I know, I'm on a roll

I know, I know... where is all of this coming from? Why the blogging so much lately? I'm not sure... guess I'm feeling inspired to share my opinions or something. I'm like ultra aware of the people and things around me lately too... I must be waking from my "I've got a wedding to plan" mode. I'm just chilling here at work, listening to my little stereo that looks like a silver ice cube and I have Imogen Heap playing. Some of you know who she is, some don't. Some of you know how much I love her, some of you don't care. SO I need to share my opinion. Yes, she's a little on the wacky side. Some have compared her to Bjork- which in a musical sense, I feel she's WAY more talented and more easily understood and easier to relate to lyric wise. I love Bjork, don't get me wrong- but she is definitely an acquired taste and she is a little wacky herself. Maybe it's her culture, I don't know. Need I remind you of the swan dress?

Anyway, I bring all this mumbo-jumbo up because I was highly disappointed with the Grammy's decision on "Best New Artist". Well, in reality, I was highly disappointed with a lot of the Grammy's that were awarded... but that's a whole other issue- I wont go there. The Nominee's for Best New Artist were: Carrie Underwood, Corinne Bailey Rae, Imogen Heap, James Blunt and Chris Brown. Personally I think it's a conspiracy, because Carrie Underwood of ALL of those artist WON. AH! Okay, I've listen to like TWO of her songs and they're vanilla- not bad, but just vanilla. Some might like vanilla and are fine with that, but I guess I like mine with mix-ins and stuff like that. I'm not too familiar with the other artists music, other than that HORRIBLE song "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt. I do know however of Imogen's talent. As crazy as the woman may be- she basically produced, wrote and did all the instruments on her own for her "Speak For Yourself" album. I'm just saying... check it out because it really is amazing. There are a few songs that aren't my favorite, but most of them are amazing. It might take some a minute to get used to it, but it's a really good album. She was also in the band Frou Frou; the Garden State Soundtrack had one of their songs on it. And there were others that were popular. Even one of the first songs on her new album is now featured on a Verizon commercial I noticed. And let me also recommend on of her latest songs on the Chronic-(what?)-cles of Narnia (okay really Chronicles of Narnia) Soundtrack called "Can't Take It In". It's such a good song, that I'm putting it on our wedding video!

Anyway, I just wanted to give props to the wacky lady people call "Immy". And I also wanted to show you her get up at the Grammy's and read this ARTICLE about it... freaking hilarious!!! Wow... that Immy...

And also, do you think that Carrie's win was a conspiracy? I mean with the whole American Idol connection and everything? Because let's be honest, did she write all of her songs? Probably not. Did she play all the instruments? Probably not. Is she as talented? Not yet... I have faith that she will be someday...

Thing I'M grateful for today: SUNSHINE AND BEAUTIFUL WEATHER!

I feel sheepish

So... I work in a cubicle, a gray cubicle that would depress me if I didn't have pictures of my family and friends on it and if I didn't have my beautiful bamboo to look at. Just about everyone on this floor is in a cubicle. And we have our own little areas where we we are combined with other departments or people who do things different then say what my department does. So there is a girl that sits on the other side of our little area who is in a different department, but I see her enough to know who she is and say hi to her and all that courteous stuff. She's a very pretty girl- probably my age, has long blond hair and is fit and you can tell is okay with herself, but not in a bad way. Well, she walked by me just a few minutes ago and I noticed that there was a big black smudge all across her forehead. So thinking to myself, she's got to know that she's got that on there, sure I'm not the only one that's noticed- unless of course it JUST happened! I wondered if she got into some ink or a pen broke and she accidentally wiped in on her forehead and now it wont come off... all of this crossed my mind in the three seconds time I looked at her and softly grabbed her arm and said in a low tone "did you know you had black stuff on your forehead?" to which she replied sort of disgustingly "yes, it's Ash Wednesday...". Whoops... I felt pretty embarrassed and apologized and she assured me I wasn't the first to ask, but still seemed bothered by my lack of knowledge.

