The JOY of Living!

a little behind...

2012-02-14T15:38:00.000-08:00

obviously my blog has dropped off of my radar! oops! so here's the update...

Michael and I spent 3 weeks in Utah for Christmas!

Back in Salem and I'm doing hair from home - "The Joy of Styling"

Michael is doing lots of tech work traveling all around the Salem - Portland - Eugene area

Shelby and baby Adam came and visited

My Aunt Pam and cousin Gena came and visited

Lincoln and Bentley were in the play Music Man!

Lots of fun things going on and staying busy...more posting to come...I'll be better I promise : )

lots of Thanksgiving to be had

2011-11-27T22:08:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving has always been of my favorite holidays so it's very fitting that for the rest of my life I will get to celebrate my wedding anniversary with my fabulous husband around Thanksgiving time!

Thursday: We had a lovely Thanksgiving meal just us! With no oven and a tiny kitchen we had to make due so on the menu...

Breakfast: cinnamon roll waffles (made on our George Forman Grill) hashbrowns, sausage, and orange juice.

Dinner: rotisery chicken (from Walmart), instant potatoes, box stuffing, store rolls, corn, asparagus, and Marge's jello! and of course a little sparkling cider

Before:

After:

We also had skype calls with both of our families which was definitely the highlight of our day...we love our families!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Friday: Mr. Fabulous (see picture above) surprised me with a trip to DISNEYLAND!!! Here are just a couple pictures (out of our 163 pictures from the day)

This was Michael's first time at Disneyland and he absolutely loved it! We had so much fun running around from ride to ride from 8:00am till 10:30pm. With weather in the 70's it was perfect!

Rides - Corndogs - Turkey Leg - Frozen Lemonade - Parade - Fireworks

Saturday: Our actual anniversary was a relaxing day out on the town. First we went to "The Painted Nail" salon where I got a manicure. It was so much fun and such a great manicure for a really good deal! Then we went shopping around at a fancy mall in Hollywood. I felt like I was walking through a Vogue magazine. We had fun dreaming in Tiffany's, and a Ferrari store. And we finished the night by going out to dinner.

I feel lucky every morning when I wake up and I see this incredible man at my side! I am so grateful for so many things but today I'm especially grateful for my husband, Michael James!

enjoying some FALL

2011-11-16T10:29:00.000-08:00

being in California we are missing all the beautiful colors of fall, the crisp cool days, and the wet rain coming down.

What can I say, I love Oregon weather!

Yesterday we had some extra time to kill while we were in another city where we found this cute park and were able to enjoy some of the joy of fall!

...the joy of living

presents to each other

2011-11-15T11:36:00.000-08:00

last night we were out and about and my sweet husband bought me flowers

the best part is they smell like fresh garden flowers!

can openers

2011-11-14T12:01:00.000-08:00

Since we have been married we have had 4 can openers

all from different brands, all from different stores, all at different prices.

NONE of them WORK!

so on another attempt to find a working can opener we found success...

at the Dollar Tree!

wouldn't you know?! the cheapest one of them all!

CRAFT TIME!

2011-11-12T16:19:00.000-08:00

look at my cute new pom pom necklace!

the best feeling in the world...

2011-11-07T19:08:00.000-08:00

coming home to a husband you has missed you so much after only spending a few hours apart :) bliss

What's your "best feeling in the world"?

he is a bunny and we will call him buddy and he will be our bunny

2011-11-06T15:53:00.000-08:00

We have a new friend whom we have named Buddy. He lives outside of our hotel and if you weren't looking for him you might just miss him.

If he doesn't go away soon we just might have to adopt him :)

And here is our room, I'm making our lovely Sunday dinner.

The Start of Something New.

2011-10-30T17:06:00.000-07:00

Last Friday was officially my last duty at Great Clips West Salem, Saturday and Sunday were full of packing and goodbyes, and Monday Michael and I left for California. We traveled over 1000 miles in 3 days, and stayed in 3 cities over those first 3 nights. We're now in an extended stay hotel until tomorrow then on the road again. It has been such a huge blessing to be here with Michael, it would have been so much more miserable then I wanted to believe trying to stay back in Oregon.

