Things I love...

One of my sister's very first blog posts was about things she loved... I'm a pretty pessimistic person (shocker I know) but I thought just maybe if I focused on the happy things in life, I'm might be a happier person... Here it goes!

I LOVE:

to see my husband smile... and when he does things like this that make me laugh uncontrollably! I never knew how important it was to find someone in life who made you laugh and smile until JJ came into my life - now I don't know how I ever lived without it!! He makes me smile constantly and I laugh everyday. I love it and I love him!!

I love being loved. I don't know what I did to get so lucky, but I have the sweetest hubby. He spoils me, he cares about me, he wants to take care of me, he wants to make me laugh and smile, and most of all, he loves me. No.... he loves ME!!! He loves me for me, with all my quirks, bad habits, mood swings (Yes, I do have those, I'm just good at hiding it! :) ha!), high maintenance qualities, etc. All that stuff and he still loves me. Sheesh - I gotta tell ya, I'm one lucky girl!

I love family and friends! Playing badminton in my cousin's backyard with some friends - how cool is it that one of my very best friends, is also family?? I love that!

I love this baby girl! She just lights me up whenever she comes around! It just boggles my mind sometimes that such a little thing can bring such joy. Anytime I get to see her, hold her, hug her, play with her, even just see a picture of her and I've got an instant and constant grin. I love that my siblings have had such cute kids because then 1) I don't have to have them - muahahaha (that evil laugh is for my mom-in-law and 2) I get to play with them and give them back when they get sad and 3) they make me so happy! :)

Last but not least.... I already mentioned having best friends as family (my big sister in this case), this hideous picture is about my weight. Last year my sister and I ate lunch at Eat-A-Burger (oh how I miss thee!), took this picture and went about our day... When I got home I loaded it onto the computer and almost puked when I saw it on a bigger screen!!! Ok, so I didn't really puke but there was some definite gagging going on. I vowed then and there that I would lose weight. I hated getting dressed in clothes that just didn't fit right, I hated my body, I hated knowing I could do better, I hated not having energy... I hated me. It's been a long fight, one that definitely isn't over and will most likely be something I struggle with the rest of my life. But I LOVE that I can say that I've lost 35 POUNDS!!!! Can I have a Woot Woot!?!

Here's a picture from one year since the picture of me and my sister! I've still got some to lose, but come on... I look awesome!!! :) I love that there is an obvious difference, I love that I looked at this picture and didn't immediately find something bad to say about it, I love being skinny!! (skinnier) Never thought I'd use that word in a positive sentence, but there you have it! Hooray for things we love!

And for all 3 of you that read my blog - I love my fans! :)

Happy Birthday AuntiE!!

Happy SURPRISE Birthday to my Aunt Elaine!!! She had absolutely no idea and it rocked to see how blown away she was to see everyone that came, all the work that went into the planning and scheming, and her favorite foods there to munch on. I of course took a ton of pictures... here are a few from the evening!


SURPRISE!!!! Happy Birthday!!! We love you oh so very much!!

Cute little family! (Minus my cousin Sean who had to work :( poor kid)

See what I mean about favorite foods?! This lady has some fantastic taste buds!!

Oh, so fun presents to open!

Pictures of Elaine and her favorite friends and family:

This was the coolest present in all the land... We were asked by the party planning committee to give Elaine a scrapbook page/layout with pictures of her & memories or a note to her, she cried with each and every page! It was wonderful to see her read and acknowledge how special and unique she is. Love you!!!!!

Tears of Joy!!

She's my aunt, my role model, my friend, and most importantly, she's my second mommy. I love her soooooooo very much!! I was extremely grateful and blessed to have spent that evening with her... and so very blessed to have been invited into her home for a great part of my life, to be raised by such an amazing woman and daughter of God. A girl couldn't ask for more!

I love you so very much AuntiE, and I truly hope we were able to show you how much you mean to us!

Girls Only Bday Party!

I got to tag along on Saturday to be the official picture taker for my niece's birthday party - soooo much fun and seriously so cute girls! We picked up each of the girls after school, then headed to Sherman Kendall's (school that teaches the art of cutting/styling hair, etc).

Birthday girl!!

They each got an "up-do"

And they each chose to put some glitter in their new do's!

Nails painted....

And make-up!!

One dressed up birthday girl!

How stinkin' cute is this?!

Then we headed to a new Frozen Yogurt place, "Frogurt" which turned out to be really cool and I'll definitely be back! You grab a bowl, fill it up with frozen yogurt - 16 flavors available, add toppings - 50 to choose from, then you get your bowl weighed to figure out your price! Pretty cool if you ask me!

