Fraa La la La laa, la La la LAAAAA

Here are to some of the wintery christmas festivities we've been up to:

Ooh Christmas Tree...

Our first live in Christmas together <3

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

Love these girls

Sisters.  Dumb pic wouldn't rotate... turn yah heads

Baby Jesus sitting on the shelf

Lights at Temple Square

Look in the ball!

So Brandon and I have had a fun time celebrating the holidays together and I effing love our hand-me-down tree!  We don't have any room for storage so i'm not sure where we're gonna hide everything (sorry mom and dad..)! Hopefully we'll be able to get some good pics on the slopes this season!  I love winter!

Merry Christmas all of you lovelies.

love...cmar

Oh the weather outside is...weather.

Don't you think it's soo funny how that weather man made the whole salt lake valley in fear for their lives as if this were the blizzards of all blizzards, and if we didn't get off the roads by 3 o'clock pm, then we'd probably be frozen into a cube and not thawed until next March?  AAANNNDDD it didn't even hit until 6... so much for sending elementary students home at noon!  I was so excited to go outside to a winter (almost) wonderland and  instead, I leave work in a hurry at 5 pm, and on my drive home I see this mean dark grey storm cloud coming in.  Suddenly, from my surprise there was a slight 'flutter' of barely visable wispy snow.  I'm not even joking you, I yelled "THERE IT IS!"  That tretcherous snow storm we've been preparing ourselves for all day.  I'm grateful that I made it home before it got bad though... and Brando and I decided to hurry and make a run to Smiths so we could stock up on candles and a flash light just in case and plan for the worse.  Did you know that Smiths doesn't carry flash lights?  We searched and searched and finally asked someone and they said no...  Pffffft.  Target would have had it...We did however get a 3 wick smelly good Apple Cinnamon candle that B picked out and it lights up our living room quite nicely in the pitch black dark (don't worry, we actually tested it out).  We decided that we had enough in the windy ouchy snow blowing in our faces and made yummy super not good for your nachos at home!  They were SO good.  My Gma gave me a bushell of chilis to make chili verde and I must say... The spaniard in me sure knows how to shine!  Talk about spicey and DE-LISH-US!  haha we ate it all in 3 days and I don't think my stomach understood the word 'Spice' until this weekend.  But it sure was satisfying.  So with our left overs we made nachos, with beans, and cheese, and taco seasoning, oooh and chicken!  A whole pan of nachos-GONE-  Sick, I know but it was oh so good.  hehe...

   So, for some more good news, I am off of work until Monday!  WAHOO, be jealous!  For all I care, it can snow non stop until Sunday night.  I would love to go sledding this weekend and possibly hit up the slopes!  Unfortunately, I'm too broke for slopes, so i'll just have to live with sledding.  How much fun does that sound?    Also, did I ever tell you about my final day, Day 5 of Bikram Yoga?  Yeah, well it was awesome.  What a rewarding class that was for me.  It was suuuper intense, but by the 3rd day I couldn't wait to go again.  I would have gone 6 times, but I was invited to the Jazz game and turned down yoga.  Oh well.  And my goal was to get at least 7 but i'd say considering the fact that one of the teachers said they try and incourage the trial members to come 5 times, which I did, I had it pretty good!  Plus, my friend who I signed up with ( I will not name names ;] ) only did it ONCE! So... ha, beat that!  Seriously though, I would highly recommend trying the 10 day trial and make a goal to go about 5 times.  Now I need a new hobby or something fun.  Speaking of hobby, I've started something fun and warm for winter but I've rambled on a little too long for my (and yours) liking haha.  I hate reading those blogs that are FOREVER long with no pictures so I will update you this week :)  loves.  Happy Thanksgiving if you don't hear from me until after then.  I will enjoy my looong holiday weekend off of work thats for sure.  Oh yeah, and you better believe i'll be out shopping and fighting the black friday FREAKS. 

Stay warm.....cmar

Day 4

Tuesday was day 4 and boy oh boy how it kicked my butt!  I thought it may or may not be easier since I had gone three days last week!  I think giving myself a break for the weekend was what did it for me because yesterday was pretty tough!  Luckily, by the end of class, I felt really good and remembered why I was there.  I was hoping i'd get one class in tonight and one last one in tomorrow, but I got invited to go to the Jazz game and sit in a suite tonight instead!  I just couldn't pass down a Jazz game haha...So, I wasn't able to reach my goal but i'd say doing 5 out of 10 days is a good accomplishment.  The Yoga instructor last night said they try to encourage the new students to try and make it to at least 5 classes... which I will have done by tomorrow!  Wish me luck ;)

love...cmar

Day 2 & day 3

So...

The plan was to come home and blog about my 2nd day at Bikram Yoga, but then I decided to update "tomorrow".  Well, tomorrow came and so did day 3, and yet again, I got side-tracked and decided I would catch up later.  Well today is later and I may or may not start day 4.  haha...

