Jared and Khristen

Here's what I got!

2011-07-30T11:44:00.002-06:00

I thought I would take a picture and explain what I received this week and what I'm planning on making in case anyone is interested.

Fruit:
5 Bananas
Bunch of Green Grapes
Cantaloupe
5 Large Peaches (bigger this week)
8 Nectarines

Veggies:
2 Tomatoes
Bag of Green Beans
Bag of Potatoes
Eggplant
Romain Lettuce
Cabbage

Meal Possibilities-
Cabbage: Oriental Chicken Salad, Egg Rolls, Coleslaw, Tacos a la "taco cart" (they use cabbage instead of lettuce)
Eggplant: Eggplant Parmesan (requested by Jared)
Potatoes: Fries, Twice Baked Potatoes, Potato Wedges
Nectarines: Honey-Mustard Nectarine Kabobs
Peaches: Peach Crisp
Green Beans: Green Bean Bundles, Country Green Beans
Romaine: Salads
Bananas: Banana Bread (need to give to new neighbors)
Grapes: will probably just be eaten....YUM!
Tomatoes: Served on tacos or sprinkled with salt and pepper

Mango Sticky Rice

2011-07-29T20:55:00.004-06:00

Wow! Two posts in one month...Kim will be so proud.

Last week, we ventured into the world of Bountiful Baskets. It is a food co-op where you can get produce at a fraction of the price ($15.00 for one basket). I can't remember exactly what we got last week but here's a rundown: mangoes, bananas, plums, peaches, cantaloupe, strawberries, grape tomatoes, celery, romaine lettuce, cucumber, sweet potatoes, & green beans. I may have forgot something.

Anyway, because of this adventure, we have been eating "fresh" produce. It is a little embarrassing to admit, but we really haven't had a lot of produce around the house since we've been married (unless of course it has been for a recipe.) I took it as a challenge this week to use all our produce this week since I didn't know how long it would last.

Here are some of the meals/dishes we've had this week:
Peaches & Plums in milk with sugar
Chicken Satay, Cucumber Salad, Romaine Salad, Mango Sticky Rice
Chicken Tacos with Mango & Avocado Salsa
Peach & Strawberry Freezer Jam
Hamburgers & Sweet Potato fries
Pasta salad with tomatoes & celery
Baked Rigatoni & steamed green beans

Tomorrow we pick up another basket and I'm excited to see what it contains so I can plan next week's meals. I has been fun and it feels good to be eating healthier.

Our House....In the Middle of Our Street

2011-07-13T21:35:00.028-06:00

We just moved into our first house. Seeing that our house was built in 1910, it can use a little "updating." Well, actually it was updated in the 70's so we would like to un-70s-fy it. We will be progressing one room at a time. I thought I would post some photos of the current state of the house (interior).

Front RoomLiving Room

Downstairs Bedroom (Guest)

Downstairs Bath

Kitchen/Laundry Room

Upstairs Bedroom 1Upstairs Bedroom 2

Upstairs Bathroom

Upstairs Bedroom 3 (Master)

Online Sewing Class

2010-08-26T19:42:00.002-06:00

I have decided to take part in this online sewing class. One day--when I have the time--I will get around to actually sewing these items, but for now I know that they are there. I'm really excited since I have never taken a formal sewing class in school...probably because I took drafting. ;)

First Day of School

2010-08-26T19:38:00.002-06:00

Yeah! Jared posted to our blog! He started his own blog about his bike and other projects so I'll have him post the link for any who are interested. (He'll probably update his blog more often than we update this one.)

So...today was the first day of school and I'm so excited because I don't have to teach Careers this year! It's great to be able to teach classes where students actually want to be there. I will still have challenges (four different classes) but I will also have a lot of fun.

School

2010-08-19T21:36:00.001-06:00

So I don't have much to say, other than meetings are not the funnest thing. So school starting up and the copies are being made and the material is being ordered.

Adventures in Colorado Springs

2010-07-01T21:19:00.005-06:00

If you read Jared's previous post (props to you honey for actually posting on our blog) then you'll know that I have been in Colorado for the past two weeks. I am here because I am attending a training for Project Lead the Way and I will be teaching the Principles of Engineering class next year. It has been an intense training with math that I haven't seen since college--and also some I have never seen before.

We didn't have classes over the weekend so a group of us went exploring Colorado Springs. Our first stop were some cliff dwellings in Manitou Springs (not to be confused with Mesa Verde). We also drove through the Garden of the Gods. We decided to stop at the "Trading Post" and were shocked to see Dog the Bounty Hunter and his wife. I instantly called Jared to tell him the news and he was greatly disappointed that I didn't get his autograph.

Well, I think that will be all for tonight. I will be meeting Jared in Denver tomorrow afternoon and then we head off to Ohio for another 3 weeks and there are bound to be many more adventures.

