My Not So Secret Aspiration

This last week we had the pleasure (and it was truly a pleasure) of having Heather come and visit us. One of the things she mentioned while was here was her not so secret dream to join the circus, I have heard her mention this a few times, but it got me thinking, what is my secret aspiration... sure the normal things came to mind- I want to change the world, vaccinate everyone, be a great wife and mother etc, but the more I thought about it one thing kept coming to mind, I tried to suppress it but I think I have discovered my not so secret aspiration, and yes it will shock you, my not so secret aspiration is to someday open my own bakery. I know it isnt shocking, I love to cook, and even more than that I love to bake, there is something about making something amazing from nothing that appeals to the control freak inside of me.  There is something appealing about creating sweet confections that people talk about. Yes I am realistic about this one, it is likely that I won ever do this, it is far more likely that I will continue to bake only for family, friends, and just because I can, but you never know, if Crumbs can make it with it's overpriced mediocre cupcakes then maybe this might work out someday. 

On a totally unrelated note we are heading to Dallas early tomorrow morning to look at a house, if we decide to get it there will be TONS of pictures (of an empty lot, a model home, and a small town) to come in the next few days!

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

So as all of you know Brian and I are heading down to Dallas this weekend to look at a house we are most likely going to buy. There are several exciting things about this house: 1. the shower is not in the kitchen, 2. there are actual lights in the kitchen and room for a regular sized fridge (we currently have a mini fridge), 3. we can afford it, 4. it is new- so new that it is currently a pile of lumber sitting at home depot or wherever they are getting the lumber from. As as result of this house being new or not built there are a few- dozen- decisions that need to be made- everything from the color of the tile to the color of the brick on the outside. Does anyone have any suggestions- carpet color, tile color, cabinet color (it is supposed to have cherry wood but I am not sure how I feel about that) etc, really anything. If you have a picture of what you think would look nice please feel free to email it to us... before saturday.  Also, if you have any suggestions about what not to get we are also accepting those- we know not to get white carpet (not sure who gets that in their family room, but no worries we will not be getting white carpet), but beyond that any suggestions. 

Does anyone actually have a "garden tub", have you ever even once used this- we are thinking about getting rid of it because the likelihood of us actually using it is slim and I would rather not have all that wasted space or stuff to clean- but in your experience should we keep it? 

Also, cherry wood- your thoughts- remember that everything in our kitchen is bright red- cherry red actually, earth tones arent really my thing so I doubt we are heading for darker more muted colors in the future- think pottery barn red and green- you know actual colors. 

Thanks a bunch!

For Kurtis and Megan

Okay guys here is the house- i thought i would send an email but this is easier just in case it gets deleted or whatever. The house is the "Cypress II" and the one we are looking at has the optional study instead of the front dining room (which basically means it has french doors instead of an empty door way). Take a look and let us know what you think we'll talk to you later today!

the development

http://www.meritagehomes.com/builder/metro_area/6-Dallas_Ft__Worth__TX/community/191-Grand_Heritage?return_url=%2Fbuilder%2Fmetro_area%2F6%2Fcommunities%3Fcomm_page%3D1%26amp%3Bcomm_per_page%3D25%26amp%3Bsearch%3Dcommunities

the house

http://www.meritagehomes.com/builder/metro_area/6-Dallas_Ft__Worth__TX/community/191-Grand_Heritage/home/1828-Cypress_II?return_url=%2Fbuilder%2Fmetro_area%2F6-Dallas_Ft__Worth__TX%2Fcommunity%2F191-Grand_Heritage%2Fhomes%3Freturn_url%3D%252Fbuilder%252Fmetro_area%252F6%252Fcommunities%253Fcomm_page%253D1%2526amp%253Bcomm_per_page%253D25%2526amp%253Bsearch%253Dcommunities%26amp%3Bsearch%3Dhomes

for everyone else- if you havent taken a look at the house already and want to take a quick peak, we are heading down on Saturday to make a final decision so let us know your opinion before then!

A Letter to All Concerned Parties*

*this letter is not directed to the readers of this blog, it is written in general- if you read this blog then ignore it, I am just frustrated and wanted to blow off some steam, and what better way to do that than venting my frustrations all over the internet.

Several years ago one of my all time favorite BYU professors introduced me to the concept of the “eternal triangle”. Because I attend BYU, topics like religion, child rearing, and celestial marriage came up on a daily basis, so the introduction of the “eternal triangle” into a women’s health lecture wasn’t that unusual, the concept presented wasn’t that unusual either, I just had never heard someone speak so adamantly about it (nor had I seen then hand motions that go with it.). Needless to say the eternal triangle is something that has stuck with me these last few years and something that Brian and I have tried to incorporate into our marriage.

 What is the eternal triangle you ask- it is a decision making model where all decisions are made between you, your spouse, and your heavenly father- it is not an eternal circle, square, diamond, pentagon, or octagon- it is a triangle- meaning there are three individuals involved in the decision making process-THREE, not four, not five.

