Beginning to look ALOT like CHRISTMAS!!!

So for Christmas this year I wanted to give out thoughtful gifts, and I wanted to develop a new talent. Since my new job, and being married and such, I haven't had tons of time for new talents so that was my goal.

In october I started googling lots of different options and when I saw the idea for decorated sugar cubes I was hooked! I made eight dishes of homemade sugar cubes for all the women in the office and they turned out amazing!

I even painted some of them with sugar paint so they are all edible! But in my opinion, they are too cute to snarf!!

My family is German so we have the tradition of putting up nutcrackers and so that was fun for me to find little places for them to sit!

I also had to decorate our house from scratch and so for me I thought it would also be fun to make all the ornaments for our tree.

I made a ceramic fleurdylise ornament then painted it with different layers to make it look cuter. . .

I am really into damask so that was the theme for the tree, I made a lot of different damask ornaments in the shape of circles, hearts, snowmen, etc. I would totally recommend making your own ornaments, it gives the tree such a personal touch!

I even sanded little wooden B's for BUNKER!!!!!

Bentley is always interested in what I am doing and she watches me closely. . . hoping for a treat I think.

Until it becomes boring!

Then she hits her bed! Smart girl! She learned from the best!

Dog Drama. . .

Last night seemed like the perfect night to stay home and do nothing. We had both gotten home for the night and the snow was coming down faster then I have ever seen it come. We had a show on in the basement and I was wrapping presents when we heard a crunch.

To our horror we looked over to see Bentley chewing on a Christmas ornament. She had eaten the top off of a glass ball ornament and had already started chewing up the glass in her mouth and swallowing it!

We grabbed her, opened her mouth and saw nothing. So Brian called the vet and they suggested we bring her down right away in fear of a torn esophagus or the possibility of ripping a hole in her stomach.

I have never seen Brian drive that fast, or look so worried, and I have never panicked so much either! She was gagging the whole way there and the ride seemed like it would never end.

After a long night sitting in the pet hospital, our doctor concluded that she had swallowed glass but that she had ground it so small with her teeth that it was not seen as a threat. As a precautionary step, we were sent home with a dog laxative! I know right?

Anyways, 90 bucks and no sleep later, we finally went to bed. Thankful that our dog was ok and that she was going to be fine.

This never would have happened if Bentley knew to LOOK at ornaments, and not EAT them, (I say sarcastically bc it will never happen.) She is just like a baby. A one pound furry baby...

Sleepily yours!

Did someone say. . . Twilight!!!!

So there aren't very many things I am obsessed with. . .

Brians smell, decorating, Bentley after bathtime, pink anything, purses, juicy sweats, my primary class, bear lake, beaches, sunshine, new carpet, new lipstick, anything damask, hugs, caramel apple cider from starbucks, fresh laundry, sleeping in, hip hop dancing, sobe life water, kickboxing, chanel, chicken tikka, german cooking at christmas,

but my newest obsession is TWILIGHT!!!!!!!!!

Ok, have you read the books! Seen the movie! SO GOOD! I loved the books so much more, but the movie was really fun to see how a team of people interpreted the book into a movie!

The last time I had an obsession this bad, it was johnny depp in pirates! And that was a bad obsession, let me tell you!

Brian can just roll his eyes for now! BC I LOVE IT!!!

Service and Neighbors

Todays shout out goes to our sweet neighbors across the street. . .

So let me tell you something so funny about myself. My friends and I have this inside joke that all someone has to do to make me happy is smile at me. I am a girl of very simple pleasures and the tiniest things make me happy. I think i got it from my mom, she is the same way.

So on sunday morning we slept in, we had a really late night before, lots of friends over to watch the new Batman til three am, its brians new favorite movie. . .

And so sunday morning I was so thankful our church starts at one, we slept in til eleven. When we had gone to bed it was snowing pretty hard, and so just as we had woke up, we realized we were gonna have to bundle up and then shovel away til church started.

Once we bundled up we walked outside to see our driveway perfectly plowed with tracks. Our neighbor across the street had gotten his four wheeler with a plow attached and had driven over to do ours!

You know those moments that you are so touched that you feel like crying? I know, its so cliche' but i seriously felt like that! I am such a softie, It made me so happy! We don't even own a decent snow shovel yet!

Tonight, I am going to 'attempt' to make something yummy for him and his family. They are not members of the church and they show so much kindness to us. And out of all the people I have met in our new ward, they are the most caring of us newlyweds in the neighborhood and they will occasionally take out our trash on trash day if we forget, or rake up our leaves, etc. They even helped me break into our house during the summer when I locked myself out! I am thankful for them and for helping us out, as we are 'new' at life and still trying to figure everything out!

