2013

Well heck. I keep managing to forget this little corner of the internet. Things just don't seem all that interesting in the Smith household lately, so I just don't ever think to blog. 

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas around here. Nice and quiet really. It was our first Christmas together and I'm looking forward to spending many many more with my wonderful husband. 

Most of our nights are spent on the couch watching Netflix (West Wing is now on streaming. #winning!!) and cuddling with the dogs. Wally is a serious cuddlebug. 

I started to think about the New Year tonight and what I wanted to accomplish in 2013. I always seem to make these big huge resolutions and stick to them for about...oh...5 seconds. I'm not going to say that this year is going to be different, because it might not be. But right now, I'm going to try. I'm going to avoid the word 'resolution' though because it kind of makes me twitch. We're going to go with 'goals'. 

Goal #1 is a big one though. Maybe I should lead with something a little more... predictable? Okay, change in plans. Goal #1 is now Goal #2.

 New Goal #1 is the required "I will eat better and exercise in the New Year." But this year, this one is required. I have diabetes. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes when I was 14. I recently was told that if I ever wanted to have kids, I needed to get my diabetes under control (it wasn't). I want children more than anything else in this world. I always have and that desire is such a basic need within myself. If I want to successfully become a mother, I need to take responsibility for my health this year. I need to take my insulin regularly, test my sugar regularly, exercise regularly, and eat better. The husband and myself are planning on joining the local rec center down the street from our house soon so I'll have a gym to go to at a fairly reasonable price. I'm excited. 

Goal #2 (formerly known as Goal #1) is to read 50 books in 2013. Told you it was a tough one, didn't I? I know. I'm crazy. I used to read like crazy. You used to have to pry a book our of my hands. I used to be one of those girls that stayed up until all hours of the night (morning most times) reading a book because I was so enthralled. Somewhere between college textbooks and Netflix, I've begun to loose my desire. I need that back. I want that back. This one came to me a few nights ago as I was struggling to get to sleep. I have so many books sitting on our bookshelves that have gone unread. My first book of 2013? Pride and Prejudice By Jane Austen. I have to confess, I already started it a few days ago, but I promise it's only a few chapters. I have a few rules: I can only buy 10 new books this year. All others must be already owned or come from the DI. I also may not read a book that I have previously read and if I start on that I haven't read all the way through, I have to start it from the beginning. I must record the books that I read here and give my review and no matter what, I must finish the book once I start it. If you have a suggestion for a book I should read, please email me or leave a comment! I am certainly open to suggestions! 

Goal #3 is my spiritual related one. I will finish Personal Progress. Personal Progress is a program put together by our Church that encourages young women to come unto Christ. I was recently called (given a voluntary assignment in Church) to be in the Young Women's Presidency. Basically, I help with our congregation's Young Women's program. It's probably the best calling...ever. And since I'm a convert, I didn't go through this program during my teen years. So, I'm going back now. I want to set an example for my girls. I can't ask them to do something that I haven't done or wouldn't do myself. I've already started on this one as well and I can feel myself inching closer to a better relationship with Christ, with Heavenly Father, and with myself. 

So, that's it. Those are my three goals.

Get healthy. 

Get my passion back. 

Get closer to God. 

I hope every single one of you lovely people has a wonderful New Year and a happy 2013. 

{instagram}

It's funny how your phone tends to become your camera sometimes. It's a lot easier than lugging around the giant DSLR or even the little point and shoot. It's convenient and with today's technology, you often get pictures that are just as good. 

I instagram a lot. Here's a little of what we've been up to through the eyes of my iPhone

We got some snow...Which promptly melted 2 days later. :( 

We also got a dog! His name is Wally the Wiener dog. We got him from the shelter because I just happened across his listing on petfinder. That site is dangerous I tell you. Dangerous. He's playing nice with Charlie and is a perfect addition to our house. Love. 

My wonderful sister and mom came for Thanksgiving. Really, I just wanted my mom out here to decorate my house. Because I missed the 'decorator' gene. 

I made (and ruined) pecan pies. 

Wally turned into a hot dog. 

We put up our Charlie Brown Christmas tree. That thing really needs a tree skirt...

Wally and Charlie snuggled. Kinda. 

And I fell more in love with the mountains. I didn't even realize that was possible really. 

It's been a pretty nice few months here. We're gearing up for our first Christmas as a married couple and in our new house. It's been...an adventure...owning our own home but I wouldn't trade it for the world. We're slowly but surely turning this house into a home that we'll be in for a very long time. Once I get the house put together a little more, I want to do a little house tour. But that's a bit off right now. 

Next up on my plate: 

Holiday baking (Grandma's world famous Stollen bread is among the choices) 

Cooking a giant Christmas day dinner for me and the husband

Finishing out the year strong at work (hey finishing off my first year at 100% for my accounts) 

Coming up with some good New Year's Resolutions 

Logan Road Trip

Hey guys. Long time no talk. Or blog. Sorry about that. Life got a little cray and I let blogging suffer. womp womp. 

