Post of Thanks

Wow! So I really shouldn't have left that complainy post up for so long. Sorry! As an apology, I wanted to show a couple things I am thankful for. Actually, this is something that has been on my mind a lot as of late (surprise!) and I just feel like I/we are so blessed - I would most definitely be remiss if I didn't say anything. So...enjoy!


My Savior - The One who has blessed my life in numerous ways and been there for me through every hard time I can imagine.

My cute husband - loves me no matter what I do or how crazy I act. I am so in love with him.

My amazing family. The more that I see my friends raise their kids I realize how lucky I was to have such a great family who always looks out for each other.

My favorite place to live....EVER! Sorry Mom...but you really can't beat warm weather, Southern charm, a nearby beach and no snow! God bless Texas.



What would I do without London? Someday I'll go back.







Reunions with best friends. And just having great friends for that matter.




The Salt Lake Temple - where we were married and the place that let us be together forever.







Now this one may seem a little strange - but trust me, if you're trying to be healthy and drink lots of water...normal water gets old. Thank goodness for the great flavor of Propel (and hardly any calories!)













So glad that I am mostly healthy enough to run and exercise everyday.

Also strange, but one of my absolute favorite movies that I am glad I can watch over and over when I'm sick (which I've been lately...lame colds!).

A Real Downer...

So sometimes I feel like daylight savings time is a real downer....I mean sure, it's nice to actually see the sun when I'm getting up SO EARLY to teach, and yes, it does make me feel like I should be more awake...but really?!? Is it worth feeling like 7:30 is bedtime? Because that's what it makes me do. I got home at 6:30 from teaching piano today and felt exhausted. While it was a pretty successful day - do I really need to be exhausted? Not quite. I can't even try to fudge that one and make my day seem THAT productive. Yet here I am, at 7:30 contemplating a trip to bed with lights out...sounds about right for November.

Itching...Seriously Itching....

Don't you hate being sick? I mean, really HATE it? Because I do. It's a beautiful day outside and I've been stuck INSIDE all day with a head cold. Meh meh meh. But the silver lining came in the form of one of my favorite movies - The Holiday. While I don't especially love the fake and overdramatic Cameron Diaz, I think Jude Law is attractive and I LOVE, more than words, the setting. Hence the picture of London to my left.

So because I'm sick, I got to enjoy this movie and daydream all afternoon of London. I'm so lucky I got to live there and I want to go back SO BAD someday!! In fact, I've already been looking at tickets. And they're only $421.....if you live in NYC. Dang. But I'm hoping if I whine and beg Anson enough, someday soon we'll get to go. Actually, he'd go in a heartbeat - I just won't let us spend that much money.

Consider my post a travel preview/itinerary for all you who are itching (like me) to go to London and some surrounding places. Here are a few must sees:

This is the Chatsworth House. It is SO beautiful in the Peaks District of England. There are tons of gardens and the house itself is gorgeous. It may look familiar since it was Darcy's house in the new Pride and Prejudice.

Another spot: Lake Windemere. This is where William Wordsworth and all the romantic poets lived. It is by far one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. The cottages are so pretty and idyllic with sheep roaming around. Yes, that does happen.

A castle in Switzerland right outside Gimmewald. It was so beautiful. While I loved the Alps, Wales is still my very favorite.

Any true Harry Potter fan knows what this is. Platform 9 3/4 in Kings Cross station. Not much to it, but kind of fun.

On top of Roman ruins on Conwy (pronounced Conway) Wales.

Still one of my favorite places ever - Stourhead. They have the most beautiful gardens. Obviously.Little village in Switzerland.

Bike riding in Versailles. The gardens are amazing!

Eiffel Tower in the Fall. Best time of year. Period.

Trafalgar Square. One of my favorite places in all of London. 1) the pigeons are everywhere 2) the National Gallery is right behind this picture where all of my favorite paintings are 3) you can see Big Ben through the middle of the square 4) beautiful statues are all over the place 5) St Martins-in-the-fields is next door with amazing free concerts during lunch

More to come...

It's a Miracle!

So I've finally joined the band-wagon and posted on a blog. I say posted, because in truth I've had a sitting blog for about 5 months now. All made with no activity. And I wouldn't have even had that without the help of my best friend Elizabeth and her computer skills. But to the request of many, I've caved. And you know what? This blogging thing seemed somewhat complicated - but it's really not. Very user friendly. Surprise!

Before we get started I think we should get a few things straight. I'm warning you now that Anson and I don't have any kids so we don't have any cute baby pictures to ooh and ahh over. I'm not super crafty so I most likely won't ever have any homemade inventions to share. I cook but like to borrow OTHER people's recipes so I will probably rarely post one on my own. I DO, however, travel quite a bit right now (luxury of having no kids), LOVE to read, and since Anson is a food critic in his own right, we know lots of good restaurants to comment on. So I'm guessing this is mostly what we'll write about.

But let's get to the nitty gritty. We met about 2 years ago on a rainy fall day. I remember the rain because it was my first day of work and I thought it was funny that God was also mourning my jump and soon-to-be enslavement into the workplace. It was October and we were selling insurance. Well, he was. I had no idea what I was doing. But we did sit across from each other.

He was dating someone else. So was I. We both were tired of our failing relationships. And quickly we became really good....friends. We talked at work when our phones weren't ringing. We ate lunch together. We hung out on the weekends with our mutual friends. And then we hung out by ourselves. And broke up with our significant others. And went on an adorable date to see Beauty and the Beast (my favorite!). And everything was...great.

But then, I did something stupid. I broke up with him on Valentines Day. The worst day ever (and it really was!). I said I didn't know what I wanted. I became conflicted - did I still like my old boyfriend? Probably. So I left Anson and started dating him again. Stupid. But I did it. And he tried to get over me (but of course he couldn't :) and I couldn't get over him. I tried, but I couldn't. He was my best friend and I didn't quite know it, but I loved him.

Finally, in April, I came to my senses. And I broke up with my boyfriend. But Anson didn't come right back. He was mad at me. So I waited a week (he couldn't last :) and then we started dating again. Slowly. And things were...perfect. And they continued perfect. Until that perfect October morning, a year and 4 days later, when he got down on one knee at the Dallas Temple, completely caught me off guard, and proposed. And then that even more perfect (and freezing) December morning when we got married. That is a miracle. And what's even more of a miracle? We're still happy and it's still perfect (in it's own way). And the final miracle? I've managed to make this super cheesy even when I didn't want/mean to.