So I was able to do yoga for the first three days in a row and decided to take the weekend off because, well... because it's the weekend duh!  The first day I thought I was going to die because of the heat and how intense the session was.  Day two came and I realized that it wasn't as bad as the first day.  By day three I was shocked at how much more relaxed I was and how much progress I had made.  Some of the positions were literally impossible for my body to do, and by only day 3 I noticed that I was doing the impossible!  It was still super duper hot, but the 90 min came really fast and as soon as I knew it, class was over.  I'm feeling a little on the lazy side today, but hopefully i'll be able to make it to the class and make my 4th day mark.  :)  I'll keep you updated ;)

love...cmar  

The Yoga Challenge: Day one

So, I started a program with my friend that allows you to take unlimited yoga classes for a consecutive ten days for 20 bucks.  I'm doing this at a place called Bikram Yoga and they offer this program to new members.  I have been once before so I knew what to expect and have been putting off doing this whole ten day ish for quite some time.  SO- last night we decided to start!  It is in a heated room with 20-30 soaking, dripping with sweat people...haha sick right? Not to mention that it is pretty smelly.  Regardless, it is super intense and very rewarding in the end.  I really enjoy it and am going to see how many of the ten days I can actually stick with.  My goal is to go to at least 7 classes, my plan, is to hit 9...we'll see.  The class is 90 min long and towards the end I feel like i'm going to burn into a flame and die, it's THAT tough.  I really love yoga and what it does for your body and inner self.  SO anyone who'd like to join I have 9 days left! ;)

namaste.

love...cmar

a tasty yum yum

What do you get when you mix these:

into this:

(don't judge my lack of mixing bowles!)

to get this?

...

a hungry bunch of these!



bahaha...

I absolutely love Punkin' Choco chip cookies, my personal fav.  Cliche I know but it's the most simplest, tastiest holiday treat EVER.  So... if you're ever wondering how you could get on my good side, or would like to surprise B and I with a treat... some mixing bowles would be nice! 

-tee hee jk jk. 

But seriously...

Hey, for me to post two nights IN.A.ROW, you should consider yourself lucky.  This doesn't happen often. Especially with pictures!  Goodnight world.

love//cmar

'Fall'ing into Autumn

Brando promised me a ride in Millcreek Canyon to see the changing leaves before they fall off the branches.  We picked a perfect day to go.  Unfortunately, it was raining cats and dogs, but I think it made things more fun :)  My favorite is right when the trees turn into pinks and reds and the rest are still gold.  It's unbelievable...What a beautiful world we live in.  These pics sure don't do justice for the actual view, but I have to say the iphone takes some pretty nice pics, definitely nothing that my little mytouch could capture!  My camera took a dive to the deep end and I prob won't be able to get a new one till after the holidays...

Here are some of the pretties that we captured. 

    This, and the one at the tippy top are my favs

I would love to do this again and next time hike one of the trails when it's not raining.  I forgot how much I love fall and love dressing up with scarves and jackets.  I'm not super excited for it to snow but i'm ready to get the warm clothes out! 

Hopefully we'll carve pumpkins this week at our new place and will get pics up along with the Halloween festivities such as the annual Witches Night Out with the girls and of course Halloween weekend! 

love...cmar

Soo HAPPY

I just can't wait to let you all know that I just set up our quest internet all.by.myself!!!!!!!!!  FINALLY, I don't have to wait for my slow internet on my phone to load so I can read only the first 3 blog updates as my phone can onlyl scroll up and down on the page as a whole, and not the little scrolly part to view everyones blog updates.  Ahhh... what a great feeling it is to have the internet up and running.  At first we had a small struggle trying to figure out the key phrase for the modem because it was given (kindly) to us by a friend for F.R.E.E- but I just put my brains back together and realized it was (luckily) pasted on the side of the modem (which never happends), it was a success.  Congratulations Crystal, you are a GENIOUS. 

So, on another note, we are all moved in and I can't begin to explain to the internet world of how HAPPY I am to be here!  We both love living here and always want to go home to relax!  Call me lame why dont you, but that's just how cool it is :)  So far we've had a few visitors:  The olds, Mom and Dad Barnes, Robyn, Leeser, and of course, ALL of my friends:)  (Too many to name at this time). The downfall: we've already recieved all of our bills except the gas bill haha which is weird b/c when I lived at the town house I swear those dreaded things took 2 months at LEAST!  But that's ok because i've never seen such a cheap electric bill...not trying to brag but $11.05 is pocket change and is only 5 bucks a piece!  Whoop whoop!  I could go on and on for a min because it's been a while since I've actually caught up with my good friend blogger, but i'll save that for a later day! 

So, to wrap it up, I love my home, I love the things in my home(expecially Brando), and I LOVE LOVE LOVE life.  This is the change that I've been waiting for to drop into my life and make everything ok :)

p.s-I have pictures of my whole house but you'll just have to wait!  Goodnight 

lOve...cmar 

My lasts

So.

as I lay here in bed I started to think... tomorrow is a big day.  The next chapter of my life.  The day I decide to move out with my best friend.  I know many people who read this may have mixed feelings about this because we are doing things a little backwards.  Moving in together...and we're not married yet.  But it's ok, I promise.  I'm ok with this 100% and it's what's right for US and I couldn't be happier.  However, I wouldn't have moved out with Brandon if I wasn't CERTAIN that I was going to marry him.  Trust me, I wouldn't choose to spend my life with any other man(weird)than him.  Anyways... that's all besides the point!  I started to really think about all of my "lasts" over the past few weeks that are never going to happen again and how much i'll miss them.  Today...yesterday...last year. 

Tonight willl be the last time I sleep in my own bed.

Tonight is the last time that I will sleep alone in my bed.

