Easter & Steamboat Springs Colorado - A Humbling Experience

This past weekend was a long one for Blaine and I. We left for Colorado mid-day Thursday. The drive was a scary one! Unfortunately, we encountered some snowy storm conditions the whole drive. To make matters worse, our tires weren't in the greatest condition. Anyway, we made it in good time! Thursday night we just planned out our eventful weekend. 

Friday morning came and we proceeded to set up several tours: horseback riding, snowmobiling, a trip to the natural hot springs, etc. As we called several companies, we realized that we came during, what locals call, "mud season." Sounds icky, right? Mud season = ghost town. How were we supposed to know?

At first, I was a little frustrated (Blaine would say seriously frustrated). All my plans, my precious plans, were ruined! What was even more frustrating was that the ski lift was closed. Why was this frustrating? Well, during our visit there was a record-breaking amount of snow at Steamboat Springs. Yeah. Record-breaking. 

Where we were supposed to have a picnic during our hike

Anyway, it might seem like I had a horrible time. But it is quite the contrary. We were able to relax...for real. This is something that I rarely achieve. It is custom that while on vacation, we have to do all the cool things, have a ton of activities planned, wake up at the break of dawn and not stop till midnight. This was my idea of vacation, until Steamboat Springs. 

We did whatever we wanted. We ate out. A lot. We watched movies. We watched 4 in one day. That was record-breaking for me! We watched shows that we have never sat down to watch together; i.e. Chopped, Iron Chef, Storage Wars. We stayed up as long as we wanted and slept in as long as we wanted...in our California king size bed with fluffy pillows. We stayed up talking for hours in front of the fire place. We went hot tubing. This was my first winter hot tubing experience. As a Floridian, water and winter don't mix. To my surprise, I enjoyed it a lot. We hiked the super un-hikeable and snowy Fish Creek Falls. One of my favorite moments was when Blaine and I went to the movie theater to watch Rio in 3D. We rushed to the theater cause we were running late. We were worried about getting horrible seats. We purchased our tickets, entered our theater, and realized that we were the ONLY ones in the whole theater. It was awesome. 

Huge cinnamon roll at Winona's

We chose our own meat and grilled it at 8th Street Steakhouse

Delicious BBQ sandwich at Double Z BBQ

Easter Sunday was also fun. I made a little egg hunt for Blaine. The eggs had his favorite candy and romantic coupons inside. I had fun watching him and he had fun finding the eggs. We watched Horton Hears a Who (one of my favorite movies and an Easter basket filler). We also dyed eggs. Now this (you'd think that I couldn't be any more humbled) was an epic fail. That was not a hyperbole. I had envisioned my eggs being glamorous, the cutest of them all. I didn't follow the instructions cause I thought it'd be easy. The dye tablets didn't fully dissolve and we could only get our eggs to turn pink. Again, I was frustrated. But Blaine surprised me. He started to get really creative. He made hollow eggs (something that he was reminded of watching The Food Network during our stay). He was having a ton of fun finding ways to decorate our un-dyeable eggs. So it rubbed off and I made a dalmatian egg out of a white egg and cheap eyeliner. 

Blaine hollowing his egg

Ready for his egg hunt! 

This whole trip reminded me 1) of what really matters in life, 2) to find joy in the journey, and 3) who is always in charge and in control - Heavenly Father. I was reminded to not sweat the small things and to make the best of what comes your way. I know I married the right guy. We can have fun wherever, whenever. I'm so grateful for this wonderful, true vacation that was made possible by Stace & Chris. Thank you guys! This trip is definitely unforgettable. 

Home Improvement

So here a couple of things that have brought life to our bare, white walls. 

This is our tiny bathroom. The towels were a wedding gift from Blaine's parents. They are Amy Butler. I LOVE them! The only downside is that the bath curtain that we were registered for really didn't match. I still haven't found one that matches perfectly. Our interesting picture of a Boston Terrier on a toilet hides the ugly, gray, and cold-looking electric panel. This was the only bath wall art I found that matched and was big enough to cover the spot. I think it's quite funny. I love it. Finally, I applied our first vinyl ever. It was a lot harder than I expected. After buying this online, I received the wonderful news that Stacey (sister-in-law) is giving me her old Cricut! Now, I'll be able to make my own vinyls! The kitchen is in need of some. 