I hope you have the chance to be this for someone who needs it, or who ever is doing it for you, thank them profusely. It is more then just a shovel job, it is service and love.

10 days til christmas! Can you even stand it!

Linds

My Grown Up Christmas List

So this year, everything that I have ever known to be christmas is significantly different.

Being Married totally changes your perspective on life and material things and what it really means to be happy. Since this is such a huge thing for me, I wanted to share it with all of you.

First off. . . I love Christmas because it means giving to others and if there is one thing I am a sucker for, its buying and giving way too many presents. I also like getting presents bc it is the time of year that I don't feel guilty for asking for things that I want and don't need.

This all started when my mom and mom in law, started asking me what I wanted for christmas. For the life of me, I couldn't tell them anything. Had you asked me last year, I could have given you a bevy of things to choose from. But later that night really thinking about my grown up christmas list, here is what I am thankful for not only at Christmas but all year long.

First, I am thankful for my lord and savior Jesus Christ and for all the faith he has in me. I am not by any means a perfect being, and nor is it easy to try to be one. But he is the reason I live, love and have hope for a bright future and I love him for everything he has generously blessed me with.

I am thankful for my country. I cannot imagine living anywhere else, and especially anywhere else where I wouldn't have my freedom. I can never repay the debt of those who made it free for me. I always want this priviledge. . .

My life and soulmate Brian. . .

I have never loved or cared for someone so much, or wanted to, for that matter. . . He is the greatest thing to ever happen to me and I can't wait for our many years to come.

He makes me such a better person, and he is my partner in life. For Christmas, I want to be with him, next to a fire, with some hot chocolate, snuggling away!

My Family is so priceless to me, and I will always be grateful that I have them.

My dad is so protective of me, and I love feeling like Daddy's little girl at 23 years old. He still looks and smiles at me like I am seven.

My mom would do anything for me any time at any price. She is the ultimate giver in my life and a wonderful example for my mothering future. She is also my biggest Cheerleader!

My little sister Court is so genuine and kind hearted and is one of the biggest advocates in my life. I love how she values my opinion so much that she doesn't make an important decision until she has called me first. This includes purchasing a pair of shoes :)

This is Elisha, left, and Courty, right, at the temple for my wedding, both so young and beautiful.

Ty is finally home from his mission and I will never let him roam far again. I love his dedication to his mission and for how diligently he served his two years. I love that he wants to spend all his time with us now and that he missed us. He is a smart man and I cannot wait to see what his life will produce.
Along the lines of family, I am thankful for the Bunkers. What a blessing to have inherited such a celestial family. They are kind and christlike and so caring. I remember the first time I met them, I was barely dating Brian, and they made me feel so good about my life and wanted to know all about me. That night when I went home I cried in happiness to my mom about how great it would be to have them as inlaws. That wish came true!!!! :)

I am thankful for my friends. They are such good examples to me and love me for lindsay! No matter where life takes all of us I know we will always have that special bond.

I am thankful for our little Bentley and for all that she brings to our family. She has taught me so much about unselfishness and has given me a good idea of what our children will be like. And no matter how many times she pees on our linens or chews our tree ornaments and shoes I will always love her and her huge personality.

In a time where money is tight and life is more difficult I am thankful for our stability. Brian and I live in the most beautiful house, paid for by his hardworking, and more than comfortable and spacious for the three of us. I am thankful that we aren't among those who cannot afford their mortgage, and although life for us is tight, we are blessed and making ends meet.

I am thankful that I have a job. In the past I have moaned and groaned bc it is not my dream job and Its not where I thought I would be. But with all the layoffs and downsizing in our country. I am thankful I have a decent income to help support our household.

I am so thankful that it is Christmas and for all of you. . .

Merry Christmas and I hope your Christmas Wishes come true!!!

one cookie two cookie three cookie more!!!!

So the newest greatest thing i have done this season is go to colleens cookie exchange!

Wow! Cookies Galore!

I decided to make my homemade divinity and it was good!

So were all of the other cookies at the party! We brought six dozen and got to take home 72 of the most delicious cookies you have ever seen!

Colleen has the most incredible house ever! It reminds me of a boutique with adorable decorations that smells like apples and cinammon! I know you know what I am talking about. I couldn't stop looking around at it!

