the month of love

I absolutely love this month of February. It's full of love, appreciation, a little extra effort and letting people know they are appreciated. I think the whole idea is just wonderful. Besides the love notes, extra kisses and beautiful reds and pinks brightening the day there are... the flowers and sweets. mmmmm.

I completely love this purple-ish filler in the bouquet Dave gave me but I can't figure out what it is! Any ideas?

Loving these strawberry cupcakes with whipped topping/pudding icing.

Heart shaped  brownies.

This is the most delicious cake in my life. I absolutely love it. Wouldn't you?

the most wonderful time of the year...

 Ah, the Christmas post! Finally. We did so many fun, wonderful things while in Indiana. We were with Dave's family for Christmas and they all treated us to too many fun and exciting things.  I got the pictures all out of order but oh well...

On our way home, we stopped at the Children's Museum in Indianapolis. I've been wanting to go forever and I was right to want to go so bad! We had the BEST time! Dave's sister Jenny was sweet enough to drive us to the airport so her girls came with us to the museum.

Cutest tiny kid toilet ever.

 Christmas Day was so beautiful. The house was just gorgeous and just bustling with so much family. You can't tell in the picture but this table seats like 25 people or something. Amish made. Nine table leaves!

12 Days of Christmas glasses. Everyone has to sing the song

 We were able to see Dave's grandma's quite a bit which was so fun. Below is Grandma Knecht. She is so sweet, kind and completely classy. We just love her. I also loooove her quilt so much. It's her grandmothers quilt from so long ago and it's still so beautiful.

We love to stop by this covered bridge.

 Dave found a cherry tree on his parents land and is dying to cut it down, dry it and use it to build furniture. :)

We trimmed trees over Christmas and used them as sleds pulled by  the Ranger.

 We drove almost 3 hours [thought it would be 1.5 hours] to take a tour of this huge dairy farm! It was so interested but made me a little sad. The cows didn't get to roam around so I felt pretty bad for them. Overall it was so neat though!

The carousal they put themselves on to get milked 3 times a day! 

Hours old new born baby calf sucking on Dave's finger!

Saw a cow give birth! It was crazy and kind of scary.

 New Year's Eve Party!

And here is the rest of the Children's Museum. There was a Barbie exhibit that was like my dream as a child! They even had a runway event that I was dying to try but of course all the kids were lined up for it and we were in a hurry.

My man wrestling and alligator.

After wrestling meditation.

photo shoot.

Over Thanksgiving Break, Dave and I were able to have some pictures taken by our sweet friend Ali. She is the best and most beautiful girl ever and is completely brilliant at what she does. She took these to build up her photography portfolio. She was so sweet and took so many for us. WE LOVE THEM. Here are a few...

november

November has been good to us. So many wonderful things fill our lives and here are a few:

1. Dave had his first dental school interview! He flew to Mesa, Arizona down mid November where he spent the day flashing his shiny white smile and saying charismatic things to lots of important people. Luckily he was only gone for a day so I was able to cope. After the interviews, the school divides the applicants into two pools, after interview rejections and still potential candidates. We got a letter this last week telling us Dave was in the potential candidate pool!! We're very excited and hope to hear soon what the verdict is. The wait could potentially be until May however.

2. November 23 was my GOLDEN birthday! It felt like a very important birthday :) Dave had to work that morning so he said he'd have something to "occupy me." I had no idea what could keep me entertained for 4 hours. He woke me up that morning with this...

IT WAS AWESOME! No, it's not ours to keep. It's actually our friends little dog, Jake. Since we can't actually get one of our own (yet), we had a dog for a day! He was the funniest, cutest little thing who loves to play fetch, chase his tail and chase a laser pointer. He is seriously the most dog-like dog ever. Miriam and Nathan got in to town later that day and we all went to dinner that night. Dave makes me a fancy and delicious cake every year (he came up with that idea himself) and this year it looked like this:

It's a pumpkin, caramel and cream cheese cake. YUM.

3. Miriam and Nathan (my little brother and sister) came for Thanksgiving! We are so lucky to have family close enough to visit us for a few days. We had a delicious feast of turkey, potatoes, stuffing, green beans, fruit salad, deviled eggs, pumpkin & apple pie, and coconut cream pie.

