You are good. But it is not enought to just be good. You must be good for something. You must contribute to the world. The world must be a better place for your presence. And the good in you must be spread to others. --Gordon B. Hinckley 

I find peace in this tonight. A high school friend of both Devin and I passed away tonight. Austin LaBato rest in peace, we know heavenly father is taking care of you now.

weekend

Cont. of the dinner party night.... We invited more friends over after dinner for cookie monsters (half baked chocolate chip cookies with ice cream on top) and then went to play in the snow, and games and hot chocolate after.

Here is the baker himself

Jamie with our desert

Jen (my cute friend from high school) Jamie and Dani... can you tell were frozen

My cute coat was one of my many gifts from Dev for Christmas, it is even more sweet because it is the SESSIONS snow boarding company (Dev knows how I miss my last name sometimes hehe)

Jam took this shot of Brent and Dev on a tube... they were flying. All of us were peeing our pants laughing at all the kids taking huge falls and rolling down the hills when they hit jumps. So entertaining.

I WON!

Just-cook-already (the link on the right of my blog) is so great. I always get fun recipes from them.
 Every month they have a giveaway. This January it was Williams Sonoma soap/ lotion/dish soup set (my VERY favorite thing at that store!!!)

and guess who won?!?!

ME. I never win anything.

Just thought I would share. Go take a look over at their site, they have some great things to make and great prizes too!!

winter soup

Last night Dev and I had a little dinner party with some friends. It was a snowy night so I decided to attempt to make this creamy potato soup. It was sooo yummy. We had french bread and salad along with it. Once again I didn't document the dinner part but pictures are to come of the rest of the night.
Here is the recipe so you can snuggle and enjoy some soup on a wintry night. SO easy and SO good.

4 C. Chicken Broth
1/2 tsp salt
5 potatoes
1/2 chopped onion
3 T dried parsley - fresh is best!
1/2 c cream
1 T butter

Boil broth, add pepper and salt. Peel potatoes cut into 1/8ths and add onions with to broth.
Cover and simmer for 20 min.
Add parsley, cream, and butter. Warm through.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Makes a little more than 4 servings.

ENJOY!

10 things

Saw this on a girls blog that inspires me all the time. She listed 10 things that make her happy. In honor of a new year and a new more positive outlook on life... here are 10 things that makes me happy

1. BATHS- with all my bubble bath stuff emma got me for christmas. I'm not even embarrassed to say I take at least 4 baths a week. I love it.
2. LAUGHING- Dev and I laugh together all day... we even will play rock paper scissors with the lights out about to go to bed just to get in a few more good laughs.
3. BOOKS- I loveee to read. That is one thing that has been hard for me while I go to school, I don't get to read as much. This semester I'm trying to find spare time to read on the side... my current read is "The Power of One". Totally recommend it.
4. FUNNY SHOWS- I'm not that big of a movie/ tv watcher but I do have a few favorites... current favs are "My Best Friends Wedding" my mom got me this movie for christmas, I hadn't seen it until now and I think it is absolutely hilarious. I also love "The Office", and my guilty pleasure "Keeping Up with the Kardashians"
5. WORKING OUT- I wouldn't classify myself as a health freak but I would say I love to exercise on a regular basis and eat very healthy. I love everything about staying fit and healthy. It feels so good. Once I graduate I've made the goal to become a fitness instructor so I can work at a gym and teach classes!
6. UM MY HUSBAND-  He's not really number 6 in line ... these are clearly out of order. Never the less... if my blog already doesn't spell it out, I'm a little in love with him.
7. CHURCH- I love my church more than anything in this world... literally. I am nothing without the gospel.
8. FOOD- I eat more than Dev everyday. As a semi newish wife and when I have time I lovee to try easy new recipes plus I have the cutest kitchen aid I got for my bridal shower and about every other kitchen item you can think of to match it..." martha steward blue" is the color. I aspire to one day be that mom who's kids friends want to come over and eat my food. HA.
9. FAMILY- I have such a close family. I am blessed to be so close to extended fam while Dev and I are here. The older I get the more I realize how lucky I am to have such close relationships with all of them. My immediate family has had a lot of bumps in the road and I am grateful for the support and love we get from each other.
10. fashion/organizing/decorating/shoes/photography/music.... ok I can't decide what 10 will be.

I have too much to be happy for.

What are 10 things that make you happy?

silver lining

--A hopeful or comforting prospect in the midst of difficulty

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVtSSCzASR0 ... the video online wouldn't let me post it on here, go listen anyway. love this song.

"god has made us fall in love its true"

Ok sorry another post on our one year I promise I'll stop after this...but I mean common how momentous!!  Dev was Mr. surprise man and took me to a dinner, shopping for a few new clothes, and then to a hotel suite for the weekend! We tried to take pictures but of course my camera was dead. We watched our wedding video today.... that day was beautiful in every way for me.

