Lots to be thankful for.

This year has been very good to us. There is nothing we can truly complain about. Sure we have had stressful moments but all in all we have SO much to be thankful for!

I'm especially thankful for...

•  The past 4 years Sean and I have had together. 
• My previous work; I have made some life-long friends who I love dearly!
• Working and getting through school without going into any debt (which was our goal-that doesn't often happen). 
• That we have been blessed by Sean having such a great job now with good insurance and a wonderful boss.
• For our dog Margo. She is a perfect fit for our family! We love her SO much!
• For the opportunity I had to fly out and help family members in their time of need.
• For the awesome friends I have already made here in California.
• For a wonderful husband who I know will be an awesome father- thanks to many babysitting nights with his brothers' 5 kids. 
• That he talks to my tummy and tells the baby how much he loves it already. 
• That I will stop getting asked "so when are you going to have kids?"
• And of course that we're having a baby!

Okay so the last few were about having a baby but we are SO excited! We always knew we would wait till Sean was done with school and we got on "grown up" insurance so we could afford it. So the time had come when Sean got a "grown up" job. I guess for a Mormon family we waited a kind-of long time, but for everyone it's different. I was honestly very worried about getting pregnant and nervous that I wouldn't be able to, since I have had problems with my hormones for quite some time. I was also very nervous because I know that most women have a miscarriage before getting pregnant for the first time, so I wasn't getting my hopes too high. I am happy to have reached my second trimester without any problems so far, and I am very grateful for that. People have been asking me what gender we want. Honestly, we kind of wanted a boy first (not that we can choose that anyway), but now we really don't care! It has been lots of fun that past couple of years just taking in SO much information and reading up a lot on different things even if it has been TMI- I didn't care, I just wanted to be informed! I'm still doing LOTS of research which is comforting since I'm a planner... so much that I actually already know how I will decorate the nursery based on the gender- I know I'm kind of weird about that but I guess I do have a degree that says so. It has been very fun comparing strollers and car seats and all sorts of stuff. I still have a long road ahead of me but I am grateful that information is easily accessible. 

It's easy to say that I have a lot to be grateful for!

Getting caught up!

As you know it has been quite a while (over a year) since my last update, so I will tell you about our new fun life! Sean graduated school in April, with the plan that he would be working at Yahoo! Well as things never go as you expect them to. Some things had happened with Yahoo! that we weren't too pleased- bad communication, etc. We were scheduled to move in July 1st with Sean starting at Yahoo! on July 9th. We got to California on a Sunday (the 1st). The next day Sean  had an interview at another company Cloudera, things went well and he got an offer from that company on Wednesday. Sean started work at Cloudera on July 9th- and he LOVES it! I'm so happy that he is working at a job he loves! I am also loving working at home, doing home stuff. I would have probably gotten a job, but we only have one car so that tends to make transportation a little difficult! But the house we moved into wasn't in great condition so that has been keeping me busy. I have been wanting to do a lot of projects as well but didn't have time when I was working/driving so much in Utah, and now I have time! It got a little lonely at home and we knew for a long that we would get a dog as soon as we could so we did! We adopted a dog! Her name is Margo. She is a Border Collie mix about 8 months old and we just love her!! That is pretty much what we're up to now, I promise I will be better about posting updates in the future!

Hair!

So Most of my life I have had long hair, but about a year ago I decided that I would donate my hair- So since then I have been trying to keep it healthy and long- so the other day it was time to goodbye to my luscious locks... so I went to my friend Brittany a good friend from college and she cut my hair! She took off 13.5 inches!!! I love my new hair cut and I'm happy I could donate it to Locks for Love. I hope you all like my new look!!! P.S. Sorry for the blurry pics- I'm still Ipod camera challenged... and I know I have a terrible "Kissy" face!

Tome & Kalynn

We were able to see our longtime best friends Kalynn and Tome over the long weekend. We also got to meet their son Owen- Who is ADORABLE!!! It has been about a year since we saw them last, which is too long!! It was great to catch up with them!!

Spring time

First off I love spring so much! I love being outside and enjoying the beauty of nature around me. I love this time off year, especially now that most students in Provo have gone home!

This week alone 6 people in our apartment complex have moved out, and I know a few more will be gone soon too. It makes me jealous that they get to leave this place and I don't, but it also helps to know that our time here will soon be over, even if it is a year away- I'm still trying to keep positive!!

Last Spring I had a few herbs and flowers growing outside my door, and I loved it! So this year I decided to have a bit more herbs!

So here from the bottom up we have a Cherry tomato plant, Cilantro, Rosemary, Mint and Basil. I love using fresh herbs in my cooking! I also had to plant some flowers- they make me SO happy!!

I also decided to decorate my door with a wreath that I made- I'm really into bees as I'm sure you could guess.