Next, I had this huge, white space between the living room and kitchen area that was driving me insane. 

After much thought, I decided to put three, black frames up. One with "The Living Christ", another with a picture of us on our wedding day, and then one of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World.

Here's a close up of the family proclamation. I saw this at our cousin, Katie's house. She said that she got it as a wedding present. Since the day I saw it, I've been dying to do one of my own! I did it for my sister, Damaris, when she got married. Now it was my turn! It's super easy. I'm sure most of you have already figured out how to do it. Just in case you haven't, it is just vellum paper over your favorite picture in a cheap frame. Ta-da!

Decorating our apartment is a ton of fun. It's all I ever want to do now. It has come a long ways from when we first moved in...

Scary, huh? 

To the Rescue

One of my goals for 2011 was to get back into reading...like really back into reading. Years ago, I read for leisure everyday - no matter what. I really feel that it helped me intellectually and emotionally. So far, I've read about 2 books this year and now I'm reading President Monson's biography by Heidi S. Swinton. I confess, I've never read a full biography before. I always found them to be boring. When I was sick a couple of weeks ago, I decided to do something productive with my time in bed and started reading "To the Rescue." It has been everything but boring! Maybe it's because I'm reading about a true, prophet of God. I don't know. This biography has made me realize that Thomas S. Monson, who is called "Tom" or "Tommy" by some, is an ordinary man. His life has had ups and downs. He's had to work hard for what he wanted. He had doubts. He was scared. He felt inadequate.  What I find extraordinary about him is that he took those negative feelings and decided to react optimistically. He put his trust in the Lord and knew that everything would work out, as long as he did his best. From his life and example, I am learning great truths. I also feel like I know him just a little bit more, even though I might never meet him. I know that President Thomas S. Monson is God's chosen and anointed vessel to guide us in these latter days. I know that as we strive to keep our lives in line with the counsel of the Prophet, we will be blessed with happiness, peace, and purposeful lives.

I highly recommend this book to anybody - young, old, married, single, parent, Church member, non-member. It will make your day a little brighter to know that people of good character and morals, like Thomas S. Monson, still exist today in a world that is dwindling in values. 

Update on Life

Today was my official last day of classes! Yay! This semester has been a tough one, due to all the wedding planning and adjustments that come with married life. I'm ready for a fresh start in Spring semester. I'm sure Blaine is too.

Recently Blaine and I were able to attend the two Saturday sessions of the General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our good friends, Matt and Nina Stevenson, also came along. It was so nice to be in the presence and hear the inspired messages of the leaders and prophet of this day. One of my favorite talks was given by Jean A. Stevens, the first counselor in the Primary Presidency. Her talk was about learning from little children and becoming like them. I felt that this was for us specifically. We just got called to be primary teachers in our ward. Although it is a small primary consisting of about 7 children (and 1,000 babies in nursery), I know that we will be able to learn great lessons from these kids. This past Sunday we were sustained and set apart. I cannot wait to start serving those who "are greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3-4).

Work is going. Sometimes it can be boring, but I'm grateful that I work in an environment with little stress that actually allows me to do homework on the job! After finals are over, I will begin working full-time. It will be quite an adjustment, since I'm registered for 2 classes in the spring. One class shouldn't be too hard. I'm going to be taking beginning golf! Accepting that this is one of my hubby's greatest passions in life, I decided to start learning and loving the game. Growing up, I always thought that golf was a ridiculous sport. Now I realize that it requires much patience, dedication, focus, and hard work! Also, I kinda like how it's still an extremely competitive sport, even if it doesn't require physical contact between the players.