As part of this work we are involved with churches and over and over again our testimonies are strengthened as we have experiences working with people. Today we went to a ward that was so warm and welcoming, it made me so grateful for the Church once again.

When I was in 8th grade I did a big end of the year project on "Home". It means something different to everyone and can change throughout your life. At that time it meant having my family together in a big beautiful house where everyone was welcome. Home means something more special to me now then ever before. Right now "home" is a hotel room with suitcases, an uncomfortable bed, and probably a bag of fast food leftovers. But what home means to me is being safe and seeing my sweet husband laying next to me at the end each day. It makes me happy.

I hope your home makes you happy too.

Summer Recap Part 3

2011-09-14T19:44:00.000-07:00

To finish out the summer we were visited by Derek, Shelby and a half!
We took a family rafting trip to the Deschutes River near Maupin Oregon. Unfortunately Lincoln couldn't come so it was Dad, Mom, Derek, Shelby, Michael, Me, Lexus and Bentley. We had a blast rafting, camped over night, rafted again in the morning then headed back home for Lincoln's first football game of this season...so that brings us to fall - Football Season has arrived again!

Here are a few pictures of our adventures:

Summer Recap Part 2

2011-09-12T22:00:00.000-07:00

Family vacation at the LAKE HOUSE in COEUR DE'ALENE ID is a Durant family tradition that I'm happy to have been brought into. It is a week full of boating, canoeing, riding the wave runner, hikes, floating in the water, playing games, bon fires, fishing, laying out on the dock and lots of chatting! Not much is better then being at the lake!

The Drive

Dad

Dragonfly's Mating...?!

Floating

Fishing

My First Fish!

Work was Eaten...No Fish...

Leah and Michael Tubing

Leah

Hot Tub

On the Board Walk in the City

Dressed for Church with Mom

Playing Marbles

So Happy Together!

Summer Recap

2011-09-12T21:27:00.000-07:00

Fall is fast approaching and summer has flown by fast so here's a little recap on our summer activities...

For Michael's Birthday I surprised him and took him to a MOTOCROSS RACE. There were competitors of all ages even down to a 4 year old!

Also for his birthday we went to SILVER CREEK FALLS which was a first for both of us and I could not believe how beautiful it was! The falls and the green trees are just what I love about Oregon.

One of my most favorite parts of the summer is relaxing and laying out at the POOL!

Easter

2011-05-15T16:56:00.000-07:00

I know Easter has come and gone but I was just looking through my pictures so I'm posting about our sweet Easter!

With no kids yet it seemed silly to color Easter Eggs but man am I glad we did! Michael is such the little kid at heart and it was the best Easter Egg hunt I've ever experienced! I can't post the video but here are a few pictures!

hunting...

breakfast...

Michael's basket...

a new TV!

2011-05-15T16:47:00.000-07:00

so the story goes that we have these really fabulous friends who got a new TV and needed to get rid of their old one and instead of letting us buy if from them they just gave it to us! how sweet!!!

Well, as you can see it is quite large! Compared to our small home walking in the front door seeing a monstrous TV in a tiny corner was quite humorous and I found myself laughing every time I walked in the door. We desperately needed a TV stand and any excuse for me to go shopping is surely welcomed so the hunt was on! I was in search of a TV stand. I quickly discovered that TV stands were much more expensive then I realized and far outside of our budget so this was going to be a more difficult hunt then I anticipated. Michael and I went out one afternoon and and on our way from one store to the next Michael missed the turn off for the freeway putting us on a different path. On this path we came upon a Goodwill which just like the commercial with the GPS guy I quickly made him turn into the parking lot. Long story short we found a great stand for only $20 and with lots of rearranging here we are with our
$20 home makeover! :)

Now our beautiful painting of the temple truly has a place of it's own!

a Fabulous (quick) Trip

2011-04-15T21:18:00.000-07:00

what can I say except that I'm the luckiest girl!
I have been blessed with such an amazing family and Michael and I had the pleasure of having a visit from Jane and Leah this week. Unfortunately Steve wasn't able to make the flight (they fly standby) but we were glad to have them for the visit.