Go Skate Day

2010-06-21T23:54:00.002-06:00

It was awesome! Well for me, Khristen is in CO for 10 more days and I'm home alone. So today I drove around Utah with a bunch of strangers and made some sweet friends and skated my brains out. I got a "little" sun, and a "few" raspberries" and a stubbed toe nail, all worth it. Khristen hasn't mentioned on here yet but I have bought a Motorcycle and I am doing a one off build, or customizing the crap out of it. I hope to finish it before I leave for Ohio on the 2nd of July. It has been in the works since March. But the strangers I road around with today all had some sweet bikes, and It really makes me want to finish mine. I start my motorcycle riders safety course this week on Wednesday, which I am super excited about.

Going off my wifes last post I think she will continue to teach, I know I will after my first year. Sure there are days when those petri dishes or students are hell bent on being minions from the dark side, but you have to love them and help them see the light...haha with my fist (JK not funny or serious)

Well I am done I should of gone to bed right when I got home.

End of the Quarter Makes Me Rethink My Career

2010-03-24T18:30:00.002-06:00

It is the end of the quarter for school and it is at these times of the year that I wonder if I chose the right career. I thought it was stressful as a student but all I had to do was turn things in....not grade all the projects and assignments! My patience is really tested by students trying to hurry and get their grades up...urg!!! You are a pain in my side!!!

Well, that's going to be all of my venting on the blog. I'm sure that I'll be feeling better next week.

Skating

2010-02-27T15:17:00.001-07:00

I am back to skating....well, I have been back for awhile now. Jordan got me coaching at the Peaks last year since my year-sabatical from "Learn to Skate" (group lessons). Since coming back, I got promoted to a Staff Professional which means that I also coach private lessons. I'll let you know how that goes when I have more to talk about on that one.

Also, I have decided to pass off a couple more of my "Moves In the Field" tests. For those of you who may not know the lingo--MIF are tests in which we do footwork sequences. They are not the most exciting things to watch (ask my parents) because they involve no music and really no audience. The reason I finally had the push is because they are going to be making each level more difficult in September. It will also help with my skating and coaching.

Anywho, that's just what's on my mind since I've been at the rink all day!

We should just quit this blogging thing!

2010-02-14T17:41:00.002-07:00

We are losers! We never-ever update our blog. We even got ourselves a camera for Christmas and were thinking that it would inspire us to take pictures, but as evident on our blog, we have not.

Life is going for both Jared and I. We are in 3rd quarter which is the longest quarter of the school year. Hopefully it will go by quickly. We are already planning our trip to Wisconsin and Ohio for this summer. We have to continually remind ourselves that it is still several months away.

I guess being Valentine's Day I should update you on what we did. Well, we mainly celebrated our "love" last weekend by going to the spa and enjoying chocolate back treatments (like a facial for your back) and chocolate pedicures. Then on Friday night I hosted the "Divas" to dinner: spinach artichoke appetizers, salad, Pesto Pasta (from one of my fav cooking blogs), and to finish (drum roll please) Mocha Molten Cakes sin mocha from Pillsbury. If your mouth is watering, check out the recipes online to try them out. They were yummy!

BYU Homecoming Dinner

2009-11-01T21:22:00.002-07:00

A few weeks ago Jared and I went on a date with some of our friends to the first annual "Married Student" Homecoming activity. It was actually a lot of fun. The main reason we went is because Tucano's catered the meal (which was still all-you-can-eat). The entertainment was great though--it consisted of singing while we were eating and then HumorU gave us a few snipits of a comedy act...very funny. I just thought I would post a picture of us for Kim!

Pics from Chicago

2009-10-03T19:57:00.007-06:00

We finally got our disposable camera developed (don't worry, I had them make a CD since everything digital now) so I thought I would post some of our pictures for you to see.

Jared and I at the "beach." We laughed because it looked like they paid a lot of money to bring in sand to cover the asphalt.

It was raining and yet a lot of people went to this outdoor concert. I think I'm going to have my students study Frank Ghery and his sketching technique--random.

The four of us at the "Taste of Chicago."

On the boat before our architecture cruise. We were soaked by then but luckily it cleared up for our cruise and the fireworks.

Update Needed

2009-10-03T17:27:00.004-06:00

I've been told that I need to update our blog so that people know what is going on with us. Since I last wrote, we have both started school and are almost done with first quarter. We have been pretty busy getting our year started off.

Here are some things that happened since I last wrote:
1. First anniversary
2. Hiked Mt. Timpanogos
3. Spencer (Amber and Steven's baby) was born
4. School Started
5. Spencer was blessed
6. Parent/Teacher Conferences
7. Jackson (Kim and TJ's baby) was born

1st Anniversary

We started off our anniversary by hiking Mt. Timpanogos. It wasn't our original plan, it was just the day that worked for everyone else. After our long hike, we decided to take a nap and then go to Tucanos for dinner. Jared had never been before so I taught him how to not fill up on the salads because there meat is oh so tasty. He loved it because the meat was cooked just how he likes it--bleeding still.