On to another sport - basketball. Although I didn't watch the game between the Celtics vs. Heat because it was playing while we were at church, I am so happy that we finally beat the Celtics! I wish I was in Miami to celebrate with my fellow Heat fans and family. The part that I will miss the most about the Playoffs is being in Hialeah, on 49th street, when the Heat win. I'm glad that I was in Miami when LeBron James announced that he was "taking his talents to South Beach." The streets were instantly packed. People were on the sidewalks with Heat paraphernalia, banging pots and pans, and throwing baby powder in the air. You see everybody that you haven't seen in years. Sounds crazy, but it's a lot of fun and a one-of-a-kind experience. It's one of those you-have-to-be-there type of things. Anyway, go Heat!

Well, we are 9 days away from our trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado! We are so excited! I've never been to Colorado. I've heard that it's absolutely beautiful. Thanks to my awesome in-laws (Stacey & Christopher Culver), we'll be able to take a little break before spring semester starts. Also, Blaine and I just booked an Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Valor. We will be going with my family in August after Damaris' graduation (I'm so proud of her). I haven't been on a cruise since 2008; it has been long overdue. We are so excited for spring and summer and all of the adventures that we'll have. We will also be visiting Delaware for a week! Can't wait for it all!

What I Miss About Miami...

Miami is a place like none other. Although I'm glad that I left to attend BYU, I miss it tons! Snow is only existent in movies and at Dolphin Mall during holiday hours. You tan by just being outside for 5 minutes. There are no seasons, other than wet and dry. Palm trees are real - not fake. I miss going to the little Cuban salon where (if you put up with some barely intelligible Spanish) you get a good hair cut, mani, pedi, and eyebrow wax for under $50.00. I miss the diversity of food. You can find a little-whole-in-the-wall restaurant for any cuisine you desire. I miss having the beautiful beach so close. There are barely any waves and the water is warm! I didn't know that beaches elsewhere considered August beach water at 68 degrees to be warm! (Reference to Rehoboth Beach, DE). I also miss hearing Spanish constantly. Although Blaine and I try practicing our Spanish together, it has really effected me not hearing native speakers frequently! 
Fashion is also way different in South Florida. For example, lately we've been bumping into some high school students going to prom. The dresses that the girls wear are just a little too much for me. You don't have to be tacky to be modest! Girls wear puffy, neon, glittery dresses that belong on a Barbie - not humans. Back where I come from, evening gowns are much more like what you see on E! or in a magazine. I ran into a girl at Chili's (pre-prom dinner) that was pulling more towards the Miami-style and was absolutely modest. I wanted to go over and give her a high-five. Anyway, fashion is a lot more different than it is over here. Acrylic nails aren't in style, unless they look seriously natural or you're a chonga (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=chonga). Also, there are so many unique fashion styles. It's like art! The malls in Miami are just amazing. I have to go to Salt Lake or Vegas to get something comparable. 
MUSIC. Well, I can write a whole book on that. When I lived in Miami, I was always listening to music. For some reason, I don't over here. I don't find out about the latest songs until way after it has reached the east coast. Papo and Damaris try to keep me updated, but it's definitely not the same! 
Above all, I miss my wonderful family. Having them far away  is extremely difficult and lame. They bring so much excitement, happiness, love, and crazy fun into my life. They still manage to do so although they're 2,500 miles away! I miss the hugs and kisses, the random moments of hysterical laughter, shopping trips with the sis, Tia and Mami, Sunday get-togethers, double dates with Damaris & Bruce, being there for Papo, Uli's and Yuyo's sports events, spontaneous trips to Orlando - the list can go on forever. More than anything, I miss having the help and support that can only come from family. You can't compare it to anything else in the world. On the bright side, I'm so grateful for the family that Blaine has out west. They are so much fun to be with. I feel like I've known them forever and was destined to be a part of their lives. I don't know what I'd do without family! 