Every topping I could ever think of.... and some I wouldn't....

My awesome big sister can throw a mean party if you ask me! Thanks for letting me tag along!!

Another Wedding!

May 19th, 2010 JJ and I attended the wedding of one of JJ's really great friends, Conley. It was held at Noah's in Lindon, they have multiple locations and I'm always really impressed with how the weddings turn out. They got married at 5:00 p.m., and though it was a bit windy, it was a really sweet ceremony.

Because we all know I'm a picture taking-aholic, here we go!

Bishop D Campbell & The Nervous Groom Conley

Beautiful Bride Brandie & her daddy walking down the isle.

With this ring....

I pronounce you husband & wife - you may kiss the bride!!!

Mr & Mrs!!

Gotta have one of these pictures, right??

Moses & Genevieve - our entertainment for the night! :)

Cute cupcake wedding cake! However, some people are still sheltered from this new tradition and started partaking of the cupcakes before the reception even started... I couldn't believe it!! Someone suggested they get someone to stand by the table and tell people to beat it, I responded, "No, what they need is a Candace... this wouldn't have happened if they'd hired a Candace to do their wedding." Most cocky thing I've heard come out of my mouth!! :) I told JJ to find a staff member and get them to put a sign out - I hope some where still there by the end of the night!

JJ & Conley - some of the cutest nerds to ever walk the earth!! We love you!

Mr & Mrs!!

JJ and I have been stuck like glue to our awesome friends - Tyson & Melissa. We've been helping them with wedding plans for months and months and finally they got married!!! Sit back and enjoy the gorgeousness that is this wedding!

Introducing Mr & Mrs Tyson Glad!

Happy!! I just had to grab a shot of me & Mellers before she got sucked into the hours of photos that they'd be subjected to.

Married for Time and All Eternity in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.

Just fiddling with the black & white feature on my camera - they still look good without color...

The Beautiful Bride!

The reception, decorated by yours truly (it only took 11 hours).

The Bridesmaids. (If you'll look closely I'm the only one with pink ribbon, therefore making me the most important, Maid of Honor - that's right ladies, I'm gloating - I Rock Well.)

The Bride & Her Maid of Honor :)

Me & My handsome hubby!!!

JJ and Andrew - the best men... ok... best boys? ;) Just teasin!

Tyson's Aunt is a professional fruit carver, this was her display. Can we say "Holy Crap?!"

Tyson's little brother, Tanner, is in the Madrigals at Copper Hills High School. He brought them in to sing a special song to Melissa, the girls sang one to Tyson, then as a gift from Tanner, they all sang a song together to the Bride & Groom. It was pretty neat! Tanner is awesome in my book!!

Tyson's pulling his sexy face, trying to get the cake in the mood for some cutting!

Go Get 'Em Tiger! (Song playing at this point is "Let's Get It On" - most excellent choice!!

Tyson & Melissa's ride - decorated by: JJ, Andrew, Elaine, Lars & Kelsey. Great Job Delinquents!

Enjoy your Honey's Moon!!!

I'm so happy for these two kids and hope they have a great marriage. The wedding set up was a ton of work, more than I thought there would be, but I'm grateful I could step in and help out. Yet again, I must thank my mommy, Aunts, & sisters for raising me to be such an awesome person and great friend. I hung out all day thursday with Tyson's mom & aunt setting up the church for the reception... Hanging lights from a church ceiling - irritating... stringing icicle lights from 5 tables - painful... 11 hours with 2 Brazilian women - my saving grace! I was blessed with 2 ladies that were super sweet and extremely grateful for my help - and that definitely helped get me through the day!

Friday was the wedding, it was beautiful weather and a gorgeous temple. The ceremony was perfect, they were all smiles and couldn't let go of one another. The reception, again, was a ton of work - taking pictures, welcoming guests, setting out food (and restocking throughout the night), being a DJ, setting up the car decor, taking care of the bride & groom, helping family members with various tasks, getting the bride & groom out the door, packing up presents, cleaning up plates, taking down lights & lanterns, removing table cloths & lights from tables, cleaning up food, taking down chairs and tables.... oy... I'm getting tired all over again!

In the end, it turned out to be a perfect day for Tyson & Melissa, I'm so grateful for their friendship and that I had the ability to help out so much. I love them both!! (But I'm glad it's over too! :) tee-HEE!)