Wise Men Still Seek Him

This video and its message gave me chills.  I am especially grateful for this time of year, and the opportunity we have to focus on the most precious gift given to all mankind.  Jesus Christ, our Savior.

What a miraculous life we have been blessed with.  What a glorious knowledge we have that Heavenly Father lives.  He sent his son down to Earth to preach among the people, and show us the way.  He died so we can live with him again.  He died so we can have eternal families.  He died so we can become Gods and Goddesses.  He died for YOU and for ME.

I am filled with gratitude this year for all the many blessings I have.  May we all appreciate a little more fully all that we have, and all that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have done for us, and recognize his every presence in our lives.  May we seek for opportunities to serve our fellow men, and may we ever continue to seek Him.

"Remember the season and echo the reason for His miraculous birth."

Merry Christmas to All!

Picture Perfect

(I need to detach myself from my phone)

This picture makes me wanna go back to Alaska

The cheese to my Mac

Still proud of this sign we made for Kirstins wedding

The most magical place on Earth. Learn more about it here!

Missin the sunny San Diego weather from a couple weeks ago

and my friends

I'm baby hungry. But how can you not be when you look at these little tater tots

cousin lovin

on grandmas golfcart. (We find joy in the simple things.)

Grandmas yard. One of my top 10 favorite places. 

Welcome to the 21st Century

The snuggly Scooter

An Extra Towel

Birthdays are such a special time of the year. When you receive presents from people you dont expect and expect presents from people that you dont receive. Not that birthdays are all about the presents, but it's a good way to begin my story. 

This year I received a special present that I am so thankful for, not because of what I was given, but because of the story I am now able to tell and the lesson I will now be able teach to my future daughters.

I have had one massage, before this year. Freshman year boyfriend. Bless is married heart. That massage was nothing less than perfect. Full length fuzzy robe. Foot massage and peanuts to get me going. Running waterfall and Yanni playing in the background. A completely enclosed and private changing room, bathroom, waiting area, and massage room. I felt safe. At ease. and I felt completely comfortable removing my underpinnings for the reassurance I would be 1. fully covered by a clean crisp blankie and 2. rubbed down by an every so sweet Polynesian woman. 

The blanket was lifted as each limb was massaged. When completed, the blanket was then placed back over the newly rejuvenated and oiled up body part. This method proved successful for both the massager and massagee. I felt modestly naked. and I LOVED it. Needless to say the massage was perfect. I was a happy, beaming, oily, jellyfish of a woman. I couldn't have asked for more. 

So, this year, when I found out I was given ANOTHER massage for my birthday, I was ecstatic. A sense of nostalgia for that lavender scent and trickling water rushed over me. I was ecstatic because my high quality, top notch massage was all I knew. I had nothing but the highest expectations.  

You can imagine my apprehension as I walked into Square1Fitness. A gym the size of my bedroom, full of bald, greasy, oversized bicepted men. I should have guessed it was going to be like this when I called to schedule the appointment and the man answered..."Yo! dis is da fitness centa.  How big you wanna get today?" 

I filled out my "form" describing "what I wanted to get out of the massage today" as the axe-smelling men creeped in and out of the front door. As I was directed into the ....room...on top of the massage table was a...hand towel. 

"You can put your clothes on the chair, and put the towel over you and i'll be back in a second," said the small yoga practicing french man, who knew only broken english. 

"uugghmm....Im sorry..but put what towel over me?" said the timid, modest, naive, innocent little girl. (slight over-dramatization)

He was indeed talking about the small hand towel, that apparently was meant to cover my... unmentionable. 

I made the educated decision to leave my bottom parts on, leaving me only halfway....vulnerable. Anywho.  Without going into too much detail, I was unable to ever fully relax my mind, body, and conscience. Don't get me wrong, the massage was nice...and professional of course.  But I learned my lesson. A lesson to teach my daughters. 

Unexpected presents leave you with unexpected experiences. Never trust a massage from a sweat infested arena. and ALWAYS have an extra towel in your car. 

Grown up room

So this one time when I was 22 I had a room that looked like I was 12. 

When I got home from New York I was determined to make a change. 

Something about being in The Big Apple makes you wanna be all grown up and stuff. 

That and the fact that I thought I was going to live at home till I was old and wrinkly. 

I guess living at home doesn't really go along with the whole grown up thing...but at least my parents would kiss me goodnight in a sophisticated living space?

So here is my goodbye video when I left for NY. Dont ask my why I needed to bid adieu to my room.

But im glad I have the documentation now. 

I LOVE PRIMARY COLORS.

and here it is ladies and gents.what a breath of fresh air right?  I was suffocating in that disaster of color

Keep in mind it is still a work in progress.  I want to put maps of places I have lived in those frames on the wall.  I need to buy a couple more. Alaska, Colorado, Italy, New York, Utah and TBA ...soon. 

I spray painted this beauty while I was home for my birthday. I love the pop of color. 

My motivation wall.  My diploma. Gives me hope that I can accomplish things. 

The other picture was given to me by the LDS Public and International Affairs Office in the New York where I worked!  What a beautiful picture of the Manhattan Temple right?

This starts the swedish paraphernalia. Swedish ...dream catcher? (I love being Swedish)

Toy from Great Aunt Edna.  97 years old and still going strong!

Bless her swedish heart. 

Dresser.

8 year old Baptism dress, and baby confirmation dress, and 

swedish name plaque made by Farmar (Fathers mother in Swedish).

I love my "mature bed". My parents can kiss me goodnight in this bed at any age. 

Grown up-ness is not determined by who you live with...but by the color of your room. 

