I'm your Huckleberry

July 30, 2009

2009-08-09T19:05:00.007-06:00

Jovi Adalynn Melara was born Thursday, July 30, 2009. Both her and I are home and doing well.

Miracle

2009-07-20T06:57:00.004-06:00

Me 4 weeks ago at 36 weeks pregnant.

I was admitted to the hospital on this day in 1987 with Aplastic Anemia and my parents were told I wouldn't survive the night. Almost exactly 22 years later, whenever Jovi decides I guess, I get to produce a miracle of my own, instead of be one this time :)

Jovi is expected to make her debut any day now and Juan and I, and several others, can't wait to meet her!

This pregnancy has flown by. I have to say staying busy all throughout this pregnancy worked like a charm. Today is my first day of maternity leave and I have no idea what to do with myself! Throughout the past 9 months I graduated from UVU with my associates degree in art and visual communications, we organized and de-cluttered the entire house, we gutted the yard, fixed the sprinklers, planted new grass, and completely remodeled the nursery. We're so glad to have it all done. It really was a crazy and tiring 9 months for both Juan and I to say the least.

So, now we are ready for a brand new adventure! I'm anxious, nervous, and excited for the days ahead and look forward to having the pregnancy behind me and motherhood ahead of me!

Jovi Melara coming July 22

2009-02-07T17:13:00.003-07:00

So, it's a girl! So much for woman's intuition and needle tests ha. She'll definitely be a tom boy with all the boy stuff I have bought though. I think most will still work, there may be a few choice garments or items that are just undeniably for a boy though. Juan is excited, he's been talking about his future little girl before we ever got married so he was thrilled when the doctor went "I think it's a boy, no that was the cord, it's DEFINITELY a girl." I laughed because I have bins of boy stuff and Juan started to glow with excitement. I would have doubted it if I didn't see her in all her glory for myself.

She's definitely ours too! The silly girl was reclining in the womb with her hands behind her head and her legs folded. I had to get up and do a dance and poke at her so we could figure out if she was a girl or a boy. Juan says she was just being a lady! I think she's just stubborn like her mom :)

Consider Yourself One of the Family...

2009-01-17T21:26:00.003-07:00

So Juan and I are going to be expanding our family once again this July. July 2007 we adopted Arrow, March 2008 we adopted Rogue and now this July we'll be adding a human kid to the mix, no adopting this time though.

So, I'm 14 weeks along this Wednesday and I'm still sick as a dog despite being past my 1st trimester. Once the sun goes down I'm in bed because I generally have night sickness. Despite being ill I will hopefully pass this semester in school, all 15 un-fun credits to finally earn my associates degree about 3 months before the kid arrives.

Juan is finally moved into our bedroom, we needed to replace our dresser with a wardrobe since we have such tiny closets in this home we had to buy one for his clothes. Now at least the closet in what will be the nursery is empty and ready for the baby. We have a lot more to do in the next 6 months. It is all very overwhelming.

So, how long have we known? Well, we were trying but I was sure we had not conceived. I had cramps and felt terrible but aunt flow never made her visit. I took 2 pregnancy tests, one of the early predictors about 2 days before but it was negative then another one on the first day of my missed period still negative. I was bummed but then the next day I was like hmmm....Aunt Flow? So, what the heck I took another Clear Blue Easy test since I had it. It had an hour glass forever. Pregnant? Wait, what? What do I do now? I called my best friend and she told me to take another test so I did...Pregnant. That was a CRAZY moment. Even though I had been trying I was sure I wasn't pregnant and I was in total shock. About 2 hours later I showed up at Juan's work with pink and blue balloons, a yellow congrats balloon, and a present attached with rattles, an "I love Daddy onsie," a Star Wars onsie, and a Marvel Comics baby shirt. He was in shock too. The entire office knew in 30 minutes flat, it's a small office and news travels fast.

Since then I've told family. I surprised my mom on Thanksgiving which was a riot, she had no idea because last she heard the tests were negative. Longest 2 weeks of my life ever waiting to tell her. We've had 2 doctors visits and we got to hear the heartbeat which was just amazing. I've also shrunk most everywhere aside the belly and the boobs. So far pregnancy has been a great diet. Despite how much I want to eat I can't and nothing ever sounds good. So maybe not a diet so much as portion control to the extreme. I make sure I get enough for the kid but splurging is not an option. I also have a hard time with chocolate...Never thought I'd ever say no to chocolate. Oh and I chopped off my hair. It was the longest I've ever had it and now it's at my shoulders again, which is fine with me honestly. I think it looks better and it doesn't get insanely tangled anymore. I use a lot less shampoo too.

