Merchandise breaks the Monotony

Don't you feel that increasingly more as an adult that each day starts to blend into the other. Especially working in retail because of working five days a week and the always working the weekend: my life tends to become rather monotonous.

Wanna know how I break the boredom (which really ISN'T boredom but pure constant busy-ness)? Great fashion finds like...

Ugg boots for $50 (regularly $250)

Joe's skinnies (I could live in these) $40 (regularly $80)

And a Tory Burch dress for a killer $45 (regularly $425)

And yes, I drive my husband nuts with my closet growth. And even worse I drive him insane by pointing out people-EVERYWHERE we go-wearing Nordstrom's clothing that I can guarantee I've put away at least three times each day. But my husband loves how all of his coworkers comment on how "hot" his wife is, and "how did you get a woman like her?" I think it definitely makes up for...everything...shopping wise.

p.s. doesn't shopping just make you feel happier about your day? Anything to make me feel better about my habits.

{HappyEverAfter} ch. 3

This is the part of the story where Jared and I start to disagree about some of the facts, but don't let that fool you. I'm right. Women are always right. Right?

If you haven't read the rest of Our story, go here, here, and here.

Ch. III

The reason for the BBQ was played out in a two day trip to far away lake where we camped, spent the day on the lake, played card games, and ate delicious food. 

I agreed to go on this single's ward trip since my friends were going. I figured it would be a great trip to go have some summer fun. Little did I knew that this Jared boy who I knew very little about was also coming although I had thought he wasn't planning on the trip. Months later when I asked him why he came on that trip he said it was because of the interest he had in getting to know me better. He may deny this, but its true.

The first full day we had on the lake was started by a wonderful breakfast and then followed by groups of singles climbing onto one of the multiple boats that had been brought up for the weekend. I waited for one I had been on previously while passing my time on the beach playing in the sand and dipping my feet in the water. A group had congregated behind me, but I didn't recognize anyone except for a couple from high school, Andrew Jones and Heidi Hanson (now Andrew and Heidi Jones). Since they seemed rather engrossed in their conversation I concentrated on the arrival of the boat I'd been waiting for. As it pulled close Jared jumped out onto the dock to close the gap. The people changed out, and I jumped on among them. There was one more place so Jared offered, rather quickly that he'd be willing to go out again. I kinda of thought his excitement was rather odd, but didn't really think much about it since we were pulling away and I was ready to get in the water.

Of course he sat across from me and then after I took my turn, kind of showing off on the water skis, he congratulated me and then sat next to me making conversation between the other riders runs. I can't say I wasn't interested in this flirty fun boy who was being the perfect gentlemen. But I definitely wanted to play it cool. And then while he was showing off, which was very noticeable, he biffed it hard. Then laughed at his expense with us.

Back on the beach we played card games, I taught him phase ten, speed, and california speed. Of course he let me win. Almost every single round. In the group around the campfire I mentioned if anyone liked Kenny Chesney that the radio had mentioned that you could buy six tickets for $100. Jared at that perked up and said, "you like Kenny Chesney? You really like Kenny Chesney?" I was afraid this meant that he didn't like country and was about to make fun of me. When I said I did he then asked, "I have a pair of tickets and no one to go with, you want to go?" This took me a little by surprise but of course I enthusiastically said yes. 

The next day right before my car was about to leave, Jared asked if I'd like to go on a date before the concert. When I asked what we'd be doing he nonchalantly responded that it would just be casual fun and dinner. I let him know I was up for that, and then left excited and definitely twitter-pated constantly asking the girls in the car what they thought of this huge development.

Hope everyone had a great fourth of July weekend! Once I get a new card reader for my camera card (Adi had fun flossing her teeth with the old one) I will upload our fun fourth photos.

~M

{HappyEverAfter} ch. 2

Today's post is a really special one to me, since tomorrow is our very first anniversary. Marital anniversary that is. Yes, yes it is our one year anniversary of marriage. So once we are done with work, we will go and enjoy in some splendor in whatever my hubby has planned, eat some absolutely divine cheesecake cake, and spin romantic lines at each other all. night. long. That's right. Be jealous.

 Anyhoo, for those that are behind, go here to catch up:

Ch. 2

And he didn't just smile, but he smiled at me. Or maybe that's what it felt like. I tried to act casual, very nonchalant watching the volleyball game, even asking Michelle who the other players were all to this young man's expense. I didn't really ask him or speak directly to him because I was being my normal in-the-shell kind of self and not really going out of my way. 

Michelle and this young man Jared starting talking about his yard and such immediately after we started watching the volleyball game. I tried really hard to act like I wasn't listening, and to keep my eyes focused on the game or my feet. Everytime I looked up though, I noticed him looking at me with his piercing blue eyes and contagious smile. I intermittently entered one word answers or smart remarks into the conversation that was going to the tune of, 'how gardening is so time consuming'. 

All the while I couldn't shake this feeling that I knew him from somewhere. His face, his eyes. Where had I seen them before? I tried to remember past soccer leagues, high school classes, parties I'd gone to. As the three of us were waiting for our turn to rotate into the volleyball game I casually asked him where he was going to school. "The community college", he replied. I asked if he'd ever played soccer before or been on a team, "no", he said. Had he come to our church ward before? "A long time ago, maybe last summer." Well that definitely ruled out any definite answer as to where I'd seen him. I didn't want to ask to many questions in case I seemed to creepy weird so I stopped there. But I couldn't help but notice that he also casually asked where I was from, how long I'd been in the ward, and where I went to school. I was grateful that I wasn't the only one curiously asking questions like a background check.

