New Years Resolutions

The last weeks I've been thinking a lot about the coming year and the things that I want to accomplish in 2013. I've been able to think of a few things that I want to make my primary focus for this year. It can all be summed up with:

Exercise more: Spiritually, Physically, Mentally

Spiritually:
Attend the temple at least twice a month if not weekly
Have more meaningful prayers and scripture study time

Physically:
Exercise regularly (3-5 times a week)

Mentally:
I want to do more this year to exercise my mind including reading more and learning new things

Happy New Year!!!

Cancun 2012

December has been affectionately dubbed my month of vacations at work because I'm gone for close to 2 weeks on different vacations. The first of which just happened: I spent the week of my birthday in Cancun, Mexico! Talk about the best birthday present ever :)

I'll give you all a brief play by play of the week. But it was so gorgeous. The pictures don't do it justice. It was so warm and beautiful. I've only been back less than a day and I already want the warm weather. It's way too cold in Utah for my liking.

Saturday:

My vacation started out on a rocky beginning. I thought my flight to LA to meet up with my mom, sister, and brother in law was an hour later than it actually was so I ended up getting to the airport 15 minutes before it took off. Let's just say I started to panic. I missed my flight and I felt so lost. The first person at the airline refused to help me saying there was nothing he could do to get me on another flight because it was booked through a travel agency. I wasted an hour trying to get a hold of the travel agency when it turned out they were closed until Monday.

The second person I talked to at the airline actually was helpful. He called another girl over that was able to find me a flight to Cancun leaving out of Detroit the next morning. Best part: they only charged me a $50 fee to switch my flights instead of $800. Christmas miracle? I think so. If the first guy had just helped me originally I could've gotten an earlier flight but because it wouldn't help me the soonest I could fly to Detroit was 3:15 pm. Therefore I was sitting at the airport in Salt Lake for almost 8 hours. If my car hadn't been parked at long term parking up the freeway I would've gone to temple square or something and not just sat there for hours.

My original plan was to just sleep at the airport in Detroit (or not sleep) because my plane from Salt Lake got in around 9 pm and my plane to Cancun didn't leave until the next morning around 10 am. My mom was a genius when she remembered that her brother lives 45 minutes from Detroit. Uncle Bill called me to get my flight information and when my plane landed he and my cousin Erin came and picked me up. I totally was not prepared for Michigan weather haha. It was kind of a blessing in disguise that I missed my flight because then I got to see my aunt, uncle and cousin that I haven't seen in forever!

Yummy cookie from the plane ride

Sunday:

Sunday morning came bright and early. After eating breakfast, I headed back to the airport. After getting a lecture from my Aunt Sandy: She said I should never even think of sleeping at the airport if I was this close to them. It was kinda funny haha. I made sure to get to the airport early this time to avoid any complications. There was no problems getting through security and in no time I was on my way to Cancun!!

It was really humid and warm but it felt wonderful. I almost panicked at the airport because I was having trouble finding the shuttle that would take me to the resort. Luckily, there was someone there (Eddie) that remembered my family that came in the previous day and knew there was supposed to be one more person. He got me on a shuttle within 15 minutes and I was on my way:

Waiting for the shuttle to leave the airport

Love this resort!! 

After arriving I found my mom and we got me checked in and a bell boy took my stuff to our room. Way classy. We went and ate and then walked on the beach and sat by the pool:

Flower I was given upon arrival at the resort

I LOVE the beach :)

That night for dinner we went to this tepanykai restaurant at the resort. You know the kind where they cook right in front of you? It was so cool!! The food was pretty good and the show was awesome. I tried sushi for the first time and it wasn't bad. Although, Ariel says I was a pansy because I didn't try the stuff that had actual fish in it... oh well 

I'm horrible at taking pictures...don't mind the  attempted smile

He made a tower with onions and then lit it on fire

Monday: 

Was my birthday. No big deal. But who wouldn't want to celebrate in Mexico? The day was filled with sun bathing and hanging out by the pool. And of course being spoiled by my sister: 

Ariel ordered cake for my birthday and had it delivered

Mom got one too because of course it's her birthday too

I also got a message (AMAZING), facial and sugar scrub at the spa. Not a bad way to spend your birthday :)

We went into Cancun for dinner. A friend that used to live with us years ago actually lives in Cancun now and wanted to treat us to dinner. So we went to dinner in the Hotel Zone at a place called Chocolate City, went to his house and saw his possums (who knew you could keep those as pets?), and went to Wal Mart so mom could get some souvenirs. I got a t shirt and a Mexican blouse. 

Tuesday:

Today we went to Isla Mujures (Island of Woman) where we went snorkeling. Coolest thing ever. The weather was kind of bad that day so it was good that we weren't at the resort hanging by the pool. It actually rained unfortunately. 

Before heading back to Cancun after vising the island we want to a market place. Its kinda crazy how if you don't go into someone's shop to look at what they have they think you're a bad person or something... I bought a black Mexican dress and 5 hand woven bracelets. So pretty. 

Wednesday:

Dawned bright and early. We got up with the sun because Ariel, Don, and I were going to tour the Maya city of Tulum and the bus left early. By the time we got back (around 3 pm) it was full on raining. But the entire time we were touring the city it was really nice out. Hot and humid. 

That night for dinner we went to a Mexican themed restaurant  It was so yummy!! I loved the food and the Mexican Salsa (aka Pico de Gallo) was amazing and I could've eaten it all day by it self. 