Tonight was the last night that I texted Brandon "Good night love, call you in the morning, I love you."

Tonight was the last night that Brandon walked me out to my car and kissed me good night.

Tonight was the last time i'd sleep under my parents roof.

This was the last week that I would have dinner with my parents every night.

Yesterday was the last day I kissed my mom goodbye and told her to have a good day as I left for work.

Tonight was the last night that I make the 17 minute drive home from B's home.

Tonight was the last time I'd call Brandon while I walked into my house so he knew that I had made it ok.

This morning was the last time i'd wake up at his house and tell him "I'm ready to go." so he could walk me out.

This week was the last week i'd wake up with Leeser and enjoy her company as we both got ready for work and school.  I'm going to miss that SO much.

These are just some of my lasts that I can think of as I lay here and i'm sure there are plenty more.  Of course, I do realize that there are exceptions to all of these, but in general, my life will change almost drastically as of tomorrow at 10 am, when the owner of the house hands over the keys to us and we walk in together and smile.  Brandon and I are both so excited to move to the next level in our relationship and to be starting this new part of our lives together.  We are going to learn so much more about each other and I can't wait.  This will be the first time we won't have to say good night to each other because we have to go home and wish we were right back at each others side.  It's going to be so great that he will be the last thing I see before I go to bed and the first thing I see when I wake up.  I am also sooo stinkin excited that I won't have to fight those random anxiety episodes that sneak up every so often and keep me up past 2 when I have to be up at 6...for some reason it never happends when i'm sleeping next to someone.  So, that is all that I needed to say for tonight and i'm just so excited!  That's all world... Good night ;)

love...cmar 

Summer love

Here are a bunch of pics of all the fun things i've been up to this summer!  Watch out, there are lots...  Before the fun started, Brandon and I made dinner for my mom for her 57th birthday. She was so happy! She is convinced that she is 58... what an odd ball. 

She would kill me if she new I posted this to the public... ShhHHHhhh.

My lovely mother opening up her gifts

This is the cute beach  house we stayed in, in New Port Beach!

Kitchen

Living Room..isn't his aunt a great home decorator?

This was the sweet golf cart (street legal) we drove around town!  We were crusin with the music blastin and everyone honked when they saw us, it was so fun!

My boyfriend is better than yours

Beach  time.

This was the house where

Brandon's aunt Sandy and new uncle Sterling were wed! 

 Baller Status...

This is the view with the previous pic behind me.  The marble tile alone was $1 million!

Sterling played the piano

 and sang the sweetest song that he

wrote for Sandy.

My first time in DL!

I  felt that sword budge I swear...

California adventure with my lover bum

We were so sad we had to leave...

B's face cracks me up!

I am still alive!

I know it feels like forever since i've blogged...and not that many people read what I have to say anyway ;)haha... jk. But it's been hard trying to find time to blog since my new job.  I'm not at a desk anymore when I had loads of free time to hurry and blog about anything (or nothing) that was very interesting ha!  So, I am still alive and kickin', the job is going great (stressful, but great)! and.... I think Brandon and I FINALLY found a place!  We filled out the application and gave a deposit tonight, so once we get through the application part, we will finally be in our cute new apartment in the aves!  Oh it's sooo soo cute I just cant handle it.  I will try to get pictures up... I probably won't get around to it but trust me, it is on my mind!  Just wanted to give you all an update on life! 

love...cmar

All of our reps are currently assisting other callers... please remain on the line and your call will be answered shortly

8 min and 16 seconds later. 
This will be the death of me.
Good thing I only have to hear this for 2 more days.  That is IF I last that long...
haha jk.  I couldn't miss my last meeting!  It's my last one and I LOVE work meetings.
I think this is due to the fact that it takes me away from work, and we get to go over the same things that are talked about in all of the meetings.  It's just a way to pass the time and get paid for it.  Tomorrow will be great.  We're having our last pot luck (well my last) and we're doing a potato bar! It's going to be deee-lish!  I can't believe i'm actually starting a new job.  It's always so exciting the first few weeks and there are so many new faces, smells, and different things that you have to get use to.  I am a little nervous.

So, I have good news...
Brandon and I may have found a place!  We found one place in Sugar House that is really cute and on a great street and we found another one in Salt Lake on 5th south and 4th east and I just love it.  I'm hoping we get the one in salt lake b/c it is less money, and offers more with the price of the other.  ahhhhh.... I just get so excited and anxious thinking about all that will be changing here soon! yikes.  This is a BIG decision for both Brando and I and a very big step to our relationship.  We have talked about this and thinking about moving out for quite a while now and have decided it's a good idea and that we should act on it.  I know that not everyone agrees with this decision because we're not married, but i'm not in the position quite yet to be married and I still have a while to save for the wedding that I want.  This packing my bags and traveling back and forth, staying at his house business is just getting old and my car cant take this unorganized BS.  Don't worry people, it will happen, and my time will come, but i'm in no rush. :)))

So... i've decided that my posts are quite boring lately.  Too wordy, not enough pictures... ya know, that kind of boring.  I hope my writing is keeping you intrigued haha.  I'll try harder to post something more interesting and entertaining as soon as I get some pictures.  Remember, my camera took a dirt nap and i'm in need of a new one.  So you'll have to be patient.

love... cmar

Couldn’t wait to get going, but wasn’t quite ready to leave

Isn't that how it always works? 