Then it was our turn to rotate in, and I was ready to confidently go after that ball. After two years on my young women's volleyball team I was sure it would all come back. Nope. I don't think I'd ever made more of a fool of myself. I, being my self conscious self, wanted to make sure no one was watching too closely to my mistakes. I looked to the side of me, in front and behind as well acting like I was checking the sand for nothing sharp I could step on while really making sure no one was annoyed or something. I didn't think anyone from the other team really was looking, they were all happily scoring points. But then I noticed him glancing my way in between serves. And then when he directed the ball towards me it always seemed softer than how he hit it towards my other team members. Favoritism huh? Well, I definitely took advantage of it.

Right after we finished our game it started to rain, rather quickly and large droplets too. The entire group, players and watchers ran for cover. Since it was late I made a be-line for my car to go home. As I was driving away I tried to put the boy Jared out of my mind. 'I would probably never see him again anyways', I thought.

{HappyEverAfter} ch. I

For those that have been waiting so patiently, thank you for the wonderful responses to the first part:

Ch. I

When I came back from college I had had a beginning life crisis because my high school dreams of becoming a lawyer had been dashed by my international relations class, and realizing that I REALLY wasn't cut out for that kind of stuff. 

I spent a quite a couple weeks being the lazy girl who sun tanned on her back porch, who went walking each morning with a couple of my best friends from high school telling them 'this summer was just about focusing on me', and daydreamed about what I wanted to be when I grew up. I was really determined to not be in a relationship this summer, and to not let myself get sucked into a boy. I had just dumped a crappy boy and I wanted this summer to be about discovering what I wanted out of life. To grow up a bit. All the while with Erica's advice in the back of my mind.

During this time I took a religion class at the BYU salt lake center and fed my spiritual self by doing what I was supposed to be doing like praying, reading my scriptures, etc. One specific day, we were talking about prayer and the Professor said something to the affect of, "at times when you're feeling stagnant, not only do you need to start listening to the spirit to know what you should do, but you should also specifically be praying and acting to find the answer whatever it may be."

The more I tried to forget about finding the right guy the more I felt that I really wanted to find that significant other. I felt deep down that if I truly did want to chose to start seriously searching for that person and that was what I should be doing, that the Lord would help me do that whether that was in a couple months or a couple years. And so I prayed. I don't remember exactly what I said, but I do remember specifically asking to be directed to that one particular person who would help me become the best I could be, and who be a good fit to me if that was what I should be doing.

A week later in class I was aware of this singles activity that was going on immediately following class. I tried really hard to focus on the lesson, and I kind of succeeded. But I just could not get the thought out of my head that I should go. It was on the way home, it was the perfect timing, yada yada. It made sense to go. But it wasn't so much that I couldn't get it out of my mind, but that I just felt this impulse to go. Like there was something that I needed to go for. Maybe it was destiny, or maybe it was just because the lesson that day was on being in the right place at the right time. Who knows, but I still went.

Upon arriving at the park, I found the food table and then saw someone from the relief society that I recognized as Michelle who I started chatting with. Once we were done eating there were games and activities going on below the pavilion that were open to anyone who wanted to play. We didn't necessarily want to play, just merely see who was there. On our way down the stairs Michelle turned to me and said, "there are a couple of guys in particular that I want you to meet".

We hit the bottom of the stairs right near the edge of the volleyball court where a group of people had collected. There were a couple of guys watching the game with their backs turned to us. One with a black baseball cap and khaki pants on was watching the game intently but turned smoothly to Michelle's greeting and simply smiled.

{HappyEverAfter}

I saw this idea on a colleague's blog, but I didn't really feel prompted until of late when I started contemplating about this last year off marriage, and almost two years since my hubby and I met. What better way to honor my husband, and make this very interesting for all of you who follow, 

than to tell our love story in an episodic manner.

And a chance for me to shamelessly input some handsomely dashing photos of my hubby.

introduction:

To get this love story correct, I really should begin from the beginning, which was way before I ever even saw my now hubby...

A very good friend of mine got engaged nearing the end of my freshman year of college, and although I had a boyfriend at the time, it was nothing serious. When I heard the wonderful news, I was, shall we say, jealous? Jealous that she had found her Mr. Right while I was still stuck in the perpetual horror called 'dating world'. 

I'm sure most of you are thinking, 'good grief did no one warn her how hard marriage is?' and how, 'marriage is the most realistic a fairytale will ever get'? Well, in my 19 year old super self conscious self (yes, I felt the desire to get married at 19) all I wanted was to find my other half, or more importantly that someone who would make me feel loved, special, and important. Yes, I was a true romantic.

So as I got off the phone with my friend Erica after hearing her exciting news, I thought, 'I wonder when I will get to have that moment?' To that moment, I refer to that instant or recognition that I would have found 'the one'.

A couple weeks later semester ended, and I had a chance to meet up with my friend Erica at a restaurant local in Roy. After marveling over her gorgeous ring, (turning a bit green with envy) and asking details, we got down to the real reason why I had wanted to meet up with her. Over our food I couldn't help but request some specifics about how she knew this Brandon (who I'd never met before) was 'the one'. She looked up with me, clearly not caught up in thinking about wedding details, and clearly answered, "I knew that Brandon was the one when I stopped having the desire to date other guys, and that I could picture myself with him forever very easily. More importantly, I knew I wouldn't be as happy with anyone else as I am when I'm with him." 

Later on the long drive back home I pondered what Erica had said. "Picture myself with him forever very easily..."? Quite truthfully that easily could describe every boy I'd ever dated with few exceptions. How would I know when it was 'the one'? I was starting to really scare myself with how serious I was with this whole concept of getting married. I decided to set it aside, while I had my first summer off from college, although it was constantly in the back of my mind.

~M