But suffer no more! I finally uploaded pictures from both cameras with months worth of stuff on it, so over the next few days I'll be updating frequently. YAY! 

A few months ago (October sometime. We think), I begged the husband to take me on a road trip up to Logan. See, I love the Logan Temple. I wanted to get sealed there but since we were getting married in March and you have to drive through mountains to get to Logan, we thought it wasn't a very good idea. I've wanted to go since I moved here but it's a bit of a drive so we never seemed to have a free Saturday. But one Saturday I made sure we were not busy with anything. This was our chance! We got up early and took the drive up to Logan. And boy was it a pretty drive. I'm pretty much in love with Northern Utah. Love I tell you. 

We stopped at the Brigham City Temple on our way up since it was right there. It had just been dedicated this summer, so it's a brand new Temple. It was smaller than I was expecting, but pretty nonetheless. 

 

The colors on the drive were amazing. These pictures just don't do them justice. And I snapped about 10,000 pictures trying...

And finally! Logan! 

Friday's Letters

Dear Park City: Thanks for being so wonderful to us last weekend. I really do love you. You remind me of up north Michigan and when I'm with you...I feel at home. Dear H: I hope you had a wonderful birthday! I love you! Dear Snow: THANKS for coming so early this year. Can you come around more often this year? I really like you a lot. Dear Thanksgiving: Can you get here already? I'm ready for some sissy/mom/Jacky bonding time. Dear Mom: I think we're going to FINALLY paint our door this weekend. I can hear you cheering already. ;) Dear Weekend: Thanks for being here. I needed you. 

More letters

HERE. 

Happy Birthday!

Hubband. Hubs. Hunnie Bunnie. 

It's your birthday!

Today is one of my favorite days of the entire year. Because if you hadn't been born, well this blog probably wouldn't exist and Charlie and I would be very sad and lonely. womp womp. 

 I hope you don't mind that I outed my nicknames for you up above, but they're just so cute. Like you. 

You know what else I like about you and would miss if you weren't in my life?

Your blue eyes (which I hope our kids get) 

Your laugh. It's contagious 

Your devoted nature

Your testimony

Your smile 

Those dimples. They slay me

The way you call me honey muffin

How you always tell me you love me

Your voice

Your kisses

Cuddles 

I mean, let's get real here. I love everything about you. 

So, I hope you have a very happy birthday and know that I love you very much. 

xoxo

your wifey

Big Cottonwood Canyon

Yesterday, between sessions of General Conference, Todd and I took a drive up into the mountains (finally). I've been watching the trees slowly changing colors and have been itching to go up and take some pictures. Big Cottonwood Canyon was simply gorgeous and I can see this drive becoming a tradition in our house.  

Friday's Letters

Dear pup: I really hate when you look at me like that when I leave. Dear self: You really need General Conference this weekend. Pay attention, kay? Dear Doctor Who: I think I'm in love with you and your antics. (sorry Mr.) Speaking of, Dear Mr: Your birthday is coming up! You're getting so old! ;) Dear new sewing machine: Please be nice to me when I use you for the first time this weekend. Kay? 

love, 

me 

You can see other Friday's Letters here 

Planting Time

That ^ is our pathetic excuse for a front yard. Our house was a flip, so there hasn't been anyone actually living there for over a year. The yard got a little very neglected so we're working on bringing it back to life. 

We (and by we I mean the husband) spent all day Saturday digging up ancient rose bushes (don't worry, we moved them and they're still sort of alive) from our front garden. Those suckers were hard to dig out. It took us well over 5 hours just to get them up and out of the ground. 

 and replacing them with these beauties: 

(source)

Okay. They don't look like that yet. They look like this:

But they'll get there. Hopefully. We're taking out the sidewalk that goes past the porch on the left next weekend (and again, but we I mean the husband) and I'll be painting the front door this awesome rich red that is to die for. Next year we'll work on the whole grass thing. Ugh. 

And last night I made Baked Potato Soup. Which, oh my gosh, was the perfect start to fall. Even if it is still 80* outside. 

My Co-workers Love Me...I think...

I walked in to my office this morning to find my desk like this: 

There was confetti everywhere. It's my birthday tomorrow (today technically since it's now midnight in Michigan) and apparently my co-workers wanted to celebrate it early since I'm leaving for a short trip to Michigan tomorrow (!!) Thank heavens we're moving back down to our real office this weekend because that stuff is everywhere. I mean, there was a trail of it leading from my desk, outside the office, and into the rest of the office. 

I also got a cute 'happy birthday' sign featuring the Sesame Street characters and balloons all over the place. 

The people who clean our building are going to hate me. 

Other than getting older, we've been just hanging out around here. Not much to report, which is why I haven't updated. But, if you don't follow me on instagram (@jmarie13) here's a little of what you're missing:

Baby cows at the State Fair (and corn dogs, popcorn, cinnamon almonds. All which were eaten before pictures could be taken sadly) 

And some San Diego pictures from a few weeks back: 

Have a great rest of the week and weekend! I'll be back Sunday night!