This month with be a busy one filled with the end of our first quarter (yay!), fall breaks, trip to Park City with students, and Provo/Springville/Mapleton's Junior Miss. I will try to keep you updated on our oh so exciting lives!

Floatin' Down the River

2009-07-27T22:12:00.008-06:00

I haven't been so diligent in my posting of our summer activities so I thought I should get caught up. A couple of weeks ago we went to Vernal with the fam to go white-water rafting down the Green River. It was a lot of fun and it was good to visit Vernal (I hadn't been there in two years!) Jared had fun too because G'ma has a problem with pigeons and she let Jared use them as target practice. He got four but 15 more came the day after we left. At least I know that he'll have something to do every time that we go.

I'm in LOVE with The Grocery Game!!!!

2009-07-15T12:47:00.002-06:00

Yesterday I went to Albertson's and got a cart full of food. When my total first rang up it was $197.00. After my coupons and Preferred card, my total was $85.00!! I saved $112.00!!!! I'm such a dork but it actually is a "game" to see how much I can save. I get so excited after each trip that I can't wait to look at the bottom of the receipt when they hand it to me (remember when they used to tell you how much you saved? I think my trips would be a little more exciting if they announced my savings to everyone else in line behind me). I also call Jared and my mom while I'm in the parking lot and make them guess how much I saved for that trip.

I first heard about The Grocery Game from my cousin Erin. It is an online service that goes through all the sales (advertised and non-advertised) and coupons and creates a list telling you what are the best deals at your grocery store. They have a 4 week trial that is FREE!!! Once you sign up, then it goes through and tells you what to do. They use the coupons that are in the Sunday paper and they give advice on how many to get for your size of family. They use the idea of "stockpiling" so that you always have food in your pantry thus eliminating unnecessary trips to the store. If you decide to give it a try, use my email (khristen1(at)hotmail.com) because I can earn free weeks.

Have fun and let me know how it goes!

On the Road Again...

2009-07-14T22:30:00.004-06:00

This last weekend we spent in Lake Havasu City, AZ. I would have called it "sunny" although that would have been a HUGE understatement (120 degrees is more than sunny). With this trip we decided that we would hit two birds with one stone: 1) Amber's (Jared's sister) baby shower, 2) Mini Anniversary celebration (it's all about the bath tubs--I'll explain more later).

1. Amber is having a boy in August so we went down to celebrate one of the showers. (I was sad to learn that Kim had one of her showers that same day but I am happy to know that I have a few more options to shower her with gifts.) She is really excited for baby Spencer to come and she hopes that she is ready. Amber is a great cook and a great hostess so we always enjoy staying with her because of her hospitality. We always come home from Havasu well-fed--especially for Thanksgiving.

2. We also went down to celebrate our Anniversary which doesn't really happen until next month but here's the story. Back when I worked for Studio Il Bagno (selling plumbing fixtures) I sold some very high-end imported brands of faucets, toilets, and tubs. We sold a particular air-jet tub from BainUltra. I was able to go to the factory in Quebec City for a week and learn all about the tubs. I already loved the tubs before I went because they are completly sanitary--this contrary to most "jetted" tubs. Now for your tub lesson of the day: typical jetted tubs use large jets where they suck in water and shoot it back out at the user. This would be fine and dandy except that there is water always in the system; thus having a black sludge come out of the jets when they are turned on. If that sounds gross then try this one on for size--most hotels use these types of jets in their rooms/suites so you are essentially bathing in someone elses bath water. YUM!! Well, with BainUltra, they use an air jet system that uses air to create the massage so no water or crud is left in the tub. In addition, 10 minutes after the cycle is done and the water is drained, the air turns on again for a minute and blows out any water that could possibly be left in the channels keeping it hygenic.

To tie this all together BainUltra has a place on thier site where you can "experience" one of their tubs and it lists several hotels. When we were planning our honeymoon we wanted to go to to one of these hotels because now I have a jetted-tub-phobia. One of the hotels was the Heat in Lake Havasu. So that explains why one of our nights we stayed in a hotel--the bath tub. There were a few other perks that made Jared never want to leave: Tempurpedic king-sized mattress complete with six fluffy pillows (80% duck feathers 20% duck down to be completely correct) and a view of the chanel and the London Bridge (imported from London--true story). Needless to say, we will be going back to Havasu for Thanksgiving and this time we want to try one of thier suites.