For me at least that's how it feels. 

I love change but hate what it takes to get to where i'm going.

So what i'm trying to say is... I have good news. 

News that is the potential for a new page in my life. 

Drum roll please!!!.....

I FINALLY got a job in a dental office!

I am so excited and so nervous. 

There is so much to learn when it comes to the different precedures,

the lingo, the foreign objects that I will have in my hand {haha}

and the many mouths I will be assisting with {does this frighten you a bit?  Don't let it ;) }. 

This is really good for my future career of being a Dental Hygienist

because it will give me some experience in a dental {or periodontal} office

and i've needed this for a long time. 

Dispite the fear and being nervous to start a new job,

I'm really excited.  I am however sad to let go of not the job in particular,

but some of the people I work with because I really like working with them and have made great relationships.  This is not what I want to do or where I plan to be in 5 years

mainly because it's a desk job and not in the plans so it's now time to move on! 

I'm sad that I can't take 15 {or 25--oops} min coffee breaks and go out for lunch all time time but I have to give some up to get some more of what I want! 

So that is the exciting update for now...nothing else besides that really.

However, I didn't mention that Tim and Lady A were UH-MAZ-ING...

I had so much fun and tried to get as close as I could to touching Tim and his sexyness. 

Unfortunately I didn't get pass the gate that separates the grass from the seats {haha} but it was fun standing on the gate loving every minute!

That's all : D

Love // cmar

Oh, nothing’s sweeter than summertime...

In only a matter of hours I will be sitting under the big blue sky.

 breathing in summer air. 

listening to this song (a long with many others)

 & people singing along.

kickin it with good people.

eating good food.

drinking good drinks.

and singing and dancing the night away

to the music I love most. 

If you're still wondering what i'm talking about

let me help you out...

Sexy Tim McGraw...

Amazing Lady Antebelum

-That's right

I will be seeing these guys later tonight!

To prepare myself

i've been listening to them all day.

We are going a good 2 hours early to beat the rush

and to get our tail gating on before the show!

Have a great weekend!

oh- p.s.  

I have very exciting, very good news to share in the next week or so (whenever I get time)...

Details to come :)

The time has come

I have been meaning to post 25 random goodies about myself and just haven't gotten myself to do it.   So... here it is!  {megan you better be happy ;) }.  Here goes...

one.  I am probably one of the most random people you will meet.

two.  My weakness is being indecisive.  I've been trying to figure that out for quite some time now.

three.  I HATE making my bed.

four.  I LOVE doing laundry.  However, I don't do it enough.

five.  Secretly I want to be a hippie and throw pots and bowls on the wheel and paint and make art all day long.  Too bad i'm not awesome at this and would be poor.  I'll stick with my desk job {for now at least}.

six.  I love buying hygiene products like deoderant, tooth paste and shampoo & condish.

seven.  I don't REALLY know what I want to be when I grow up.  I've always had dental hygiene on the back of my mind, but i'll never know if it's what I do until I get there.  I also want to do hair, be an esthetician, and own either a coffee shop or a boutique on the side.  This is probably due to me being so indecisive.

eight.  I don't know why, but I ALWAYS try to do whatever I can to not have to buy a parking pass each semester for school.  I will try and dodge that man who ruins my life every class until he gives me a ticket and then I go complain to the parking dept because students shouldn't have to pay for parking.  Ha.. it's my own fault, I know.

nine. My favorite number es el numero tres.  It has been since I was in 5th grade.  However, it never brings me any luck.  Maybe I should find a new number lol.

ten.  Speaking of luck, I never win anything. 

eleven.  Speaking of winning, I am not big into gambling.  When I go to Vegas, I go to shop, lay out and party.  I will however throw down $20 and sometimes get lucky, but I get too scared and would rather spend my money on a new shirt :)

twelve.  I am terrified of moths.  Just the big fat kind, and beetles that fly.  Seriously, don't get me started.

thirteen.  When I was little, I used to fart in public and blame it on people around me.  Worked everytime.  Don't worry, I grew up and learned how to be a girl.  Kind of ;)

fourteen.  I will NEVER be caught dead driving a mini van.  I however would rather ride in the back on a road trip then in a squashy car. note: no offense to you mini van drivers out there.  Keep it classy ;)

fifteen.  I am very comfortable in my own skin.  You would be surprised how many people look at me with confusion when they hear my last name and wonder why i'm white.  haha c'mon people!

sixteen.  I have too many favorite colors, too many favorite foods, and too many favorite hobbies to narrow them down to one.  Maybe because i'm indecisive!  {I don't think there's anything wrong with being indecisive is there? My BF might think so...}

seventeen.  I have a foot fetish.  I don't necessarily want to touch them, but I want to see them. haha

eighteen.  I hate spending a lot of money at one time on clothes.  I spent $200 one time, and returned a lot of the things the next day because it makes me sick.  However, I don't mind buying pants one day and shoes the next, equaling over $150.  I've never understood why lol.  But.. I will find myself making random large purchases on electronic things with no problem.

nineteen.  I have a thing for red heads ;)  Especially for one particular boy...

twenty.  I am terrified to have children. But I want 1 girl and two boys. 

twenty-one.  I love painting my finger nails and toes, I used to hate it.

twenty-two.  In my next life I want to have a quarter sleeve (short sleeve?) tattooed on one arm. 

twenty-three.  My two favorite things to do {but NEVER do them anymore:( } are go to Warped Tour and the Big Ass show and crowd surf, and go country dancing on thursday nights. 

twenty-four.  I feared I would never grow up and fall in love, I never knew it would happen so soon.  I couldn't be happier.  I don't think i'll ever think i'm old enough to get married.  Kids don't get married... how old am I again? tee hee

twenty-five.  I tend to get nervous talking to people and jumble my words because of it.  This is completely oppisite of how I used to be during and pre-high school.  I loved being the center of attention.

