21 is fun

Well. In the midst of planning this wedding - BAM - it's my birthday.

A more than happy day at work,

the Himalayan Kitchen for lunch (which all enjoyed!),

evening with Chance,

El Salvador Restaurant for dinner, where I literally felt like I was out of the country,

and Divergent at the theater.

So yeah. 21 is fun!

it's gonna be "may"

Classic JT title here. May 1. Do you know what May means?

+It means it's Austin's birthday today. The oldest bro. Our conversations goes as follows:
aub: HB
aust: TY
aub: YW... BTW C FB
aust: I D TY
aub: O YW

Hahahahaha. Do you get it?

+It means Mckay's Birthday is tomorrow. Which mean's Mac has been out on his mission for 8 months! WHAT. I miss him.

+It means I'm shooting (photographing) a wedding in a week. A WEEK. A full wedding. Hip hip!

+It means Dad's birthday is in 2 weeks. Which also means my dance concert is in 2 weeks.

+It means MY birthday is in a little over 2 weeks. Wait what? 21? Is there a theme song out there for turning 21 yet??? Get on that T swift...

+It means I'm shooting ANOTHER wedding! Woohoo!

+It means Memorial day weekend is near. Hopefully we can get away...

+It means it's starting to warm up! For real. I mean, there are still some fakeouts... but warm days are more prevalent.

+It means I'M WAY GETTING MARRIED LIKE WAY SOON YAY.


Well May, you just gone and filled yourself right up now, haven't you!

things they don't tell you about being engaged

1. The groom is probably going to be more involved in the planning than you thought. (Okay, not every groom is, but mine? Yeah he has opinons. Glad we are planning this together!)

2. Not every single person you want to be there will be able to be there. You just can't plan around everyone...

3. The average wedding in the US costs $29,000.... So make sure you have about $29,000 put off to the side when you decide to get married. Yeah, no. Not mine. Not happening. The amount that will be spent on this wedding is a very small fraction of that price, and I still think it's ridiculously expensive... But we are doing well! I'm convinced people are giving us good deals on stuff because they really like Chance's hair. And that's no joke.

4. Getting your dream dress may be your plan... but don't throw out the option of wearing your Mother's dress and altering it a little bit. Talk about sentimental value... (plus, Grandma made it.) All the dresses in the stores are just nothing to me now. I am getting my dream dress!

5. People who offer to help you probably really mean it and you shouldn't be afraid to take them up on those offers!

6. Being engaged sucks... okay no, it doesn't suck. But kind of when you have decided this is going to be a for sure thing, you just want to be married already!!

7. There's no need to stress. You're getting married and that's all that matters.

Only about 2 months left! Hip skip!

quick get away

Can't we just vacation for always?.... 

Making an appearance.

Happy St Patricks Day! One of the most random holidays, that I don't really know how to accurately celebrate besides wearing green... and I only have one green sweater. But paired with my cute little gold basket necklace and these silly glasses, makes me feel REAL festive.

I don't really understand how planning a wedding could be this hard when I've been planning it my whole life, ya know? But we've finally finalized a day and a place for the reception, so the real planning begins now, right?
I wouldn't be surprised if I became a diabetic as a result of my diet the last 2 weeks. I mean, I've always loved candy (chocolate mostly) but these last 2 weeks? Yikes!!
Being with Chance continues to get better. He's my best friend, my adventure buddy, and just my favorite person to spend my time with. We can't wait to be with each other ALL THE TIME. This "only see each other on weekends" this is BLAH!!!! We are so over that.

This is so cliche... but it just had to happen. 

I e-mailed Mckay and said "Send me a pic that's just for me okay?" And he did just that! And even though it's a Monday and I'm stupid tired, nothing can bring me down today.

My new camera lens makes me want to take pictures all day every day. And I've got tons of stuff to work on. Yay!
I've been engaged for about a month, and I STILL just stare at my ring. It's beautiful, and I love it. And Chance loves it, which makes me love it more.

I still come home from work everyday and watch Arthur, just like I used to when I came home from school. I (shamelessly) LOVE that show. I can't wait to watch it with my kids.
I feel like I haven't had a good hair day for... a long time. I don't know what to do with myself. It's long though which is "yay!" but what do I do with it?!


Well there's my appearance for the month. :D

see ya never.

But really.. I feel like I don't have time to blog anymore! Between working 29 hours a week, editing pictures, working out (getting wedding ready.. ya know!), eating, spending any other available time with my fiance (eek!!), and going to bed at a reasonable hour.... When am I supposed to blog?!

That makes me sad..

So I'm going to try still. But it may be far and in between...

So here are a few tidbits.

This is what they call the golden hour... And I love it.

Chance and I crafted a mug this weekend. To go in our future cupboards.. cute huh?

Oh... I also bought like 5 other mugs. Because I'm a mug person... especially a Christmas mug person. Love to thrift!

Layla's Blessing

Oh heck. I hope these baby blessings never stop. Seriously. I hope I have a bajillion nieces and nephews. Heh heh heh...

Also, again, it's February, Sunny, and 55 degrees out. Of course he rode his bike to the blessing.