The Summer of Travel Has Begun

2009-07-08T11:55:00.003-06:00

In May our friends from Ohio, Brendon and Jena, were in town for Brendon's brother's wedding. It was a very short trip so we randomly decided to go on a vacation together over the 4th of July. We tried to choose a place that was inexpensive for both couples to get to and so we chose Chicago. I absolutely loved it because of the architecture, history, food, and friends. We stayed in the Palmer House Hotel which was a historic hotel that has been in down-town Chicago since 1871 (of course it has been rebuilt a couple of times and we stayed in the building that was completed in the 1920s).

We did a lot of walking (just ask Jared) but we saved a ton of money because we rode public transit. For the 4th we went on an architecture cruise around the city that ended with fireworks.

Pictures are still to come since Jared and I invested in a Kodak disposable camera for the trip and we have to get it developed.

I am currently in the process of packing to leave for Lake Havasu, AZ this afternoon. I'll let you know how it goes.

Whitney wins Miss Utah!!!

2009-06-21T10:53:00.007-06:00

Whitney became my friend last year as we competed for Miss Utah. She's a doll and so sweet. I'm proud to have her represent the state and she will do a great job!
This pic is from last year. Kim, you'll have another Miss Utah to cheer for.

A week of Junior Miss

2009-06-21T10:50:00.002-06:00

I have been going to various JM programs this week because I am co-directing Provo/Springville's program. The think I'm realizing is that most programs are having a problem with keeping the time down. Props go to Jared for going with me to Davis County's program and staying for 3 hours (we left early!!!). Don't worry, if any of you are planning on coming to our program, we are going to try to get it under 2 hours.

Small Claim to Fame

2009-06-20T18:20:00.004-06:00

Our bowling team, "By Default," was interviewed a few months back (you can tell because Melyssa and I still have long hair). There isn't really a shot of me except one brief second but you can see Jared in a few shots (including his arm and back of his head--I'm so proud!). Also, if you look closely, you may be able to see what our team uniforms say--probably not BYU approved.

JARED GOT A JOB!!

2009-05-07T10:28:00.000-06:00

Just thought that I would announce that Jared got a job teaching metals/welding next year! We're really excited because this is his dream job!

So Many Changes

2009-05-03T21:52:00.002-06:00

Well, it has been awhile since I last posted on our blog and quite a bit has happened since I last did. Jared turned 26 (a year more than half a century according to my lovely cousin), he graduated from BYU (yeah!), and I chopped my hair off. Besides that, our life hasn't been too exciting. I know it's a lame post but I figured that I should show you all my new hair. Sorry about the guy in the background...we haven't had time to photoshop him out yet.

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T10:38:00.001-06:00

Spring Break and Other Fun Stuff

2009-04-12T08:57:00.003-06:00

Currently I have been on Spring break. It has been a good break for me but we didn't go out of town or anything because Jared has his break this coming week. Speaking of Jared, he has finally completed his student teaching - yeah! He will graduate in a couple of weeks and the job hunt has already begun. Enough about him though...if he wanted to have a presence on the blog then he should post every once-in-awhile.

I started coaching figure skating again. This time I'm back in P-town with my friends JorDan and Allison. I've really only been their for a couple of weeks now but it has been fun. The best part is that I'll get free ice time for this summer so that I can practice and even pass some tests. Anywho, that's about all for us. Pretty boring I know.

Simple Chic Ideas

2009-03-18T18:45:00.002-06:00

So I've decided to start another blog. I know, some of you may be thinking that is ridiculous since I have a hard time posting on this one but I promise that will be different. This will continue to stay mine and Jared's blog (Jared did post once back in the day). This other blog is going to have a combination of the many things in my life that have made it simpler (ie cooking, shopping, decorating, "chic" diy ideas). So check it out Simple Chic Ideas and check back for more posts.

Bumpits!!!! BUH is Revolutionized

2009-03-11T23:22:00.003-06:00

I was watching TV and this glorious commercial came on. Many of you know of my love(sarcasm) for BUH (Big Utah Hair). I did think that one would have come in handy at Miss Utah though. For those of you who have an obsession for this oh-so-lovely-hairstyle you should check it out.

We're Still Alive!

2009-03-11T23:21:00.001-06:00

I haven't written in a long time but I just want to let you know that we are alive. I will try to have my random thoughts posted on a weekly basis from now on--we'll see how long that lasts.

Car Update

2008-12-15T21:21:00.002-07:00

So I hope my post isn't too difficult to understand (I am going on a few hours of sleep). I received a phone call this morning at 1:00 am (it felt like 5) telling me that they had found my car.

They had found it a few minutes earlier and gave me the info to pick it up today. It got impounded so we had to go through a bunch of things to get it out. When I went to pick it up, to my surprise there didn't seem to be any apparent damage. The car did "ding" as though there was no key in the ignition. Most of my stuff was still there and everything had been lovingly--or not so lovingly thrown out of the glove box (apparently they did not find my valuable sporks that I keep in there as my secret stash). They did get into the trunk and I no longer have skates. That's probably the worst part of the whole thing--now I have to save up for a new pair of skates. :(

They did trade me a jacket for the skates though (what kind of thief leaves things?). I also have a DQ cup with a straw still in it. I am going to call the police and see if they would want to saliva from the cup...sneaky, sneaky. Stupid though to leave that as well. I also found some business cards for a photographer in Ogden who has a pretty nice site (don't worry I checked it out).