We went Black Friday shopping, had a bonfire/hot dog & s'more roast, played games, and went Christmas tree hunting.

4. And lastly, November 27 my newest little nephew James was born!!! My sister Hilary is the brand new mama to an adorable, wrinkle kneed, dark black haired, tiny little baby. We're so excited to meet him.

So yes, it was a good month. A very good month.

the job search.

For the months of September and part of October, I’ve been performing the dreaded job search. You forget how horrible it is until you have to do it again. It’s even more terrible when you reach the elite status of college graduate and you are still fighting kids from high school for a job.

Yes. Welcome to Rexburg. I recently graduated in July with my degree in Communication, Advertising emphasis. After a summer of traveling and visiting family, Dave and I finally landed back in Rexburg for his last two semesters and my “nose-to-the-grindstone” experience. I started applying for jobs that I was hoping to make the most at for the 8 more months we were planning to be here. I had a few interviews but people were mostly concerned that I wouldn’t be here long enough. I was “perfect for the job” and had “just the right personality for it” but someone was going to be here longer than me and they got the jobs instead.

So I decided I couldn’t be picky. I really wanted to stay in Rexburg because I was pretty sure I couldn’t make that much more that it compensated an hour commute + wear and tear on our little car (not to mention it would be winter time). Because the holidays were getting near, we also had to consider Christmas break. We went ahead and bought our tickets because it’s very likely to be the last Christmas with the Dave’s parents for a few years (they’re going on a mission next year). So now I had to find a job that would allow me to have a two week break at Christmas. Not very likely.

Best Bet: Some store with so many employees, they wouldn’t miss a few at the holiday’s + all the students leave so their volume will be down = Broulim’s Grocery

No I was not excited, but I was about willing to take anything at this point. It was only for a few months and I’d get to learn the ins and outs of the grocery biz… So I fought my way to an interview for Noble Roman’s Pizza inside the grocery store!!!!

I dress up so business-like and arrive a few minutes early at my interview. I’m led up to the room where I’ll have my interview and to my surprise, there are already 6 or so others there. Totally 11 people applied for this one position. Really? One pizza job. To make it worse, we did a group interview. Eleven students + grads sitting in a circle with two interviewers at a table with a list of questions they’d printed off the internet. Literally. Verbatim. I just thought, wow. This is going to stink.

And I was right. Everyone got two questions. Amongst the variety of “What kind of car would you be?,” “Describe your worst boss” and “How would your co-workers describe you?” I was the lucky one to answer, “Why are you better than all the other candidates?” Of course I got that one. Not only is that the worse question ever, but to answer it in front of everyone has got to be at least top five of the most awkward situations ever.

I honestly don’t remember a lot of what I said. I was mostly in shock the whole time that I was actually there begging a grocery store to let me make pizzas.

To top it off I didn’t even get the job! My brother in-law assures me it’s because I’m too qualified and they’re afraid I’ll quit as soon as I find another job. I believe him J

After a little more searching, I found a job as a substitute teacher with the local school district. Best part is I will have holiday’s off! That is what I’ve been doing for the last few weeks now and I’m actually really enjoying it. It’s comparable to babysitting or being an aunt. You have fun with the kids for a little bit and then turn them back over when you’re done. I always come home with a few great stories… look for a few soon!

crafting...

These last few months I've learned SO much! Thanks to a few wonderful classes before I graduated and my love of recycling/re-storing things to their original beauty, I have been able to make some things that I'm sort of proud of...

Made this tablecloth with a reverse stripe border...

and with the extra fabric, I made a couple pillow covers (with an invisible zipper!).

I made the pillow and the pillow cover for this bolster. Now it matches our duvet cover!

My pride and joy is this quilt! It took me a good few weeks of long hours and deadlines but I did it and I'm so excited to use it this winter! (I know... haven't used it?! But it's a winter thing!)

I also learned how to make these fun books! I love this new skill and who knows? You might just get one for a present!

Lastly, this lamp I bought at D.I. was pretty but a little plain...

So I spiced it up to my (apparently) new favorite color! Everything turns out something blue.

And I antiqued it with a little glaze.

I love my crafts.