Hello Lover!

I have always loved Valentine's Day, even when I was single I loved it. I love the idea of celebrating love. Think about it. We all know what Valentine's Day is. We know it's a day of love regardless how we observe the holiday. We adorn the day with pink, red, and bubbly (virgin or non), we give gifts-some more expensive than others. There is an abundance of hearts and lips everywhere. KISS ME is a phrase we proudly wear on our tshirts. There is SO MUCH candy! Give us all the Vday candy! Growing up some of my friends wore black, some had single awareness parties, some spent time with their lover's, and some spent the day alone. I like to celebrate (any occasion) with some good food, and a lil' gift or two. I love decorating my abode with the corresponding event. I'm not great at making a space look holiday trendy or blog shoot worthy, but a brightly colored heart streamer never hurt anybody. I see so many creative ideas on my friend's social media platforms and I always think "ah! I need that Valentine silverware set in my life!" or "I am def getting up early next year to make pink heart-shaped pancakes, and eggs, and I'm def gonna freeze little ice cubed with raspberries and mint steeped into them, to create the PERFECT Valentine's Day!" And, every year when Valentine's comes around I still do not have that Valentine silverware set, and always choose to sleep in and grab brunch rather that get up and make a huge pink and red Valentine's Day cooking mess. This year Jack is working out of town so we had to have a our own special escapade. Jack super outdid himself. Like, above and beyond my expectations. My little life would be complete with a nice, heartfelt note, but my husband knows me better than I know myself. Don't you love when your hubby gets things just right. Like, SO right that it surprises even you!? That's my bebe, folks. Cora is an active toddler, 15 months old (translation: 1yr and some odd change), so having a nice sit down dinner in a five star restaurant gives me a little anxiety, you feel me? So we ordered yummy food and ate here at home, where Cora can be herself without restraint, or bother the people next to us with her random, brassy numbers she loves to belt out. She's quite the entertainer in public. We know how to party, people. After dinner, we gave Cora an extra long bath and spent the rest of the night chilling. Anytime I can have a fun night with my little family I'm totally in, but if I can do said activities in my pj's? I'm devoted.

Reality Check

When I found out I was pregnant, I thought it was a mistake. There was no way. After the shock wore off I was fairly confident in my ability to be pregnant. I specifically remember telling Jack that this is what I was made for. I was so confident. Then morning sickness entered my life. My confidence was unshaken. Women go through this all the time. I'm not exactly sure when I became such a wimp, but it happened. Don't get me wrong, there is something extraordinary that fills my heart when I feel this baby move or kick, and I love giving into my cravings. However, when I was told that bed rest was my new norm my attitude was positive. A little R and R? Sweet. Fast-forward to current day (2 months later).....uh....yeeeeeaaaahhhhhhhh let's get this over with. My husband is currently in Seattle for work, and rather than stay at home all day with only my thoughts and reality tv to keep me company, I came to my parents. Here I am on the cusp of becoming a parent myself and my parents are nothing but the best. I still need them regardless of what I think or say. They have been my salvation these past couple weeks. When my husband is at home he exceeds my expectations in every way. Endless pampering, and food runs. It's like he knows exactly what I need when I need it. I am so blessed to have all these people around me. This summer has been.....hot? I tried to stay as active as my mental strength would let me. So that meant a lot of swimming and gentle hikes. Pools, lakes, swimming holes, puddles...you name it, I was there. I feel most at home near water, is that weird? My family and friends have been so accommodating and helpful. Even Slim has been a lifesaver. You guys, seriously, on the days where I am particularly feeling lousy she is right there, right by my side. In fact, she doesn't leave my side. She takes care of me in her own way. I know she's a dog, but you guys, she has saved me so many times. She has her naughty days, but don't we all? Hehe! While I have tried to enjoy the summer I am looking for to the fall. The cooler temperatures, the smell in the air, pumpkin everything, new beginnings and the birth of this baby girl. I am so excited to hold her in my arms and see what she looks like! She's been movin' and groovin' around in my belly and I am ready to see what she has to offer this world because I know she's going to take it by storm. **so I am unable to load photos...but I'm working on it....standby**