Now I've heard of it, but seeing as though it's not something I practice in my religion I wasn't sure of the "rules or procedures" or the symbolism behind it. So I looked Ash Wednesday up in wikipedia.org because I wanted to be a little more educated and more informed about it. I really feel that living in a such a diverse area of the world that it's my it's responsibility to become more informed. I love the different religious or personal beliefs that people choose to live by. I am grateful for what I choose to believe and know that in my heart it is true. But just because I know that, doesn't give me the right to be ignorant about my brothers and sisters who don't know or believe the same way I do. I may not always agree with it, but a lot of people don't agree with my religion either. President Hinckley advises us to be tolerant of other religions because there is good in every one.
I now know that next time I see a smudge on someones forehead on a Wednesday that it's probably a religious thing and that I shouldn't be nice and say anything! But believe me, if it's any other day of the week- I will!

updates from the desk of Heather...

So, the last couple of days (not including today) I've been a little of an emotional wreck. "They" (whoever "they" is...) all say that planning a wedding is mega-stressful, and I've been trying really hard to not let it get that way. Ryan has been SUPER helpful and has done anything I've asked him to do. As well as other people who have helped me put together invitations or whatever it may be- but I have issues with delegating. I, like my mother, tend to be a control freak. I hope it's not THAT bad, but I have a hard time delegating things to people for fear that it'll be different than I pictured in my mind. I mean, someone could take over a task/project and make it look just fine but it might not have been what I thought it would look or be like and so then it throws me off kilter. So then I just decide to do it myself... and hence the stress creeps in like little termites and makes me feel like I'm going to fall apart. I'm okay though... but I guess I just had to have the "typical breakdown" that all brides have. I feel like I have SO much to do, when in reality we're really in a good place.
I have a to do list, but most of it can't be done right now and a lot of it is doing the marriage license and changing my name and stuff like that. And growing up in my culture, a temple marriage was always something that I just knew I'd do. But Ryan isn't a member yet (we're working on a date for that to happen) and so we have to get married "civilly". So, now I have to think of how we're going to do the ceremony and I have NO idea what to do. I have some suggestions from friends and relatives that had to get married civilly first and that's really helped me out. Anyway, things are looking good. And I am grateful to have a man by my side who is ULTRA patient with me and my freak out moments and stress moments and just my regular emotional girl problems! As everyday passes I am reminded of HOW much I love him, and how perfect he is for me!
I have my first bridal shower this weekend, it's a "Naughty or Nice" shower- so that should be fun! I am super appreciative to my lovely girlfriends for throwing that for me; let's hear it for Cecilia who put it together and Ashley who will execute it, and the help of many others I'm sure! It'll be fun, poor Ryan isn't sure what to do with himself during that time period- but I told him he can work on my car if he doesn't have to work! What a treat eh?

One of the things on my to-do list was to pretty up my veil. I bought a very cheap, generic one from Michael's that didn't have any embellishments on it and have been searching for something to make it more "me". Nothing looked good, it was TOO much or to little and I didn't know how to make it work- but then last night, I found what I needed! It turned out pretty nice I think! All for like $23 or something! I tried it out and put it on and I think it'll be just right. I'm excited to wear it on the big day!

Anyone need to borrow a veil after this?

We're getting closer!

So, we got our invitations out. That is a load off our backs, and we're getting close to the end! We've got only just a little under 6 weeks and I am SO ready. I can't wait to be married and to see my family and friends and to have a husband!

My sister in-law has also saved me the trouble of finding dresses for all of our nieces too, and they are ADORABLE! Now, I'm just prefacing that none of them will be wearing the very stylish and cute purple snowflake long sleeved t-shirt underneath them, but look how cute my Brookey is in it! There are five of them wearing the dresses and they are going to be so freaking adorable I can't hardly wait! We're going to have blue sashes on them but we're not sure how yet. It'll be so fun!

