Fresh Clean Bloomers

Cross Word Puzzel life

2012-02-10T16:53:00.001-07:00

There have been so many things going on in our lives recently, that I don't think I could ever catch up. So I decided to list them all as if they were cross word puzzle clues. Good luck figuring it out!

1. Governmental cunning engagement.

2. District of Columbia expedition

3. A riot is born

4. Duties repayed

5. Craigs Catalouge Czar

6. A Shade joins

7. Larget Reduce Conqured

9. Internal dramatization affairs

10. The day of birth approaches

I will give ten points to anyone who can name 3 of them. Good luck!

Baller Status

2012-02-10T16:02:00.002-07:00

6:30 AM

I wake up... what was that noise? a crack, a pop, and then a russel. It sounds just like someone is moving around in the living room!
No no no. I am making it up. Go back to sleep Kara.

6:34 AM

I hear it again. Maybe it's mice? maybe the dogs are out side my window? No! I has to be footsteps!!!

"Zach, I think I hear someone in the house!"

He wakes up and silently pulls his gun out of the bed stand. He creeps out of bed and over to the door. The only sound he made was the cock of his gun. In 17 seconds, he has searched the entire house, including closest, widows, and doors. If I had been a robber, I would have been scared out of my mind.

Is your husband as awesome as mine? He never once questioned me, he just trusted me and protected me. And he knows how to a use a gun.

Baller Status. That's what that is.

1 Year ago "today"....

2012-01-30T13:04:00.002-07:00

Zachary started farting in front of me.

My mom would be absolutely petrified if she saw that I put this up on my blog. I am normally so careful to be more.... "ladylike" (for lack of a better term.) But let's be honest.... It's true, and it's funny.

I know that today is not January 14th, but this is my little anniversary post. Zach and I have made it one whole year. We are happier than ever. Being a newly wed is tough. There is a lot of adjustments to get used to. We do things so many different ways.

I have had to learn that Zach really doesn't like to do the dishes...
He has had to learn that no matter what, he is always going to have to follow me around the house turning off lights, shutting cupboards, and plugging in my electronics.

Zachary's love for Kara

But we are happy any way. And here is the thing. Our anniversary didn't turn out how I wanted. It was fun and wonderful in its own special way, but it wasn't what I wanted. So I was weepily telling Zach that I regretted it. After all this was our 1st anniversary and we will never have that again! I wanted it to be a day to remember. But Zach tells me "Kara, do you know what is more important than the 1st?" The answer, of course, is obvious. "the Second Anniversary!!!!" It then occurred to me. As long as we can make the NEXT anniversary more special, we will be truly celebrating the purpose on our anniversary.

It doesn't get better than this.

2012-01-24T11:22:00.001-07:00

It really doesn't.

I just wish he would've danced to the "wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle, yeah!" part.

The Palmer Christmas Trap

2011-12-27T14:17:00.002-07:00

My family has a somewhat unique Christmas Tradition. We are allowed to open our Christmas gifts at 4 AM. If you can get through the Christmas Trap. It usually composed of pretty simple contraptions made from very loud noise makers. The rule is.... if you wake up Mom and Dad, you have to wait until AFTER breakfast (around 10 am) to open the gifts! It is Guaranteed that if you every talk to a member of the Melvin and Wanda Palmer family they could tell you endless stories about the traps they have done.

I have started a new blog about the Palmer Christmas Traps! Check it out here!
This year Zach and I spent Christmas morning with his family, and Zach thought it would be fun to set a trap for his family. We made a simple trap by putting jiggle bells inside of balloons. They were SO LOUD! Not only that, but we taped the balloons together, and if you tried to rip the tape off they would pop!

At about 7:30 the next morning we heard a series of pops. BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM! The next thing I remember is my wonderful husband screaming at the top of his lungs.... like a girl.

Classic.

Christmas was wonderful! I wish it wasn't over.

The Balloon Trap of Screaming Girlyness

New Addiction

2011-12-12T15:17:00.001-07:00

“Thirty-two, can I hear thirty-three? Thirty-three anyone? Thirty-three, give me thirty-three? Will you give me thirty-two-fifty? Let me hear thirty-two-fifty”

Zach and I went on an adventure Saturday morning to purchase a car! On a whim Friday night we decided to try our luck at a repo auction just to see what we could find.