She went to so much work for all of us to be able to have a great time! Colleen is one of those ladies that is just so awesome! She is so talented at so many things, and she makes you always want to be around her. I am a secret admirer of hers. . . well I guess it is not so secret anymore!!!!

This is my favorite cutest picture of Colleen and her bubbly hubby Randy.

Anyways here are some fun pictures of her cookie party, the first festive event of my Christmas season!

Us girls are insane together! To much fun in one room!

Happy Holidays and Happy Baking to you all!

Tale of the Berries. . .

Good Morning to All!

Wow, I can't believe it has been since halloween since I last posted something. I guess that is what happens when you are as busy as me.

Our thanksgiving was so much fun! We decided to spend it at the bunkers house, my inlaws, with a whole housefull of guests! It was awesome. Karen, brians mom, assigned me to bring homemade cranberry sauce to dinner, and with three ingredients i thought that it wouldn't be possible to screw it up. Well was I wrong!

Turns out I bought my cranberries at costco, and had six times as many cranberries as I needed. So I made the recipe with only one cup of sugar for six billion cranberries.

You can imagine how it turned out. Bitter and nasty! So I added two more cups of sugar, and let it refridgerate overnight, bc some of the sugar is supposed to sink in. The next morning I swear it had gotten more sour! So I added the last of my sugar, four whopping cups! Definately not the cranberry sauce for diabetics!

But I guess it was ok because i got no complaints, and a couple complements. Next year I think I will opt to bring rolls or something!

Ode to Candy Corn

First off! Happy Halloween everyone! I have experienced a new liking to candy corn this year!

My halloween was unexpectedly fun and I wanted to share some of the highlights. Last night I was having a really hard time trying to decide what to be for halloween and it was ten at night and no luck. I could have driven to my parents house in sandy but after a twelve hour work day, driving was seeming no bueno! I went over to my sister in laws house with everyone to try to come up with something. It was then that karen, mom in law, said we should go raid her moms closet and that I should dress up as an old person!

So this morning I got quite a few random looks as I ran errands around town and picked up the catering. This woman at the counter was really old and had almost the same dress as me. When I smiled at her, I could tell what she thought about me! I guess older people don't like being mocked by us younger folk!

It was also kind of coincedental because I am the youngest person in the office and so I wanted to dress up as the oldest!

Once I arrived I realized how wrong I was. I work with a ton of really quick creative people and my costume looked not so amazing compared to theirs! Colleen and Sacha had the same Idea I did but with loads more preparation! Colleen had a walker and a catheter and a "pee bag" and was in pajamas with a fake mustache and fake eyebrows. My description does not do it justice and so the picture will!

Dusty, dressed up as a chick magnet and had a cardboard magnet with barbies all over it around his shoulders. I thought that was so creative. So he won the award for most creative costume.

I decorated the office bc our office manager is out of town and it looked really awesome! I used lots of spiderweb and gravestones, etc.

Last year I wanted to go out on halloween. I wanted to hit as many parties as I could and see as many people, and stay out late. I think it is being married that has done this to me but this year I see halloween going much differently.

I want to stay home and make a fun halloween dinner, and give out candy to trick or treaters, and then take my niece and nephew trick or treating, then fall asleep snugging with brian and bentley watching a scary movie. I have turned into a home body! I like it though. And those adorable children in their costumes make me want one! lol!

This year we didn't carve pumpkins but we painted them. I think this Chanel pumpkin is pretty cute though!

Here is another picture to give you some laughs! I swear people get so dang creative at halloween. I don't even want to know how long this took!

Anyways, we hope your halloween was as awesome as ours! Much Love!

YEAH!!!! PICTURES!!!!

I did it! Pictures! Well, not many but three! Thats a start right? I have to give credit to paul here at work for making it happen, I admit, it wasn't all me.

So this adorable woman at work just sent me an email labeled, I picture just for you linds! And here is what it was!

A little indication of how well my friends know me! So true! This is what my reply to brian will be the next time I want some new shoes and the next time he says I don't need them!

Random Thoughts Like Me!

Ok so, today when I woke up I had alot on my mind, and even though not alot of it is that important, i must vent!

I Love my puppy but she is KILLING ME! I get no sleep and my newly dyed dark hair matches the oh-so-lovely dark circles under my eyes! And I need a magic wand to stop her from going to the bathroom in our house! I have never smelled so much cleaner in my life! wow.

I really am not a fan of inconsiderate people. If you don't have something nice or intelligent to say, please do not say it. Hint hint to the horrible raunchy man at the chevron this morning! I wish everyone could be cream puffs.