I could probably go on and on if I tried... but this is only twenty five things you get to know.  The rest is a MYSTERY.

Sun rise or Sun set?

So, I decided it's time to get back into the gym. 

I have taken quite the break from it and have no excuse but the truth...I am LAZY.  Sometimes getting into that routine is tough, ESPECIALLY during summer.  I would choose the pool over the gym ANY DAY.  But looking good while laying or sitting on the side of the pool is always a plus!  Unfortunately, there's only one way to do it.  Yep...

So, there are two girls in my class who work out at SLCC and they bust their butts doing it.  It's a lot easier working out with someone else so they invited me to come along and I had a lot of fun.  Esther and Grace are their names and they are the sweetest girls ever.  They moved here 9 years ago from Africa.  I interviewed Esther and after that we couldn't stop talking, we became instant friends :)  So, if any of you know of any really good work out plan, I would greatly appreciate it if you would bring it my way! 

My goal is to lose at LEAST 10 lbs.  I know, I know, you're all going to give me crap because to you I don't need to lose it, but maybe I just hide it well ;) but to ME, I could shed a few El bees or at least get toned.  I keep having to buy new clothes because my old ones are a little snug...I know that part of my problem is my job. Sitting here day by day with a cubby that tempts me to fill with food just doesn't help.  Hopefully soon, that will change.  Oh and also, I don't plan on stepping on a scale for a while because that just unmotivates me.  Maybe once a month as long as i'm stickin to my game plan.

So, as many of you may know, I drive to work around the 6:30-7:00 am time frame so I get to enjoy the sun as it is peeking over the mountains.  I'm not usually a morning person, but I really look forward to the drive to work just because of the view and how pretty it looks.  It's really peaceful, there is a nice morning breeze, all while I get my alone time in my car on my way to work.  I know this may sound lame but the feeling is unexplainable.

I also get the same feeling at the end of the day, when the sun is setting.  I'm pretty sure I love sunsets even more than I like watching the sun come up.  I don't usually drive home early enough to see the sun go down, but when I do I roll down my windows and fall in love all over again.  ahh..I'm sure the feeling is mutual ;)

Well, that's about it for this long boring post! 

What would you be?

If I were a month, I’d be October
If I were a day of the week, I’d be Saturday.
If I were a time of day, I’d be 8 am.
If I were a sea animal, I’d be a dolphin.
If I were a direction, I’d be East.
If I were a piece of furniture, I’d be a hope chest.
If I were a historical figure, I’d be Michelangelo.
If I were a liquid, I’d be Strawberry Lemonade.
If I were a gemstone, I’d be a Pearl.
If I were a tree, I’d be a Peach Tree.
If I were a tool, I’d be a Paint Brush.
If I were a flower, I’d be a Poppy.
If I were a kind of weather, I’d be a Sun after the rain.
If I were a musical instrument, I’d be a Guitar.
If I were a color, I’d be Electric Blue.
If I were an emotion, I’d be Excitement.
If I were a fruit, I’d be a Pineapple.
If I were a sound, I’d be the Ocean Waves.
If I were an element, I’d be Water.
If I were a car, I’d be a Jeep.
If I were a food, I’d be an Orange Creamsicle.
If I were a place, I’d be Sunset Cliffs.
If I were a taste, I’d be a Bittersweet.
If I were a scent, I’d be Juicy.
If I were an object, I’d be a Diamond Ring.
If I were a body part, I’d be Eyes.
If I were a facial expression, I’d be Curiosity.
If I were a song, I’d be Let Go.
If I were a pair of shoes, I’d be Flip Flops.









If I were YOU, I would do this.

Short and Sweet

Today should be a good day. 
A good day from a good week.  Only 2 full days of work, who can complain?  In less than 3 hours I will be off to Lagoon, and on friday I will be going to St. George.  A softball saturated weekend it will be.  I'm totally ok with this, no complaints.  I love going places, anywhere, as long as there is sun, beach and/or a pool :) 

This last weekend consisted of everything that I wanted to do.  Hang with friends, hiking in the beautiful mountains, Sugar House street festival, and of course, FIREWORKS!  Oh.. and some shopping and studying on the side.  So for all of you, I hope your day is happy and great, I know mine sure will be.

love, cmar

Still going...

Hey everyone... So what a fun weekend it has been.  Hope you can all say the same.  I feel like i've had quite the eventful, fun filled summer this far and we're only at the end of June!  Only... I say that like i'm waiting for summer to be over.  DEFINITELY not!  I wish it would last 10 months out of the 12 we get!  I swear, it comes and goes so fast and is not long enough.  So far this summer I've been to Lake Powell, Vegas, Echo, Heber, and still have a few more on the list!  Greatest summer EVER right? 

