May 2014

As noted previously, I spent all of May about two hours south. Here's what we did on my quick weekends at home:

No pictures, but we got the garden planted when I was home, most of it anyway. I would pull in Saturday night around 7:30 with seeds and starts from the greenhouse and we would get right to work until it was too dark to work anymore.

 Took a Sunday drive to Mesa Falls.

Found out that our lil' gummy bear is a boy! It was too exciting not to, so we made the news facebook official.

I would have loved to be a little more creative on the announcing part, but you can only do so much when you're home for about 48 hours, sleep time included. 

I couldn't resist this 'stache and bow tie balloon.

Kind of starting to show! I'll do a bump growth post later.

 

David hitched a ride and met me in Downey so that we could head to Jerrick's wedding reception in Utah. I wrapped my hair with paper towels to get a rag curl (thank you girls camp for teaching me valuable things like rag curls) on the ends, and then had a wet one wipe down in the car to make myself more wedding appropriate. Who needs running water and power to go from greenhouse grunge to wedding glam?

After the reception we went to the Boondocks to play with whatever family could make it. 

Mini golf, go-carts, batting cages, arcade, and the bumper boats- where Joseph lost his glasses in the pool. I think it was David, or maybe it was Uncle Joe, that shot his glasses off his face and down they went. It was pretty hilarious. We had a night full of laughs. It was great to hang out with family.

Visited all the family sites in the Blackfoot cemetery for Memorial Day with Uncle Klain and Aunt Elaine. I hadn't been here since 2001 for Grandma's funeral. It was great to visit when I am older and more appreciative of my family history. 

I put together the geranium wraps before leaving the greenhouses for the day. Pinks for Grandma Azalia and Red,White, & Blue for Grandpa Dean. 

 

Aunt Elaine had flowers for each site.

Baby Anne

We started our summer jobs. We're doing the same thing as last year- boat inspections at Henrys Lake. So for the weeks we had to be at Henrys- one weekend in May and one in June before I finished my internship- I only worked 5 days at the greenhouse instead of 6. So those weeks where I was working both I put in close to 80 hours. That was fun. Okay, maybe not so much. But you do what you gotta do!

The real fun part was taking the boat out again.

First voyage of 2014!

...And just because...

More photos from our photobooth session with our cute blue balloon.

David was pretty ecstatic it's a boy. :)

April 2014

Tore the whole dash out of the jeep....again. Ugh. But David got things fixed.

Conference Sunday made donuts. So delicious!

Soaked up some sun while studying.  (The yard is much more green now)

Joe and Felicia and kids came up at the end of the semester to visit and then took David home with them to play while I started my internship. He didn't have to work that week so the timing was perfect. 

We've had these red leather boots in the closet for years. James' PJ outfit was begging for them to be pulled out. Can that red-head get any cuter???

I finished my first week of my internship and headed down to Salt Lake to meet up with David and family for Easter weekend. 

Dying eggs.

And sweet Chelsie started the process of bringing my hair back to blonde.

While there we finally announced the news about our growing lil' gummy bear. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up with everyone in one spot and getting to see the big reaction. Plus we concocted a fun way to spill the beans that worked well with the easter season.There's a video somewhere, but all you can hear is Nessie screaming. haha. 

We gave Amelia a puzzle (of a cute yellow chick) with a note on the back that said there's another egg to find with a big surprise inside. We got everyone outside and David hid the egg (which looked like a cute yellow chick). When everyone came back in it was a mad house. I've never seen an apartment torn apart so fast. Sorry, Felicia. Finally the egg was found! Nessie opened it and ignored the black and white picture (she said she thought it was a map or something to another egg) and began reading the back which said: "We're EGGspecting this chick to hatch in October!" She stumbled over the EGGspecting part and then it clicked before she could finish reading and she was screaming and jumping and down. It was pretty great. 

We also sent the same message in an egg with some candy via snail mail to our grandparents and all my siblings to be opened Easter weekend. It was fun getting all their sweet messages of surprise and excitement as the weekend rolled out. And it was nice to be around family without David reminding me to, "Suck it in!"

Cute boys sending me some love during my first week of my internship.