I have been working on a few little projects here and there, I still seem to be so busy with work, and other responsibilities that I have so I haven't been able to do as much sewing as I would have liked. Some projects I have been able to get my hands on is this picture wall in my living room, it's not quite finished yet, but it's a work in progress.

My parents got me this pretty vinyl decor for my birthday, and I had the perfect place for it- above my bed!

All in all I really love this time of year but I think my favorite thing is that I have been able to spend more time with my wonderful, smart, handsome husband now that he is done for the main school year(even if he is still working full time, as well as being a T.A., and Taking a class this spring term).

WORK

So it has been quite a long time since I have last posted. The reason is because all I do is work. I work in Salt Lake and live in Provo so my schedule used to be as follows:

Wake up at 5:40
leave for work at 6:10 ish
get to work at 7:00
leave work at 2:30
get home at3:30
work from home till 5:00
pick up Sean from work
Come home, make dinner
Clean up from dinner
bedtime

And it starts all over again.

So as you can imagine I was getting really tired of just working. So I talked to my new boss to see if I could work less hours, and luckily he was sympathetic to my pretty pathetic case, so now I am working 4 less hours a week. It may not seem like a lot, but it makes a big difference. I am now able to work out- thank goodness because endorphins = happy Lisa. I am now also working on some baby products that I make so that in a few months I can open up an Etsy shop, and sell some of my stuff! I will be doing something I enjoy, and will (hopefully) be able to make money from it. And maybe if I'm lucky I will get to read a book, not just listen to it, but actually read the words off of the pages... I don't want to get too crazy, but hopefully I can make it happen. So hopefully this will be a new stepping stone to get out of this rut I have been stuck in, and I can get back to loving life!

Tis The Season...

I know I say I love every Holiday, and that Fall is my favorite- and that is true but I do really love Christmas A LOT!!! I love the spirit that Christmas brings, and that we can remember the birth of our Savior. Last week we had the opportunity to go to a Creche- where they had over 500 Nativity scenes (sculptures and other things) from 125 different countries! It was so neat to see SO many scenes of the Lord being born.

We attended My work Christmas party- I always LOVE to dress up!!

We also were able to go see the lights on Temple Square. It was beautiful. We went with some friends from my work.

Since, we are but poor college students and don't have a house or fireplace for that matter we hung our stockings on the TV with our fire DVD (thank you Kara) on so we could enjoy the crackling and look of a real fire.



I also made toffee by myself for the first time this year, And it turned out awesome!!


And last but definitely not least- I Love Decorations of this season!!! We our humble Christmas tree, our cute little Nativity, homemade decor, and of course Sparkles!!!





I love this season, A time to be with loved ones and to enjoy the spirit of Christ.

FALL

Fall is my favorite season. The colors, the weather, the crisp air, the smells, the flavors, the holidays... It's the best!

October is my favorite month, but sadly it has gone by SO fast! The beautiful colors lasted about a week, so I missed a lot of them. Sean and I headed up to Sundance yesterday to take some fall pictures- It is just SO charming and quaint there.



I also LOVE decorating for Fall!!




All in all I just LOVE Fall!

Lately...

I have been pretty terrible about keeping up on my blog. So here are some things to catch up to speed with now.

My friend Caitlin and I LOVE throwing bake sales to raise money for others in need- The first one we did was for Breast cancer research. We have another Bake sale scheduled for next month, for a friend of mine that lost her husband to cancer a few months ago, and is now left with a TON of medical bills and two little ones on the way!

Next Sean and I went to Lake Powell which was a blast!! This was Sean's first time, and I have to say he did awesome with all the water sports.We were also able to go to my beautiful cousin Alissa's wedding down there, and we were able to spend a day with Sean and I's best friend's, Kalynn and Tome!!

On fourth of July weekend we went to Sean's brother's house to watch fireworks, and our niece Ella got baptized!

Finally, I have been a sewing fiend lately. I have found any excuse to sew something, of course I updated my throw pillows. I also recovered a baby bouncer- which I didn't take a picture of; (but I should have) it turned out FABULOUS!!! I have also been into party planning things lately one event I have coming up is a Twilight themed Bridal shower... pics to come!


So that is us recently, I promise I will try and be better about blogging!


With love!

ALEGRIA!!!

It is amazing to see what the body can do!! Last night Sean and I had the opportunity to go see the Cirque de Soleil production: Alegria.


When we went to the muse concert in April they double booked our tickets so we didn't have seats- we got the floor. So we were pretty mad about that so Sean called ticket master to get our money back, when they said they wouldn't, Sean was going to talk to someone up in corp.- so then he got transferred to someone who gave us cirque tickets for free!!! The show was AMAZING!!!