From Jennifer and Yvonne:

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before? Went to my first YSA conference, went tubing on the "hooch", went river rafting, went to my first Braves game, saw the Harlem Globe Trotters, went fishing in Georgia and on the Chattahoochee for the first time, met my fiance and got engaged (not all at once!), camped in my first hay field- of course it was already harvested...
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I hardly EVER make resolutions... so I guess I didn't keep them... or maybe I did... HA, HA!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? no... don't think so.
4. Did anyone close to you die? mmm... no... I don't think so either.
5. What countries did you visit? If you consider some parts of the South a different country then yes.
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? Motivation to exercise.
7. What day from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Well, lots of days- but mostly the first time I hung out with my Ryan, and the night he proposed and a few other very private things.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Getting a new job that pays me the best I've ever been paid and finding my husband! Go me!
9. What was your biggest failure? Not doing more service, not being in better communication with members of my family and friends.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? No, for that I am very grateful. I got a couple of scrapes and bruises, but I survived.
11. What was the best thing you bought? hmm... probably my digital camera. I take that thing with me EVERYWHERE I go.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration? Ryan, for actually proposing when some guys might have chickened out!
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed? No one really, that I remember.
14. Where did most of your money go? I don't know... bills, clearance items, my car, food.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Duh... come on, by now EVERYONE could answer this. But I'll say going to Utah with Ryan and seeing his face when he saw REAL mountains for the first time. (And of course getting a pretty sparkly thing on my finger!)
16. What song will always remind you of 2006? Mushaboom, Shake Your Money Maker, Shh, My Baby's Got Sauce
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder? HAPPIER!
ii. Thinner or fatter? Fatter...sad
iii. richer or poorer? Uh... well kind of both
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Prayed
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Cursed
20. How will you be spending Christmas? This year? Maybe with Ryan's family since we spent it with mine this past Christmas
21. Did you fall in love in 2006? HECK YA!
22. How many one-night stands? NADA
23. What was your favourite TV program? CSI and I guess Miami Ink
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? There are very few people that I hate... I don't even know if I could really say I actually HATE anyone. I dislike some people and their actions, but no hate. That's bad for you.
25. What was the best book you read? Um... The Da Vinci Code
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Imogen Heap as a single artist, Feist, Gorrilaz
27. What did you want and get? I wanted it to be a good year and I SO got it.
28. What did you want and not get? Skinnier! HA! A new car.
29. What was your favourite film of this year? Probably Stranger Than Fiction
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? My 27th birthday I went to institute and then hung out with some friends at The Wave. It was lots of fun!
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Nothing! I couldn't be more happy with the way my year went, I was VERY blessed!
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006? Just trying to find stuff that fit and didn't make me look fatter!
33. What kept you sane? My sister, my love, my friends, being outside occasionally, road trips.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I really don't know anymore. I have a lot of respect for a few, as far as looks- probably Johnny Depp.
36. Who did you miss? My family. My nieces and nephews, Andrea...
37. Who was the best new person you met? Duh! Ryan!!!! But I met A LOT of really great people this last year and have made some fabulous long time friends.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006: You'll get what you want when you're not looking so hard. It's all in the Lord's time.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: Ha, ha- I'll throw a little Dirty Dancing out there- "I've had the time of my life, and I've never felt this way before. It's true, and I owe it all to you........" ha, ha- yes, you are allowed to laugh at me!

We are Homeowners!!!!

So yesterday Ryan and I met with our realtor (Ashley's Dad), our loan officer, the closing attorney, and the home seller and realtor and we closed on our FIRST HOUSE! It's the most exciting thing next to getting married of course! I just feel that we have been truly blessed to not only have found each other, but to have found a perfect home that we get to start our life together in! It came to me in a sudden realization yesterday that I was really growing up... I was sitting next to the man I'm about to marry in two months and we had just bought our first HOUSE. It was the coolest feeling in the world! Heavenly Father is very mindful of us, that's for sure.

I have to say that I think Ashley and I are pretty stinkin' cool.

Weird Al Shares Your Taste in Music

See his whole playlist here (iTunes required)

Which Musician (or Group) Shares Your Taste in Music?

Why So Many Ribbons?