I'm proud to be his sister.

Mr&Mrs Nilsson

Chad and Leanne sealed the deal. And seriously? Sunny and 55 degrees in February. Couldn't be better!!!

(Also... check out my new lens capability. I love it. A lot.)

And while we are on the subject of love...

Oh yeah. LOVE.

We've Decided On.... Forever.

Down to Delta

Chance and I traveled down to Delta so that he could work on both of our cars. (I'd being lying if I said I didn't love that Chance knows how to fix cars.... saves me money.... and... DANG!! ;)

I love going down to where he grew up and spending time with his family. There's always lots of loving, laughing, and really good food! They are the greatest.

Plus. Check out that view. Farm boy lover had it pretty good growin' up.

"love your lover especially today" day.

OHHHH VALENTINE'S DAY.

The day to especially show my love how much I love him.

And I love him more than ever.

See those roses? Chance himself bought the balloon, roses, vase, and ribbon all separately and then put it together himself! He made sure to mention that to me, and I'm glad he did because I definitely assumed it was all bought together already arranged. Ha, I really am impressed and it makes them that much more special to me. That bundled with a candle, junior mints, and a note written on a paper airplane.... melt.


I got so excited for valentines this year and made a few things for my lover boy.

I'll never buy another card. Hallmark ain't got nothin' on homemade!

A little photo craft. Also homemade!

Dinner at Carls Jr. cause we were just too starving so we picked the first place we saw, and then Romeo and Juliet by the Odyssey Dance theater! AMAZING DANCING.... tragic kind of dark story... BUT AMAZING DANCING! hahaha. We quite enjoyed ourselves.

Home to watch 13 going on 30 and snuggling.

What more could I ask for?

tid-bits

Mornings with Millie:

She is rarely cuddly like this. So you can best believe I was soakin' it in!

Moments with Chance:

It's the little things, really. My favorite!

Grace's blessing day:

Well for one, she's the cutest!!! Ah! Along with my other nieces! 

For two, that's the same dress Amelia wore at her baby blessing... my grandma made it...

For three, it was a beautiful sacrament meeting. From the actual baby blessing down to the last talk.

My emotions were very close to the surface. "Be ever mindful of those who are struggling." My heart aching for those who have experienced loss of loved ones, and for the loss of my grandmother. My heart missing my little brother serving a mission, and feeling so thankful that he is my brother and I look up to him so much. What a beautiful life I have, and I owe it to Jesus Christ and His Gospel. I am so blessed.

ranting

I have to wake up at 6 am every morning. To get ready and catch the 7:13 Trax train to downtown (with the free trax pass my work has provided me with!). To get to my NEW JOB by 8!
The "office" job doesn't really appeal to some people... but I'm really diggin' the atmosphere. My second day, and I've already started decorating my desk.
Oh and I'm also lovin' the "business casual" attire. Ha! That's fun.
Back to the 6 am deal, I haven't even been dead tired the last two days I've had to wake up that early. That is a big deal! But going to bed at 10 is hard.. It bothers me that I could take a nap at any given moment during the day, but as soon as I get in bed to go to sleep it's like I have to force my eyes to close.
My boss took me to lunch today at Cafe Brio in City Creek. Have you ever been there? It's delicious. And I just adore my boss. She is awesome! I feel like everyone on my team likes me a lot already, granted one of them is my cousin.
Which brings me to another point! I'm so grateful my cousin told me that the job was hiring. It's fun to see her all the time, and I'm going to love working with her.
At lunch, I was telling my boss how I think you really have to know people to get a job just about anywhere. She totally agreed and then proceeded to tell me how she had 500 applicants for the job I had received and since my cousin referred me, she set up an interview, and then only interviewed like 2 other people, and after I interviewed with her she had 2 of her other co workers interview me to make sure she wasn't being biased, since she knows my cousin and the kind of family I come from. She said that all three of them picked me as the best candidate for the job, hands down, no questions! She told me I was so outgoing and personable, and I was really happy to hear that, because job interviews give me major anxiety! Big self-esteem booster right there.
I feel like I'm catching on pretty quick with how my job will work, which is reassuring. I don't feel as nervous and out of my comfort zone as I thought I would. But I'm so excited for this change, and opportunity.
Also they have nerf gun wars.
When we were leaving lunch, we walked passed a guy with a gas mask on. Literally a gas mask. The air quality is getting really bad here, and it really bums me out... Yikes! But it was sunny and that was refreshing.
Back to decorating my desk, now I'm browsing pinterest for the cutest ideas. Why not like the space you work in?


YAY LIFE!

looking forward to

You know me. I thrive off holidays. And it's not even February yet... but I'm just looking forward to it! Valentines day! I've always liked Valentines day (whether or not I had a special someone). Yippee!

I Declare Today a Happy Day

A Happy day indeed.

I made hard choices and did hard things today. The choice of what I want to do vs what I should do. I had to call and decline one job, and call to accept another. I'm getting out of my comfort zone, and that's exciting! I've officially accepted a job. A great job! It pays well, I get paid holidays, they are providing me with a free transit pass, I get to work with my cousin, and the environment seems awesome. Customer Service. It will probably be very different then working with kids, but I'm excited to learn, and expand my knowledge and skills!