All in all, it wasn't too bad of a deal. I still need to take it in and get the ignition fixed since I can drive it without any keys and the car may have an alignment problem. At this moment, Jared and I are not quite sure what we will do with the car since I'm the "sugar mama" for a few more months. Bryce does seem to think that we could get a pretty good car that has been repoed because of the economy. For the time being, we will put an alarm on it so that it doesn't get stolen a third time while I own it.

I have had several offers of people who would like me to drive their cars around in hopes that they will get stolen. I did have to break the bad news and let them know that the cars that get stolen for me are on a three-year cycle and they usually get found.

Sugarhouse = Car Theft!

2008-12-14T21:18:00.003-07:00

Many of you may not have known, but about 3 years ago my car was stolen from outside my house/apartment when I lived in Sugarhouse. Luckily (or unluckily) my car was found a week and a half later in Lehi and had been abandoned because the car battery went dead. I continued to drive my car faithfully....that is until Friday night.

We were attending a old roommate party in Sugar House (four blocks from my old apartment). Upon leaving Training Table I found that once again my car had been stolen! What are the odds?!? Twice in 3 years, same car, about 4 blocks apart.

So now I'm at the time where we wait and see. At least I've been through it before and I know what to expect although I have changed car insurance since being married. We'll see what happens. Part of me wants it to be gone forever (so that it can't be stolen again) and part of me wants it to return so that I don't have a car payment until Jared starts working. Of course if I got it back, I would try to get rid of it probably this summer. I'll keep the blog updated on all the fun that I have with my '99 Honda Civic.

Silver Rush!

2008-12-10T21:19:00.005-07:00

Tonight some of the students that are in SkillsUSA at Riverton (for which I am an advisor) were featured on a news segment tonight. (They are the ones who are selling singing telegrams to raise money--Kim, you'll remember the posters from the Jon Schmidt concert).

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

This year the school has chosen the Family Support Center in Midvale to raise money. The students are raising money by doing "Odd Jobs" (going around neighborhoods and earning money), having benefit concerts (Jon Schmidt and Battle of the Bands), and donating money and items for the Center. It is not just about the money though--it is about the service and changing the students' lives. In our homeroom classes, student representative conduct activities/discussions about how we can all improve our families. It's a great cause and I'll blog on Dec. 19th when we find out how much money was raised for this year's Silver Rush.

HSM3!!!

2008-11-01T08:46:00.003-06:00

Some of you may know, but others may not that Jared helped on the set for High School Musical 3 this summer. He got the job because he builds the sets for BYU currently. Well, because of his hard work, we were invited to attend a special cast (dancers) and crew premier at the Gateway Megaplex. One of the producers was there and also Troy's dad. They gave some speeches and then we watched the movie. We didn't see Zack Efron or anyone special like that but it was still fun. Jared did score a HSM3 Construction Crew shirt which is pretty cool.

It's a cookie in a skillet!!!

2008-10-05T10:06:00.005-06:00

This post is about the Skookies that Kim wonderfully introduced to me. We bought them with some of our wedding money at BB&B. Jared did give me a hard time because he seemed to think that it would have been cheaper if we would have just bought the skillets and not the ones that specifically say "skookie" on the box. I think I remember TJ saying the same thing to Kim. Hmmm. Well, this wonderful dessert-making-contraption has fed Jared and me for the past couple of weeks and we thoroughly enjoy them. Let's be honest though, sometimes it's a little on the large side (check out the picture below that I found on this fabulous recipe blog--I know, I'm getting domesticated since being married.) As a side note, this same site has the BEST Cafe Rio Pork recipe (I have tried a few and this one is yummy!) I did find a cilantro-lime rice recipe that I like more though. Enjoy the recipes (especially for those who are in lands far far away from the Cafe Rios of the Wasatch Front.)

Surprise Date

2008-10-04T20:02:00.004-06:00

A few weeks ago, Jared asked me if we had anything planned for Oct. 3rd. Since we didn't, he informed me that we now had plans. He did a good job of keeping it low-key and a secret. I had forgotten that he had even planned anything until last night.

The surprise date was going to the Shangri-la Chinese Acrobats. I accidentally found out what it was an hour before we went because he had the tickets sitting out--oops. It was a great show but some times a little disturbing with the contortionist. The first time we saw the contortionist, she was wearing pointe shoes and did a dance on pointe (ballet). She then proceded to twist herself in all sorts of positions while on pointe. For the finale of this particular number, she went on pointe on her partner's shoulder. Crazy!!!