So... there are a lot of ribbon magnets on people's cars here in the South. I think it must've started out with the breast cancer awareness pink ribbon, but now a whole new slew of them are being slapped on to the back of people's cars. Some that say "NOLA" for New Orleans, LA (which cracks me up because my mom's name is Nola!) or some that say the token "Support Our Troops". It seems like there's a ribbon for just about anything out there; SIDS, down syndrome, diabetes, Puerto Rico... the list goes on. And let's be honest, I'm not such a big fan of these ribbons, I think they've become sort of cliche. BUT I found one that I really liked. It was on a car in the parking garage at work. I noticed first the size of the ribbon compared to the size of the car, and as I got closer and read it, it seriously CRACKED ME UP! So I just had to share. I'm grateful for people's sense of humor!

Home for the Holidays

Well, I finally got Ryan on an airplane. And as nervous and anxious as he was- he made it across the country for his first visit to The West!
We went to Utah for Christmas to not only visit my family and friends, but for Ryan to meet them all for the first time! The first day we got there, we met up with my parents, sister Shauna and my sister in-law Samantha on temple square.

(Time for a quick typical Mormon shot in front of the Salt Lake City Temple!)
We ate lunch together and then my brother Greg met up with us and the boys went on a tour of temple square while me, my mom and Sam went wedding dress shopping! After a few stores and driving around we FINALLY found a shop that had the most perfect dress for me! I wish I could show you, but Ryan checks this daily! So it'll have to wait until after the wedding! We both survived our adventures and that night, we met up with Ryan and Kate Webb, Andrea, Travis, Christina and Marin for dinner at the Pizza Factory and had some good eats and good laughs. I REALLY miss the good ol' days with those kids. We really had so much fun together and still do whenever we get back together.

The next day we went to my brother Greg's and hung out with he and his girls, including Sam. It was snowing and Ryan was super excited about that. He's only seen Georgia "snow"... not the real kind! So we went outside in the yard with Alyssa and Brooke and played in the snow and "sledded" down their itty bitty (but fun) hill.

Here is Courtney too... she really took a liking to Ryan. She wouldn't even come to me- but decided she was okay with him! He's got a way with kids... he'll be a good daddy. Aren't those girls just so beautiful? Why thank you! Flesh and blood baby!

We did a little running around and visitng friends before we made our way up the highway to Logan to see my parents.

Emily and Deb Hatch and Andrea and Christina

(love you girls!)
We didn't do much of anything that night, but the next day we went on a little drive up to Idaho so that Ryan could say he'd been where Napoleon Dynamite was filmed and that he'd been to Idaho... two states down in the West.

I don't really remember much of what we did after that except for maybe shop and hang out with my parents and stuff... just stuff. Oh yeah, Ryan made a snow man. He REALLY wanted to do that while we were there- but the snow wasn't wet enough. So this had to do. But let me tell you, he had lots of people comment on it at church!

The next day was Christmas Eve and we went to Sacrament meeting and enjoyed a beautiful and very Spiritual Christmas program. It really helped bring the true meaning in. We relaxed a little more and waited anxiously for my sister Delinda's arrival from AZ. She had just spent about 3 or 4 days in a moving truck driving all the way from here in Atlanta to Texas to pick up a friend, and then onto Phoenix and then picked up the next day to drive to Utah. In the meantime dad, Ryan and I took a drive up Logan canyon for Ryan to see the "hills" as he would call them, just to annoy me.

At Bear Lake, such a beautiful very COLD day!

Delinda got there right on time for our traditional Christmas Eve routine.

Merry Christmas! We woke up and opened presents and had a good breakfast and did the whole "burn the roast for dinner" thing were our clothes smell like burnt roast for the rest of the visit. Sick.

Here's a couple of our enagements that Delinda took. It was so stinking cold.

It was such a fun trip, I'm glad we got to go but it was too short that's for sure.

A's

I've been given a letter by Ashley and it's A. And it reminds me of a Barenaked Ladies song called A. I don't know if you've heard it, but it's pretty funny. And, as the Barenaked Ladies can be- it's a little racy at times, but very funny.
Anywho- here is my list of 10 things that I am grateful for that start with A!
1. Ashley- because she has been my friend no matter what and loves me just the way I am!
2. Apples and cheese together.
3. Astronauts for exploring our universe.
4. Art for an abundance of reasons.
5. Acne Medication because having adult acne SUCKS.
6. The month of April because it's Spring and I love Georgia in the Spring time...
7. Aebleskiver's because they are dang good and they remind me of my childhood and grandma.
8. Accents and pretending that I'm good at doing them.
9. Aspen trees- I think they are some of the most beautiful trees, I know it sounds strange but they have a lot of memories attached to them. Maybe I'll elaborate on that some day.
10. Astronomy because I love looking at the stars especially on a clear night and finding Orion or any others I can get. Again, this relates to my childhood.

