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

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:)

A Series of Fortunate Events

This time of year always makes me super nostalgic. It's the time of year I graduated high school 5 years ago, Bryan left on his mission 4 years ago, we both came back to Utah 2 years ago and I started school 1 year ago all around this time.

Do you ever think about the decisions you made or events that happened to lead you to where you are now? Like I just think about if my parents had picked a different neighborhood to live in back in 2000, I wouldn't have met Bryan and married him 14 years later. Also, if I hadn't decided to date Bryan, I may have not decided to think about seeking out my own adventure while he was serving his mission. I wouldn't have lived in San Francisco, I wouldn't have met my nanny family or some of my very best and closest friends.

Or sometimes when something didn't work out the way you'd planned, it turned out for the better. Like when I wanted to start school in February of last year but things didn't work out with my financial aid so I had to push it to May instead. If that hadn't happened, I probably wouldn't have the job I have now, or have the friends I do.

Right now, I'm super bummed because my goal was to be done with school by the end of July but I did the math and I won't actually be done until the end of September. But I'm sure there is a reason for that and something wonderful is going to happen that could only happen if my schooling got pushed back.

I also wonder how on Earth I didn't see Bryan for TWO. WHOLE. YEARS. like, what?! That is such a long time! Nowadays, I hate having to leave him for a few hours for school in the mornings. ha ha. It's kind of embarrassing. But he's just my favorite:)


We bought a truck this week. We are SO EXCITED. We cannot take it up into the mountains. Also, guess what, we are going to San Francisco in 107 days. I check my countdown every single day because I'm so excited but it turns out, that makes time go by super slow.

Have a great day and I hope everyone is enjoying this incredibly beautiful weather! And always remember this:

I couldn't resist this ^^^ Baylor insisted on rollerblading when I went on a walk with my parents tonight hahaha.

"you will win beyond your wildest dreams"

"Just give it up. Surrender your will to Him. Unconditionally. Withhold nothing. Turn it all over to Him; all of your desires, wishes, dreams and hopes. Be true and faithful in your head and in your heart not just in your behavior. Trust in Him Trust Him who knows all things. Trust Him who has all power. Trust Him whose love for you is perfect. Trust Him, who alone suffered, paid and atoned for your sins, and for your weaknesses as well. Trust Him that He will make of you, immeasurable more than what you will ever, ever, in all eternity, make of yourself. He will create of you a masterpiece. You will create of you only a smudge. You will create an ordinary man. He will create a God... if you surrender, if the Lord wins, you win also... the only way to win is to lose. Lose yourself in the Lords work , and you will win beyond your wildest dreams." 

- Lawrence E. Corbridge,  The Fourth Missionary

Liv sent this quote last week and I haven't stopped thinking about it. It's talking about missionary work but it can be applied to almost any situation in life. 

Today I finished taking my basic esthetics test (finally) and I'm SO EXCITED. I have literally never been so nervous. I was the only one testing today and I was sweating bullets. I do this really fun thing where when I get nervous, I get physically ill. Like, full on stomach ache. I could not figure out what was wrong but my stomach was hurting for like, a full week and then I realized I was nervous and then I was fine. Anyways, I passed. So that's all that matters, right?

My favorite part of the whole week was solidifying plans to go to SAN FRANCISCO! I am so excited, I just keep picturing seeing my best little buddies' faces again and I like, want to cry because I miss them so, so much and I'm just so excited to see them again!

I went to the chiropractor for the first time ever today and I would recommend it to anyone because it was amazing. 

Also, if anyone has any remedies for keeping snakes, YES SNAKES, out of my basement apartment, it would be much appreciated! I am seriously freaking out.