Here are a few pictures from our trip...we spent a day at the coast and it was so beautiful! we watched waves crash and played on the sand! Michael found a starfish that was amazing! we went to the aquarium and of course ate at Moe's!

Despite the rain we still went to the tulip festival and enjoyed all the beautiful colors and a delicious elephant ear.

Until August when we get to see them again!

Our little family is growing

2011-04-10T20:36:00.000-07:00

we have 2 new additions to our household this week!

Michael has been working on a fish tank that is now a salt water tank and this week we got our first 2 salt water fish! We have a maroon clown fish named Clark, he is beautiful! And then we have a flame fish which we haven't been able to come up with a name for yet, any suggestions???

Circus Circus!

2011-04-04T21:15:00.000-07:00

I've never been to the circus before so when coupons for buy 1 get 1 free came to our store and we both had work off, Michael and I thought it would make for a perfect date night! And it sure was, I love spending time with my husband!

There were elephants and tightrope walkers, clowns and bike riders and horses and acrobats!

And our circus experience would not be complete without nachos, hotdogs, and COTTON CANDY!

Happy St Patty's day!

2011-03-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

I had training for work in Portland and ALMOST had to work this night but thankfully to one of my most fabulous stylists stayed for the rest of the shift so I didn't have to go in and cover. This lead to a very throw together mean for our Traditional St. Patty's Day Green Dinner at the Cook house! Michael and I are staying with the kids this weekend while my parents are in Idaho. (lots going on huh?!) So here are a couple of pictures....

Green Pasta, Pesto Sauce, Green Apples, Celery, Cucumbers, Pickles, Guacamole, Guacamole Chips, Green Jello, Limeade

With all the stresses of life and tragedies going on in the world

I'm happy to say that everyday I feel...

LUCKY!

Banana Bread

2011-03-09T21:13:00.000-08:00

After a very frustrating day at work I decided to do a little baking. I decided to make some chocolate chip banana bread and it was delicious!

Based off my Great Grandma Cook's recipie

1 1/2 cup sugar - 2 eggs well beaten - 2 cups flour - 1/2 cup butter - 1 tsp baking soda - 1/2 tsp salt - 1/2 walnuts or chocolate chips - 1 cup mashed bananas (about 3 bananas)

Bake at least 30 minutes in 350' F You'll know that it's done when you wiggle the pan and the middle doesn't jiggle. Enjoy!

drum roll please....

2011-03-07T17:53:00.000-08:00

as of this weekend I have taken over the management of the Great Clips that I have been co-managing!

lots more responsibility, lots more work, lots more stress
yet I'm excited, motivated and ready to take it all on!

And thanks to an incredible husband who gives me all the support I need to do it all!

being crafty

2011-02-28T16:42:00.000-08:00

on my day off I decided to be a little crafty and made another band for my watch and matching earrings!

little catch up

2011-02-21T20:55:00.000-08:00

and by little I really mean little!
Since my last post I....

got married!!!!

started working and managing a new Great Clips. Michael started working at Fry's Electronics store. Oh and yes we are living in Salem! Which brings me to my next point...our cute home!!!

the ever messy office

bathroom

lovely bedroom

kitchen - living - family - dining room!

lots more posts to come but here we are our little happy family!!!

HauNTeD HouSeS and PuMPKiN CaRViNG!

2010-10-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

Of my favorite family traditions that we have is the Halloween tradition to make Gingerbread Haunted Houses!

We are always so busy around Christmas time so we don't have time to make gingerbread houses, not to mention is you make them haunted then they don't have to be perfect and the imperfections make them even more

SPOOKY!

Of course with the traditional house name

"Cook Shak"

Mr. Bentley!

Dad had to get out the power tools!

Look at our cute couple faced pumpkin!

and the Halloween festivities are about us

Rain Rain....

2010-10-18T14:21:00.000-07:00

where are you???

Maybe I've been away from Oregon soo long that I have this idea in my head that it rains more then it does? Is that possible?? Where is the rain??? and why in October has it been in the 80's????

...oh well, but just don't rain on November 26th please :)

Go O's!

