Friday, September 28, 2012

Two Years Ago Today..

Two years ago today
my boyfriend, and best friend, and I made our way up to our favorite star gazing spot in Provo, UT. 

Two years ago today
my boyfriend, and best friend, and I sat under the stars talking about the future.

Two years ago today
my boyfriend, and best friend, snuggled me hard and explained just how much he loved me.

Two years ago today
my boyfriend, and best friend, asked me to be his wife.

Two years ago today
my boyfriend, and best friend, became my fiance. 


and he's been snuggling me hard and explaining just how much he loves me ever since.


because i am blessed.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Pillow Talk // We're funny people

Kimball and I have the funniest pillow talk.
I'm not sure if we're delirious, slap-happy, or if we're just extremely funny people [I'm guessing all three have great influence ;)] but I really wish we could record ourselves lying there in the dark talking crazy talk sometimes. 

May I share?

Last night in the lovely land of right-between-awake-and-dream-land we were having a conversation that somehow turned into talk of my birthday (it's a little over a month away). Here's a tiny excerpt...

Kimball: (to the tune of "I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts" from Lion King)
"I've got a lovely bunch of birthday ideas, doodle-dee, there they are a-sittin' in my phone. Small ones! Big ones! Some that go on your head! Yes, I've got a lovely bunch of birthday ideas, doodlee-dee, there they are a-sittin' in my phone!!"

Me: * giggle, giggle, full on laughter, giggle. Kiss him on the cheek when he's finished.*
"What's on the list?"

Kimball: "Secret things."

Me: "liiiiike..a puppy?"

Kimball: "Yeah! You've heard of Tamagotchi, right?" 

Me: "Noo!!!"


[p.s. I had a Tamagotchi cat when I was a kid and it ran away....a fake, electronic pet....ran away. What does that say about me?]


I love my husband. 
The conversation moved on to more randomness and finally, about an hour later, sleep. 

Gotta love pillow talk!!

I understand this is probably not very funny to pretty much anyone but let's face it, this blog is really for me anyway ;}

because i am blessed.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Gel Nails by Lindsee


My crazy talented sister in law just started a Gel Nails business! She does parties and appointments and even travels if you can't make it to her house! See below for more details and check out how you could get your first set done for FREE!!



To kick start she is hosting a party at her house! Follow her on Facebook (search Gel nails by Lindsee) and message or call Lindsee to get her address and join the fun this October 2nd!


She is always traveling doing her Gel Nail Party's so if you aren't near her just message or call Linds for an appointment and see when the next party is closer to you!**

Follow her and get the latest info on Gel Nails by Lindsee at www.gelnailsbylindsee.blogspot.com.
And if you host your own party you get a free set of fingers and toes! 

Another way to get a free set is to "like" her facebook page! After the first 30 likes she will do a random drawing and that lucky lady will get her first set free! Hurry though, last time I checked she had 27 "likes" already!

See her facebook page, follow on her blog and call/message if you want more info or have addition questions! Don't miss out!


** Lindsee lives in the Mesa, Arizona area, traveling includes surrounding cities.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Our Weekend

It's getting colder outside so Friday night we decided we needed to bring the fun inside with a little mini dance party with our PS3 Move dance games. Michelle and Jordan ROCKED some of the Michael Jackson songs, below you can witness "the lean", "the legs" and "the spin". (I made those names up but you know what i'm talking about). 
Top two: Kimball and i rocking out to A Crazy Little Thing Called Love from Just Dance 3. 
Middle: Kimball dancing while I spy on him from our loft ;)
Bottom: The globe we found at a thrift store nearby for 95 cents! and dinner at Steak and Shake. I am unusually obsessed with that place...don't be surprised if I gain like 50 pounds while we live here.



Comin' home from dinner on Saturday we got to enjoy this beautiful sky. I really love it here in Illinois! 

Hope your weekend was great as well, Happy Monday!!

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Susan Comes to Chi-Town!!

My mama-in-law came to see our new house and visit the city and us over the labor day weekend! 
It was soo fun to have her with us for the long weekend and boy did we fill every last minute. I could talk for an obnoxiously long amount of time about the crazy fun we had but I'll try to just do little captions with each set of photos :) 

First stop...Wrigley Field!!
I swear it was seconds away from raining...the entire day. It was absolutely insane that it never rained!! 
The Cubs didn't pull out a win for us :( but our Chicago dogs put us in such a happy mood we just couldn't help feeling good. Why does the poppyseed bun make so much of a difference!?!??? 

Next..Millenium Park & Cloud Gate
Or as as everyone refers to it..the bean!
On our way to the park we passed Sears Tower *ahem* sorry, Willis Tower as it is now called, but the clouds were so low you couldn't see the top! 

There were literally about a dozen quinceaneras and weddings going on in and around the parks. We noticed a herd of quinceanera guys (what would they be called...?the equivalent to wedding party?) watching these legit soccer players. So we stopped to gawk with the crowd. 