We waited around for a few hours scoping out the competition and discussing what we thought the best auction techniques were. We decided that the most successful winners did it by pretending they didn’t want the car. That way the auctioneer would increase each bid by a smaller amount such as 50 dollars, rather than the usual 100. The other trick was to be observant. We saw several people bid against themselves in the confusion, and we didn’t want to be that idiot.

When it came to be our turn I completely forgot about every ounce of strategy that we had talked about. Literally. I looked right at the auctioneer and forgot it all. I instantly regretted begging Zach to let me hold the bidding card and started to whisper out of the corner of my mouth “Zach! What do I do? Should I do it? What is going on? Is he talking to me? Is that a good price?” Lucky for me Zach knows how to keep his head on straight and he would murmur quietly “Wait, Kara… wait….. wait….. wait…. Bid now.”

When we won the bid, I swear on my life I had no clue what was going on. Zach had to look at me and say “You won, Baby! Good job!” As soon as he said that, it took every ounce my being not to start jumping up and down and screaming like a 14 year-old at a Justin Bieber concert. I didn’t know anything about the car I had just won, I didn’t know what price I got it for, I didn’t even know if it was a good deal. But I won!!!!! I WON!

I would go back and buy a car for anyone that needs it. Just to feel that feeling again. It is SO easy to understand why gambling is SO addictive.

Say hello to our 2004 Mazda 6!

My Christmas List

2011-12-01T11:33:00.001-07:00

Every Christmas my mom writes a Christmas list of all the things that she wants that no one can afford to get her. It is just fun to write a dream list.

PLUS

The husband has been bugging me for a Christmas list. I gave him one, and he wasn't extremely satisfied with my answers 1) Bedspread 2) new work pants 3) Dog leash for Ally etc. Apparently, he wanted to know what I REALLY wanted for Christmas.

1. I found this house in Maryland. I want it. I want 4 seasons. I want the trees. I want the multiple stories and the hills and tall enough to hang a chandelier in it... and the purple front door.

2. I want a car. Yes. I complain about it too much. Yes. it is probably my fault I don't have one. But I want one.

3. New Phone. Just sayin.

4. I want that ugly ceiling thing in my kitchen to be blown away. And to be replaced with can lights and crown molding. And awesomeness... if possible.

5. I really do want a retractable dog leash for Ally. For some reason every time to go to get one, I just feel like it is too much money. So I never do it. Can someone just give me one please? Pink please?

6. Plane tickets to go to the England Lake district.

7. A whole new wardrobe.

8. To get my hair done.... by my favorite hairdresser. Who is awesome. I miss my hairdresser.

9. Wedding ring bands. At first I didn't want them because I thought they made the ring too big. I changed my mind.

10. TO GO SKIING! Like REALLY skiing. In the mountians. And no, those things up in Showlow? Not real skiing mountians. I want to go BIG (Rockies please) Or I want to go home. The End.

11. White Hot chocolate from Java City. I am not kidding you. I litterally think this stuff is worth dying for. I would go CRAZY for one RIGHT NOW.

12. A new quad. Since mine is dead. (I don't even want to talk about it. It makes me sad. I am still in the second stage of grief. I will let you know when I am ready to talk about it again.) Preferable a Suzuski, or Yamaha or... nope that is pretty much it. (Husband thinks I want a Honda. I am not sold yet).

13. New Lugage. I love my lugage. i LOVE it. But I don't have a roll-y carry on. I am using one of Zach's but his carry on is so big that I feel like I have to try and hide it so they don't tell me I need to check it. And sometime it only fits if sidways. I wants a small carry on... roll-y... with color... and spunk.

14. To go to Sand Diego with Zachy. Becuase I love him.

The once was an ornery ocelot...

2011-11-23T11:29:00.001-07:00

Who all the year 'round was cross a lot!

Except, at Thanksgiving

When he enjoyed living

Because he liked cranberry sauce a lot!

For as long as I can remember we have always made an unbelievable number of pies for Thanksgiving. Eventually the tradition grew into making 1 more pie than the year before. In 2010 when we were supposed to make 39, we got a little overwhelmed. We decided to go back to 30 for 2010 and continue the tradition from there. This year? 2011=31 pies.

