Before and After: Part 1

Yes, I realize it has been over a year and a half since I have posted on this blog. I decided I was going to be done blogging. So much has happened switching jobs, becoming a mother and moving. there was just so much going on that i had decided that instagram would be my new "blogging".

but if you recall me saying we moved, what i mean by that is that we bought a house. the house is from the late 1950's and very well maintained but very outdated. before we moved in, we decided to update both our room and laney's room. I've been so excited to share before and after photos and didn't want to plaster facebook and instagram with such photos so i decided to reopen the blog (not that it was 'closed' per se, i just haven't used it).

enough of the rambling, we are 100% finished with Laney's room so here it is (i didn't realized what poor quality the after photos turned out to be, so i apologize in advance, i was just too lazy to retake them).

Before:

After:

These amazing hardwood floors were underneath that awful carpet. we didn't even need to sand or restain them, we just washed and waxed them. the sharpie wall is my current pride and joy of the projects we've done so far. yes, thats right... SHARPIE. i'm planning on doing another smaller wall in my hallway in sharpie and possibly doing a small tutorial, we'll see. the chandelier was something also in the house, it was down in another room and just screamed "Laney!" stay tuned for our bedroom that is currently about 80% done.

Merry Christmas, Darling

I get what you're thinking, "Mia, Christmas ended 2 months ago. Have you lost your mind?" And the answer is no. I have not.

Let me go back to mid December. I decided to hang out with my grandma one night, I picked her up and we drove through the park lights and listened to Christmas music. The song 'Merry Christmas Darling' came on, after the line "I've just one wish on this Christmas Eve, I wish I were with you' my Grandma said "I get how she feels, I wish I could spend Christmas with Tom" and in that moment, my heart broke. And ever since my Grandma said those words, I've thought a lot about my Grandpa over the last little while. More than I have since he died, probably.

My Grandpa died 15 years ago this week. I was 9 at the time. When I was told, I just remember thinking "I don't remember the last thing I said to him" and that haunted me for a long time. And sometimes, I still wish that I could remember.

When my Grandma talks about my Grandpa, she just lights up. But I don't recall her ever being anything but strong. When she said those words 2 months ago, I thought about how hard it must have been. It was quite sudden, they were on vacation in California. He got sick, they went to the hospital and found out that he had cancer. My mom and her 4 sisters went out there to be with my grandparents. All the grandkids played the harmonicas they got us for Christmas.

My grandpa was an amazing artist. And I know he paints the sunsets. 15 years later and I miss him more than ever and I know my Grandma does but want to hear the best part? He's waiting for us. We'll see him again. I can't wait to hear about the reunion between my grandparents.

My aunts say that my grandpa always felt bad that he had never left any sort of legacy or inheritance for his family. But he did. Our family is closer than any other family I've heard of. And when I say our family, I mean our WHOLE family. Aunt, uncles, cousins, even our cousin's kids. My cousin's are my best friends. And want to hear something even cooler? Everyone who is able, holds a temple recommend. And that's better than any physical thing my Grandpa could have left behind.

The Do's and Don'ts of Coconut Oil

I have been experimenting with the all purpose and cure all coconut oil. And I'm here to share my story.

DO: Use coconut oil as a pre-shower hair mask. It melts at very low temperatures so you can just hold it in your hands and run it through your hair. I'll leave it in for 20-60 minutes depending on how distracted I get doing other things.

DON'T: Use coconut oil as a conditioner (okay, this wasn't actually me but it was someone I'm very close to.... *cough*mother*cough*) it does not rinse well by itself and will just leave your hair an oily mess, right mom? haha!

DO: Use coconut oil as body lotion. When I'm fresh out of the shower it makes me feel so soft and silky, especially during this winter months where my skin gets so stinking dry. Bonus: use as a moisturizing lip gloss.

DON'T: Use coconut oil as a brush cleaner. I saw a video on Facebook that you could use coconut oil to wash your make up brushers, it took me about two weeks and about 4 washes to get my brushes usable again and I still didn't get all the oil again. Maybe I just used too much and I should have diluted it a bit more but I probably just won't try that one again.

UNDETERMINED: Oil pulling. I've heard it's great, in case you don't know what oil pulling is, you can read more HERE. I've tried it a couple times, I almost gagged the first time because the texture was so awful before it melted. I haven't noticed the benefits yet (I'm quite skeptical when it comes to holistic treatments) but my mouth does always feel fresh after trying it.