Onward to...Grant Park
Grant Park has the Buckingham Fountain and for some reason the weather is never sunny when we're in Grant Park! Last time we had to run to the train station in the pouring rain and by the time we actually got on the train we were soaked to the bone and cracking up at how ridiculous and fun(ny) we were. Everyone on the train looked at us like we were complete idiots. We laughed anyway. 

This time it didn't rain but the clouds were just as threatening. Thank you mother nature!


Finally....Navy Pier
After taking the trolley over to Navy Pier we looked around a bit before deciding it was a must to ride the swings. When Susan got up to the ticket booth she asked for "three single swinger tickets" we all started laughing and the ticket booth man was adorable and played along and gave us our "swingers tickets" :) Everyone here is so friendly! We've had a lot of great experiences with the friendly people of Illinois. 
Moving on to the swings! I had my big ole' camera, Lady, out ready to snap away when a swing worker told me I was gonna want to put it away. Geez Louise am I happy he told me that because that ride was WAY crazier than any of us remembered! I guess it had been a while :) Kimball and Susan were both behind me and when I gathered my courage and had a good hold on my hat I looked back and almost lost it with laughter as I saw their faces mirror my feelings of horror and glee! I am obsessed with rollercoasters/fair rides/anything that makes my tummy feel like it's floating so I was having the time of my life! There were times when I literally felt like my swing was going to come undone and go swinging into the lake. I loved it!!

The rest of the weekend included lots of talking, yummy food and shopping :) Just the way we like it! 

I am extremely blessed to have married into the family that I did. Kimball always says "you don't just marry the person, you marry the family" and it is so true and in my case I am so glad it is that way! Kimball and his mom have the sweetest relationship, it warms my heart every time we are together. I love my sweet husband and am so grateful to his mama for making him that way!

Thanks Susan for coming and giving us an excuse to be tourists again!!We love you!!

because i am blessed.





Monday, September 10, 2012

Stretching Summer

The weather is changing over here and though I'm excited for Fall and the change of wardrobe (yay cute coats, scarves and boots!) I am still trying to hold on to Summer! This weekend we explored a nature reserve super close to our house. Just one more reason I love Illinois, we are surrounded by forest preserves! 

After exploring for a bit with Jordan, Michelle and baby Asher we decided we wanted to BBQ some burgers up for dinner. The weather was ridiculously perfect and we could not deny what mother nature was obviously telling us..go grill!

Only one problem...our new grill was still in the box :)
So while the boys built Michelle and I went to the store to grab the grub. 
Kimball finally got to use his Grill Sergeant apron and we enjoyed 
our very first BBQ in our new home! 

Cheers to many many more :)

because i am blessed.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Retirement.

After graduation Kimball and I had a lot of time on our hands. In the past when I've had a lot of time on my hands when I wasn't in school or working or both I would go crazy, start feeling like I was worthless and would make ludicrous goals for myself so I could feel productive. So, naturally, I was worried about 3 months of nothing but waiting to be busy. 

I could not have been more wrong. And now that I think back I realize how silly I was for thinking that spending every hour of every day with my sweetheart, partner in crime and absolute best friend could be anything like it was during these lulls when I was single. I know I say this a lot but it really was
pure bliss.

The funny thing about it is, yes, we did go on a few trips and play tennis and go on date nights but, the majority of the things we did were normal day-to-day things that took no planning and no money. Just having him with me alllll the time was so fun and funny and relaxing! So when we moved and things got crazy, Kimball started work and I started my long journey to becoming a Child Life Specialist I finally realized that I sort of blew it. Not that I didn't enjoy and cherish that time we had I just didn't realize how sacred it was. It was the last time (for a long time) that we would be childless, jobless and able to do whatever the two of us wanted. 

I think about those few months of "nothingness" we enjoyed a lot now. Not that I don't love Chicago or Kimballs job or me pursuing my dreams or anything. I really do love our life now. But I can't help but think sometimes.... "only 42 more years until retirement and we get to do that all over again." 
(yes, i did look up the average age of retirement). 
In one of my many fabulous (not sarcastic) classes in school we focused on the stresses of retirement and the relationship strain that sometimes occurs between married couples because of the unexpected stressors and newfound time together that they haven't had for so long. I think about how real that is and how blessed I am to have a husband who will always be my very best friend. I know that children and jobs and stress will come in our life together and we'll get used to spending more time away from one another but I also feel very strongly that when retirement comes it will, in fact, be bliss because Kimball is Kimball and he will always be my everything. 

How blessed am I to have a guy like this?

because i am blessed.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Chicago Jazz Festival

Last Thursday we went to the opening night of the Chicago Jazz Festival with two of our favorite couples. It was a Ella Fitzgerald tribute night and let me just tell you..

great music+lovely friends+yummy food+chicago skyline= amazing night.

The atmosphere was so fun as well with everyone on the lawns with picnic tables, blankets and food talking softly with the music in the background. 
I could get used to this.

love chicago, love good friends.



because i am blessed.