2010-10-18T14:08:00.000-07:00

Back at the home front we are full of OLY SPIRIT! and I'm not goin lie I'm quite enjoying being apart of the Oly team again!

Here are a few football game pictures!

Bentley has been helping out as ball boy ~ It's been fun to watch the brother's our there together!

And a win for the OLYS! Just what the doctor ordered!

VACATIONING!

2010-09-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

Vacation is a beautiful thing but due to vacation I'm very behind on blogging! So here's the latest...

1. I'M ENGAGED!!!!

to the incredible Michael James Durant!

We are getting married on Friday November 26th in the Portland Temple and we will be celebrating our marriage with a reception Saturday November 27th in Salem! We will also be having an open house to follow in Utah at his parents house in American Fork.

2. went HOME!

I got to spend 2 1/2 weeks home with my family! The first weekend was my friend Kortney's wedding and the second weekend was my cousin Cameron's wedding, both weddings I did hair for. Michael came home with me for the first few days of the trip, he went back to Utah, then came back to try to surprise me and proposed when he came back!

3. the LAKE

at the end of the 2 1/2 weeks Michael and I drove up to Lake Cour de Alene to his family's cabin where we spent 5 incredibly relaxing days with no cell coverage and no schedule! We spent our time hanging out, playing games with the family, riding the wave runner, and playing in the water when the weather was nice.

4. MOVING

as crazy as this is Michael and I decided that we are to move back to Oregon! So on Wednesday the 8th we will be packing both of our cars and heading out on the road! We will be living in Salem until we get married and then we will move to Portland. We are both on the job hunt so wish us luck!

goin home...

2010-08-01T18:32:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a lot of playing lately and enjoying time with Mr. Michael

and now I'M GOING HOME!

17 days of beautiful Oregon!

I'm a Big Girl now!

2010-07-14T19:58:00.000-07:00

It's official, I got a job working at

Lounge

salon in Salt Lake City! I'll start working in September when I get back from my trip home to Oregon! It's located downtown Salt Lake and just a few blocks from home and school! I'm so excited! More details to come when September comes around.

p.s. I'll be in Oregon from the 8th to the 25th!

Yay I get to see my FAMILY!

I LOVE OREGON!

4th of July Weekend!

2010-07-05T21:02:00.000-07:00

With the 4th of July being on Sunday it made for a great weekend of a 3-day 4th of July Celebration!

Saturday night we had a BBQ at my place with steak and potatoes and delicious fruit pizza! We played bocce ball and hung out and watched the Stadium of Fire fireworks from the deck, what a view!!!

Sunday included another BBQ and hanging out with friends playing games and lighting off fireworks.
Festivities continued on Monday starting at the Balloon Festival in Provo followed by the Provo Parade and market! What a great 4th of July CELEBRATION!

Extensions!

2010-07-01T17:36:00.000-07:00

This week I have taken an extension class and today we did a model. She had really short hair for extensions which gave me a good challenge especially when it came to cutting and blending but it turned out so well! I was really happy with it!

Here's my model...before and after shots!

Let me know if you're interested! I'll be doing a special for the next month. I'd love do your hair!

Rodeo and Lobster

2010-06-28T09:46:00.000-07:00

Apparently rodeos are quite the thing in Utah, there's one practically every weekend around here! This last weekend Mike and I went to the Lehi Roundup Rodeo! I haven't been to a rodeo for a few years and it was so much fun!

Saddle Bronc Riding - Steer Wrestling - Team Roping - Barrell Racing - Bull Riding

Hamburgers - Nachos - Cotton Candy - Taffy

After the rodeo we did what we do best...COOK! Neither one of us had ever made lobster before and I have to say it was quite delicious!

I do have to admit the eyes freaked me out a little so Mike had to help me with the first few breaks but once you get past the eyes....it was DELICIOUS!

FUN NIGHT!

i moved!!!

2010-06-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

a little sudden I know but I'm so happy to be at my new temporary place!

Monday I moved in with Jan my 'first-cousin-once-removed' (we finally found out the real name for it) in north Orem. It is so much fun because guess what?!