So there you have it! Have a great weekend and Happy Coconut Oil Using! :)

yes, i'm still here

I've thought about giving up on this little space of internet. But I can't get myself to do it. It's like a journal (which I have also been terrible at keeping up on). I love looking back at everything so, I will update when I can.

Guess what? I'M DONE WITH SCHOOL! It's been about 2 weeks and it just feels so amazing to be able to go home after work. I have decided to stay at America First until after the New Year and then I will look for an esthetics job. 

It's my very favorite time of the year. My house is all decorated and I just love sitting on my couch with all the twinkly lights turned on. 

Right now, I am watching Reign on Netflix and it is excellent, you would not believe the costumes in that show. They are to DIE for. I wish it was acceptable to wear extravagant gowns and dresses in just  daily life. Ugh. I was definitely born in the wrong time period.

Here are a few pictures from the last bit:

trip to moab

my "niece" her costume was the cutest

the people who helped me through school, taught me everything esthetics and became family

Have a wonderful Christmas Season!

Life Is Wonderful

Is there ever a time in life where it is not crazy busy? Because I feel like all of my blog posts begin with "life has been crazy", because it always is! But it is also wonderful and happy and full of love. I've had my sister come home from her mission, my brother leave for his mission, I'm finishing up school in the next month, a cabin trip, the best concert that has ever happened and will every happen and an unforgettable trip to New Mexico.

going through the temple with two of my siblings and both my parents was such a great experience

dropping baby brother off at the mic

this one of Bryan and our nephews just melts my heart "heart eye emoji"

we got to take some of my cousins up to the cabin for an incredibly fun weekend

Mumford and Sons, aka the best concert that will ever happen

trip to New Mexico for a wedding and balloon fiesta

something awesome about this picture is that it includes, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, cousins kids, married in cousins and we are all so close, some of us grew up in Utah, some New Mexico and we have still grown up closer than most families and we've been able to keep that relationship up over the years and I wouldn't have it any other way :)

tourists for a week

As you may have seen, we spent a week in my old stomping grounds in the beautiful San Francisco. My heart was so, so happy being back and being able to show Bryan where I spent almost two years and of course spending time with my 3 kiddos.

For those of you just joining in, I lived in SF as a live in nanny for almost two years to the most amazing family with the most amazing kids.

We did literally everything there is to do in San Francisco. Complete tourist status (except Alactraz because it was sold out, wahh!) Beach, wharf, the bridge, ate at a different restaurant for every meal, spent a night in the country on a beautiful vineyard, cable cars, Giants game. It was amazing.

The kids didn't know that I was coming so we were able to surprise them and it couldn't have gone better, they FREAKED after they finally realized who I was (and that took a lot longer than I expected hahaha). It was great, and of course we didn't record it but its fine, it was great:)

We stayed with my uncle Randy who is seriously host with the most. He was so amazing to us and I'm so glad we were able to spend time with him.


I shared all my pics on FB so I'll just share my favorite few here:

ps- my sister will be home in 3 days!!!

I Got Bangs (And Other Life Updates)

Hello all! I've had so many things happen lately (who hasn't?) and life just gets away from you, ya know? I started a new job at America First Credit Union and I am loving it! It is so great. Its a much better environment than my last job, I'm very happy there:) Bryan is out of school for the summer and does the majority of the housework and I come home everyday from school at 9:30 and tear up because he always does what I had been planning on doing that day whether it be dishes or laundry. I definitely got so lucky with him. He's the very, very best. 

I cut bangs! I swore I'd never do it again because I hate it every single time but I decided to not go as drastic this time and I'm loving the change. We had a celebration for my grandma for her 75th Birthday Party. She's the cutest.

Bryan and I got to go up to our beloved Star Valley, Wyoming over the 4th of July weekend. We went fishing, did some sketchy four wheeling trails and had delicious fresh raspberry shakes. It was nice to get away for a minute.

And in another minute, we are heading to California! I am so freaking excited I can't even tell you. It's been almost two years since I was there and every time I think about seeing my kiddos, I get like, giddy and want to cry because I'm so excited! The best part? The kids don't know I'm coming so I get to surprise them. I can't wait to show Bryan around the city that I came to love so very much.

I hope everyone else's lives are as happy and wonderful as mine:)

^^ hahahah I'm an idiot