The anticipation of my little brother coming home from his mission is unbelieveable. It is three weeks now and I wish I could fast forward to the airport! I have replayed this scene so many times in my head before and I wonder if it will be anything like I have imagined. I wonder what he will think of me being married and of my new life. I think its gonna be a little tough. Its things like this that make me wish I sometimes still lived in sandy.

This pic was taken two years ago and I love it so much because it makes me think about all the changes both of us have gone through!

THRILLER!!!!!! Friday night baby!!! With my favorite people! Brian, my sis court, mel and paul, katie and mark, and my adorable inlaws the bunkers! What could be better then first class dancing entertainment and first class company!

The economy really scares me. And Obama isn't helping my nerves. I was listenting to my mom the other day and she said that Boyd K Packer was speaking in her friends sacrement meeting, i guess they are in the same ward, and he said that around next fall a catastrophe will happen. He said that it will shock the people in this country so much that nothing in history has happened like this before! I would love to have access to his mind, and to know what the general authorities know. It would make life so much clearer.

But I kept wondering what this event would be. . . earthquake? Terrorism? Nuclear war? I dont' even want to know. But it really changed my perspective on life. I have been buying cans of food instead of new shoes, for our food storage. And storing blankets and first aid kits, and such. I just hope that when this so called catastrophe hits I will be ready. And I hope all of you will too. I have faith in the prophet and in god who is so good. I know if I listen and do as he says all will be well :)

I love my neighborhood girl julianne hough and I hope she keeps rocking it every week! So far so good! I heart dancing with the stars. :)

TTFN, ta ta for now! And I promise I will resolve the pic thing today!

Bentley the Pooch!

So... Brian has been bugging me for quite some time now about getting a dog. Ever since he met my parents dog, eddie who is a yorkie, he has decided that he wants one. I will come into the office and he will be looking up dogs online and pointing to them while saying pleeeeeze linny!
To entertain his thoughts I decided that it would be no harm to go to the pet store to look at them. JUST LOOK!

Once we held eight or so dogs, we saw a little yorkie girl puppy in the corner. She was so tiny! She weighs a pound and a half and is black and brown. As soon as both of us held her we were sold. We decided right then and there that she was ours. They bathed her for us and put a little pink bow in her hair, and we took her home! We decided to name her Bentley, like the car!

She is adorable and loves to snug us! We are avidly working on potty training her so that our house will not have to endure many more accidents! We are ready to have less sleepless nights but she is worth it! We love our little bentley, or as brian would say, Bentlesworth!

This new life. . .

It is funny being married and seeing what it is really like, compared to what people say it is like.

I think marriage is better than anyone could have ever described it as. For once, my life revolves around someone, and his life revolves around me, and we are happy :)

We have our own little jokes, traditions, habits, language and things that we share. I knew marriage would be special and would be an incredible experience but I don't think anyone could have communicated that to me the way I feel it.

I know this is sort of deep but I just feel so overwhelmed by love and happiness today that I had to get it out!

I am also extremely comforted by the fact that we are sealed together for time and eternity. He is mine, and I get to keep him :) Forever.

I love you. . .

The busiest fall yet!

Ok so I always think about fall as a lazy time of year. But I just came to the realization that this year, my fall is going to be just the opposite! My little brother comes home from his mission in like a month and then we have all his homecoming festivities. We are painting multiple rooms in our house, I am choreographing tons of dance solos, work will pick up tons etc. So much for a relaxing season! And I am starting a new kickboxing class with some of the guys at work!

Also, if any of you know how to add friends on this website let me know! I have lots but I don't know how to add their blogs! :) so frustrating! oh and how do you add pictures?

Blogging? Who blogs?

Ok, so the most popular topic lately at the office, and with my friends is blogging. . . I thought it was a joke and so I laughed and then realized they were serious. Good thing they didn't find out how clueless I was! Most recently too, everyone I know is like, Linds, do you have a blog? Send me the link! So I give in! I am blogging!

About me and us!
My amazing husband Brian and I have been married for almost 5 months! I know, I know, its not a long time but just you wait! We live in a beautiful house in centerville and it has been so fun starting this new journey together!

I love life with him with all of my heart and he makes me happier than anyone on this earth! Brian is so talented and is currently using his talents to finish school and do sales. I love my job and do a variety of things for a media company. My exciting work day consists of accounting, sales, marketing, orders, and phone calls! Yippee!!

Stay tuned, pics to come, and welcome to our blog!