Things are working out for me! And I laugh at myself when I say that, because they haven't exactly worked out in the way that I thought they would, but nevertheless, everything is all good! And I feel good. I feel peace, and that is a wonderful feeling.

I drove downtown today to sign some papers, and when I was walking back to my car (I parked far away to get free parking, and it turned out to be way father from where I was going than I thought... haha) I literally looked up to the sky, to God, and said out loud, "You're the BEST!". Haha.. but seriously. Then I went down a list of the amazing things that are in my life, big and small, and why today is such a happy day:

+I'm becoming more confident. Interviews scare me and give me the worst anxiety. BUT I'm getting better at them, more comfortable, more confident in myself and what I have to offer and what I know. I'm able to better be satisfied with myself, whether or not I get the job, as long as I felt like I have done my best. Again, I'm getting out of my comfort zone and it feels GREAT.

+I'm becoming more independent. Okay, okay, I still live at my parents house. BUT, I pay for all my own expenses. All of it. I bought my own car, with cash. I'm making hard decisions. I often talk to people to get their input, but ultimately I'm making all of my own decisions. I don't decide things just because it's what people around me are telling me to do. That's empowering.

+I'm losing weight, in a healthy way! I'm careful about what and how much I eat, and I'm staying active. I don't even remember the last time I was at this weight. I'm so happy to know I'm taking better care of myself!

+I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I feel the Spirit everyday and I feel so grateful that I know who I am and where I'm going.

+My family rocks! They are all so willing to help me out, and my parents are proud of me. I LOVE that feeling. I'm SO lucky to have the kind of relationship with my family that I do.

+I went shopping at City Creek and bought my first 'business casual' outfit. And I only payed 6 cents. (Thanks to Jilli's H&M gift card she gave me... I love free!!)

+It was a BEAUTIFUL day today. Sunny and 40 degrees. I didn't have to wear a coat or even a jacket, and I was absolutely happy to walk to far back to my car.

+I'M DANCING AGAIN!!! I decided last minute to do the adult company at my old studio and tonight was the first rehearsal. Ahh... feels so good!!

+Dad and I went on a temple date. I don't think my dad and I have gone to the temple together before. He said he was leaving to go do baptisms with the beehives and I said "You'll be baptizing?" and he said "Yes." and I said "I'M COMING!" and it was so great and I loved it.

and to top it off ever so nicely

+I get to have Chance as my best friend. He is there for me. He is the first person that I want to tell anything and everything to, because I know he will be excited, or proud of me, or help me, or laugh with me. I lean on him SO much and I'm the happiest to have him in my life!

Ahhh, today is such a happy, happy day!

ice castles

Yes, yes, because of my new obsession with the movie Frozen, just like everyone else, I just had to go see the ice castles. And they did not disappoint!

What a beautiful thing to see! You know what, even before I saw Frozen, I have totally noticed an attitude change in myself toward winter and the cold. It hasn't bothered me like it has in the past. And when I heard the Let It Go song and she says "the cold never bothered me anyway", I was like, THAT'S SO ME!! Haha, I love it:)

Tuesday

I interviewed for a part-time job at a daycare in American Fork yesterday. I do believe I nailed it. They are interviewing 7 people though.. but I'm hopeful! (Oh look at that, they just called me as I was typing this post and offered me the job! Woop woop!)

I got a text this morning from my cousin saying her job in Salt Lake was hiring part-time. My resume is sent. We'll see about that.

Is it weird that I think I might like working two part time jobs rather than one full time job? I just feel like I would get some variety out of my days...

Is it even weirder that it doesn't bother me that these two jobs would be on the other side of town from each other? I'd become a frequent Frontrunner rider... think about all the time I would have to read! And I might have to walk from the station to work... but I could count that as my exercise for the day, right?

Well it looks like the first job has worked out for me! I don't know about the second... but like I said, I'm hopeful! And if the other one happens to work out, I've got some long work days ahead of me. That doesn't scare me though (even if seems like it should..). But you can bet that I'm really soaking in these "I can do whatever I want" days, before I start working my life away. So yes, I'm going to sleep in, stay in my pjs all day, take pictures of myself, update my blog, read what I want to read, and not even feel bad for any of it! (Also, when my room is messy, I sleep in the guest bedroom downstairs.. haha)

Also, remember how I had 'read more gospel related books' on my New Years resolution list? Well I got started on that right away. I went straight to my Mom for suggestions, and lucky for me she has quite the collection.

Believing Christ. Notice it doesn't say Believing in Christ. Because that's different. And that's what this little book is all about. It's pretty to easy to Believe in Christ. That he is real. That he lives. What some people don't understand is that, along with believing in Christ, we must believe Him; believe what he says he can do! I'm really no good with words, so you're just going to have to read it to know of all the goodness in it!

"The good news of the gospel is good news to me not because it promises that other people who are better than I am can be saved, but because it promises that I can be saved - wretched, inadequate, and imperfect me."

That really is good news!

This New Years Resolution goal was a brilliant idea!