 

I should also mention that David made it through his second chemistry class! These classes are repeated more often than not, but mister D got through them both in one try. Oh happy day! 

whabam!

its different, i swear!

darker red.

thicker fringe.

and just a trimmy trim.

before

{Monday Confessional} with a little bit of Sunday Dessert

I'll let the pictures do [most of] the talking here.

As hubby was out hunting for a "monster" buck this week, I did this:

kind of shocked at how bright, yet how dark, it looked at this point

all done!

I love that when I walked back to my stylist's chair, one of my good friends from High School, Cami, was working on another lady. So fun and such a nice surprise! Thanks for the chat Cam, and thanks for bringing in your chunk of love for me to play with!!!!

Now it's time for some Sunday Dessert:

jacket: found at Marshall's, $10

dress: Wal-Mart rack baby (several years ago), $8

boots: found at Ross (Jr. year of high school!) $25

hair makeover took place at Kaya Salon, off of the 2-15 and Valle Verde by Miss Becca Bates! 

the [lack of good] lighting is making the hair look a lot darker. 

 And that is all the pichas I have of the hair at this moment.

Now this duo is a totally possible option for Halloween. 

Oh and, Husband LOVES IT! 

He got in really late last night, I was already asleep. But today he told me his thoughts were: 1- who is that in my bed? 2- oh yah, she (me) said she had a hair appointment. 3- cool, my wife is hott.

{Tipful Tuesday} Hair in Real-Time

Time is a funny ol' thing. 

I often marvel at how one's appearance can seem to change drastically to a beholder, but seem monotonous and same-ol same-ol to the individual (did I get that put into words in a sensible manner?).

For example, I looked something like this when the Mr. and I first met:

To this day I am shocked that David thought I was decent looking when we first met what with my chubbiness (the dreaded freshman 15) and bobbed brunetteness (totally a word...maybe) going on. Don't get me wrong. I loved my short, brown hair. I'm just surprised David recognized me as his soul companion because I really didn't feel quite like myself [chubby. short. brown hair. on a girl that has been relatively fit with long blonde locks her whole life]. (I guess that just goes to show that my spirit, and not my physical body, was really shining that night. I'm getting distracted...)

My hair is now it's original color (with the ends showing the remnants of the last time I did a box-dye 7 months ago).
And now, over 2 years since that star-aligned first meeting, I don't feel like I've changed that much. But while looking back on old pictures I've realized that my whole look is quite different.

I love having my long hair back. It's officially hit my mermaid status marker (you'll have to ask me in person about what in the world that is supposed to mean).

Boy, oh boy, does my hair grow like a weed. I can't imagine what it will be like when I'm 'with child' (one day, many many many days from now). I think at that point we can just start referring to me as Rapunzel.

There's a point to this, I promise, just stick with me. 

The thing is, I feel like I look like this most of the time:

And this week I'm just itching to change something about this mop. 

But I have a dilemma. 

Several, infact.

Dilemma 1: I've mentioned before that I struggle with having just anyone cut my hair. Andrea (the super awesome talented cousin) can do anything she pleases with my hair and I would trust her 100%. But alas, we live several hundred miles apart. I've slowly gotten over this and have finally become semi-comfortable with the idea of having someone else play my with hair. whew. 

Dilemma 2: I for reals want some fringe. But as mentioned above, my hair grows somewhat frighteningly fast. So my fringe would need some major upkeep- a.k.a. frequent salon visits a.k.a. more money than my cheapwadness is willing to dish in order to maintain fabulous looking fringe.

Dilemma 3: color. done with the blondie blonde right now. Which brings us back to dilemmas 1 and 2. While I've talked myself into letting a stranger cut my hair, I'm not so sure about the whole color processing thing. Seriously, Ann is amazing. I've been completely spoiled by her talent and her family discount. I'm aware that getting color is mucho expensivo. Especially on longer locks. 

Dilemma 4: I have never dished out money at a hair salon before. EVER.
Dilemma 5: the hair stylist is going to ask when I last had my hair cut. And I'll say, "November 2009". And they'll die of shock and disgust.

