#thankfultuesday - Cultivate

Totally my goal for 2017. 

1. I am grateful for Blake's family welcoming me as one of their own for Christmas.

2. I am grateful for my family who celebrated with me a day late. 

3. I am grateful for the love of my mother. 

4. I am grateful for a husband who supports me in all I do. 

5. I am grateful for a job that makes it so I can support Blake's dream of nursing school.

6. I am grateful for a new year to be grow and improve.

7. I am grateful for friends, even though they aren't in state, you know who you are. 

8. I am grateful that each year I can celebrate Christmas. 

9. I am grateful for the gloves I got for Christmas that keeps my hands from freezing!

10. I am grateful for the three of you who read my blog :).

Happy New Year!

Firsts

Blake and I have experienced a few firsts together the past two weeks. We got our first Christmas tree, started a few Christmas traditions and our first real snow together! My parents are also experiencing their first Christmas as empty nesters. 

I was also able to take Blake to the City of Lacey's 50th Celebration. There was a big open house with some great speakers talking about our history and our future. Then it was finished off with a lighted parade and tree lighting. I love being able to share this city that I love with Blake, and I love that he'll come to anything I drag him too. Including, the City Council meeting I have to go to tonight :). 

It has really been a magical couple of weeks to help really bring the Christmas spirit into our lives. Something else that has really made this Christmas special is the #LightTheWorld campaign, that I talked about a few weeks ago here. It has really helped us not worry so much about presents, but pay attention to the real reason for the season. Serving others and celebrating Christ. I know it already started but you should start it now if you haven't already!

What we did for the first day was make little snack bags to keep in our car for anyone in need that we may see when we are out and about. Such a easy way to help out!

I hope you all have a magical and very merry Christmas!

See Ya November

November was a busy month.....

- I went on a Girls Camp Retreat with our youth leaders for Girls Camp next summer.

- Practiced and perfected our pie skills.

- Blake was an awesome picture taker for me. #Instagramhusband

- We were really good at going to the gym this month. It really is the best having someone to always go to the gym with!

- We actually had some beautiful sunny days. 

- Played with some cute kids. 

- Voted.

And soooo much more!

Blaine and I decided to adventure to the great outdoors on Veterans Day...and show off our muscles....HA!

Blake is the greatest uncle. These little kids couldn't get enough of him. 

Blake's first pie - didn't he do an amazing job?! It tasted so good!

Stay awesome and enjoy all the magic Christmas and December brings!

#thankfultuesday - The Things You Have

What a great reminder going into this Christmas season. Yes, let us give. But don't let it get in the way of forgetting to be grateful for what we already have! 

And join me and the world in serving others as we #LightTheWorld. Find out more here. 

1. I am grateful that Blake and I traveled safely to and from Portland last weekend despite the insane amounts of rain.

2. I am grateful for my new suede maroon block heels that are just too perfect.

3. I am grateful for the Holy Ghost that guides me through important decisions. 

4. I am grateful for the staff meetings/potlucks :).

5. I am grateful for my sister letting me crash her Thanksgiving so I wouldn't be alone while Blake worked. 

6. I am grateful for a hard working team at work. 

7. I am grateful for the time Blake and I have had together. 

8. I am grateful it might snow next week!!!!!

9. I am grateful our plans always seem to work out how they should.

10. I am grateful for each of you who take the time to actually read this....if you don't I'm not offended at all :).

What are you grateful for this week?

#LightTheWorld

A short post, but an important one. This year for Christmas I want you to join me in a 25 day challenge. A challenge that will help bring light to the world through service. I can't think of a better way to prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Watch this short video and then go to The Small Seed where they have a great calendar with many ideas of acts of services you can do each day leading up to Christmas. 

Christmas is a time to think of the birth of Jesus Christ. So often it is easy to get caught up in the commercial side but I believe doing these acts of service can help us not get lost in it all, and help us really feel the magic of Christmas. 

"As we follow the example of the Savior and live as He lived and as He taught, that light will burn within us and will light the way for others. "

- Thomas S. Monson

Stay awesome!

36 Hour Getaway - Seattle

Blake and I don't get a lot of time together because our work schedules are the exact opposite. He usually works on Friday, Saturday or Sunday and I work Mon-Fri. Not super ideal. So we planned out ahead and found a Friday I could take off and that he had off and we headed up north for some R&R time together. 

We had some credit left over from our honeymoon at McMenamins so we decide to stay there again. If you've never heard of McMenamins, they are a company that takes old schools and/or buildings, refurbishes them and turns them into hotels, pubs, restaurants and more. If you're in the PNW you should definitely check them out. We stayed at the Anderson School in Bothell on Thursday night. It was nice and relaxing. We even slept in which is a miracle in itself!

Then we spent Friday in Seattle. We decided to wander University Washington's campus because it is on Blake's list of choices for his BSN (Bachelor of Science - Nursing) and because I've always wanted to see their library. Looks like a mini cathedral and all the buildings are old and amazing to look at!

Then we headed into the city and just wandered. By this point, I was tired of taking my camera out of my bag so pictures were less and less. It was perfect, though. Wasn't crazy busy, the Christmas lights were starting to go up and we got some good food and deals. 

Pike Place Chowder. I felt like I was cheating on Ivars but it was delicious!

I'm not a fashion blogger but I just need to brag about my amazing find. Banana Republic, or as Blake and I call it B&R, was having a sale. But of course, even the sale items were still super high prices. I turned around to look at a rack that was just an extra rack with clothes that needed to be put away and found some insanely nice slacks for only $10.99 before the 40% off. So of course, that motivated me to dig deeper. All and all I got a nice button up shirt and slacks for $13. WIN!!!!

Awkward moment: The guy checking me out told me he had just bought the same pants a couple days prior and he was super bummed to find out that there was a 2 because he had bought the 4.......

It was a wonderful, yet too short, 36 hours. But we look forward to our next little getaway. 

Perk #196 of being married: You can go on little getaways with your best friend whenever you want!

Stay awesome. 

Backpack: Roolee Boutique

#thankfultuesday - Much To Be Grateful For

"Regardless of our circumstances each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings." - Thomas S. Monson

I shared this quote over on my fitness Instagram account @strongnotskinny_3 as a reminder that sometimes life is hard and our bodies hurt. But we have bodies that work and we wake up each morning. Focusing on the small things help us see how much more we are blessed. 

1. I am grateful I got to the gym on Saturday.

2. I am grateful I got a 36 hour getaway with Blake (more to come soon).

3. I am grateful I get to have two Thanksgivings with two of my sisters.

4. I am grateful to the people who believe in my capabilities. 

5. I am grateful that my mind is getting stronger and not quitting so easily at the gym.

6. I am grateful for a husband who works so hard in school and work. 

7. I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the joy and peace it brings me. Find out more here. 

8. I am grateful I get to drive my mom's Mini Cooper this week while we are house sitting for my parents.

9. I am grateful for the heated seats in my mom's Mini Cooper.

10. I am grateful for a family that comes together and loves and supports one another.

What are you grateful for this week?