So, that's that. Life is crazy and will continue to get more so. I look forward to being a mom and hope to somehow prevent the kid from growing up too fast. I want a baby for awhile because I'm afraid of what Juan and I might produce. I have a feeling this kid will have a serious mind of it's own. Also, our bet is on a boy. I'm in a lot of trouble if it's a girl. It will be a tom boy for sure. I have been buying stuff for awhile, way before I became pregnant, 95% of it much more appropriate for a boy. So we shall see! We'll know in March for sure, well not for sure, but we do get an ultrasound to find out. I guess we'll know for sure in July :)

An Aura of Foreboding

2008-10-14T22:18:00.005-06:00

So we're back from the happiest place on earth. Life has been relentless and stressful ever since too. Our trip to Disneyland really was a blast though. Lots of good food, good company, tons of fun, and plenty of pictures and souvenirs. Now we're fat, broke and depressed.

On a not so exciting but exciting for me note, I am finally working from home! After I go to school in the morning I come home and go into our office and work right from my own home. Aside from missing out on the social aspect of work I am psyched! I can wear whatever I want or nothing at all, I don't have to drive in the snow on the freeway in rush hour traffic, and I'M AT HOME!!! A downfall is the part time pay cut has taken a major toll on our finances. Juan did get a raise though so that has helped a lot. We hope he'll get another evaluation in February when sales pick up at his work. If life works out how we have planned it I will not be going back to work full time anytime soon. Once I get my pathetic associates degree I've gone to school for nine years for we'd like to make some other drastic changes around this joint. So Juan will remain my beloved bread winner.

On a health note mine has decided to go a bit bonkers. I was put on some medication over the summer and gained quite a bit of weight which I HATE!!!! Now I'm off all meds aside from the armour thyroid and I hope so much I can lose the weight. However, in the meantime I feel like a walking blimp regardless of what I may really look like. I went to the doc to make sure all was well aside from the weight and all tests came back normal. So it must just all be in my brain now. What I wouldn't give for a personal chef and a personal trainer. My will power to eat well and my desire to exercise are definitely lacking despite how much I want to lose the weight. I will give myself a break though because September and October have been full of all kinds of craziness. Maybe now that I have gained a bit of a routine with my new schedule I can add in an exercise plan. Also I did eat chicken and broccoli for dinner so I am trying.

On a mental note school has been great for me! I feel my wit and creativity coming back. I'm really glad I have the opportunity to go back to school full time for a couple of semesters. I've always been such a good student I'm really surprised I've struggled so much with getting a degree. I'll be happy even if it's just an associates. I was so afraid to get into debt when I was younger I paid for just a few classes at a time and now 9 years later and 5 schools later I still don't have a degree and I got into debt for school anyway. Hindsight is 20/20. However, if I would have stayed at IU or CSU I would have never moved to Utah and my life would be entirely different. So everything happens for a reason and some day it will all just be a funny story I tell my grandkids so they will finish school and get a degree the first 4 years they're out of high school.

If you're interested there are many more pictures from our trip and other shenanigans on our website.

R.I.P. Tilty and PeePee

2008-08-21T13:29:00.004-06:00

We will miss your sweet little spirits in our home :(

Husband Tag

2008-08-14T13:38:00.007-06:00

I'm bored and what better to do when I'm bored then fill out a survey.

1. What is his name? Juan Roberto Melara

2. Who eats more? Me for sure!

3. Who said “I love you” first? I did, as we were breaking up for the 3rd and "final" time. He said nothing or OK. It was awkward and horrible and the first time I had said those words to a significant other but I had to have closure ha.

4. Who is taller? I am, by at least an inch.

5. Who is smarter? Probably him. We seem to be equally intelligent but he probably has me beat in more nerdy areas.

6. Who is more sensitive? This one is a toss up. It really depends on the situation.

7. Who does the laundry? Me. My favorite is "So,are we doing the laundry this weekend?" He says this to avoid making me angry by telling me the laundry needs to be done but not necessarily implying that it's my job I think ha.

8. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? He does

9. Who pays the bills? I do. I'm way to0 anal to let him do it. But our bills get paid on time so it works.

10. Who cooks more? Um...I guess me because he normally doesn't cook at all. I rarely cook actual meals though.

11. Who is more stubborn? Hmmm. This one really depends on the situation too.

12. Who is the first to admit when they’re wrong? Yeah, toss up again. I hate confrontation and usually bend.

13. Who has more siblings? He does, he's the middle of 5 and I just have a younger brother.

14. Who wears the pants in the family? Both. In some situations I do but in others he does. My daddy taught me well :)

15. What do you like to do together? We love to go out to eat, watch movies, play with our dogs, play video games, and have sex of course ha.

16. Who eats more sweets? Juan does, he's my junk food junkie. I normally fall prey to the abundance of sweets too though.