1. I get to park my car in a garage for the first time ever!
2. I have a TV in my room for the first time ever!
3. I have a bathroom attached to my bedroom for the first time ever!
4. I have a queen size bed for the first time ever!
and mostly because...
5. It's girls night EVERY night!

love my new roomie!

BIRTHDAY BIRTHDAY!

2010-06-23T10:54:00.000-07:00

BBQ, Pinata', ridiculous broom spinning game, poppers...so much fun!
A few pictures from my birthday :) Thanks to everyone who made it so special!

not 9TEEN anymore!

2010-06-13T08:57:00.000-07:00

the older you get the more you realize how much your life is passing by, I wonder; am I doing enough, am I playing enough, am I finding myself, am I learning enough, am I happy, am I successful, what have I truly accomplished since I graduated high school? I have been out of high school for exactly 2 years now and I'm happy to say that I have moved out of the house, and the state, and I have just finished 2000 hours at hair school and am about to receive my cosmetology license in the state of Utah! My goal was to be done by my birthday and I finished my hours about 3 hours before my birthday! Whoohoo!

Since graduating high school I have had a lot of different experiences. I have learned about myself and changed a lot! I have discovered what is really most important to me and I have found a love for life in a new way! I have gained a new drive to achieve my dreams. I have developed a stronger spiritual independence as well as an overall independence (all while still needing my parents)! I have made some really great friends and I have met some truly amazing people!

Thanks to everyone who is helping me on this journey through life, it sure is great!

Memorial Day!

2010-06-04T00:33:00.000-07:00

NO work, NO school!

a WHOLE day to do WHATEVER I wanted!

and wouldn't you know, I woke up sick....wow! But I wasn't going to let that get me down so I still did everything that we had planned for the day. Mike and I went and hiked Stewart Falls, it was so gorgeous and such a perfect day to take a hike! There were quite a few people once we got to the falls but along the hike it wasn't very crowded so it made for a very nice hike!

After the hike we went to Dale and Sacha's house where we had a fabulous Memorial Day BBQ with them and BR and Ericka and their girls! It was so fun to go and play badminton with the kids and sit around the table eating the delicious food that Sacha made for us and talking for hours! I LOVE spending time with family and that was a perfect way to spend my day off!

I'm looking forward to many more of those fun and relaxing days off that will happen this summer!

Music and the Spoken Word

2010-05-23T20:50:00.000-07:00

This morning I attended Music and the Spoken Word in the old tabernacle at Temple Square. As we sat there enjoying the music by the amazing Mormon Tabernacle Choir I was amazed at how many elderly couples there were there serving! Giving freely of their time and efforts to serve the Lord and the members of the church. It's incredible the service that is rendered so freely not only by those ushers and missionaries, but also by the choir members, the orchestra members, and the choir directors. Countless hours of service which I'm sure that to them is viewed merely as blessings and the opportunity to grow closer to our Heavenly Father.

It just added to my testimony and my appreciation for this incredible church!

Brian Regan moment

2010-05-06T20:32:00.000-07:00

WINCO has come into town! There is now a Winco in Orem Utah and my friend and I needed to go grocery shopping so of course we went to Winco! We were so excited to be there because I LOVE Winco way more then anyone should ever love a grocery store! Upon checking out and talking to the cashier I had a "Brian Regan Moment" As the lady was handing me my receipt she says "Thanks for coming in!" and I said "Thanks! YOU TOO!"

YOU TOO?? NO! that's not what you're supposed to say! She works there! What's going to come out of my mouth next?! TAKE LUCK!

haha gotta love Winco and you really gotta love Brain Regan!!

6 weeks and counting....

2010-05-02T13:16:00.000-07:00

This is it!

If I stay focused and don't sleep in and don't skip out for long lunch breaks and stay extra long at school and arrive early to school, I'll be done in 6 weeks! A month and a half and I can be done with hair school! That place that I love so much, it will be over! And then I can be social again because I won't have an 80 hr work week, it will drop to a 40 hr work week and I can visit my family again and go to California and go Home!
and lay out in the sun and stay up late (oh wait I already do that), and exercise, and go to the temple, and sleep in, and make crafts, and read, and go on picnics, and get bored! and all of those wonderful things you can do when you have time to breathe!

