Sometimes, all you need is a good ham cup...

Do you ever have moments when you just stop and think- "whose charmed life did I randomly step into? Because this seems too easy to be my life" ? Because, I had one of those today while I was making ham cups and talking to my roommate. Everything is good right now. Its so weird. ;)

Ham cups. Sorry for the weird angle and lighting. I'm still trying to lean how to use my kindle camera. Haha

Conference bingo with Cadbury eggs. Gabriel had never played this before! He won. Beginners luck, I say!

Easter!

I have a confession. I am 25 years old, and when  wake up on Easter morning, I'm still a little disappointed that there aren't little foil- wrapped chocolate eggs hidden in the corners of my room like the 'Easter Bunny' used to bring when I was growing up. And when I say when I was growing up, I actually mean until I moved out. When I was 18.
Of course, there are some parts of Easter that will never change, like the family picnic up by Utah Lake. A tradition so awesome and enjoyable, it.will.never.change. ;) Oh well, its a chance to take some cute pictures, so you KNOW I'm all over that business. So, here you go:

Gabriel wasn't sure what his family Easter plans were, so we weren't sure if we'd see each other. On Saturday, he brought me these, because he's awesome. Its a terrible picture, but they are adorable pastel colored daisies. In a Valentines day mug. Don't you judge me! I gave him a basket with a couple t-shirts and some small treats since he's on a diet, but I didn't get a picture. FAIL.

 My adorable mom and sister. I love them.

 Bad sunlight picture of my cute mommy. The blob at the bottom is the cover on my Kindle. Haha. She got me an awesome basket with tons of yummy treats, a shirt, earrings, and flip-flops, that I meant to take a picture of but... I got hungry!
I gave her a basket that all the kids contributed to with a stuffed bunny, mini cadbury eggs and reeces eggs, a box of candy from Annie, and a kindle gift card from me and Scott and Jana.

My lovely sister in law.

Cutest little nugget and her Easter bonnet. The other kids were running around like banshees, getting out all their energy before a drive to Vegas, so no pics of them. But they were adorbs.

Cookin! The traditional burgers on the camp stove, of course! It was hard to get pics cause my phone camera doesn't work and my kindle only has a front camera, so this is the only campsite picture I got. Haha.

Despite the lack of chocolate eggs in my windowsill and closet ( there were some in my basket, never fear!) it was a greaet Easter. I always love seeing my silly, amazing family, AND I did still get to see the cute boyfriend after this, but he wouldn't let me take any pictures, brat.
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! <3 br="">

Blessin the baby bean

 On Sunday, we blessed little Ali bean.

There's really not much to say. we went to church, we went back to Annies house and ate and talked. I was so glad to spend some time with the fam and get some Ali snuggles.

Ali and Grandma. They're besties.

With Aunt Jana

 And me and my cute sister.

A very 'Pinterest-ing' Valentines Day!

Ok, worst title EVER. I'll admit it. But you know what wasn't the worst ever? This Valentines Day! Haha. I am so lucky ot have a Valentine that cares if I have a good V-day or not, even though he's not a huge fan. Awwww!
Since I had to work Thursday night, we didn't get to hang out on the actual day, so before work I took some flowers to my mom at work, and we went to lunch.
 

 Lame picture I took in the car on the way up. I didn't get any pics of us at lunch, but I was glad I went, since I found out she had had a rough couple days before and was down. :( Plus, everyone likes to get flowers at work, right?? I love her.
So, I took Saturday off to hang out with Gabriel. I spent the morning with my lovely roomie wandering around TaiPan trading. We wandered a little too much, though, and I was late for my plans with G. Whoops! Good thing hes so laid back, he just chilled on my couch while I got ready, haha. When he got to my house, we exchanged gifts. I got him a board game I have heard a lot of good things about and wanted to try. Which I wrapped in the hallway about 30 seconds before he got to my house. Haha.


 He is a much better gift-getter.

  The earrings are Tahitian pearls from Shane Co, my fave jewelry store (Holla for cruelty-free diamonds, y'all! Ha)
Here's the story with the monkey. We watched this documentary a while ago with the cutest monkeys everrrrr from Brazil. So, he once said, 'Next time I go to Brazil, do you want me to bring you back one of those? What would you name it?' and I told him I would name him Hank and he would be my roommates dog's bestie and I would make him shirts with an H on them. For Hank. Sooooooo he ordered a stuffed monkey just like the ones on the show, and had his mom make a little shirt
   
with an H on it. Adorable. :)
Anyways. We went to a movie (Warm Bodies. It was cute. Gabriel did not love it.) then to Teppanyakki for dinner. Then we went back to my house for dessert (sorry if these pics are huge)

and I made hot chocolate (in my new cups from TaiPan, lol) with a heart of whipped cream (from Pinterest, duh!)

and tiny heart shaped cherry pies! (Also from Pinterest!)

Yeah. I'm lame. I know. But he liked it and really, thats all that matters! Haha.
I'm glad that I got to spend my holiday with people that I care about the most! I sure am one lucky chica.

Gingerbread houses!

 We have a tradition of having a holiday cookie party every year for Christmas. This year, we switched it up just a little and decided to do gingerbread houses too! It was a lot of fun! My cute sister made our houses for us out of graham crackers. She is awesome!

The before....

The during...

 We looked up from decorating our houses, and saw Jules doing this. Randomly. we laughed so hard. I love that crazy girl!

 Plus, me and mom got photobombed, lol

 The after! 'Gingerbread Lane':

 My cute mama with her adorable house:

 And Annie with hers:

 Cutie-pie Jules decorating some cookies:

 And our lovely platter of cookies. My mom made all the sugar cookies. She makes the BEST sugar cookies ever!