My friend from work (Jill) and her brother went with us. We saw trapeze artists, a fire-man (hot, literally), contortionists, this cool guy-inside-a-metal-ring thing, and amazing gymnasts. And I really liked all of the sparkly outfits!! Now I just want to save up my money to go see some of their other productions!!

It was fun to feel like a kid again!

IRONMAN

This past weekend my brother-in-law Mike competed in the IRONMAN! I never really realized How long and how hard people work to get to this, and then to finish it until now. To start, the competitors have to wake up super early (as well as Sean and I), about 4:00 early. Then they start at 6:45 am in a cold lake and swim for 2.4 miles, then the wet suit strippers help them get out of their suits fast to make it on their bike as quick as possible.



The bike trail is 112 miles and a lot of it being uphill.


Then to finish off they run a marathon distance which is 26.2 miles.



And 15.5 hours-ish we see Mike cross the finish line!!! We are so proud of Mike!!! You are an IRONMAN!

Officially an Interior Designer!!!

As you know, I started school 4 years ago to get my degree in Interior Design. Well I am DONE!!!! Last Thursday night was my school's portfolio event. Above is how my display turned out. I'm not usually proud of much, but I am proud of myself for finishing and learning so much these past 4 years.

My Best Friend's Wedding!!!!

On March 28th, My best friend, Kalynn, and Sean's best friend, Tome, got married!!! They got married in the Mesa, Arizona Temple. The weather was SO perfect, and sunny.... We were REALLY sad to come back to the cold snowy weather!!! The ceremony was absolutely beautiful, I cried SO much... Kalynn is pratically my sister so it was wonderful to watch her marry the man she's been waiting for!!!

SPRING FEVER!!!!

Why I love Spring:

pretty pastel colors

flowers all in bloom

easter baskets

green milk

corned beef

easter

birds chirping

sunshine

my birthday

and you can dye easter eggs!!!!

So while we were at our brother in laws house.... well I wanted to do a fun little treat with the kids while were babysitting them... I used Chocolate pudding, crushed Oreo cookies, gummy worms and some imagination to create a pot of dirt!!!! The kids thought it was yummy and it was so fun to see their faces when i told them we were going to eat dirt!!! those kids are the CUTEST!!!

Anyway, I love spring.

For St. Patricks day my mom usually dyes the milk green ( when we were little)
and this St. patty's day I was going to do the same!!!! but then I was realizing that Sean would not have gotten as big a kick out of it, as I did as a kid.

but maybe in April I can pull pink milk on him and see what he thinks. hehe One thing I can guarantee is that there will be a special Easter basket for the bear and for myself.

TODAY is FRIDAY!!!!!!!

First thing is that I LIVE for fridays!!!!

Over the years I have grown to appreciate the weekends... now that we are slowly becoming... well trying to become grown ups, we go to our jobs everyday and whenever I get home I am SO mentally, emotionally, and physically drained. With that being said I have come to realize that weekends are the BEST!!!!! 

My feelings about days of the week:

Sunday: Happy because it's part of the weekend, but still bummed because that means that the next day is Monday.

Monday: Not so fun- start the work/school week all over again, and never have any time to relax...

Tuesday: Well "I love tuesdays"... thanks to kalynn. 

Wednesday: My long day 7 am till 10 pm away from home. Enough said. But at least I can say "tomorrow I can say tomorrow is Friday!"

Thursday: Not too bad, it has become tradition that on Thursday mornings and nights I always say "tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!!!"

Friday: I'm super happy on this day because that means that it's practically the weekend so work goes by pretty fast... once I'm off work I am on cloud 9!!!! I love fridays.... because it's the weekend which means- time for some R & R and lots off nuggling with the hubby!!!

Saturday: GREATEST DAY EVER!!!

Sunday: Not TOO bad, even if the next day is Monday we can still sleep in....

and from that the week starts over...

SO I am happy to say TODAY is FRIDAY, which means the weekend is NOW!!!

OUR HUMBLE ABODE

Well now that we are married and moved in, I have been craving to use my design skills as much as possible! With that I have A LOT of do-it-yourself projects lined up! One of my favorite finds were the sheets that I got from Down East, well I made them into curtains of course!!! So slowly, but surely our apartment is coming along very well!!

Home again.... and engaged!

As many know, it only took two days for Sean and I to become engaged... I think we set some records! The date has been set for December 26th... and yes it is the day after Christmas... we're very aware. It may seem inconvenient, but it is actually very convenient for us. We are back in Utah, and loving it... Sean is still transitioning to Utah life, but he is beginning to warm up to it. I will be finishing up school in April, and he will be in school a while... but for now we are just enjoying each others company.

Time to come home....

"Sean Mackrory left his sweetheart..." well sean mackrory is coming back to his sweetheart. These past two years have been such a wonderful time. We've grown up (well started to), and we are very excited to see each other once again!