Oh it is going to be a wonderful summer....

16...

2010-04-12T08:53:00.000-07:00

so here's the problem with being someone that doesn't require very much sleep,

I DON'T SLEEP!

16 hours of sleep in the last 4 days... I'm surviving surprisingly well!

Dear Nighttime,

please extend your hours so I can't get more sleep :)

and I would really like to have a dream sometime soon, that would be nice!

Oh what a weekend it was

2010-04-05T07:59:00.000-07:00

Conference and Easter all rolled into one!

Not being home for holidays always makes me homesick, so I was feeling especially homesick with it being Conference AND Easter Sunday on the same weekend and having to work BOTH Saturday and Sunday! but it turned out to be a very busy and fun weekend!

Friday: Left my house at 6:30 for work, worked until 3:00, drove to Sandy and met up with Courtney Cook for a birthday lunch, drove to downtown Salt Lake and met up with Aunt Pam and Uncle Don, and the Meachams at Trolley Square for a quick hello. Then I drove up to Bountiful to meet up with Brittany Cozad and some friends and stayed the night at Brittany's aunt and uncle's house. She was here from Rexburg for Conference weekend; we went to sushi for dinner and then hung out and swam all night.

Saturday: Got ready and watched part of the first session of Conference, then left at 11:00 so I could be at work by 12:00. I got off work at 8:00 and drove back to Sandy to spend the night at the Cook's where Shelby and Derek were also staying the night. We had a fun evening and Courtney and I stayed up late talking and laughing!

Sunday: Got ready and had a delicious breakfast that Shane and Linda made, we watched conference and then I left at 11:30 I left for work again. Despite my irritation that I had to work on Easter Sunday it was more enjoyable because we had an Easter Egg Hunt around the office! It was so fun and made the day go by a little faster considering I only had 15 phone calls during my 8 hour shift! shesh! After work I drove up to Layton to spend the rest of the night with Pam, Don, Nikki, and Jeremy! We played games and visited, it was soo good to see Pam and Don, it has been way too long!

Monday: So here it is Monday morning and I'm at work again. Left Nikki's at 6:00 to get to work on-time at 7:00, already had a big gulp Mt. Dew and on with the day! I'm ready to get home and unload my atrociously messing cruser! and stop living out of my car! It's been a really fun weekend and getting to see so many people, and so much family has made this Easter much better then expected. My old roommate Mindy is in town for the week so I'm excited to see her tonight and get back into the swing of things. Wonder if I have any food at home?

Photo Shoot Fun!

2010-04-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

I was asked to help the fabulous Meredith Carlson with a

Vintage Glam

photoshoot and be the

model - make-up artist - hair stylist

It was soo fun! and she just posted the pictures on her blog

...what a fantastic photographer! Check out more of her pictures on her blog!

Gluten Free...

2010-03-13T13:29:00.000-08:00

For those of you who know me well know that I have had a history of stomach aches and headaches...

Lately they have gotten worse and no doubt that it is probably due to my insane 75hr a week schedule and too many runs through the fast food window...last week I decided to do a cleanse, restart and try to eat better. I did a healthy grapefruit cleanse that included a half a grapefruit at the beginning of each meal, eggs and bacon for breakfast, and salad and meat for lunch and dinner. There was also a list of things I could and couldn't eat.

During the week that I was on the cleanse I didn't have a single stomach ache or headache - amazing!!! but I missed bread and sugar and all the delicious foods that life offers -

After the cleanse I went back to normal eating habits but no fast food. This also meant that my stomach and headaches came back. After much research and observing eating habits I'm suspecting that I might have an allergy to gluten...

so here I go - - - Gluten Free - - -

it's not going to be fun or easy, but it would be better then dealing with the constant stomach and headaches that I deal with daily! I also found this blog: gluten free goddess with tons of delicious recipes so this week I'm trying her chicken soup - wish me luck!

It's Official!

2010-02-22T10:16:00.000-08:00

I have been accepted into LDSBC for Fall 2010

Classes will start Sept 13th

so...I will be moving up to Salt Lake, living in the Avenues
in a house with 8 girls! Yikes!

I can't wait!