Why am I writing about this? Well it turns out that I turned 23 a few months ago, it also turns out I celebrated my 3^rd anniversary a little more than a month ago, I graduated from college a little over a year ago, Brian graduated from college a few months ago, he has a full time job with a good salary and benefits beginning in a few months, we are looking (seriously) into purchasing our first home, and I will graduate with my Masters in about 6 months. What does all of this mean… it means that people are starting to ask us, on what I can only describe as an hourly basis, when we are going to start have children. This makes me want to kick someone. This is our decision (if you are reading this blog than you haven’t been asking us so I am NOT talking about you), stop asking, we will have children when we are ready, when it is best for our family, and when we (the eternal triangle) feel it is best. While you (not you in particular or any reader of this blog I am just venting) may have a lifetime of experience, and may think that we are waiting too long and missing out on opportunities you don’t have all the information- not being a member of the eternal triangle- so stop. When you are the one giving birth to the child, paying for the child, taking care of them, and let’s face it when you are the parent, you get to make that decision, and your opinion matters- unfortunately for you, you are none of those things in this particular situation, stop asking me, when we decide to have children we will be more than happy to inform you (and yes we will eventually have children), until then sit tight and stop asking. 

Getting my act together

So for the last few days/months I have been really concerned about getting a job in January, yes I know it is a while away and there isn’t really any sense in stressing now, but I was and I was really concerned. I couldn’t find a job I was qualified for anywhere, all of the “community health” jobs required and RN, I was getting really discouraged that I wouldn’t actually be able to get a job and that my masters was useless. Well it seems I was looking in the wrong place, I still haven’t found a ton of jobs I am qualified for but I have found some, and I guess in the end all I need is one.

On a completely unrelated note brian and I have started looking for houses. We found one we both like that is pretty affordable. If you would like to check out the house and give us your input you can see it here 

http://www.meritagehomes.com/builder/metro_area/6Dallas_Ft__Worth__TX/community/191-Grand_Heritagereturn_url=%2Fbuilder%2Fmetro_area%2F6%2Fcommunities%3Fcomm_page%3D3%26amp%3Bsearch%3Dcommunities

We like the Cyprus II the best, but we would take the Tripoli (or any house). Take a look and let us know what you think!

what to do next?

So after i graduate in december what should i do next? besides move to texas? i am taking votes (didnt i do this like 3 months ago).

thanks

Today I was thinking as I was listening to my fantastic country music on the train ,that of all the things I post about on my blog i skip one of the most important things… Brian. Brian is probably one of the least appreciated husbands around. It’s true, I always just assume he is going to do what I want him to, that I forget he doesn’t have to follow my every order- granted life with me is probably better when you just comply with my every whim (as it is with most people) but he doesn’t have to. Brian is a fantastic husband, really in the scheme of things I lucked out. Despite being under or to be fair at times simply unappreciated he has been great. How has he been great? So at the risk of sounding cheesy, and let’s face it I have already crossed that road a few times, here are some of the things that make Brian great.
-patience- I have none, he has a lot, with that combination our kids might survive to adulthood
-hard work- trust me when I say PWC is getting an amazing first year associate, I would go so far as to say level 1 material
- perseverance- I’m not sure if this comes from a lifetime of patience or just what seems like a lifetime of listening to me talk about meaningless things, but the kid sees things through until the end, yes he even sees chick flicks through until the end
-compassion- to be fair I am not a compassionate person so Brian has to make up for my lack of understanding for other people and what I assume to be less than important issues
-attention to detail- you wouldn’t think this would be a quality you would want in a husband, but trust me when I say this is just the thing I was looking for (that and brown eyes), first off I doubt you could be a great accountant without this, and second, life with Brian has few surprises, or few bumps we were not otherwise prepared for- he has a contingency plan for just about every situation.

Packing up and leaving Utah for the summer with little notice- he quit a job he enjoyed, left his friends, family, and home behind, and gave up fly fishing on the Provo (which I hear to a fly fisherman is a sacrifice) so that we could move to a city we don’t really like, to an apartment we hate, so that I could take advantage a of a great opportunity. In addition to giving up everything from home, he has listened to me complain about NYC nonstop for going on 5 weeks now.
BYU MAcc, really that is all I have to say. I guess you might not get it, why is this a great thing, BYU has a great accounting program, one that I hear is not that easy to get into, not only did he get in, he excelled, and after all of his hard work he now has an offer and a job waiting with a fantastic company in Dallas.
He has been really supportive of my schooling and dare I even say career aspirations (I think my aspiration is to have aspirations), and I would go so far as to say without him I would not have ever thought about grad school (or to be fair have gotten in). He has put up with all my crap through school- and yes I give him a lot of crap during school- my already short temper is even shorter (if that is even possible), but yet he has been willing to keep signing up for more school with me.
And the number one reason Brian is such a great husband… drum roll…. We are going to have our own washer and dryer by Christmas- yes this is a big deal! He is sacrificing things that might be more fun for this… something of paramount importance to me.
Thanks Bri!