also brings out the worst in me. Maybe he'll realize what he had once it's gone.

Then again, maybe not.

Fear Not...

Have you ever experienced that gut-clenching, heart-wrenching, complete, and total feeling of fear?

There are certain times in my life that I experience such terror. It takes a lot to ruffle my feathers, really it does, but there are certain things that scare me beyond all reason. A few of these things have been introduced into my life this past week and consequently I've been living in a state of constant fear for the last 7 days.

There are parts of me that think fear is a very selfish emotion, and yet it is one I can't help feeling. They say faith is the opposite of fear, and maybe I don't have enough faith, but I do not like being scared. Honestly, these are issues that I feel I need to deal with on my own, anyhow. They are very much of the physical world, and I feel would be trifling to anyone else. Don't get me wrong, I pray about them regularly, seek answers in the scriptures and other places, but at the same time feel as though these are things I need to just wait out.

There is something of a worrier in me by nature, and maybe this is my problem. I have quite the talent for turning molehills into mountains. Unfortunately, pessimism is a large part of my personality and I automatically have a tendency to think the worst. I've found that sometimes the only way to overcome this particular problem is to surround myself with those I love, pray for the best, and enjoy the parts of life that don't terrify me.

So, here I sit, in one of my favorite places in the whole world, my home away from home, surrounded by friends that I love and who love me, and I hope and pray for the best.

And yet again, I wait for the fear to subside.