HAVE  A WONDERFUL WEEK. AND BE SO HAPPY BECAUSE LIFE IS WONDERFUL.

something devine

i've been following this little family for quite sometime through social media. in fact, before they were a family. she waited for her husband while he served an LDS mission, which gave me hope that it was possible. then they got married and have an adorable little girl and they travel everywhere and they are just wonderful, beautiful people.

anyways, they were recently in japan and made this video for their baby girl and i just couldn't help but share.

besides, there's been so much awful negativity in the world these days, who doesn't need something lovely and uplifting??

Something Devine

Sunrise

This last weekend, I had the honor to be a part of something incredible.

See this woman right here?

She is the most loving, caring and thoughtful human on this planet.

Every year, she does this amazing thing called Sunrise Discovery Workshop. It's for young teenagers to help them learn to trust themselves and others, let go of fear and let light and happiness into their lives. 

It was so life changing and I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to be apart of it and for the kids who made it was it was and what it is meant to be. Also a shout out to the other incredible staffers. And thank you SO MUCH to my BEAUTIFUL aunt Pam for touching the hearts of every single person who attended. 

a happy list.

I've been a bit overwhelmed the last couple weeks, I don't know what's changed but I've just felt so busy. And on top of the business this week (it's only Tuesday, what?) I've been a bit grumpy. I remembered THIS by my all time favorite blogger. So I thought I'd make my own to remind myself that I have a great life that I should be more grateful for, also because we all know how much i love a good list.

10 Things That Make Me Terribly Happy:

1. When my husband randomly texts me that he loves me. Small reminders are the greatest.
2. Getting praised for the work that I put into my job.
3. When my hard work towards my health pays off.
4. Random texts from my dad.
5. Coming home from work to see an empty sink
6. When Bryan talks about our future
7. Looking through old pictures
8. Bengal Spice Tea
9. Parks and Rec (Totally cried in the series finale)
10. Emails from my sister

HERE  is a previous happy list. in case you were wondering what else makes me happy:)

6 months later...

What? Where did the last 6 months go? Bryan and I have been married for SIX. MONTHS. Time really does fly when you're having fun. Which is all the time. I am seriously just so happy with my life right now, and I have Bryan to thank for that let me tell you 6 things I just love about him, cause I'm cheesy like that:

1- He is the HARDEST worker. I will never, ever have to worry about being taken care of because I know it's a priority of his.
2- You should see him with kids, it's adorable and it melts my heart. And then sometimes when he starts sentences with "When we have kids..." or "Let's do this with our kids.." it melts my heart even more. Even though it's usually followed with something totally ridiculous.
3- He may kill me for this one, but every night after he comes home from work, he pulls me over to his side of the bed to cuddle me.
4- He's a total dork and I love it.
5- He's so funny and not a day goes by that he doesn't make me laugh.
6- He will spend hours with my crazy family or drive for 24/48 hours because I asked him to because I'm selfish and I want to be with him and everyone else all at the same time.


I love you Bryan Scott Welty and I'm so happy that I am yours for eternity!!

(bonus #7 thing I love about him, even though he never smiles in pictures, he has the greatest most amazing smile around)

smile, darling

Over the past couple weeks, I have been doing an experiment that I call "Operation: Smile". Let me tell you what exactly the experiment is; You know those times when you make awkward eye contact with a stranger then quickly look away? So instead of giving a dirty look or quickly looking away, I smile. And not a half, courtesy smile, a REAL, genuine smile.

Want to know the results? There are two results. I will first tell you the results I saw in other people, I was rather surprised. I'd say about 7/10 people DID NOT smile back. They did the whole quickly look away thing or they'd throw me a dirty look. About 2/10 would give a fake courtesy smile and about 1/10 would give a real, genuine smile back.

When did it become weird to be nice? I am ashamed to say that I have been one of those people who don't smile back. But I am happy to say that I now DO smile back. Because want to know the second set of results?

I was SO MUCH HAPPIER. My days are so much better, even if I don't get smiles back, smiling just makes you happy.


So here's the deal, if you would like to take part in my on-going experiment, here is a little inspiration:

happy smiling everyone :):)