So, this weekend was spent at one of my favorite places, Echo Lake.  I can't tell you how much I love that place.  I went with a little group of friends: Brando{of course}, Chase, Mitchy, Mike, and a newish friend Codie.  I say newish, because i've known her since I was 15, and we just started hangin out this weekend!  Needless to say, with our small group, we had a hell of a time. 

Codie and I were the only girls there this weekend and we had sooo much fun together!  It was weird being with out a few friends that usually hang out, but it was a great turn out.  Codie had two sea-doos and was able to borrow her G-Parents boat that they keep up there.  We had a blast!  I am going to purchase some of those toys one day when i'm filthy rich{haha...I wish}! 

So...After a weekend of 85+ degree sun, 2 jet skis, and a trial and error of trying to wake board, I AM BEAT!  I don't think there is a single muscle in my body that isn't sore and i'm all sorts of burnt.  I even loaded on the sun screen.  That sun just wont let me win... that's ok, it turns out for a great tan.  I feel like an old woman.  I hope this isn't how I'll feel when i'm 90. {yes, I plan on making it that long :) }

We got home around 2:00pm yesterday and B an I zonked out for 2 hours! I had to do a homework assignment for my Dance & Culture class and we woke up 30 min before the show started so we booked it to the Arts Festival to watch the dance performance.  It was the first time i'd been to the festival and I have no idea why because I love that kind of stuff and have always wanted to go.  It turned out being pretty cool.  Last monday, we had a lady who came and taught African dance and brought her drummer boy{man} who accompanied her by playing his homemade drums and teach us how it was done.  Probably the most fun I've had dancing.  Coolest thing ever.  She was all over the place and taught us all sorts of cool stuff. She and her drummer were there performing!  She is the CRAZIEST of all crazies that i've met and I loved her.  I'm totally going to go to one of her saturday morning classes when I have a weekend free!  

The coolest thing happend to me while we were walking in.  I had to stop at the ATM before because the Festival only takes cash.  I didn't want to spend more than I planned so I only took out 20 bucks for the cost to get in.  Well, I didn't think about parking, so I had to pay 3 dollars and only had 17 left.  B didn't have any cash on him, so I would have had to go to the ATM again to get out another 20 to have enough to pay for us. 

Well, have you ever heard of the Secret?  They have a book and a movie, and it's a way of life that I try really hard to use in my life to attract good things.  Well.. I feel it never really works because i'm a crap believer in stuff like that... But, I tried.  We were walking and I kept thinking, I really don't want to go to the ATM, waste 3 or however much of a fee they charge to rip you off so I can get 20 more dollars and why can't this be one of those times that i'm walking along and "hey! I found 10 bucks on the road!" type of thing.  Well... as I reached into my shorts {that I never wear} pocket, to my luck I find 5 bucks!  Kaching!  How awesome did I feel?  Exactly how much money I needed to get in.  I believe that I can say I used the Secret, asked, believed, and received.  What a perfect moment...

So what's in store for this weekend?  Hopefully a pool party, and no work on monday which is ALWAYS a good thing, or possibly Bear Lake?  Who knows, who cares.  Whatever we end up doing, i'm sure it will be fun! 

I promise i'll update you more with pictures so you aren't so bored with my wordy posts.  Unfortunately, I have no access to outside email at work, and work is where I blog so... short of pics! 

Loves... cmar :)

21 aint' no 12

What a good day it was today. 

Father's Day...a day to celebrate my Daddy-O.  I was surprised what an eventful day it turned out to be.  I will let you in on a few things that my day consisted of...

-Brunch with Mom, Dad, and Leeser.  Restaurant was FREEZING, and the Eggs Benedict were not up to par, which was VERY disapointing.

-Went on a drive up Butterfield Canyon... First thoughts-WHOO WEE that didn't sound like much fun to me, but I went since it was Daddy's day and I LOVED it!  What a fun canyon to take a drive through.  It was BEAUTIFUL.  There was a slight breeze and you could hear nature in its path.  Once we got to the top I looked down into the Kennecot Mine(at least I think that's what it's called)!  That is where the largest man made hole is that is seen from space!  Way cool...

    On the drive up, I saw something from the corner of my eye dart into the car and land on my arm.  Why my arm out of all the four people in the car?  Why not land on my sister's arm and give her a heart attack instead?  Oh no, don't worry...I saw it hit my arm, didn't even give myself a chance to look at it before my reflexs kicked in and WACK! On to the floor it went as I let out a scream at the same time.  Ha... NOT way cool.  Turned out to be some weird leafy lookin creature and I was not about to let it go nuts.  Luckily Leeser kindly released it to the wild.  Ha...

   -Delicious dinner that consisted of Steak, Potatoes (which I had to cook twice b/c I suck) and Corn on the cob.... YUUUMMMY.  Did I mention that I totally suck at cooking?  Poor Brandon better have patience, or he's gonna be the one who cooks!

-Bike ride with Leeser... It felt so good to get a good work out while doing something that I actually enjoy.  I HATE running, however I will still do it. 

    On our bike ride we kept getting side tracked because we came across a play ground, a mini water park, and a swing set all in different neighborhoods!  It was so fun.  I now understand why the sign at the play ground reads "kids age 5-12 only"... I totally SUCKED at the monkey bars.  I could barely go across.  haha and I didn't really fit on anything.  Being 21 is definitely not the same as being 12.  It just doesn't work, and on a side note, the playground kicked my butt. 