Where We've Been

2008-09-21T19:11:00.000-06:00

So I haven't updated our blog in awhile. I know it's not really an excuse, but we have been busy. Plus, we're somewhat losers and never take pictures when we do have time to do things which doesn't make for a good post. Jared and I are both in school--in two different ways though. Jared is in his final semester before student teaching and I am in my first year of teaching (high school!!). Well, that pretty much covers the excitement of our lives. We are already turning into an old married couple. We go to bed early because we have to be up and out the door by 6:15 every morning. Currently, the days seem to go by way fast and we are both counting down the days until the next weekend. Once the weekend comes, we schedule out every spare moment with football games, BBQs, double-dates, and concerts. Thank goodness for Sunday.

Well, so much for my writing for today, I've gotta get back to enjoying the last hours before Monday hits.

Photo Preview

2008-08-12T17:38:00.003-06:00

Here is a picture that was taken by Brooke at our reception.

Honeymoon

2008-08-12T16:55:00.015-06:00

Several months ago, Jared and I went online in search of the perfect honeymoon. Since working for Il Bagno, I wanted to go somewhere that had BainUltra bath tubs but there is only one place in Utah that has one and it was in Manti. Since we wanted to stay a little bit more local since we did the two-day split we decided to go to a B & B in Midway. We checked out all the B & Bs in the area and I chose one that I really loved and the honeymoon suite that I loved even more. Being the control freak that I am--I kept checking the dates to make sure that the room didn't get booked. In June I kept pressing Jared to book it because so many people were getting married on 08.08 and some of the other popular hotels were already booked solid. Then one day I checked online to find that the room was booked for the exact weekend that we wanted it. I confronted Jared about it and all the blood drained from his face as he told me that he wasn't the one who had booked it. I was sad and a little bit angry and Jared got the brunt of the blame. He assured me that I needed to let go of some things in life and let him do the planning so that he could surprise me. I was still anxious about the whole thing and wondering where we were going to spend the weekend. He knew that it was bugging me so he kept joking that we were going to stay at the Motel 6 and I didn't think that was very funny. I just pictured walking into a less than appealing room that we would be spending our first nights together in.

So as we left the temple, Jared had me put on a blindfold as we made the turn for Midway. I still wasn't sure where we were staying yet and figured that it was just somewhere up in Midway since there are multiple B & Bs up there. After putting on the blindfold, I realized that we forgot our toiletry bag with our toothbrushes and deo. Thank goodness Jared spotted a 7-11 (of course I felt a little dumb sitting in the car at what seemed to be the busiest sev in Wasatch County blindfolded). After Jared had loaded up on refreshing oral hygiene products, we were off again. We pulled off onto a gravel road and Jared said were were there. I wasn't sure what to think at this point. Maybe we were at some sort of KOA but I wasn't sure. Then he guided me up several flights of stairs (KOA was now out of the picture). He opened the door to the room and guided me in. He then gave me permission to take off the blindfold. I immediately recognized the honeymoon suite at the Johnson Mill B & B that we had picked out so many months before. Jared confessed that he had it booked all along but wanted it to be a surprise so pretended like he was in the dog house. Here are some pictures of the room for you to enjoy.

Okay, so from the pictures you can tell that I appreciate a good bathroom. Jared and I were especially excited about the bidet because neither of us knew quite how to use it.

The next pictures are from when we took the pedal boat on the pond.

A Few Reception Photos

2008-08-12T11:59:00.009-06:00

Us in the photo booth (which was an absolute hit!)

Me and Jared with TJ and Kim.

Just the girls: Erin, Elaine, Me, Kim & Natalie.

Bryce and Me.

The car.

The cake in our faces.

Our Wedding!

2008-08-12T11:48:00.006-06:00

We got married on 08.08.08. It may have not been the most unique day to get married, but apparently it is a very lucky day. My mom had heard somewhere that 22,000 couples also joined us that day by getting married where normally only 5,000 couples get married on average. We chose to get married that evening and then have our reception the following evening in order to be able to relax and enjoy a little bit more. I would recommend to anyone to do the two-day split because we were able to focus on our marriage on Friday and then focus on the reception the following day. (Photos courtesy of the ever faithful family photographer Kim!)

I'm so excited to be married to my best friend! Of course I don't know if it really has sunk in that we are married--he just doesn't have to go home at night. ;) I love him so much and I'm excited to start (or continue) our lives together. Love you babe!

The CB or better known as the Chastity Beard

2008-08-12T11:45:00.002-06:00

If anyone came across Jared while we were engaged, they would have noticed a bit of facial hair that he was growing. He decided after our bridals that in order to keep us good until the wedding, he would grow a beard since I don't even like kissing him when he has a beard. After the success of the CB, we think that Bishops should be able to give any young man a beard card while he is engaged to keep him good.