The funny thing is: when you get used to making that many pies you start to hear your self say really funny things. Below are a few comments I heard last night during the pie making frenzy.

1. "We are only making 4 Banana Cream! I don't think it is enough."

2. "Oops! I just realized I made 20 pumpkin, I was only supposed to make 16!"

3. "What do you mean we already have 31 pies? I haven't even made the pecan pies yet!"

I LOVE Turkey Day!

Murphy's Law

2011-11-10T11:29:00.001-07:00

There is one basic law about working in a lab. It is called Murphy's Law and I have seen it in action almost every other day. The law states simple "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong." It is important to distinguish that it does not state "anything that can go wrong will go wrong.... eventually." no no no no, the law is meant to imply that "anything that can go wrong will go wrong when you have the least amount of time, and the most amount of pressure placed on your being." One interesting tidbit is that 80% of the time, the item that "goes wrong." happens near the end of the project. For example, I have project with 25 wafers, and the tool will crap out on wafer 23, or if I have 4 wafers... I will run out of material on wafer 3. If I have 50 bonds, then on bond number 48 the pump will fail. These are the simple physics if Murphy's Law.

Like today; we are going to the Dunes. We would like to leave at 3:00pm. What does Kara do? She stayed up half the night to pack and clean the house, and work with her husband on the quads! hours of preparation to get the tools in pristine condition, and wafers ready, cleanroom organized, conference calls with the customer. This simple demo should only take a few hours. It he comes in the morning, I am done by lunch! Well..... the customer's plane broke down; flight delayed, and here I sit more prepared than I have been in weeks with nothing to do but panic because there is almost no way that we will be done in time if he doesn't show up in the next 5 mins.

It is a simple law really. Count on it.

Love Locks

2011-11-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

In Como Italy there is a long Pier out into the middle of the lake, called Diga Piero Foranea Caldirola. At the end of the pier is a circular sitting area with a fantastic view of the mountains and the town. Here lovers inscribe their names on locks and place them on the railing, and throw their keys in the lake. I took this photo of one particular lock that caught my attention.

Love Locks

When Zach proposed to me in San Deigo, I thought it was the perfect place for our own Love Lock. We chose the spot near the area where he proposed on Coronado Island. When we went back the next day, there was a wedding on the beach near the spot we had chosen. Zach ran up and attached the lock quickley and we ran to the beach and threw our keys in the water (though I had to throw mine three time becuase the water kept pushing it back in.) I didn't get a single photo!

This week I got the chance to visit a customer in San Diego. I couldn't miss the chance to go see if our lock was still there, and it was!

How early is too early?

2011-10-19T16:53:00.001-07:00

I like.... love Christmas.

You can ask any of my friends. I was the girl who would run around her Junior High on the first day of snow and write how many days til Christmas on every teacher's whiteboard! (only 66 days!!!!) Obsessed? Maybe!

The world will always have Holiday Haters who throw a fit when the radio starts to play Christmas music before Thanksgiving.... I have only one word for those people "Killjoy" What so wrong with a little Christmas cheer? There is nothing like putting up your Christmas lights in November, so you can celebrate Thanksgiving by turning them on for the first time! What says "Christmas" more than a little thanksgiving? Oh.... wait.... you hate it when Christmas starts too early because large corporations are doing it solely for the sake of earning more money? (You must be a Valentine's Hater too.) But wait a second, isn't Christmas the time of year at the economy consistently gets a boost? It could be arguable that Christmas works better than Obama’s Stimulus Package! How could that be a bad thing?

I will not be swayed, I love Christmas.

But even I have limits.

And this is one of them.

Kara

Roses are Red, Violets are blue.

2011-10-14T13:13:00.002-07:00

Roses are Red

Violets are Blue

I am in Love

With a Dream Come True.

My Newest Hobby

2011-10-14T08:25:00.000-07:00

There is a phenomena in the US that I like to call "Tattoo syndrome." It is a belief that ideas stated in another language are more meaningful. I have a relatively easy example. If I went to get a tattoo, and I have the words "Courage, Honesty, Strength, and Love" grotesquely engraved into my body. I might get a few raised eyebrows. It's cheesy right? But if you saw my tattoo and it said "膽魚笞痔" it would actually mean something (despite the fact that that actually translates to something about a gall badder, a fish, a whipping stick, and a hemorrhoid check out this website for some good laughs.)