Wish I knew how to upload it so I could let you guys see!

we made it! (in 3 days)

Dear husband I love every inch of you. Thanks for loving me unconditionally no matter how much of a diva I am. CHEERS TO ONE YEAR! Love your Wife

Speaking of which, It's been a year from my first time going here. My life has changed so much from that day. I love the temple.

random

"your home should rise up to meet you"

Amen Oprah.
Yes I watch Oprah and yes she had a great show on yesterday. She talked about how your home reflects what is going on in your life and reflects you. So if your home is disorganized or if its nasty messy then so is your life. The quote she said above was talking about how when you enter your home it should lift you up and greet you warmly when you enter. Now that I have my own home I hope that it reflects Devin and I and our life together.
Maybe this is why I want to one day start my own organizing business because I'm so passionate about this subject, but I do know that I feel great about my life when my home and everything else in my life is organized and in order.

and this is what i find on my computer when I leave it with my little sister... a diva wearing an old lady wig, glasses, and bright red nail polish

married friends and game night

One of my favorite things about going to school at BYU-I is that we have some really great married friends. We have so much fun with them. The other night we had a few couples over for game night and desert. It was a riot. My new neighbors underneath us asked us today at church if we had lots of people over and wished they were invited because it sounded like we were having so much fun... we were. I told them they are invited next time. Ha. Here are our good looking friends.

Emily and Tommy (Devin's friend since jr. high)

Jeff and Kelsi (and a baby on the way, so excited for them!)

(soon to be engaged & the cutest bf and gf couple I know) Jamie and Brent

Danny( both Dev and I's friend since high school) and Dani (yes they both have the same name)

the hosts

This was the night before Dev and I left. I wen by my sisters place with my mom and other sister to say goodbye. Kate looks a tonnn better than she did in the last picture I posted of her. 

Emma and me.. I've been thinking about Emma. I just wanted to say although I am completely biased, she is one of the most friendly, brave, loving, and funny little 8 year olds I know. My family has had a few rough years. She is a strong girl, I admire her, and love every bit of her.

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

―Victor Frankl

I can't believe another year is here. Last year was one of the most life changing I have ever had in many different areas of my life. I am grateful for the things that have helped me to grow into the young woman God is trying to help me to become. I recently read an article by Jeffery R. Holland titled "The best is yet to be".  It has inspired me to look to the future. "The past is to be learned from but not lived in." I know there are many great experiences in store for Devin and I this coming year. Happy 2010!

Can you tell this was Dev's idea to pose this way?

First kiss of the year

“One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: to rise above the little things.”

continue...

A couple years ago my mom invested in some costumes to act out the nativity scene. Now every christmas we dress up and read the story of the birth of the Savior in Luke 2. Now that we have Devin, he has become the official Joseph, Emma Mary, Petie our dog the sheep, Emma's pretend horse as the donkey, and a different narrator every year. I die laughing at these pictures. Dev is so funny with Emma, they are 2 peas in a pod.

Dev and I at his Grandma's home. Every Christmas night they have a big dinner over at her beautiful home. Doesn't he look handsome in his new sweater? I think so.

In Bellevue there is a place called Botannical Gardens. Every Christmas season the Gardens create lights made into flowers and other different things like a swan, alligator, butterflies and lots of other things. If your ever in that area around Christmas, go! It is beautiful!

The grapes were my very favorite! They looked so real!

holidays cont.

You know those houses where cars line up and look at how pretty the lights are... Devin's parent's house are one of those.

This year was a little tragic for my little sister... she had trouble wanting to believe in Santa. But by the end of Christmas she decided she wanted to "half way believe". It was just too hard for her to not want to think he could still be out there. The day before Christmas I found her  here in the mall writing a letter to Santa.

Even more tragic was my other little sister having spinal surgery and spent Christmas in the hospital. It was a veryy painful surgery. Doesn't she look lovely here? This is straight out of the operating room. Ha. Poor Kate had to go through so much pain and missed out on all the festivities.

But we decided to be Santa's elves and bring Kate all her gifts, along with a ginger bread house to spice up the room.

Me and Em about to go into the hospital to deliver the goods

Emma and my mom about to go on a train ride.

“Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.”

Holidays

This is the first of a few more posts from Dev and I's vacation in Seattle. It was a lot of fun, we were spolied with way to many gifts, and already miss our families but I am exhausted and happy to be back in our little apartment.

Emma (my little sister) and I decided to throw a Christmas party for some of her close friends. We did cookie decorating, Christmas games, lunch, crafts, and a movie.  Six 8 year olds is more than I can handle.

While we waited for pie on Dev's b-day we made our friend Tommy do push ups with all of us on top. This is him after a few.

My birthday boy. I feel like we are the same age, I can't believe he is really 24 now.

Emma was Denene's (Dev's mom) helper

Much more to blog about soon!!