Bridals!

2008-08-04T22:36:00.007-06:00

We took my bridals the Monday after Miss Utah and here are some of them. Visit my photographer's blog for a few more.

Bridal Showers, Temple, & Wedding Week

2008-08-03T15:52:00.004-06:00

The later part of last week was really busy. Wednesday Jared's mom flew in for Emily's and our weddings. Wednesday night I had the ward bridal shower that was thrown by the divas. Kristine came down from Ogden which was great because I hadn't seen her in a long time. This is a picture of me holding the gum that had been in my cheek for the night because apparently after 15 months of dating, I still don't know Jared.

Thursday I went through the temple. Here are some pictures of us at the temple. Kim and TJ were able to come down which was great. They were even the witness couple for my session which was even better.

That night Adrian and Jillian threw me a friend shower.

Friday Elizabeth flew in and then Amber and Corrin came in to town as well. Since it was the eve of Dan and Emily's wedding, we went out to eat as families to get to know one another a little more before the ceremony.

Since Dan and Emily got married on Saturday, I was able to go to their sealing before actually going to my own. It was a very nice ceremony and it was also nice to see their's before my own so that I can know what to expect. After the ceremony, we had a luncheon and then went to their reception.

Now we just have 5 days until Jared and I get married and counting.

Blogs are Public!

2008-07-30T02:39:00.003-06:00

Okay, so I can't sleep. I'm excited about wedding stuff and so I decide to hop on the Mac to do some surfing and check my email and Facebook. One of my friends sent me a message on Facebook containing a blog that I should check out from another acquaintance. Without disclosing too much information, the blog was a journal entry that contained some feelings about a recent pageant that I was in (aka Miss U) that probably should have been kept to herself. I know it was a taxing year preparing for the pageant and all and we all need some time to vent, but a public blog that can be read by ANYONE including your competitors is probably not the most appropriate place to let those feelings out.

I know anyone who is reading this is smarter than that but just in case--BLOGS ARE PUBLIC! (Unless of course you make your blog private and if you're not sure how to do this, I will gladly show you how.)

The Sexy Six!!!

2008-07-28T19:07:00.002-06:00

Here's a picture of the Sexy Six from Miss Utah. We were the last six in the entire competition and we were a group to watch out for. We had so much fun together from staying up late to waking up early. Plus, we had the best hostesses in the world!!!!! The Sexy Six consisted of Whitney (Miss Pleasant Grove), Arial (Miss Sandy), Jami (Miss Lehi), McKenna (Miss Uintah County), me (Miss Orem), & Elizabeth (Miss Provo).

Bridal Shower with gals from the Sugar House!

2008-07-27T15:35:00.002-06:00

Yesterday Kim threw me a shower with the girls from when I lived in Sugar House. We had a lot of fun going to the Old Spaghetti Factory. Here's a pic to show us (Kim, Amy, me, Colee, and Sadie) having fun!

15 days and counting!!!

2008-07-24T00:07:00.004-06:00

I have some pics to add to the blog and that is my main reason for blogging today. We've been too busy doing wedding invites to think about too much else.

This first picture is from the Show Me Your Shoes parade for Miss Utah '08. It was a fun night filled with family, friends, and of course some line dancing in stilettos (not the smartest thing that I've ever done in my life).

This picture is posted for Kim because she keeps bugging me about putting my Miss U pictures online. I'm still working on getting them from others who always had their cameras on hand during the week so be patient. Hopefully this will satisfy you for now.

The Monday after Miss Utah I had my bridals (or now called "groomals" since Jared was involved). I'll post a link when my photographer puts the pictures online. Then on Wednesday, we headed to Dallas for the Mary Kay seminar. Jared was a good sport and came along. He did get to go on a special spouse activity day so he was happy. This picture is from the awards night where they honor all those who have done well this past year. It was fun because we got to dress up...doesn't Jared look hot in his suit!?! I definitely think so. The picture probably would have looked a little more glamorous had we taken the picture somewhere besides the parking garage at the end of the night.

I love all that sparkles!!!!

2008-07-13T20:53:00.006-06:00

I will now take you through a pageant.

First off: TALENT

Next: ON-STAGE QUESTION

Followed by: EVENING WEAR

Finally: JUST FOR KICKS

Okay, so my week at Miss Utah is done. I feel really good about all my competitions and I have no regrets. I didn't make the top ten--although I had a lot of people come up and let me know that they had me picked in their top ten (this was besides Jared). I made a lot of great friends there and I'm so excited that I will continue to have lasting friendships because of this week.

The most exciting news though is that Jared and I can finally come out and say that we're engaged! We have been secretly or not-so-secretly been planning our wedding for the past few months. A couple weeks ago while we were taking our engagements (I know, it's a little backwards) Jared popped the question while our wonderful photographer documented it all. He conveniently gave me the ring before we went to Ohio for a week so that I could wear it one week before I had to take it off for a week for Miss Utah. I told my roommate at Miss Utah on Thursday night and then she asked Jared to bring up the ring to the competition on Saturday night.