17. Guilty pleasures? Going out for a good steak!

18. How did you meet? We met through his roommates and my classmates. It's a long story and it's on our website if you're interested. There's a link to it on our other blog.

19. Who proposed? He did, in front of my family. He even asked my dad's permission which is very brave ha.

20. What is his best feature? His hands, his lips, and his eyes

21. What is his best quality? He's my best friend, he's got a great sense of humor, and he's a geek which is awesome!

Math Sucks!

2008-08-12T11:21:00.004-06:00

I haven't updated this in awhile and a lot has gone on. However, I think the most monumental thing to note is that I am done with math FOREVER! I put it off for at least 8 years but the math class I took online through a school in Kansas this summer transferred to UVU and my math credit has been filled! I even got an A! Pretty amazing if you ask me.

What else, what else....

1. In less then 3 weeks I will start working part time and go back to school full time. I can get my associates, FINALLY, in just 2 semesters! If I get all the classes I need it would probably only take me another year to get my Bachelors if I choose to go that route. I'm really excited.

2. Juan and I extended our entertainment center thanks to IKEA :)

3. This summer I read all 4 books of the Twilight series and loved them. Pretty impressive for me since I consider myself a non reader :)

4. Juan and I get to go to Disneyland with our family for a full week in just over a month! We even get to go to Club 33 again!

5. We celebrated Arrow's 2nd birthday back in July. There are plenty of new pictures on our website if you're interested.

And that's all that's really coming to mind. I'm sure more has happened but at least I tried to give a decent update.

No More Homeless Pets in Utah

2008-04-25T16:12:00.003-06:00

So, Juan and I are participating in a walk on May 31st to help homeless pets in Utah. I'm really excited! It's called the Strut your Mutt walk and it's a fundraiser for No More Homeless Pets in Utah. We even get to take our dogs with us! This is the first time Juan and I have done something like this but we think this is an excellent organization and we really want to be apart of such a good cause. Juan and I are undeniable animal lovers. We can't even imagine our home without Rogue and Arrow who we adopted from animal rescue shelters. Since adopting another dog is not an option and fostering a dog just might break my heart I figure this is next best way to help out our local animals I love so much.

If you want to help us raise money we have our own fundraiser page. Any little bit will help get a sweet animal off the streets and into a good home! The link to our page is below.

Juan and Rachel's Fundraiser Page

Thank you and wish us luck!

If you want blood, you got it!!!

2008-04-05T19:56:00.005-06:00

So, I have 3 bits of exciting new!

1. I'm employee of the month!

I must say it feels good to be appreciated. I just got a raise last month and then this! This is a small blurb from my certificate. "She is very positive and her customers feel that when they speak with her over the phone. Rachel has taken on all roles within the company with a positive attitude and a smile on her face. She is a true team player." Now if you know anything about my experience with my last employer you will probably find this hilarious and ironic, as I do. It feels so good to work for a company free of ridiculous politics where I'm actually appreciated and recognized. I love my job!!!

2. Hogi Yogi opened Yoasis!

And Juan did a majority of the graphics for it. I'm so proud of him. He did a really great job designing everything. Plus the place is a hit!

3. Rogue is finally ours!

Yes, it's true. We finally actually own Rogue now. For just a little over a week now. There have been a few growing pains but the kinks seem to be ironing themselves out and I think soon we'll all be one happy family!

Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are, I couldn't help it, it's all you fault.

2008-03-18T10:06:00.004-06:00

So today...in an hour and 54 minutes exactly Juan and I have been married for 2 years.

We've actually known each other for 5 years and 2 months. So, it does feel longer than 2 years to me. It sure went fast though. I've been someone's wife for 2 years, weird. It really just feels like I've been having an endless sleepover with my best friend and we just help each other pay the bills ha.

So, Juan and I decided to exchange gifts this morning. I got him a digital picture frame for his desk at work loaded with pictures of family, the dog, and myself. Juan got me a gorgeous pearl ring. I love it.

We plan on celebrating Saturday since tonight I have a work banquet I need to attend. So, even though we won't be celebrating our anniversary we will be getting dressed up and getting a free meal and you can't beat that! ha

Everybody digs a swingin' cat

2008-03-06T18:21:00.006-07:00

We got some new neighbors and in order to make a good impression I've been trying to get Arrow to bark less. Well, last night she wouldn't quit so I went outside to see what was up. To my surprise when I looked out she was barking straight up into one of our huge pine trees. I thought, oh no, what's up there? So, I got a jacket and a flash light. When I shined the light up I quickly found a poor orange tabby cat very stuck high up in the tree. Once I got Arrow locked in I gave the cat a moment to get down, it wasn't happening. So I went out and asked the cat if it was stuck and it started meowing pathetically at me. Luckily we have a large ladder that I was able to prop up against the tree. However, I felt too unsure of myself to climb it without Juan holding the ladder for me. When Juan heard the cat was stuck he wouldn't let me climb the ladder but he came to the cat's rescue. When he finally grabbed the cat by it's scruff and pulled it in close the poor cat snuggled right in. Juan got down, we glanced at it's collar, it's name was Dash, and that's exactly what it did once Juan put it down. So here's to Juan, my brave cat rescuing husband!