Happiness

I love fall. Have I mentioned that?

October is by far the loveliest month of the year. 

The leaves are changing, the air is crisp and the autumn scent is divine, 

not to mention it's my birthday month. 

I wanna go here. and This picture makes me happy.

I made oatmeal apple cookies with apple cider glaze. Tastes like fall in your mouth. 

Find the recipe here!

I love this sign and saying. It gives me hope and happiness.

I miss this place. A lot. I can't remember a time when I was happier.  Being in the middle of the hustle and bustle of this buzzing city makes my heart flutter. I miss that feeling. 

In other news...I found my future wedding ring.  

$19,000?  Pocket change. 

Look at more sparklies here.

Because ..what girl doesn't like diamonds?

A red hot mess

A burning candle fell on my head. 

Traumatic? Yup. 

Literally hot? Yup. 

Figuratively hot? Definitely not. 

I was sitting in my corner.  Personal heater up cranked up, christmas music playing, and candle shining. 

All was happy well in the Anna home front. Until....

My picture slid into my chalkboard which knocked my candle

and all three landed ...on my head. 

Wax spilled and splattered everywhere. 

The smell of autumn apple quickly filled the room (but that part I liked).

I was surrounded by a hot red mess. literally. 

I was a hot red mess. literally. 

It looked like a flippin' war zone. 

So..after a few tears and calming my shaky hands, I got my mom on the phone. Necessity. 

And this is what I learned:

To get wax out of your hair:

Sandwich the waxed hair between two paper towels and directly point the blow dryer on covered hair. 

As the wax warms up it will stick to the paper towel and you pull the wax straight out.  

(may need to repeat up to 90 times) and if its still not all out try putting olive oil on your hair. yummy. 

To get wax out of clothes:

put a paper bag over the part with wax and iron over the paper bag. The wax will remelt and stick to the bag and come off the clothes.

To get wax off of books, pictures, floor etc:

blow the dryer on the wax and wipe off with towel. 

To avoid the disaster all together:

don't sit under lit candles. 

The good:

I put my waxed clothes in my car to iron at a friends. My car smelled like autumn apple for days.
My hair was super soft and supple after all that oil and thick-waxed-moisture.

I got to buy another candle. 

Food, Friends, Family, and Favorites

Random recent activities:  (In no particular order)

I definitely dont pride myself on my cooking/baking skillzz. BUT I do pride myself on my DESIRE to be a better cooker/baker. So here you go. My pride has spilled into my blog.

I realized that it really really helps if you plan out every meal and dessert (because planning dessert is absolutely essential for at least 3/4 of your meals) at the beginning of the week. I also realize that probably almost every married woman already knows this. Bare with me. 

So here are a few fabulous fall foodies that will tingle your taste buds.

Blueberry Breakfast Cake!  Recipe found here! 

Homemade BBQ Chicken Pizza. Courtesy of my Momma. 

Super easy. Get Boboli Pizza Crust. Drizzle honey and BBQ Sauce on the bottom . Put peppers, chicken, mushrooms, cheese etc. Cook for 15 min. at 400 Degrees. Boom Baby. 

This beauty is from Pinterest!  Coconut Banana Bread with Lime Drizzle. 

Mmm Mmm Mmm. Highly recommended. Find the recipe here!

 

Baking Banana Bread is essential for fall. (and Pumpkin Bread. But thats on the schedule for next week.)  First snow of the year called for a fresh hot loaf.  

The recipe I used was super duper easy!  and scrumptious. BAKE IT NOW! 

So along with my oh so domestic week, if I do say so myself. I also went to the Taylor Swift Concert with one of my BEST besties!  Ally!  One of the most beautiful girls I know. Inside and wut. 

I must admit. I love T-Swift even more now.

 Im  like obsessed with her now.. I  like totally want to be her.

jk.

But she is great. 

Ally and I bought T-Swift T-Shirts. 

Surrounded by 8 year old cowboy booted, curly haired blondes I couldn't have asked for more.

We met up with my high school friend Justin and dancer for Taylor.  It was a pleasure. 

I'm inspired now to become a star. 

Now I just need to figure out what I'm good at?  

Baking bread?  I could become the next Paula Dean. I do love BUTTER. 

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle...comes the best part of the week. LDS General Conference!

My family and I were able to hear from our prophet and apostles, who speak the word of God. 

TO US! TODAY!

What a blessing!  A privilege!  I am so grateful that we have a living prophet today, who can give us counsel and direction in these difficult and trying times. 

Plus!  Who wouldn't want to see this amazingly beautiful temple in Salt Lake City, Utah!

What a sight to behold. 

I dyed my hair. and then I took a myspace picture. To send to my mom. And you?

That's it. 

Sometimes I just can't get over the angelic beautiful of the Draper, Utah Temple.

and sometimes I can't get over how close I am to it everyday. 

If you haven't been able to go in here!  I highly encourage it. 

I painted my nails. and toes. Im obsessed with these colors. 

 Finger color: Essie Mochachino. Perfect for fall. 

I finally finished the first Hunger Games Book. People kept telling me it took them 24 hours to read all three. Well...it took me a month to read the first one..but at least I did it right?  

On to the next one. So far..it is a definitely favorite.

So there you go. Probably my most scatter brained post. Last week I also:
-Burned my hand twice.
-Moved into another room. That is WAY better. (Pictures coming soon.)
-Determined that the guy who fixed my car after my traumatic car accident is now in jail.
-Spent time with my mother!  Most amazing woman I know.
-Got rear ended.
-Went to target 5x.
-Wore toms on a rainy day. Never again.
-Had a candle fall on my head. (next necessary blogpost.)