 In other news, I'm 25! Holy moly! I wanted to take some pic of t he cute party my mom threw for me and my mountain of presents, but my phone camera was broken. :( So, instead, I offer to you, some pics of me modeling my presents!

Cute polka dot wrap shirt from my mom, with the necklace from Gabriel:

 A little bit closer pic of the necklace:

 Gray sweater with red tank from my mom, necklace and matching earrings from my sister Annie:

I also got the sweater and scarf that I'm wearing in the cookie pics, (mom and sister), another scarf plus a yoga tank and yoga pants from my mom, a raspberry colored scarf from Annie, and workout pants, earbuds, and workout headbands from Scott and Jana. Plus the movie Easy A from Gabriel along with the necklace. It was a wonderful day!

Annnddddddd, last but not least, the eBay Christmas party! Again, I planned to have a lot of pics but my phone is lame. So, I only have this one, dark pic. Haha. We had fun though, and it was so nice to see all my work friends that I don't see a lot anymore. So, here we are:

Turkey Day!

Thursday was, of course, Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving and I... we have had a rocky relationship. I have always wanted to love Thanksgiving. I mean, theoretically, there really should be no problems with it, as a holiday. Unlimited turkey? Gooooood! Grandmas stuffing? Goooood! Time off work? Goooooood! Alas, I have always hated Thanksgiving. To me, it was like, go be bored at Grandmas with annoying relatives and get some pie out of the deal. I longed for when I got married and only had to spend half a day at Thanksgiving. Then, I moved away, and discovered what a miserable thanksgiving really was like. I longed to hear my annoying aunt yammering and making awkward small talk with cousins I saw once a year. I wanted to have awkward small talk with anyone, really, and just not have to eat alone. Last year was my first T-day home, and it was seriously perfect. So, an enjoyable Thanksgiving is a brand new thing to me, but I was looking forward to it. I planned to go early to help my pretty grandma cook, cause she recently had surgery and had limited mobility in one arm.

So, before I left, I was apron-ready and prepared to cook: (Thanks to my madre for the most excellent apron)

So. We cooked. We whipped. We baked. We made a fabulous spread. I didn't take a single picture of the set table because..well, I was busy setting it.

Mom and Kelsey talking during dinner. When I took this, Kels was saying: 'And, My Little Ponies, are, like, soooo totally AWE-some!' I adore her.

 

THE cutest grandpa eva, carving us some more delicious turkey. Also being oblivious to my paparazzi ways.

Mom and Annie doling out the good stuff: (AKA pie. and whipped cream hand whipped by the resident whipping expert. ME!) While I was whipping the cream, me and my mom discussed if there are people in the world that have cool whip, and not like, real whipped cream on Thanksgiving. If you have one of those deprived, Cool-Whip-havin' families, I offer you condolences. Real whipped cream is where its at. On a piece of my grandmas pumpkin pie? YES, please! Best.thing.ever.

Two words: Food. Coma.

 

Ethan and Jules playing with their electronic devices. Haha! Whatever, it kept them quiet so we could talk.

Matt and the kids playing outside after dinner.  I later learned they were playing 'Warewolves and Humans'.
I WAS wondering why they were barking....

After Grandma's, we hit up my dad's for some more pie and did some Black Friday Gray Thursday (We renamed it) shopping. Me and Annie were out til 3:00 am! I was pretty impressed with her, since she is super pregnant and not usually out that late!

So, I feel safe to say, 2012 is officially the 2nd successful Thanksgiving! Since I never said it yesterday, I am so thankful for my family, that they are always there for me and love me no matter how crazy I am. I am thankful to have been born in a time with so many conveniences and medical advances, and to not have to have fought for freedom or walked across a plain like my ancestors did, and in a country where I have the right to vote, wear what I want, go where I want, and marry who I choose. There is so much to be thankful for, I could never type it all here!
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, and took more time than I did to tell your loved ones why you are thankful for them!

Girls night!

 Saturday night was Girls Night! It was my moms (belated) birthday celebration, so we wanted it to be perfect for her. :)

We started out the night with some lovely pedicures

 Mom and Annie waiting for their foot baths to fill with pretty blue water. :)

 Our cute tootsies! I'm yellow, my mom is blue and Annie is pink. we all got French tips but festive little annie got red tips instead of white. They turned out so cute but the lady doing the pedicure was sooo annoying! She kept asking if we wanted extra stuff( which was fine, I understand the upsell!) but then when I said no, she would try to convince me to do it and then be like 'oh, ok so you want snowflakes.'" ummm, no, crazycakes, just paint my freaking toes! So I spent almost the whole time warding off her snowflakes and eyebrow waxes rather than relaxing and talking to my mom. Lame. She did not get a very good tip. (Plus, sidenote, you should probably refrain from annoying someone whose foot is a mere few inches from your face.just.saying.) Haha.

 Next, We went To Breaking dawn, Pt. 2. It was good! I mean, bad acting in parts, cause, you know, K. Stew is in it and all, but i was impressed that they *finally* got her to stop heaving her chest like every line was the equivalent of running a mile. Homegirl must have soooome respiratory problems!

 In the theater with our awesome Twilight cups!

After the movie we hit up Sizzler for dinner, which I forgot to take pics at. It was SO nice to just sit and chat a bit, and of course we spent most of the time just laughing. It was SUCH a good night, though I'm a little sad the Twilights are over. It's the end of an era! Now we'll need to find some other series to dig into together. Looking forward to The Host already!