So I have started my own collection. A few phrases from different languages that mean something more..... because they aren't said in boring old English.

To fluer med et smæk
This one is for those of us who are bird lovers. Just in case you never had any intention of killing two birds with one stone, you can use the much less violent Danish version and get "two flies with one smack."

Ai ghinion la jocuri de noroc, ai noroc in dragoste.
This is a phrase for my friends that may have lost a poker game or two. According to Romanian folklore there is still hope for you! "Bad luck in gambling, good luck in love!"

Schadenfreude
This last one is my favorite. It is a single word that does not exist in the English Language. My German Friends were smarter than us and created a word for a feeling that we all experience (though we try to deny it.) "Schadenfreude- to take pleasure in another person's pain." I vote we integrate this word into our daily vocabulary.

I would love to extend my collection! I still need French, Gaelic, Portuguese, Itailian, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Finnish, Swedish, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Pirate, etc.... I know I have at least one freind who speaks each of these languages.... So give me your phrases!

Kara

Sick......ness....

2011-08-05T12:50:00.000-07:00

My husband got a lovely surprise yesterday morning. I wake up, yawn, and roll over to let him know that it is 6:30. "Good Morning Babe! I love you!" Zach sits straight up, because I sound like a man. That's right, you heard me, an 85 year old-smokin'-drinkin'-party man. I like to call it Laryngitis.

The Cleanroom Suit,
excpet mine is blue.

I discovered the hard way just how miserable it can be to work in a cleanroom with a cold. Consider the following three symptoms.

1) Cough- Uncomfortable, uncontrollable, undermining your steady hands while trying to align two wafers with less than 100um (about the diameter of a piece of hair).

2) Fever- Hot Body + Constraining Cleanroom Suit = Sweaty, smelly, and awkward.

3) Sneezing- I have only two words. Face. Mask...... yeah you thought about it. Ew.

BUT!!! At the end of the day, my demo was successful and I completed a hearty day of work..... and then stayed home for the next two. I am so grateful for Zach, who was patient through the worst parts of the Mucus Party in my nose, throat, sinus, ears, mouth, eyes, and stomach.

And Boy oh Boy I am so glad that I am getting better.

Kara

Annoying the Husband

2011-07-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

Evil little bugger

I have discovered a few things that annoy the husband. Concider this a "word to wise" all you wives out there.

It annoys your husband when....

#1- He has to run across the house because you just screamed loudly due to a scorpion that you almost stepped on as you were getting out of the shower.

#2- You just stand there naked in a bathtub because you are too scared to get your towel.

#3- You scream again because he almost got stung while trying to kill the scorpion with a bobby pin.

Being of the Inferno

#4- You continue to stand in the bathtub (cold by this point) scared to move because your husband just put the scorpion in the toilet (wihtout squishing it!!!) and it is still squirming around.

#5- When you continue to whine for five mins that scorpion is still moving and why doesn't he to watch it until it dies or it my come out again, and can he imagine how awful it would be to get stung in the rear end and oh my gosh it is still alive! and you really wish he had just squished with a shoe when he had the chance, and could he come flush the toilet for you..... please?

We have learned a valuable lesson about being married.

Seriously Funny

2011-07-12T10:32:00.000-07:00

Last night Zach and I were enjoying the first slice of banana bread as it came out of the oven, when we heard a series of yelping from the other room. We ran panicked to save our puppy from whatever evil force it might be that was attacking her.

I bend down to get her from under the coffee table where she was hiding and she scrambles up onto my lab begging for protection. Zach and I are frantic and nervous about a scorpion when I nuzzle my face into her fur and I realize she smells like..... goldfish. Not actual fishy goldfish, but the yummy little crackers that "smile until you bite their heads off" (if you remember that commercial). Zach then walks over and picks up one of those giant boxes that goldfish come in. Ally (the puppy) had managed to get her head stuck inside the box. She then thrashed around until it flew off. "Excrementing" everywhere while she was at it.

The Evil Force that attacked the puppy.

I haven't laughed that hard in a while.

Recent Adventure #3 It's a Girl!

2011-07-05T21:14:00.000-07:00

We would proudly like to welcome the newest member of our family! Her name is Ally Bloomer and she is 7 1/2 lbs and 18 inches long. She already sleeps through the night! We couldn't be happier to have her and Zach and I count our blessings every day.

We can already see her sweet personality despite her being so little. She is also very smart. I am so happy to come home to a happy face, despite the difficulties. Zach however whines every day about getting her potty trained already. We can already tell that she is a Daddy's girl.

Ally

Welcome to our home Ally!!!

Recent Advendutre #2

2011-06-29T16:24:00.000-07:00

Home improvement

I think the universe is constantly shouting at me “Welcome to Homeownership!” It seems like there is no end to chasing around all the items that need tending to. Just when I feel like I have a handle on the yard work, I will paint my kitchen sew a few pillows and then “wahla!” the front yard is covered in weeds. So I drag my feet out in the 110 F weather and I suddenly discover that the pool is green, and my yard is in need of a Roach Massacre and the orange tree is full of suckers, and the grass is 100 % dead. So I wake up early on a Saturday and I work hard all day, and put together a plan to bring the yard in control when… the light burns out in the hallway, and I permanently overcook some rice to my stove top, the disposal quits, the toilet is running constantly, and the piano keys are sticking funny.

Nonetheless! Here is SOME of our beautiful home. The rest will just have to come as the improvements are made

Kitchen Before

Kitchen After

Front Room Before

Front Room After

Master Before

Mast After

Master Bath Before

Master Bath After

Guest Bedroom Before

Guest Bedroom After

View from the Kitchen Window, Somehow the husband thinks this is appropriate.

We Love our new home!

Recent Adventure #1

2011-06-13T15:57:00.000-07:00

Zach and I got the courage to buy a piano! It wouldn’t have been possible without Zach. Firstly, he spent many persistent hours on Craigslist finding us the perfect piano. We had so many constraints on us, because I was so picky about the size, and string condition, color etc…. Secondly he made the money to buy it! We were lucky to find a piano we could afford, but we found the piano when we just happened to no have any money at all. But Zach and his wonderful “Can-Do” attitude found us the job to get the money to get the piano in less than 12 hours!!!

Fixing the Action

The piano has had quite a few issues, but we have had a blast fixing it. We made $1.25 in the change we found inside the action!

The Action

More excitingly we found rose petals inside the keys! We have enjoyed the adventure of imagining the lovers that built the piano leaving a small token of their love from 1913!

Rose Petals in the Keys

Below is the final product of our beautiful black 4’6” 1913 Wulitzer.

Final Product

"So.... How's Married Life?"

2011-05-06T15:54:00.000-07:00

It must be a true sign of Globalization, that this is the exact question that everyone asks me. Apparently, no one can think of their own way to phrase the question. "Do you enjoy being married?" or " How have you been since you've gotten married?" "How is your new marriage treating you?" So let me tell you.....

I love it.

I love coming home and making dinner, and the look Zach gives me when he feels like I care about him. I love feeling like I have good tastes and I am a good cook. Even if all I made was boxed Chinese with the instructions on the back.

I love watching TV with Zach, as he yells at the TV. Something about how unrealistic it is that Pres. Obama single handedly killed Osama.

I love watering my garden. especially when the Radishes are ready to harvest, and I take one inside, cut it up, and realize that I don't even like radishes.

I love being called "Mrs. Bloomer."

I love "working" in the garage with Zach while he actually works, and I ramble awwy uselessly about nothing important.

Who wouldn't love this?

The worst part is that I am in Dallas again, and it is so hard to be so far away.

Week IV

2011-04-15T16:53:00.000-07:00

We are so spoiled. This occurred to me just now, as I am throwing a fit, because my little personal touchscreen TV is not working on my flight back the US. Poor me, I don’t have 56 movies waiting to entertain me and I am forced to read my books, for eight and a half long hours. Heaven Forbid. As ridiculous as it is…. I am actually upset.

However, the silver lining is that I am coming home!

Week Four was looooooong. It got harder and harder to be adventurous the more tired I got. We ended with a trip to a castle on Friday, and I wandered around Munich for a day on Saturday.

Zach on the other hand has been busy! He sold the Warrior and we are using the money to fix up the other two bikes so we can use what is left of the decent weather to have a little fun! He has been spending time with his brothers and sisters (including mine) and went on a field trips with his field ecology class down in San Pedro!

Week III

2011-04-08T13:20:00.000-07:00

Austria!

No one in America ever seems to know anything about Austria except what the Sound of Music shows you. So here is Austria 101

1- They love two things Beer, and Pork. I have not eaten a single thing here that I didn't like.

However some of my coworkers insisted that we go to MickyD's when we drove past it because "you have to experience it" and it was easily the most disgusting thing I have eaten since I have been here. But if you love Pork, Dumplings, Meat, Sausage, and More Meat then you will fit in nicely

2- Wienersnitzel is NOT a corndog. Despite popular belief. In fact I think most Austrians find it insulting.

3- German is not actually a harsh language. In fact it is very soft, and beautiful. To me it sounds like whispering.

4-This is one of the most beautiful places I have every seen. Green hills and little white farm houses.

5- Austrians love the exclamation mark!!!!!!

6-Austria is exactly 6028 miles from my Husband. Which is about 6027 miles too far away.

Week II

2011-03-28T15:39:00.000-07:00

This week is called "I was supposed to go out of town, but the trip got cancled."

What.
A.
Blessing.

We started a garden, under the beautiful Garden Treilis that Zach built for me, and we had a BBQ with a few freind on our brand nuesd grill! Next week I am headed to Scharding Austria for some training with my company HQ!

Week I

2011-03-18T12:13:00.000-07:00

We are trying something new this month. It is called "being apart." Now, this sounds bad at first, but it isn't. The simple truth is that I am being sent all over the world for my job, and Zach has to be in his classes here in AZ. FOUR WEEKS, I will be traveling. It seems like an age, you know, like the middle ages? one of those ages, LIKE THOUSANDS OF YEARS!

Before I left, I went to the grocery store. I remember how pathetic is was that I felt like I had to shop in the freezer section, or my husband will not survive the week. After I got home with bags of TV dinners and Totinos, he said "I can cook Kara." I said "I know Zachy! I got you some bread for toast!"

While I was gone I got to leave him my very first "Honey-Do List."

Can you believe this? He finished the WHOLE list!!!!

As for Week I, in Dallas, I consider it a success, because I only had one major break down during the week from the pressure and stress of traveling. Zach is amazing though, and talked me out of being crazy.

Perhaps one of my favorite things about Texas is the fast food. I was completely blown away by the immense variety that they offered! Below is a short description of the menu.

Combo #1- Four piece chicken

Combo #4- TWO piece chicken

Combo #2- seven piece chicken

Combo#5- 6 Livers or 9 Gizzards.

Combo #3- Three piece chicken

Combo #6- Six chicken hot wings

I have only two questions for this vast and complicated diet....

#1- Where did they learn to count?

#2- Livers or Gizzards?

I saw that, and laughed, and laughed.

Behold, the awesomeness.

Needless to say, I am so anxious to get home I can barely sit still here at the airport. 47 minuets and counting!

-The couple that blooms.

Someone's in trouble....

2011-03-04T14:37:00.000-07:00

'Nuff Said!

BYOC!

2011-03-03T15:52:00.000-07:00

Zach and I are having a BBQ! If you are a friend, then you are invited! We considered making this BBQ a pot luck, or even better BYOM. But it occurred to us that when we have fifty people at our new house, they may be uncomfortable sitting on our Love Sac and two camping chairs. So…. We are having the BBQ anyway, but it is BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair), and we will bring the meat.

Actually, the furniture situation is not as bad as it seems. We were blessed enough to have a friend that is selling a condo and needed to get rid of all the furniture. ALL of it. We now have literally everything that we need. The funny thing is that Zach went up to Showlow and brought this furniture down at 1 AM. We finished bringing it all into the house at about 3 AM. At which point Zach decided that he couldn’t stand to sleep in the full sized bed for one more night. So we started to put together our new king sized bed. There is nothing harder than putting together a bed when all you want to do is sleep in the bed.

The Bedof Awesomenss and Great Spaciousness

I love our home. Zach loves his garage. We are happy where we are. Everyone says that it can be hard to get married and move in with someone of the opposite gender. New habits to adjust to, millions of decorating ideas to argue over, countless pet peeves to be discovered and so on and so forth. I worried about this, because our engagement was somewhat…… entertaining. But I can honestly say that Zach and I love being married. I personally have not ever been so happy!!! I love coming home, and cooking dinner, doing the dishes, working in the yard, moving furniture and even doing nothing every night with my husband!

I feel grateful often, always even. He and I have so much.

Honey Love

How blessed are we?

THE Underwritter

2011-02-25T23:30:00.000-07:00

Buying a house.... is a pain. I am not kidding you, they (meaning of course the omniscient "they" who make all decisions and know all things) want to put you through the refiner's fire. Every bit of your life that can be recorded on paper, must be recorded. Your bank statements, job, family, and (in my case) your GRADES! If you can think of something that says anything about you they want to know!

Here is the worst part; after you have made your very best attempt to record your self into a file that is hundereds of pages long, you have to be approved by the underwriter. If you don't know what an underwriter is, let me explain. He/She is like a matchmaker. The matchmaker looks at your parents, and your social status, and skills, and they make a very crucial decision for you. They never meet you, they never ask you what you want and they never analyze your personality. They just tell you what is up! Essentially they are the yay-sayer, or the nay-sayer. The end.

They sit in a room. Alone. and they look at your life. On paper. and they tell you if you are allowed to have a home.

Here is what I have to say.... ("Suck it Trebek!" -Zach )

They don't know us! They think they do, but they don't.

Ah well. The home is bought, and that is that. We moved our wedding gifts in first. I was THRILLED! I spent nearly 12 hours stewing over the best way for our kitchen to be, and I am still changing it.
Opening all the boxes, and moving each piece into it's new home, made me so happy!. The roses are cut, the citrus is trimmed and all the closets are organized. If only now, we had couches to sit on, or a bed to sleep in!

A quick shout out, thank you to Eric Margoilas who saved our mortgage, and Derek Cook who found us the perfect home! And to my job for helping us have what we need to provide for our new family! And to Mike for giving up Disneyland to help us move in. Also thanks to ZACH for spending countless hours to make this work!

Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you......

2011-02-24T10:57:00.000-07:00

If you were stuck on an island for 1 year, and you could only take one thing with you. What would you take? Chocolate? Air Conditioning? Wilson?

I know that your answer is entirely dependant on whether or not that Island is Hawaii, and weather or not Room Service already provides the luxury of your choice, BUT I can think of something that you would need on any island you go to. In fact you might need them no matter where you go!

Fresh…. Clean…. Bloomers! I am pretty sure that we love islands, and you should have no excuse to go to one without Bloomers neatly tucked in your suitcase.

Zach and I started our little family on January 14th! (“Happy five week anniversary babe!”) and you know what I that means! ;-) It is time to start a Family Blog!

Our wedding is the most unique day of the year! It was a Friday, the day of the Love Goddess, and the day that everyone takes just a few seconds to thank their creator for the weekend (even if only by a stupid acronym that soon became a popular restaurant chain). But it is also Zach’s sister’s birthday, and my grandma’s birthday, and my bishop’s wife’s birthday, and the day that my neighbor’s cousin’s dog inherited 4 million dollars from an old Jewish family, AND my grandparent’s anniversary (Happy 62^nd anniversary Grandma and Grandpa!)

We have come out of our wedding as the most grateful couple alive. I want to dedicate this already-too-long blog post as a shout out to everyone who helped!

Aunt Brenda: For the FLOWERS, I have seen countless flowers, at dances and weddings and dances, and activities all over, and no one is as good as my Aunt Brenda. I didn’t even know what I wanted, and she still managed to satisfy this particular bride! Not only that, she was there around every corner to manage my sanity, and help in any way that she could!

Uncle Mike: Saved me, by completely handling my food. He bought it and prepared it, and kept it running all night long. I couldn’t have done it. It was so relieving that I never even had to think about the food, because he had it handled. I literally don’t know how he does it.

Kayleen and Elizabeth: Made my cakes!!!! I have always wanted Kayleen to make my cakes since we were little girls, what a dream come true!! They were so beautiful, and I got so many compliments from my majestic, and beautiful cake! Elizabeth acted as my time keeper, and what a relief to have her around. She was always enthusiastic about my wedding and ALWAYS looking for ways to help, she gave me so much strength!

Kristen Reilly: My photographer. We went to High School together, and I am so impressed by her willingness to help us get exactly what we wanted, and her photos are wonderful! I am in love with my photos and I don’t think I could have made a better choice. See her website here.

Simply Three: The Trio that played music at our reception. Each of them is a renowned instrumentalist. Phenomenal! They set the perfect classy mood that Zach and I wanted for our reception. I am so glad they played for us.

Mabry’s: Let us use their backyard for our reception. It was beautiful, and I was so lucky that I didn’t have to plaster decorations to hide an ugly church gym. With the trees and the pool, and all the perfect lighting and sound system I felt like a princess.

Zach’s Parents: Zach’s family is so supporting, and threw us the most beautiful Luncheon I have ever been too. I never in my wildest dreams imagined anything past a pot luck at the church. But an OutDoor luxury at one of Zach and I’s favorite restaurants? Tia Rosas? Beyond our wildest dreams! Every day, we got the support we needed from Zach parents, through phones call and text messages. I am the luckiest girl alive to be married into Zach’s Family!

Last, by most definitely not least….

MY Family: My family deserves a post that is just as long as this entire blog. I spend almost every evening over there stressing each one of them out about this wedding, and they dealt with every minuet of it. Thick and Thin. From photos to dresses, and cakes, and invites, and crafts, and tears, and phone calls, and gifts and bridal showers, and ALL of it. I wish I could hug every single one of them. My mother, for making me the WEDDING DRESS of my dreams!!! How many girls get to wear a dress, that their mother made them? I could never repay her for the hours she spent on that dress. I blest to have such a talented mother. If it weren’t for her, Zach and I never would have managed to get married. Thank you mom, for making me a princess, and for loving me all the way. My Dad, for his countless hours of help on some of the most TEDIOUS (but important) jobs, and he paying for the wedding. His organization saved us with addresses nearly 800 invitations, and where would I be if it weren’t for my wonderful video of all the photos he found from my childhood? He made me feel so loved and has always loved Zach so much, I love you Dad! MY brothers and sisters for letting me boss them around on the most annoying crafts, and putting up with the colossal mess I made of their garage, and basement. Also for helping by getting their friends to come and help with the set up and clean up of the wedding, so crucial! I stormed in and turned everything upside down, trying to get ready for this wedding and they all continued to love me, the whole time. Kayleen was a savior to me. She was there when things were hardest, and she pushed past it. Kenneth worked his tail end off at set up and clean up. I wish I knew how he does it. I appreciate his positive attitude. Kandace, for the shopping, and the crafting, and happiness that she always brings, and KP5 and 6 for working hard, and putting up with all the distraction from their lives.

What a blessing my family is to me. I know that real happiness comes from my family, and I can’t wait to have my own family!

SO MANY other people deserve thank you’s, but this blog is already so long, I pretty much think it is amazing if you (Reader) are still reading! So here are some short shout out.

Chalise: Thank you for the hours of phone calls, and just being so darn excited for me, and the world’s CUTEST bridal shower invites!

Aunt Lynette: Thank you for the perfect bridal shower, and for always being happy to see me!

Deborah: Thank you for the sainity you gave me, in listening to me, and thank you for the bridal shower, it was perfect!

MaryAnn: Thank you for being the perfect set of ears, and listening to my constant wedding rambles, and giving me so many great ideas!

KaIte: For coming such a long way, so that I could be strengthened by your presence. Thank you for talking to me, and ….. just about everything

Chelsey: For always wanted to hear about my life, if only she knew what it meant to me.

The Beehives: For being the sweetest little spirits, and busing my tables.

My Parent’s Friends: For help with the set up and the clean up, some of you, I don’t even know your names, but you were there! And we couldn’t have survived without all the help people put forward!!!!

Grandma Marilyn: For the most adorable little aprons for the beehives.

AND EVERYONE who put their time and their money into this wedding. I know there are people that I am not even aware of! We got everything we ever wanted, and I will tell people for the rest of my life, how wonderful our wedding was.