I'm kind of scattered like the pieces of a puzzle but our pieces never seemed to fit

2008-02-28T12:46:00.004-07:00

Sunday went well. I was at church for 5 hours and I'm still exhausted.

The talks actually went quite smoothly. Juan's talk went something like this:

"When Brother "Smith" came over to our home Wednesday night we let him in
because we just got a new calling last Sunday so we knew we were off
the hook for anything else. However, he still asked us to give a talk
on compassion. That's against the rules! But then I
realized we had to give the talk on compassion because my wife and I
are so intelligent and attractive we have to have compassion on all of you."

He worded it a bit better and luckily it got a big laugh ha.

So Last weekend we also went on a search for a second dog. This is Arrow enjoying the journey.
It was incredibly hard on me. I fell in love with several dogs. One in particular had been adopted and returned 3 times and just could not find a good home. The dog was as sweet as could be, just a little scared so she would need extra attention and more than we could give at this time in our lives. Not being able to take that dog home still brings me to tears. It really breaks my heart when such sweet dogs are abandoned in shelters. UGH see I'm crying again!

Well, while at PetSmart at their adoption we ran into our friend Stacie who said she was fostering a momma dog that reminds her a lot of Arrow and her pups. She told us if we didn't find a dog last weekend to stop by and meet momma dog and her pups who will all be up for adoption once the pups are weaned. When we saw the pups they all looked so sweet but we don't have the time for a pup. Then we met Melissa, the momma dog, who was a shorter skinnier version of Arrow.
The second we got outside she wagged her tail and licked our faces. She's a real sweet heart and very well behaved. Her and Arrow are also the same age! So we introduced Arrow to Melissa and once Arrow warmed up to her surrounding they seemed to get along great! So, the adoption is in process. We probably have to wait another 4 - 6 weeks until the pups are weaned and Melissa is spayed before we can bring her home. That will give us time to clean up the yard a bit after a long winter. Stacie has to come over and inspect our home before we get the OK but I doubt that will be a problem. Next week we're all going to get together including the dogs it should be fun.

So, that's where I'm at. With changes at work, an overwhelming week of church activities, and a emotional roller coaster trying to adopt a dog I AM EXHAUSTED!!! I really can't wait for Saturday.

I didn't mean it when I wished you away...

2008-02-21T12:55:00.004-07:00

SO, Juan and I teach our first primary lesson this Sunday. I sort of wanted to introduce myself to the kids first so I made these for each kid to drop off probably tonight or Saturday. Before Sunday for sure!

Also, Juan and I were each asked to give a talk this Sunday on compassion :p I'm really not that happy about it but I feel bad for feeling bad. It's a viscous cycle.
I'm not good at talks, I'm much too cynical to talk to the entire ward, especially on compassion! Plus I'm in charge of organizing and planning an entire activity for the all of Young Womens. My day of rest no longer feels like much of a day of rest :/

I got your message couldn't call you back I was busy getting you off my mind...

2008-02-20T11:25:00.003-07:00

SO I just had to share a couple pictures that I took yesterday This is Arrow and I waiting for Daddy/Juan to come home.

And this is our beloved pets licking my bowl clean after dinner :)

Arrow has her own page!

2008-02-19T15:42:00.002-07:00

Join the Dogster community

Life's a ball but it's got a lot of edges on it...

2008-02-18T11:51:00.003-07:00

So, I did it! I finally made the call. I have a hair appointment today at 4:30 PM. I haven't done a thing with my hair in almost 7 months! My hair color ended up matching my roots so I just kept putting it off. My hair is the longest it's ever been ha. My bangs are absolutely ridiculous and must be chopped though. Also, I wake up almost every night with my hair all over my face, in my nose, in my mouth...I think it's trying to kill me! I'm not at all used to this long hair thing. However, I'm only going to get a trim and shape it up a bit. I'm willing to try this long hair thing a bit longer. Well, long to me, Juan won't be convinced that it's long until it's at my butt. But given my hair track record, it's long :)

So, Juan and I are Primary teachers!!! We were set a part yesterday. We will teach the Valiant 9 class. I'm also still in Young Womens as the Personal Progress adviser or something like that. For some reason this ward really trusts me with their youth. They must not know me very well Muhahahahaha! Just kidding, I kind of get along better with kids because they have the same maturity level as me and it works out well. So, yeah it'll be good to work by Juan's side in a calling. I will really miss my gospel principles class though. My favorite ward members are all in that class :(