Traditions

"Family traditions are like the spiritual and emotional cement in the foundation of a happy home. They create fond memories, and these memories bond us together like nothing else can." ("Traditions Worth Keeping", Ensign, Mar. 1986, 37)

Since I was a little girl, I have always liked the idea of traditions. In my family, we don't have many. But the few that we do have are great! It is so exciting to now have your own family where you can mix and create your own family traditions! Recently, we've just created a few. A lot of them are centered around food. We like to eat! My favorite breakfast food has always been hot chocolate with Cuban bread and butter. This weird combination comes from the Cuban tradition of drinking "cafe con leche with tostadas" (toasted Cuban bread). Being that we don't drink coffee, my family replaced it with some hot chocolate! Since there is no Cuban bread in Utah, we settle for French bread. Smith's sells fresh French bread for only $1.00 on Tuesdays. Hence, Tuesday is Hot Chocolate Night!

As a wedding gift from the Jamie and J.D. Grant, we got an awesome waffle maker! We are obsessed with waffles. To control our craving, we have waffles for breakfast, lunch, or even dinner on Wednesdays. I like my waffles simple and traditional - butter and syrup. Blaine likes to try different things. He puts berries and whipped cream along with other concoctions that he makes. Blaine is a lot more creative than I am. Another reason why I love him!

We also received a sweet fondue set from the Neiderman's - a family from Blaine's ward in Delaware. We are so excited to use it! Our goal is to use it at least once a month on a Friday! That way it's ::drumroll:: Fondue Friday!

So far, having these small things to look forward to during the week has been a lot of fun. Can't wait to create many more family traditions with Blaine!

Celebrating 1 week of marriage!

So last Saturday, we made a year and six months of being together and one week of being married! I can't believe that we're married! It feels great and perfectly right. I am so grateful for belonging to a church that endorses marriage and family relationships that last forever!

To celebrate our week of marriage, we ate a California Pizza Kitchen on Friday night. This restaurant has always been a favorite of ours. Whether you order pizza or pasta, the food is always so fresh and flavorful! Afterwards, Blaine treated me to dessert at Coldstone! We had the "That's How I Roll" creation.

Saturday, we spent our day working on our little apartment and looking through Ikea. We are Ikea's biggest fans! We found all of the bedroom furniture that we wanted, but didn't have enough space in the car to take it all home. We bought a couple of decorations for the kitchen and living room. Our most exciting purchase was our 6-drawer dresser. We have so much more space for our clothes now! We'll be going back soon...

About the wedding day (along with all the other festivities of that week), it was just perfect. Of course, things went wrong here and there. But it didn't matter. Even while having a cold and a fluctuating fever, I had the time of my life. I couldn't have asked for a better wedding day with my husband, family, and friends. I slept an hour the night before, waking up at 3:30 AM to shower and have my loyal friend and bridesmaid, Michele, do my hair. My favorite part of it all was the sealing and temple experience. It was so special - the most spiritual moment of my life. We also had a ton of fun taking pictures in the cold rain with our photographer, Jeremy Pexton. He was so much fun to work with. I cannot wait to see our picutres! Another surprisingly favorite part of the day was the food. I thought our entrées were delectable! I had the Chicken Foccacia and Blaine had the Pork Tenderloin with escalloped apples. I cleaned the plate! Our cake was also a lot better than I expected. Not only did it look fabulous but it tasted yummy! Dawna did a great job. All in all, the colors, the music, the decor, the flowers, the feelings were just perfect.

Our mini-honeymoon at The Castle Creek Inn was so much fun. It was such a cute, romantic bed and breakfast. The room was clean and very cute. It was called the "Edinburgh" and was themed after the famous castle in Scotland. The breakfast each morning was also delicious. Our first morning we had banana bread, kiwi, and grapes for our first plate. Our second plate was French toast (the best I've ever tasted), sausage, and cheesy-diced potatoes. The next morning we had banana bread again with strawberries. Our second plate was a citrus and chocolate crepe, with sausage, and hashbrowns. Another fun thing was that we had free drinks, snacks, and movies! That's heaven for poor college kids! We are definitely planning to revisit in the future! During our stay, we went to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner one night. It was only 5 minutes away from our hotel!

Going back to "reality" has been an adjustment, especially since we had so much fun with family here. But being married is a great blessing. I'm so grateful that we finally went through with it. "Reality" has been a lot more fun than usual. Having someone to laugh off the trials and little idiosyncrasies of life with is great!