Times a tickin'

Well, I don't know if we informed everyone, but we're getting married March 24th, 2007! You can see from a previous blog how much time we've got until then. I'm so excited because my parents, one of my brothers and his family, my two good friends Andrea and Travis all have their tickets to come out here to Atlanta for the wedding already! It's so exciting and it's starting to feel very real to me.
We also have decided to take on the task of buying a home for Ryan to move into before we get married, and to come home to after our honeymoon! It's so exciting and a roller coaster of emotions. We found one we really liked, but someone else made an offer on it the same time we did and the owner decided to counter offer theirs. There's still the chance that their deal wont go through, but we're still going to continue looking. We've got a back up house we're going to look at again tomorrow. It was #2 on our Top 3 list of houses that we've seen.
We've also completed our registry. We've got:



So that part is done. We still haven't found a reception place, we might just do it at the church even though I've been pretty apprehensive to do that. It's just never been something I've wanted to do, but... as my very knowledgeable and sensible fiance states "it will saves us LOTS of money", and so I swallow my pride and realize that maybe I'll just have to give in. I guess with enough pretty decorations and flowers it might look okay. No matter what, I'll be getting married to the man of my dreams, spending time with my family and friends and making it the best day of my life no matter what. I can't wait!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Well okay, except for the lack of snow here in GA, which is what I generally think about every time I hear that song. That's okay though... I am known by my mother as the family's little "Christmas Angel" and I'm here to stay. As soon as I can- I like to pull out my decorations, much of which are some sort of version of a snowman. I like snowmen, I cannot deny it- nor will I. I am sort of picky about my snowmen though- so unless you've seen "my style"- don't rush out be buy me one yet! The day after Thanksgiving, Ryan let me drag him out to some Christmas tree vendors which was a new experience for him because his family has a fake tree. So it was fun to get to go and buy our first tree together for our first Christmas together! We bought a LEETLE (yes I really spelled it that way on purpose) tree at a place called something like "Big Dan's Tree Lot"... and took it home and pretty much while Ryan slept or watched- I decorated. My tree is cute though- and he put his newly purchased porcupine ornament right where he wanted it. I love the smell it has and the homeyness it brings to the apartment. I'm super excited to get to go visit my family in Utah and take Ryan on his first trip to the Western U.S.! He will love the beautiful mountains, I can feel it now.

Another thing we got to do this past weekend was go to Callaway Gardens to see the Fantasy in Lights. Our friend Ashley G. got us free tickets to go and we rode down with some friends! It was fun to ride the trolley all bundled up in our jackets and blanket. And good to be with our friends!

Ashley and Elliott

Ashley G., Hillary and Candace

Me and Ryan

As I mentioned in another entry, I just dig the Holidays tons- Christmas time especially (if you couldn't already tell). I get excited to see all the hustle and bustle and to find presents for people, the smells, the food, the colors, the clothes you get to wear in winter, being with family... I could go on! I am excited for this time of year in general, but I'm grateful to celebrate the real reason for this season. I hope all is not forgotten about our Lord and His birth and sacrifice.

We had a good Thanksgiving too, I got to spend it with Ryan and his family. The picts are of Ryan's sister Kelly, his mom and nephew Nicholas. I got to meet some of his extended family as well. They are so nice and loving and all very accepting of me! It's great to have a family away from mine. And to have an awesome fiance (weird to say) that I know will take care of me no matter what! Have I expressed my love for him? Well, I love him this much )(!!!!

Speaking of fiances, the date has been set for March 24th, 2007! It's coming up soon!So set the date aside! And please, cheer me on... tell me I can do this! I need the all the encouragement I can get!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS Y'ALL!!!