Can you believe Valentine's day is already over and Easter is right around the corner? Juan did really well this Valentine's Day. He had an Azalea plant with bright pink flowers delivered to me at work. The great thing is it's still alive since it's actually a plant. He also taped Spider Man Valentines all over the house from him and Arrow. Plus, he bought me My Spanish Coach for my DS and I know like a gazillion new words!!! I played it for 3 days and I can count to 100, I know the months, days of the week, places, feelings, etc. I definitely recommend it to anyone trying to learn Spanish. For Juan I hid little fuzzy bug things that say "I Love You" all over the house, made him a dirt cake that he thought was just a flower pot with fake flowers, and got him a love DVD game. Juan could not figure out why I got him fake flowers hahaha...we're still trying to eat it all...it was a BIG pot of dirt cake. I bet you can figure out him much weight I lost last week HA! I'm sticking to the idea that if I don't gain weight it's still progress ha.

They make the big announcement and the trophy goes to you, you thought you had some fancy pants and now you know it's true.

2008-02-12T14:36:00.000-07:00

Juan and I have officially switched our website over to a new server. What does this mean exactly? Well, it means I actually have enough room to add new blog entries and pictures which I did both on Saturday. Actually, there are quite a few new pictures and galleries if you're interested. Furthermore, it means our website will actually be accessible a majority of the time instead of usually down ha. Last but not least it means we're remodeling. The front page has an obnoxious animated GIF in the mean time thanks to Juan haha. However, I have already redesigned the blog and gallery. We figured there was no reason for out website to look like our wedding invitation anymore. The address is still http://www.juanandrachel.com. I may combine blogs soon but not quite yet.

So, things have changed a bit for me at work. My tiny department is meshing with another department and after all the growing pains are over it should really be great. I absolutely love my new management! It really makes all the difference. Juan's job seems to be going well too. His new promotion will be excellent work experience for him to grow in his career. It's not exactly what he wants to do but it's close enough for now. So, we may be in Utah for longer than expected after all haha. Life never really goes according to plan but it always works out like it should in the end. Heavenly Father just knows what's best and pushes us in the right direction even if we're too stubborn. I can't tell you how many times I was prompted to leave my last job, he finally made it happen with or without me and I'm SOOO much happier and more successful now. Regardless our ultimate goal is to get back to Cali eventually. I just don't want to do the winters here if I don't have to ha. Plus, I really want to be closer to family. So, if it's meant to be hopefully we'll get our big Cali break sooner than later.

As for my diet, I really blew it last week due to a mishap with some of those soft sugar cookies with frosting. Juan and I were "forced" to eat 19 of them hahaha. Luckily, I didn't gain any weight last week so I call that progress. My new stress relief is walking and dancing on the treadmill with my I-pod by my side. If you are not coordinated don't try to dance on your treadmill. Also, make sure your husband doesn't catch you because he will make fun of you if he does :)

Have faith and move forward? There's work to be done. President Hinckley would want it that way.

2008-02-04T16:47:00.000-07:00

So, many know that The president of the LDS church Gordon B. Hinckley passed away last week. Well, I was watching TV with Juan when the news broke in with the announcement and we quickly called our families. I talked to my mom about how excited I was for him to be able to be reunited with his wife, family and friends. We talked about Monson taking his place and that was about it. I didn't really feel sad just more happy that he finally got to rest. Not that I think he'll actually rest but you know. Anyway, I kind of avoided the whole funeral thing because the idea a obnoxious crowds and feeling sad didn't appeal to me at all. Well, Sunday night I was channel surfing and Fox was rebroadcasting President Hinckley's funeral program. I cried like a baby the entire time. Ever since even now I've been incredibly emotional about his passing. It amazes me that a man I never even met was able to touch me so much that as hard as I tried to avoid the tears they've been unstoppable the last two days. He was just such a loving, selfless, personable leader that you can't help but love and miss him. Even though I didn't even know him personally if given the chance I would not have hesitated to give him a hug and have a good chuckle he just glowed approachable, loving, fun, caring, etc. Anyway, I'm sure I'll learn to love our new President but I can't deny that I will always miss President Hinckley.

On to less emotional news. Juan and I will soon move our website to our new server so I can actually resume picture and blog updates. We'll see if I move this one or not. I'll decide later.

Also, my best friend Kirsten and I have decided were tired of doing the diet thing alone and as of today we're each others support system to reach our goal weight by our Disneyland trip in September. Very doable if we just stick to it. I'm going to go very slow this time. NO DIETS. I'm going to eat healthy, watch calories and try to exercise ha. The main thing is consuming less calories than I burn every day. Makes sense right! Let's hope I can stick to it!

I just want to end with this poem that of course made me cry:

**Prophetic Passing***
I imagine he's running to Marjorie now,
Yes, running, not waving his cane.
I see him embracing his father and mother
While they keep repeating his name.

I see him now meeting his forebears,
Brother Brigham and Joseph are there.
Sweet reunion of prophets, united by service
That only such noble men share.

I see him embraced by the Savior
While Father says, 'Good and well done.
So faithful in stalwart endurance, I welcome
My noble, most excellent son.'

I then hear the ripples of laughter
As he says the reception's just fine,
But he hopes that he'll get an assignment or two
Since there's no need to waste any time.

I can hear his clear voice in the stillness
At the close of this sweet Sabbath day,
Have faith and move forward? There's work to be done.
President Hinckley would want it that way.

You got mud on your face, big disgrace, kicking your cat all over the place...

2008-01-30T15:48:00.000-07:00

Remember my new warm cozy sheets? Well, I got home Tuesday night and my dog had puked on them haha. So much for one of my simple pleasures. I asked her why she chose to puke on my brand new sheets but she just wagged her tail. Luckily it was on Juan's side though so technically my side of the sheets are still new :)

However, despite my house being clean and my side of the sheets still being warm and cozy I went to bed last night literally depressed by the weather again. I thought I couldn't go on any longer but I really didn't have a choice. Melodramatic I know, but really, it's so discouraging and depressing to me. Luckily, today the sun came out and the sky is blue right now so I feel much better even though I'm looking at it from my cubicle ha. It's crazy how greatly affected people have been by this weather. It's been below freezing and snowy almost every day this month so it's not a surprise that it's getting to everyone.

As you could probably guess my fingers are crossed that good ol' Punxsutawney Phil will predict us an early spring this Saturday! Actually, last time I heard we may even be attending a ground hogs day party. This is good news because I'm am absolutely fabulous at making party food. Juan will totally back that statement up too. It's totally one of my callings in life! Plus, I love food and socializing as I've previously mentioned.

On to another subject, remember how I said I was fickle about hobbies? Yeah well, my best friend Kirsten, her sister Juliet, and I are all planning a trip to Disneyland this September and we've all collected some Disney pins in the past. Well, Kirsten and I have very similar personalities and we've totally hyped each other up for the pin trading. So, now I'm going to try and make a pin trading bag for all of us. The lanyards are scary because it's way too easy to lose your pins as Kirsten and I have both experienced in the past. We totally don't care that we're fueling the monster that is Disney because we love it and love having a fun little hobby too! I collect characters from Peter Pan, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and any others I think are funky, cute, or have some meaning to me somehow. I only collect when in the park though. I refuse to spend time and money on them unless I'm actually at a Disney park ha.

This is an example of one I actually own. Tink is holding a picture of Peter.

LA Face with the Oakland Booty

2008-01-28T14:59:00.000-07:00

NEWS FLASH!!!!

My house is totally clean!!! Well for the most part. I still wouldn't mind getting my carpets clean and I could probably clean out the fridge. So, it's the cleanest it's ever been! Ever since I've been married I've had at least one catch all room in the house. Well, our two year anniversary is right around the corner and I finally have use of every single room in my home! Everything is organized for the most part and it feels great! I should have a party but then that would just make my house dirty again and well, I think I'll just enjoy it alone for now instead. Having a clean home almost took my winter blues completely away :) I also found some flannel sheets for only $13 so I have warm cozy sheets too. I never predicted a clean home and cozy sheets would make me so happy. You've got to love the simple things I guess.

Now if I can just brave the blizzard outside and actually make it home to enjoy it ha.

MMMM, I'm craving a warm brownie sundae!

2008-01-25T11:55:00.000-07:00

I want these, but in black!!! Maybe if I have cute exercise pants I'll want to actually workout! Unfortunately, they cost like $75, ha! I need to overcome the whole winter hibernation pattern I get into. I'd much rather get under a blanket all warm and cozy then go to the gym. I should probably learn to be happy with this weight. It seems my body is happy here but I really would love to be 10 pounds thinner :) Plus, I really should get back in shape just to keep my body healthy.

In other news...I've tried two 4.5ish star recipes from Allrecipes.com the last couple days that were absolute rubbish! The 1st was a chicken sour cream quiche, and the second was potatoes au gratin. I actually had to throw the quiche away because it asked for nutmeg and Juan and I just couldn't stomach it. What a waste of money! If I had left the nutmeg out it really did have great potential to be delicious. who thought 1/4 teaspoon of anything could ruin an entire dish! Well, actually I can think of a few things that would definitely ruin it but you get my point.

Also, I must say I have a new obsession. Baby fever has been replaced with my Quicken budgeting software I just got in the mail. I'm all about categorizing all of last years purchases and really keeping track of this year so I can see exactly where our money is going and get out of debt faster. WOO!!! I'm kind of fickle when it comes to hobbies. I also read 7 chapters of a book just before the baby fever hit. At least I have hobbies right?! I can just imagine,
"So what do you do for fun?"
"Oh you know, budget my finances."
HA, I really do love to be organized despite my artsy brain :) An artsy perfectionist! I'm my own worst nightmare, and probably Juan's too ha.

Only a moment ago we had nothing but time...

2008-01-21T13:30:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of Juan practicing for his role as a daddy. He did really well actually. I think he'll try to pretend like he doesn't know what he's doing but I'm not letting him off that easy once we get our own kids ha.

This is my diaper bag. Yes, it is actually in my possession. I couldn't let a find like this disappear by the time I have a kid. Plus, Juan won't mind carrying it around one bit ha. I wonder what my mother in law will think.

Anyway, life is going well. We're enjoying having two full time incomes. We're dealing with the winter. I've also rededicated myself to eating healthy again. I'm never really good at the whole diet and exercise thing when it's cold and all the yummy holiday food is everywhere. Hopefully, this time I can stick to it. Juan is still looking for a job outside of Utah but we aren't feeling rushed like before since he got a raise and we're doing well financially for the time being.

I feel like I should knock on wood or something...

We took the freeway out of town, we found a place to settle down...

2008-01-14T10:22:00.000-07:00

...We bought a driveway, a swing set, and a dog.

It's official and I know many had doubts that it never would happen but let me tell you...I've got it and I've got it bad. BABY FEVER!!!

Juan has it too. We have our boy and girl name picked out. I have my entire nursery designed. I already bought my diaper bag and some baskets for the nursery. I even bought fabric and I'm going to attempt to sew some quilts and items for the nursery. Did I mention I don't sew? So yeah, I'm not pregnant at all, we aren't even trying yet but I sure do have everything planned! Well, everything that can be planned. Once I get pregnant and the reality of having a child kicks in I'm sure it will be an entirely different story. Juan and I will have been married two years this March and we think we'll start trying for a kid this summer so around our 3 year anniversary if we don't have any trouble getting pregnant we should have a new addition.

This is the plan now, we have 6 months to change our minds still so don't be surprised if the fever wears off and we're back to square 1. All it will take is babysitting a baby for a day I'm sure :) EW, snot, and crying, and no more time to ourselves, poopy diapers, and I have to be a parent for the rest of my life?!!?!?!? See...I could talk my self out of it way too easily.

Anyway, We'd try right now but things with Juan's career are slightly up in the air. Right now he's doing good. We're both working full time, Juan got a raise, and we're just kind of treading water for now. Hopefully, in a few more months will have a better idea of where Juan's career will take us and then we can make sure we have health insurance and then I can start trying for a baby. SO yeah...EEK!

I still remember the words you said, they were hard enough to leave a mark...

2007-12-13T15:38:00.000-07:00

I often dwell on times in my life when I feel that I've been mistreated, cheated, hurt, etc. I get down on myself and think what I did wrong and get angry at myself and those who hurt me. This nasty thought process was triggered today as I happened upon some pictures of people I used to know. I started getting bitter and blah blah blah. However, this time I stopped and I thought, "Why do I let these past experiences plague me so much?" "Why do I still even think about these people who hurt me?" Then I started thinking of all the wonderful people I do have in my life. All of my amazing friends, my loving family, my loving in-laws, and of course my husband. It just makes me really grateful that those other people aren't in my life anymore. I don't need to prove anything to them and I'm better off without them. I guess I'm just one of those people that feels the need to have to be perfect and it's hard for me when something doesn't necessarily go how I want it to. I just hold on to it way too long. So thank you to those who really love and care for me no matter what!

Speaking of good friends, we're having a Halo party tonight!!! YAY! We're having pizza, chips and dip, mountain dew game fuel, and plenty of HALO 3! If you're in the neighborhood come on by!!! I'm making fresh baked cookies too, just as an extra incentive! I had to balance out the Halo with something girly :)

MMMM Grilled Pineapple

2007-12-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

So, in an attempt to put off studying for my last two finals I'm going to tell you all a story :)

So, I LOVE CHRISTMAS PARTIES as I've previously expressed. I think I really enjoy social opportunities with free food. Anyway, this weekend I glanced at Juan's work invitation on the fridge and was like "Oh No!" This whole time I had just assumed it was this Saturday but no, it was the same night as my last final! I cried out to Juan expressing my shock and disappointment but I didn't give up yet. So, yesterday I was determined to at least try and have the opportunity to get my free meal at Tucanos, where Juan's work will be having there party obviously. I mean c'mon we're talking like a $20 dollar meal, all you can eat meat and salad bar for free and a final is going to come between me and that meal, how depressing is that? So yesterday I emailed my teacher, who is actually one of the most down to earth, personable, and funny teachers I've had, and asked him if I could come just a tiny bit late to the final. I flat out told my teacher the truth, free food man! I mean the party starts a full hour before my final, it's just that travel time that would make me leave too early since the food probably wouldn't be served until the time I had to hit the road. So, thanks to my awesome teacher, I will be stuffing my face just before my very last final.