I am glad the way things turned out because I wanted to marry Jared and I think it's going to be the best decision that I've ever made. Love you babe!

Ohio: Brendon & Jena's Wedding

2008-07-01T23:39:00.005-06:00

We just returned home from a week in Ohio. The primary reason for going was to attend the wedding of Brendon and Jena Crabtree. Our trip started with a lovely delay in Chicago (seems like this happens every time that we go through Chicago on our way to Ohio). We then went to Kirtland to visit the Kirtland Temple and the other Church sites.A few days later is when Brendon and Jena got married. Jared was one of the groomsman and he was looking pretty good in his tux. The ceremony was really nice and the reception was filled with good food, gourmet cupcakes, and dancing.
Now we're home from Ohio and getting ready for the Miss Utah competition. More photos from Ohio and the pageant to come.

TJ's Birthday BBQ

2008-06-02T16:52:00.004-06:00

Yesterday we traveled up to Salt Lake to celebrate with the fam dam TJ's birthday. Check out Kim's blog for more information on that. We took Andy up with us and here are a few pictures from the event.
This is our cousin picture. Obviously, Jared wants to be a part of the family!

Graduation

2008-05-05T11:26:00.004-06:00

So, I'm a little behind on posting pictures from when I graduated on April 24--better late than never, right?

Well, I did graduate from BYU with a Bachelor of Science degree in Technology and Engineering Education. Now I just have to find a job.

We'll be here next year celebrating the exact same thing but for Jared.

My Turtle Cake was a Success

2008-04-16T23:50:00.002-06:00

WE WON!!! ......(third place)

2008-04-16T23:39:00.007-06:00

Tonight we received our trophies for winning third place in the BYU Student Bowling League. Let me tell you, BYU didn't skimp when it came to the trophies. All the guys had guy bowlers and I had a girl one. To top it off they have our names and our team name "We're The Fun" (Jared's clever way of naming our team WTF at BYU.) Well that concluded our Wednesday night's celebration of Jared's birthday.

Ballroom and Birthdays

2008-04-15T10:37:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was Jared's 25th birthday! I would love to say that we have some exciting pictures to share but because of his finals, we have decided to postpone our celebrations until Wednesday. There should be an exciting post on Thursday...or maybe just a picture.

Saturday was an eventful day for the two of us. Jared spent the day at Park City since it was the last day of the season. I spent the morning volunteering at the Utah Valley Marathon (4am is what I mean by morning). After that I went to a funeral for a figure skating friend of mine that had been fighting breast cancer for several years. The rest of my oh-so-exciting day was spent sleeping since I wasn't feeling too well...possibly the flu. Saturday night we went on a date to the support Brittney and Craig Wakefield at their ballroom concert. (The above picture is of Brittney.) It was very entertaining and we enjoyed watching them.

Dating Anniversary

2008-04-08T14:00:00.002-06:00

This Sunday was our year anniversary for dating. We spent the day watching General Conference and then I made a gourmet (well Jared thought it was) dinner. Jared surprised me with a dozen flowers (one for each month that we had been dating). The flowers made me laugh because they are not your traditional flowers. Jared wanting to give me flowers that would last forever so he made them out of construction paper (he's smart and knows that I like to scrapbook). He had to wake up early to make them for me and it was really sweet.

How much do I love Khristen?

2008-03-21T15:55:00.004-06:00

I LOVE KHRISTEN THIS MUCH! ...well you can't see me but I have my arms like 20 feet apart.

2008-03-17T15:16:00.002-06:00

This weekend was a relaxing one. Most of the time we both spend our time either doing homework or working...even after "normal" working hours. This weekend we took somewhat of a break--we didn't work or do homework on Saturday night. We had plans of going to a concert but then we just decided to stay in and watch TV. Our latest obsession is "Here comes the Newlyweds."

It's this great reality shows meets "The Newlywed Game." After every challenge that they have on the show, we question whether we would be able to do the same thing--of course we're not married. I think if we were given the chance later in life to be on the show we would. We don't know how long we would last because we're pretty confident that we would be pretty strong and therefore all the other couples would want to kick us off.

We've also discussed being on the "Amazing Race" (my dad got us into this one). We question whether we would be the couple that does really well or the one that America loves to watch because they are always fighting out of frustration. Hmmm....maybe the reality thing isn't for us. If only "Supermarket Sweep" was still on, I know that me and Kim would still be able to kick butt!

The Beginning

2008-03-14T13:28:00.002-06:00

I have finally been convinced by Kim to start a blog. Jared laughed at me but I think he'll like it in the end. We'll be using this blog to document our lives and inform our friends and family what is happening with us.