Sunrise

Ruins in Tulum

Beach in Tulum

Mouse balloon that our waiter made at dinner

My favorite drink: Strawberry Daiquiri (virgin of course)

Thursday:

We went swimming with Dolphins. If you ever have the chance to do this take it. It was so fun and such a neat experience. We hung out on the beach, I built a sand castle, and we went swimming and laid in the sun of course :)

Hanging out at the beach

The finished product

Friday:

Ariel, Don, and I went zip lining. This was tons of fun and there were times that I thought I was going to die. Pictures to come.....

Towel Art: Peacock?

Towel Art: Swan

Towel Art: Duck

Saturday:

The worst day: The day it was time to go home. It was a great vacation and ended all too quickly. I made some great memories and had some awesome experiences (and of course took lots of pictures). I never feel as pampered and spoiled as I have when I'm on this kind of vacation. Last experience of being pampered: manicures and pedicures before heading to the airport

 

Thanksgiving 2012

Wow...way too long in between posts. Maybe I'll be better next year....no promises though....

This year was the first time I've actually been able to visit my family for Thanksgiving in about 4-5 years. Way too long. It was so much fun to be able to go home and see everyone.

I was able to fly home on Wednesday (where I was stuck at the airport for 4 hours waiting for my sister to get out of school). We ran some errands for my mom and then went home. I loved being able to see my niece and nephew. They are just the cutest little kids ever!!!

Isn't he adorable?

Cutest. Niece. Ever

Cutest. Nephew. Ever.

We ate way too many desserts....

Too many pies....talk about a sugar coma

Played at the park a few times....

Jaser trying to get off the dino

Jase and Sammo

We also went black Friday shopping at Wal Mart. In Ridgecrest, Black Friday shopping isn't nearly as crazy as in other places but there were still some crazies out there haha. 2 of them are pictured below:

Jacob stole my phone and took about 40 pics before I realized what he was doing 

Let's just say we got a little bored waiting in line to get the tvs... Nicole and I ventured 2 different times into the toy section. Bad idea. Parents are crazy sometimes to get their presents. Also: Parents that bring their little kids to Black Friday shopping are insane. You're just asking for trouble if you do that.

The biggest reason why I went home for Thanksgiving was so that I could go to the Temple with my family to receive my endowment. This is something that I've been thinking about and preparing for over the last year. It was really cool to go to the LA temple because that's where I did baptisms for the dead for the first time and it's also where my little brother Jimmy went through the temple for the first time too. Here are some pics at the temple and then at dinner with every one:

Me outside the LA Temple

Los Angeles Temple

Ethan and I waiting for food. I was starving!!

Ariel and Don. Aren't they cute?

Nicole and Jase: He tries so hard to smile, haha

Dad and Zachy

Ethan, Sammi, and I

Ethan's Dinner: Check out all that meat!!!

  

We also put up the Christmas tree while I was at home:

Man Hater?

For those of you who know me, you'll know that recently I've been on a man hating trip. A few weeks a go a friend (yes male) of mine that asked me if there was a particular reason why I hate men so much and so often. This got me to really thinking about it. There is no legitimate reason for me to go on my man hating days as often as I do. I really don't know why I have so many days where men drive me absolutely crazy!!! Could it be that I work with too many men? Maybe. Could it be that I'm just a little bit bitter about the fact that I haven't been on a date in over a year? Possibly. Could it be that most of my single friends are now married and having kids? Maybe.

Even though I am often a man hater, men sometimes have their moments when I don't hate them so much. Last week, a guy that I work with willingly looked at my car (for free) because I was worried there was a problem with it. What a nice guy.  Yesterday, I was sitting in stake conference next to a perfect stranger and I'm still getting over a cold so I was sniffling a little. Stranger boy gets up and a few minutes later comes back and hands me a tissue. Afterwards, he just disappeared. I'll probably never see him again but what a nice guy. Today, I went out to eat dinner at Texas Roadhouse by myself and my server was a shameless flirt. It made me feel really good about about myself because I was having a downer kind of night.

I know I've said this before but I'll say it again: I've got the best boss ever. He teases me to no end and makes fun of me in front of everyone. But that's just how we interact. Of course if I didn't make it so easy for him to tease me he wouldn't do it so often...he says that the only reason he teases me so is because I like it and the attention. Maybe it's true. Maybe it's not.

Bottom line: I really don't hate men. Even though I often say that I do.

Paintballing Adventure

A few weeks ago I went paintballing for the first time ever. Okay well that's not the entire truth. This is the second time but the first time was so lame because we started too late in the day that I didn't really get to play at all.

I don't own any paintball equipment so I had to rent a gun and mask. There's a place in Provo that rents paintball at a 50% discount to Vivint employees. Cha-ching!! Love when I get to save money.

I went with bunch of people from work it was pretty fun. We went to a little place outside of Payson (Pine Forest, I think it was called). We had to take about a 15 minute hike to get to where we were going but it was worth it and tons of fun! I had no idea how painful it would actually be. A few times a had paintballs hit me that didn't explode and those ones hurt more than anything. Ouch! I'd totally do it again but I don't think I'd invest in actually buying some equipment.

Halloween Wreath

I'm not the biggest fan of Halloween but of course along with my recent kick of wreath making I made a Halloween Wreath. 

You take these:

And when you combine them you get this: