New Home. New Adventures.

"If 'Plan A' doesn't work out don't worry, you still have 25 letters left."- This is seriously how it felt with apartment shopping. We decided on one apartment, then we changed three or four times and finally "Plan D" worked.When it was all said and done we ended up with the best apartment we could have ever imagined. It's a little more expensive than our last apartment, but it's nicer. Our landlords are the sweetest people. The first time we met them face to face was last week and we talked like we were old friends. Rudy, our landlord, is actually from Germany. He moved to America when he was fifteen and he still remembers everything about the war that happened over there. He was nice enough to let us try some German candy. After having some I could go to Germany just for the candy.. It melts in your mouth. SO GOOD! 

Anyway, we are really excited to be living in Orem. Our ward is younger and not nearly dead. We live 2 minutes away from UVU and we finally have our own FURNITURE!! It feels like a home now that everything is ours. I love it! Blake and I had a lot of fun shopping at Ikea.We had a budget and we ended up getting most everything there. You can't beat the price. 

 My sister gave me the cute table cloth. The whole table is dark brown wood. It came with two leafs which makes it extremely long. Blake and I like to have a lot of friends/family over so we liked that option.

The seats are simple but we both really liked them. The cool thing about these chairs is the white cushion. I was kind of hesitant to get it for this very reason because of spills and knowing we will have kids eventually, but the white part is actually a cover. We can take it off and wash it or someday when I get my own sewing machine I could change it to a different color/pattern if I want too.

Look how huge our kitchen is. Our table is sitting off to the right and we still have all this room. Blake and I dance all the time in the kitchen. Look at that floor it is just asking to be danced on.

Unfortunately we didn't score a dishwater, but we are used to washing dishes by hand now. 

Our new entertainment center. 

I love all the furniture we bought, but I am going to have to say this was my favorite purchase. Our bathroom is really small and there is no counter space for even a curling iron so we bought this desk to put in our room so we can have more room to get ready in the mornings.

 I know what your thinking!?! I should be a hand model. If only I could get in with an agency. No, but seriously how cute are these handles?!

This mirror was a good price so we bought it and I painted it pink. 

Guess who this is?? That's right! It is me and Blake. Wow... horrible grammar, but that is the order I placed the pillows so that is the way it must be said. I finally bought pillows for the pillow cases I made during the summer. This is probably the coolest thing I have ever made. I am still so proud of myself. haha

The backside

We also bought this simple coffee table for $20.00! 

That's all folks! I hope you enjoyed our new place. If you want to see the rest of the apartment. Call Blake or Nicole Porter and we can schedule you in to come see it. haha

Still Laughing

Yesterday we stumbled upon this beauty. I couldn't stop laughing! Every part of this is funny and I am going to tell you why. UVU parking is insane..as I am sure most of you know, but this is actually the institute parking lot. Sharing is caring right? Not for this guy! We were one of the first people to see it and we looked around wondering where the driver/ witnesses were? No one was around. We saw a guy talking on the phone a little ways away. He came up to us and asked if it was our car (really?) and we said no. It just so happens this guy didn't see what happened, but he called the cops anyway. The more we talked about it the funnier it became. This student must have been in such a rush to make it to class that he or she tried to squeeze into a good parking spot and couldn't quite make it or they thought it was a parking spot up for grabs and went in for the kill! Either way better luck next time. 

 Nice and Snug

There goes tuition! All jokes aside this really does stink for whoever it is..

It doesn't stand out at all!?!?!  

HAHAHA still laughing. Really?
 I loved that the driver just left and is going to take care of it later. Classic.

I hope this wasn't any of you peeps.  All you can do is laugh..life is meant to be enjoyed!

Goodbye Carma

We have officially moved to Orem!! It has been absolutely wonderful living two minutes away from UVU and not having to drive the ridiculous I-15 anymore to school. I didn't realize how bad traffic is here in Utah until I moved away this summer. Now, I understand why out-of-state peeps complain. (I will be posting pics soon of our new place)

Blake and I have realized we have moved 4 times and we haven't even been married a year! I take that as a good sign.. it means we are having adventures while were still young and able. Our first apartment in AF is always going to be a good memory. It was the beginning of our new lives together. Here I am getting sappy again, but it was a lot harder to leave our first home than I expected. Don't get me wrong I was excited in every way to live closer to school and to get our own furniture, and to live closer to all of my friends.  When we pulled out of our drive way for the last time.. there was Carma our sweet 84 year old landlord waving goodbye at her porch. That moment I realized it wasn't our apartment at all I was missing it was that amazing lady that made living there such a joy. She has taught me to share the gospel in more abundance. Every time we met with her she gave profound comments about the gospel. She has been a great example of working hard and being engaged in good things. Carma loves to read church books until she is dizzy. I've never met anyone quite like Carma.

This picture below captures some talents Carma has. In the very back of this photo where the bookshelves are are actually journals she has written about her immediate family, her family and her grand-kids. She keeps track of important dates and how she felt when each child was born etc. Just recently she typed all her sons letters they sent her from their missions and made them into a journal. Talk about incredible. Carma is also a painter. She painted these beautiful paintings that are laying up against the couch. 

Carma has really bad arthritis in her hands. She is not able to paint anymore or write as much, but she heard piano was good therapy for arthritis and so she picked up the piano. haha Blake and I  heard her play everyday living there. I loved it and I was able to play a few songs for her as well. It was a treat to have a piano close by.

 Painting closer up!

I just have to brag about Blake for a little bit. He continues to impress me all the time and I am so glad I married such a good man. Living with Carma gave us a lot of opportunities for service. We didn't mind helping her out and I know that many of us that are a latter day saints have heard this a lot .. that the best way to show love to one another is through service. Even though Carma would sometimes call at seven in the morning to come help her with something Blake would do it without hesitation. Some days when we would get home late from school and she called ..it was a little hard, but Blake always served her in any way he could. I feel like I look to find someone to serve but it doesn't really happen all that often. Even when we lived with her she always asked Blake to come help, but I am grateful that she did because it helped him exercise his priesthood. When we were deciding to move.. Blake was so worried about leaving Carma. That showed a lot to me about him and how god strengthens relationships through service. Blake handled who was going to take over our apartment and we found a great couple who will watch out for our sweet Carma.

I don't particularly like this picture of me, but had to post it because of her amazing chandlers in her house. I loved how old school she was. Everything in her house was glamorous. What a classy lady.

I am going to end this post with our famous Carma quote "Weeeeeee." Thanks for the memories Carma!

This is HALLOWEEN!!

For Halloween Blake and I went to his Brother (Chase) and sister-in-law (Jessica) house for a PARTAY! It was a blast! We ate as much Junk food as our tummies would allow us to eat, watched troll 2 and made fun of it, and played games. It is fun to live so close to family. Jessica and Chase only live five minutes away from us. We hang out with them on a regular basis. They are fun to be around and we have all become close. They were kind enough to let me live with them before Blake and I got married. I am sure it got pretty annoying at times with Blake and I always being there when they might have wanted time for themselves, but they were good sports about it. I have grown to love both of them. They have helped Blake and I in a lot of ways! I feel pretty blessed to have great in-laws.

 Blake and I got our inspiration for our costumes at DI! I love that store. I found my forever Halloween dress  that I am wearing in the picture. I bought it for $6.00! Score! When we ventured to the back of the store we noticed all these trophies (who buys trophies from DI anyway? Just wondering) and it was magic Blake was going to be my trophy husband. Its fitting.. He is the perfect guy :).