With all that being said, I'm going to be setting up some appointments tomorrow to drop dough for some hair care time this week before hubby gets back.

Not sure he'll recognize me by week's end. 

i love surprises, don't you?

If it turns out terrible I can just hide under a hat all day, right?

k, good.
or...I could just drive the several hundred miles just to have Ann fix my hair.
humunuh, decisions. decisions.
...and oh, right...it's Tuesday. Care for a tip?
I guess there are several to take away from this hairy post.
1) Make friends/family with an awesome hair stylist that you trust completely.
2) Don't ever move away from them.
or
3) Don't be a cheapwad, like yours truly, and be willing to put out some moonies for your tresses.
mmmmmk!
lastly, Ann makes cute babies:

{Sunday Dessert}...on a Monday

So, I really didn't wear this on Sunday. This Little Black number was worn to dinner on Wednesday evening. David got a half-off coupon for Terra Verde at the Green Valley Ranch Resort. yum. 

I hate waiting for the camera to take the picture, and I get a little antsy and start doing funny things. I apologize for my awkwardness.

The Breakdown:

LBD: found at Ross $15

shoes: my wedding shoes! found at Journeys, of all places, just a few days before the wedding. Rocket Dogs: $30
hair: low twist with a cute mess to the side

{Sunday Dessert}

breakdown:

dress: Calvin Klein, found at Burlington Coat Factory: can't remember the price, but it was probably around $30 (also seen here for Daniel's wedding '09)

shrug: I think I found this at Ross for $7

shoes: wore these to my senior prom; also found at Burlington- $15

headband: Forever 21 [online] $3

{Hairy Thursday}

no tutorial today. sorry! 

but really, a braiding series is in the works. 

For today's {Hairy Thursday}, I need to make a public vow to never wear my hair down for a wedding EVER AGAIN! 

The pictures always are outside, and it seems to always be windy. And my hair and face always look ridiculous. For example:

I look much better here sans make-up and not yet having touched my hair.

And then I always end up pulling my hair back in whatever possible way given however many resources I have (i.e. bobby pins and elastics)

I must admit that this is not the first time I've set myself up for the heat and wind to shed light on my ridiculousness on special days. Let us look to the past for pictorial proof:


 

Brianna's Wedding:

See me? In the back? With my hair blowing in my face!?

Between the temple and reception venue I pulled away the hairs that were stuck to my lips and eyelashes (and also grabbed a date (a handsome and charming one to boot!)

Dia's Wedding:

holding back the hair

out of the way and wrapped in a braid for the even windier, but absolutely lovely,  reception!

Paige's wedding!

shortness of hair! I got out of the shower and hopped in the car the morning of this Idaho wedding where I was subsequently wedged in the back seat between Regan (pictured above) my mom, ...and someone else. So, hair air dried on the drive (which you can't really pull off very well with short hair) and when we got to the temple I ran inside [wearing sweats], changed into "nice" clothes and put a braid in to hold back the bangs. ay yi yi yi yi!

Breezy's Wedding!!! Although this was a rather windy day, I don't look quite as ridiculous as I feel.

Erin's wedding:  I don't feel too ridiculous; however, the sunshine on my blonde hair is making me look like I have a sweet bald patch. Awesome.

At least for these two I got it right:

Keith and Keri wedding '08: a quick french twist

Daniel and Tricia wedding '09: hair done in the car on the way to the reception. while driving, just kidding.

Concluding thoughts:

1- That's a lot of wedding in two years! Wowza!

2- I now remember why I try to avoid pulling my hair up or to the side for wedding days. I feel like the bride will have a similar hair do and I don't want to step on her turf and have the same hair did!

3-So, sisters/friends/brides, are you happy? I allowed myself to look ridiculous so that I didn't risk copy-catting your hair! 

4- Luckily for Courtney's wedding I remembered that I never fair well with wedding pictures if my hair is down. Alas, I have no picture to prove that [yet]. 

5- I am tired and writing in a silly manner.
6- I'm on Facebook a lot more often now [the last week or so ish], and it's strange. I'm hardly ever on there! I don't know what happened to me. 
good night.