June is Hot

Today I text my mom (for the billionth time) that I was getting ready to die....that this summer heat is literally going to kill me. I had come to terms with it. I made my peace with life, and I was ready to wither away into nothingness. Give my regards to broadway--sort of thing. Then I came home from my nicely air-conditioned office, complete with a desk fan for those extra sweltering days, and started to cook dinner for my husband. As I was tying in all the flavors of the dishes, he walked in.....in all his glory. Covered in dust from head to toe, sunkissed (b/c he doesn't get sunburnt), sweaty and hot. At the mo-Jack is an apprentice to a master Graniteer. Soon he'll become a graniteer himself, and then hopefully we'll be rollin' in the benjamins. But that's not my point. Jack works so hard-OUTSIDE-lifting granite, installing the granite...sometimes hauling it up multiple flights of stairs, and when he gets home he's always happy. He never gripes that he has to work in the hot blistering sun, or even that he has to work. He just does it (like any man would do...there's tons of good ones out there). Now, I'm not blogging about this to be like "oh, my husband is so great, he is my hero blah blah blah" bc he's not my hero. No shade. I am trying to paint a picture for you of how different we are: Jenilyn: desk job-air conditioning: Annoyed and complain-y Jack: hard labor-out side with the elements as they come: happy and good attitude Remind me why I deserve him? The other night I was craving Mexican food it was about 1am. Guess who got up and found the only Mexican place that was open (Beto's for those who might need that info). It's just these small acts of him putting my feelings first that I'm just like: "Ok Jenilyn you can't mess this one up." Let's not get the wrong impression....I do things for him...but tonight I just feel extra grateful. And it's nice to know that I'm not alone in my own little world. And it's so comforting to have him by my side when nothing goes right. It makes me so happy to be able to go shopping for baby girl clothes and have his input. It's the feeling of security that whatever comes our way that we have each other to lean on, that we're in this together. That's the feeling I'm trying to tell you.

Mrs.

When I got home from my mission, and once I acclimated myself to everyday life, I made a list of all the qualities I wanted in a husband. I'm fairly certain most girls do this. My plan was to finish school and get married within two years of returning from my mission. That's as far as my plans spanned. Two years passed and I was not in school nor did I have an serious prospects for marriage. Not much turned out as I planned...short term or long term. I came to terms with my, then, circumstances and accomplished much more than I had ever planned, I made some pretty good memories as well. I traveled, I adventured, I loved, I hated, and I lived (which is probably the most exciting thing). 2011 changed my life. I met Jack. I say it changed my life because it did. We started dating and it was unlike any relationship I had ever had. We clicked. Not just in a "I think you're kind of cute way" but I feel like my soul was attracted to his soul. Things progressed so slowly, but I got to see him in several different lights: difficult situations, social settings, family settings, school settings, critical thinking, sports/games settings...the list goes on, but slowly...I was realizing that this was the guy that I want to spend the rest of my life with. This is the man that I want to struggle with, in fact, the struggle did not even intimidate me. Then, I stumbled on "my list" which was in my dusty mission journal. I had 13 bullet points on that list, and Jack had each one of them. EACH.ONE.OF.THEM. That has never happened. EVER, you guys! May 7th, 2015 we got married. It was a cool day, it had rained the night before but the sun was out that morning. The day felt very relaxed. No stress. We got married and then had a luncheon with our family. We spent the rest of the day relaxing and going out with our family. The next day we left for Vegas on our honeymoon. We stayed in a suite at the Cosmopolitan (very Sex and the City chic) which had an amazing view of the Bellagio fountain and the strip. Jack is my favorite travelling companion. We are always on the same page, and are both game for whatever the other wants to do. This vacation was so relaxing, and enjoyable. The food! Ah! The food! On the way home we heard about a little swimming hole called Little Jamaica so we searched it out and enjoyed a little adventure. Once we got home it was back to business, as usual. Hawaii is next on our list, he's never been (oh! the shame).