Well... That's all for today :)

Hope you all had a great father's day! 

love..cmar

It's Friday, it's FRIDAY, Friday is my favorite day!

    Remember that song from JR High?  Oh the good ol' days. 
So, on my drive to work today, I had a million and one things running through my mind that I thought would be good to blog about.  I get to work, sit in my chair, pull up this blog thing, and............Nothin.  Everything that I wanted to tell you, GONE. But, I have to warn you, this may get LOOONNNNGGG.  So feel free to stop reading whenever you please because frankly, I wont be offended due to the fact I just want to blab and bitch for a while. 

    So, I will do my best to remember.
First off...I feel like my blog completey SUCKS.  I'm no good at putting pictures on here, making them look good and having a fun layout that everyone envies{did I spell that right?}.  Nor, am I very good at writing.  Oh well.. it's not the colors and the layout that should make people want to read my blog right?  Hopefully, i'm interesting enough to want to make people WANT to read this :) Although, I wouldn't know because no one comments dang it!  So, this is your challenge to tell me how i'm doing or what I could do to jazz things up a bit eh.

    Now...second, i'll let you in on a few{or too many} things that have been going on lately.  Remeber when I was contemplating on moving back home?  I was worried it wouldn't be the right decision and if it was something that I really needed?  Well.  I couldn't have made a better decision.  I really enjoy living there.  It's not quite ideal to the situation that I'd like to be in, however, for the next few months, having a free place to stay, a pool to swim at, and free food to take as I please, will be good enough for me!  When I lived in SLC, I worried about so many things and I felt like I had really bad anxiety.  I thought it would only get worse being around my family.  Don't get me wrong, I love the fam.  However, I just go crazy because I feel like the olds{momma and poppa bear} have hit that spot...you know, that place where you're stuck between a rock and a hard spot, I believe we all go through this, maybe more often then others.  It's tough to try an motivate the unmovtivated.  I would love to get my parents out and go on bike rides, or even get them to go on nightly walks like they used to do{every night}.  They talk about it, but getting them to do it is another thing.  My dad is having a tough time b/c his leg has all sorts of pains in it and has been having breathing problems with his asthma, and all he needs is to get huffin and puffin and get into more trouble.  My dad is the strongest man I know and has always been such a hard worker to provide for his family.  I don't know how he does it, but he gets by and makes ends meet off of one income.  I have been so ignorant over the past few years, not really understanding how serious his breathing condition really is, only because he doesn't show it, until just recently.  HA, and having to live with my wonderful creative mother, who loves to collect, make and come up with every idea possible before finishing the last, bless his little heart.  Let's just say, she's got a LOT of stuff! So, being home to kind of help out with groceries or cleaning is ok for me.  It kind of helped me open my eyes and appreciate things more, knowing really what it's like to live on your own, and depend on no one but yourself.  Living at home, having to buy laundry detergent or toilet paper really is no big deal.  Where as before, I would have been thinking "REALLY DAD?"  No one else's parents make them buy that stuff!  They live at home!  I used to get sooo angry when I'd have to buy my own shampoo and toothpaste.  I felt like I wasn't supposed to do that while living at home b/c none of my friends did, so in that case, I felt shafted.  So.. it's kind of nice feeling good about something I couldn't have cared less about in the past.  

    So{I feel like i've used this word too much?}, my work couldn't get any cooler I tell ya.  I know, I know, I should be thankful{and I AM} to have a job right now that pays decent wages considering the economy.  But, let's not promise things to everyone that, let's be honest, may never happen.  I was told I'd see this raise on my one year, and when that day came?  No raise, no explanation as to why I didn't get one, until I asked.  I understand that we are in a freeze on giving raises, but at least tell me there is a posibility that I won't be seeing this raise when I have my hopes up for a long while.  And also, I was pretty excited to get the lunch we were told about from the NCAA tournament we all participated in and once it was over... yes, again.. nothing.  Possibly they just forgot, which happens when things get busy, but C'MON PEOPLE!  It's bad enough that they blocked my only contact to the outside world{during the 8 hours that i'm here that is}: Gmail.  So now, I can't chat it up with red next door{Gen ;)}, nor can I keep myself up to date on a regular basis with my emails i'm gettin and when I do, it's an overwelming list of things that I won't have time to read.  So, I just stick to this blog thing, and heaven forbid they block this {fingers crossed!}.  I like to play solitare or minesweeper while I am waiting on hold for the pharmacy/adjustor/ carrier and all that jazz, and as I go to pull it up yesterday, to my surprize... BLOCKED.  Ah MAN!  What am I going to do with myself...{I promise, I really am a good hard worker even though through this post it doesn't seem like it {tee hee}}.  I just need side things to get me through my day, because having A.D.D{or so it seems}, sitting at a computer for 8 hours is probably the hardest thing i've ever had to do.  I'm surprised it has been working out this well for me. {Are you bored yet?...} But, with all that being said, I do however, enjoy my job.  I enjoy all the people I work with, it's fun to see what goes on in others' everyday lives and to at least have the opportunity to talk to each other being a call center type job and all.  I have a friend who just got a new job and they can't even have their phones on, nor are they aloud to turn around and chat it up... oh how much trouble that would put me in.  I'd be as good as taking a dirt nap and rolling over dead... they'd have to muzzle me, or tie me to a pole so I didn't get up and wander.