The Moral of the story: You'll never know if you don't ask.

So...Juan's interview is today in Salt Lake, fingers crossed. I'm just counting on Heavenly Father's will to triumph here because I sure don't know what's best for us ha. I mean my goals are things like putting a free meal before my school career. I'm crazy!

...And I like to do Drawrings

2007-12-07T16:19:00.000-07:00

JOB UPDATE: Today I reapplied for the graphics position with the company I'm currently working for so we'll see what happens. I didn't spend as much time as I would have liked on the assignment they gave me but I did what I could. I'm not getting my hopes up too much because I'm really not all that experienced in the field yet. Also, Juan has an interview in Salt Lake on Tuesday so keep us in your prayers please :)

On to other things...this weekend should be fun. Aside from studying for finals and finally getting to that laundry that's been in the washer since last weekend Juan and I are going to our Ward Christmas party tonight and my work Christmas party tomorrow. I may be having a hard time getting in the Christmas spirit this year but I LOVE Christmas parties! Also our Stake conference is Sunday and there is going to be a general authority there which will be a first for me. Usually, it's just relief society presidents and Stake leaders. Should be a fun one!

By the way, has anyone else heard of any homes with Christmas lights that blink to a radio station? My co-worker was telling me about one but all I know is that it's a mansion somewhere in Utah County ha. Anyway, If you know of one tell us please because I would love to see one.

The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

2007-12-06T09:34:00.000-07:00

I can not wait to see Sweeney Todd! If you know much about Juan and I you know that our relationship has a little gimmick and that is Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. Before we even dated we both loved the movie and it was a connection we shared. The gimmick started when I went to Disneyland and brought Juan back a plush vampire teddy bear that was featured in the movie and it's progressed from there. So, the point is we love that movie and most of Tim Burton's movies, especially when Johnny Depp is in them! I saw Sweeney Todd as a live play a few years ago and really enjoyed it then but I am really excited to see what Tim Burton can do with it. Not to mention that the entire cast, not just Depp, looks amazing! YAY! I wonder if Juan's family will let Juan and I go Christmas day ha. They celebrate mostly on Christmas eve so Christmas day we really shouldn't have much planned.

This is a link to the trailer if you're interested.
Sweeney Todd Trailer

Hippopsicle

2007-12-03T13:23:00.000-07:00

For Thanksgetting, the holiday we made up to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas together with my family when it's Juan's families turn to have us for Christmas, my mom didn't want to leave out her first grandchild, our dog Arrow, so she sent us home with a stocking for her. In this stocking was a bunch of toys Arrow would and did shred to pieces in less then 24 hours. However, one, a purple hippo, survived. So, on December 1st, we got our first heavy snow. Now we know Arrow has already experienced a winter with another family but we have no clue what her previous experience with snow was. However, when Arrow found her hippo in our bedroom she immediately showed Juan and I and then took it outside. The next thing Juan and I knew Arrow came galloping in leaving a trail of snow behind her. She jumped up on the couch and we saw the hippo was no longer purple but completely white and covered in snow. It looked like a mini snowman haha. Arrow would lay on the couch, lick all of the snow off of the hippo, and take it back outside. Juan and I thought she was incredibly, funny, cute, and clever, we were proud parents ha.
Unfortunately, she only made 5 trips before she ripped her soaking wet hippo to pieces. So the days of the hippopsicle were short but so dang funny.

The Ultimate Broadband Gaming Experience

2007-11-29T11:25:00.000-07:00

So, it's official, Juan and I finally have Xbox live.

So, let us know what your gamer tag is and we can shoot em up! YAY!

Contemplation

2007-11-28T16:20:00.001-07:00

So, I normally blog and post pictures about Juan and I's current events on www.juanandrachel.com. However, recently I've been contemplating blogging from just a plain old blog site since our website is frequently down. We'll see what happens. Regardless I don't have time to make up my mind and post any more than this right now.

I'm mad, I'm mad, I'm really really really mad, you poked me with your elbow in my side.

2006-10-16T21:37:00.000-06:00

Dominos does not deliver in 30 minutes or less. Our oven baked sandwiches took over an hour and the delivery guy couldn't even figure out how to open our front gate. Hello, it's a gate! He honestly called me and asked how to open it. Hmm, I dunno, the latch?! He got me on a bad night :)

P.S. Why did the Pick Up Artist get another season on VH1?