My Favorite May

I was born in the month of May, so I've kind of always had a soft spot for the month. It's in the Spring when all things begin to bloom and the earth that once was stark and cold develops a sweet personality once again. Everything feels possible in the Spring. The rain starts to fall and encourages young things to grow. I love the rain. I love springtime storms. I love the outdoors and feeling the springtime on my cheeks and smelling the sweet smells all over. I love keeping my windows open and letting the fresh air fill my little cottage. I have an over-sized wild cranberry bush right outside one of my windows and the smell is intoxicating. I have a family of blue birds that live in one of my trees. Growing up my mom used to tell us that blue birds were a sign of good luck. Before I moved here I had seen (maybe) 5 in my entire life. I have to admit that I believed whole-heartedly that these birds were good luck. I have had the best luck since I have seen them. Springtime is and always will be my favorite time of year. I always look forward to the Spring. Always. This particular year through me for a bit of a loop. Plans didn't work out as I thought. When the new year started I felt odd. I didn't feel like myself. I don't know if it was on purpose or if I was just in a funk. I had a hard time being me. I know that sounds really stupid, but, you guys, that's the best way I can explain it. Winter brings me down most years. However, I pressed on. I knew that I had a good team in my life and that things would even out. Enter: Springtime. Spring brings out the absolute best in me. I have my best ideas in the Spring. I work best in the Spring, Summer, and even Fall. But Spring is the catalyst of my effervescence. In March Jack and I started mulling over the idea of marriage (once again). For those of you who are long time readers of my blog you know that I have planned two weddings and neither of the weddings happened. Live and learn, right? This time Jack and I decided to elope. No attention. No hassle. No fuss. May I just tell you how incredible our day was? No stress, no feelings of nervousness, no cold feet. Bliss. Absolute bliss. Now, when I say elope I don't mean go to Vegas and find a chapel on the strip...although we did contemplate that idea. We invited our parents and siblings. And then we all went to breakfast. It was fun, it was easy and it was exactly what I wanted. We spent the rest of the day relaxing and hanging out with family. The next day we left for our honeymoon. It was a lovely vacation. No plans, no itinerary. We basically flew by the seat of our pants. It was wonderful. Discovering new things with your best friend is the best kind of adventure I can imagine. For those of you who don't know: Jack and I have dated for 5 years. Things work out in the most unexpected ways, but they work out. I love being married to Jack. He takes care of me and I take care of him. We are a team....and if you're playing against us in any type of game, I'm sorry for you. You will lose. That's just the way it is. Sorry bout it.

Favorite Things 2014

Merry Christmas, everyone. What an amazing year. Can I get an "Amen?" Here's the thing....This year has had more ups than downs. Obvs there were hard times, but you know what, the good times overshadow any tears that were shed this year. I feel like my cheeks still hurt from the blessings I received this year. Naturally, I have to document my favorite things this year. Naturally. My family....automatic, right? I just feel like I have the best. Jack & Slim. Lovely life. Like, no words. Sleeping in....zzzzzzz. A full nights sleep & an iced venti chai cures just about everything that ails 'ya. Online Shopping....thank you Forever 21 for my wardrobe on a budget.....like....a Beyonce budget, I probably kept you in business this year. Baubles...beautiful! Gorgeous! Trendy. Check out Wrenn Jewelry. I die. My amazing car....for those of you who don't know I bought a new (like new new car...a 2014 in 2013....like legit, grown up, sleek car...ugh!!!! YASSS) My job....promotion HAAYYYYY! Twinkle lights......like....all over my apt (Mindy Lahiri status) My cozy, lovely apt, you guys, I can't even tell you how much I love my little home. I never want to leave....and I hardly ever do. Reality television. Shame shame you know you're name. Nail Polish. You know who you are. Dates. Specifically WHO I go on dates with. He's a dream. Literally, a dream. This Is the Read. Crissle. Kid Fury. You make me fly! VINE. Thank you, Vine. Instagram. Documenting my life via pictures is my world. Love it. Love. It. Beyonce. Snatched my edges this year! #whereareyouredges Boots w/the fringe. The besties. I have amazing people in my life. I've said goodbye to a few negative influences in my life, and I'm happier for it. Awwww...... My bed. 1300 ct sheets combined with a Tempurpedic....my bed is so hard to get out of in the morning. Impossible. Clinique eyeliner Loreal Volumnious Mascara Jason's Super C Toner.....you can find this at whole foods stores...it made my eyelashes grow so much...there's my dirty little secret. SIRIUS Music (satellite radio) ooooh weeee I love the extra music and the extra talk. Carmex mixed with any lip gloss. Trust. Bath 'n Body Works Peppermint Deep Cleansing Soap. Doggy door. Life-saver. Target. Nothing new. Targ has always been one of my fave things. Anywhere you can get Starbucks and shop around? Um, hellur, that's a hit. Diet Dr. Pepper....like, seriously, it is everything! Text messaging. Calls are a thing of the past for me.....unless you're my mom or my sister. Or Jack (duh). Snapchat. Super fun. Magisto. Hello favorite video editing app. Hello! My iTunes. Ooooh take it easy. My playlist has increased by leaps and bounds. Thank you, Apple. You "rock" my world. Pun intended. Road trips. It always seems like they come at just the right time. The snacks, the music, the company. Bountiful. I used to live in West Jordan, but in March I moved to Bountiful and I love it. Cute town, great options. I think it's important to document my favorite things, because I feel like my favorite things are just blessings that are amplified, and it's fun to look back and reminisce. It's good therapy. Merry Christmas, everyone and have a great new year's eve!