    So, as busy as my month has been, i've loved actually having my weekends planned.  Brando and I went to Powell, followed by Vegas 2 weekends ago, and last week{on my return from Vegas}, my older brothers flew/drove in.  I couldn't have been happier.  I haven't seen JR in over a year{ugh} since we visited him in New York, and Jeramie up and moved where the wind{or job} took him: Colorado.  It was so fun getting to hang w/ my little nephews who are getting so big and so cute.  It was the best feeling the other night when I went to drop off Benson's glasses and Ethan saw me walk through the door and right away he darted towards my leg wrapping his tiny arms around me to give me a hug.  I hope that it will always be like that.  I don't want to be that aunt that the kids don't really know because we never see each other.  And same goes for when Junior has his little tikes.  But i'm sure, with as close as we are, that will never happen.  Brandon, Leeser, Junior and I went bowling the friday he was here and it was so much fun!  Ricky is such a tard and every time he bowled he almost fell over or he ended with this goofy stance that made him look like he was striking a pose.  After every turn he'd take, the hand went up, and Ole'! That's what we kept saying.  I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.  Saturday, we attended Benson's baptism and it was really cool!  I can't believe he is 8!  That means, I am getting old{ish} and my brothers aren't teen  agers like I always imagined them to stay.  We went to Robyn's parents house after and I think that's one of the most memorable fun times i've ever had with them!  Robyn is always so good and so busy with playing mom, she never really shows her inner kid that I saw on saturday.  The kids did their own thing, and we did ours.  Robyn, you're a riot...I don't know if you remember playing "bum wars" on the tramp growing up, but let's just say we did that and it was HILLARIOUS.  I remember being part of the "kid" group in the fam and the older people always getting on the older kids for being too rough with us, or "no big kids on the tramp while the little kids are playing" only because we'd get hurt.  Yeah, well I never though the time would come that I would be that BIG kid that had rules and restrictions from the tramp.  So what do we all do?  Decide to go jump on the tramp...Let's say 5 grown ups on the tramp is SCARY.  I'm surprised we didn't break it{or us for that matter}.  After that I somehow got stuck into playing Tag with 8 year olds.  That was only fun for so long and then of COURSE the hose was brought into the picture.  I however, made it home dry and didn't get soaked.  Not too sure how that happend.  But, yeah.. That REALLY happend.  SUCKERS.
    So, last night Kendra and I went to dinner and it was so good to hang out again.  I haven't seen her in forever and I haven't felt like i've been the best friend that she's needed me to be, or given what I have to offer lately.    I haven't really felt like i've lived up to anyones expectation of what a friend should be toward anyone lately... But, I guess I have my personal thoughts on that.  I'm still trying to figure things out and it's not anything towards anyone. Anyways, we went to good old Spag Fac last night and it was like a walk down memory road with all of the people we used to work with{not really saying it's a good thing}.  Hayden is getting so big and he is so dang cute.  I seriously miss hanging out with that girl everyday like old days.  We use to have sooo much fun and we did things out of the ordinary and we were spontaneous and didn't care what anyone thought{run on sentence? I think so}.  Now, i'm boring and lame and have nothing to offer haha..

  That's what I miss. 

How lucky I am to have a best friend like that.  Even though things have changed so much and we have more responsibilites, and don't see each other as often as i'd like, I still consider her my best friend{and Kendra, you still better be getting that first tattoo with me like we always say!}. 

    IDK...it's a weird place i'm in right now.  I don't feel like i'm where I need to be when it comes to my job, my place of living, just everything.  I don't know if it's because I feel like the whole world is progressing and moving forward and doing things that I am just not ready to do yet?  I am not ready to get married.  I love Brandon to death, and I WILL marry him.  However, right now is not our time-YET.  I feel like I have life waiting for me outside of Utah.  I want to be able to explore the world, move places where i've wanted to live and I feel that if I were married, I wouldn't be able to find the money to do these things.  It's nice because I feel like the only person who knows where i'm coming from is Brandon.  He always is there by my side and we have a plan, and plan to stick to it.  Everyone thinks it's weird that I want to move out of state.  The questions come rollin' "Well why would you want to leave your family behind?"  I love my family, I do.  They are my life, but I can't live my life around theirs, making it the reason to hold me back.  My mom has always told me, make goals, to have dreams, and to work toward those dreams and not to let anything hold me away from them.  We all grow up, we all move away from our families and do what WE strive to do.  I don't plan on making it permanent, however, I don't want to grow up, have kids and wish that I would have done something while I had the chance, like my parents always talk about.  These are just some of the things that run through my busy mind on a daily basis.  

   So, on another note {and hopefully the last-don't say I didn't warn you about a novel}, I think this is a good place to stop.  But before I do that, I want to share with you where i'll be hanging out this weekend!  Yes, I know, another weekend that I will be spending my time somewhere besides SLC-Gen threw together a little weekend stay at her family's time share in Heber.  It's called Zermott, and there we will be hangin out at the hot pots(or springs), eating gelato, golfing and hopefully shopping!  It should be a good time. 

OoOk...my fingers hurt. 

love//cmar