Salon of the Week #2

2010-02-15T07:23:00.000-08:00

This week I'm featuring the salon that was the winner of NAHA for 2009 - TRIBE HAIR STUDIO - this salon is actually located in the beautiful city of Portland Oregon!

Their goal is "To create a studio for beauty, fashion, art and music, where seekers of style gather with inspiring stylists to refine taste and increase knowledge."

With 9 highly experienced and educated stylists this Bumble&Bumble salon is a great candidate and appears very qualified for their award!

Their services include Haircuts starting at $45 - Color starting at $55 - Highlights starting at $85 - bridal packages, extensions, chemical straightening, and event/on site hair styling

Beautiful isn't it?!

a weekend of LOVE

2010-02-13T17:53:00.000-08:00

February is the month of LOVE and it seems to be everywhere so while I am missing the people that I LOVE the most I thought I would share some of the people and things that I LOVE!

i LOVE my mom/therapist          i LOVE doing hair
i LOVE my dad/advisor               i LOVE talking to friends
i LOVE shelby and her wisdom    i LOVE laughing
i LOVE link - my buddy                  i LOVE singing in the car
i LOVE my little sis lex                   i LOVE cookies
i LOVE beebers                             i LOVE dancing
i LOVE g :)                                      i LOVE making dessert

and i must mention

i LOVE my incredible friends - too many to list
i LOVE my Utah family who provide a home away from home
i LOVE all of my extended family including the non-blood related

Salon of the Week #1

2010-02-08T07:51:00.000-08:00

I know I put up a salon yesterday but I'm going to start a salon highlight of the week. And this week's salon of the week is...DEXTERITY salon in Salt Lake City!
Located at 777 E 300 S Salt Lake City UT 84102

Their name Dexterity means 1) Mental skill or quickness 2) Skill and ease in using the hands

Service List: Woman's cuts $30-$85 Men's cuts $20-53 Colors starting at $40 or $50 and up. They also offer chemical straightening, perms, extensions, bridal services, and make-up. They also have some really creative photo shoots, I think I found the hair cut I want someday when I go short, someday.

They use dermalogica and bumble&bumble, Jeff Martin (one of the stylists) teaches classes to salons, they have an apprenticeship program, and you can even volunteer to be a model for their weekly classes. Their most recent event involved participation in a Holiday Coat Drive during Nov. and Dec. donating coats to the Salvation Army. Sounds like a cool salon don't you think?

So check it out for yourself...DEXTERITY

bored online...didn't know it could happen did ya?!

2010-02-07T14:35:00.000-08:00

I was looking at Salon equipment and came across this really cool salon, it looks like it would fit perfectly in Portland don't you think??

The natural lighting - the bright white - the open windows!

ahh I'm inspired!

New Phone!

2010-01-31T18:07:00.000-08:00

This weekend was my Dad's annual brother's snowmobiling weekend which meant I got to see...my Dad, Lincoln, Nana, Grandpa, Dale's family, Shane's family, and BR's family! It was so great getting to see and hang out with everyone for a little bit!

I also got a new phone when my Dad came because he got a new phone and I took his old one! It's taken a little getting used to but I love it! It's the Sprint Instinct, and on Friday I ordered a really cute pink skin cover for it!

New Interest

2010-01-23T13:37:00.000-08:00

Recently I have gained a new desire to know more about politics. Last week I had a client that was very into politics and I had a great talk with Jan (a relative) about current issues which both jump started my desire to learn more. I have recently found a website that I like and I've started listening to talk radio on the way to and from work.

So here's my opinion...
Be educated - and know what you're talking about cause our country needs help!

Life's Latest Update!

2010-01-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

Life has gotten crazy! and the Lord will answer prayers!

A couple of weeks ago I started having a panic attack when I realized

how much of school was still left to be paid for...after only a few nights of intense prayers I was handed an incredible blessing and I was promoted to a different department so now I am working 40 hours a week while still going to school 35 hours a week! Which means I'm on track to finish school by May.

This sounds crazy but I'm actually really loving it! I was afraid I was going

to be wiped out and non-social but not at all! I'm just continuing to live

off of no sleep and it's great!

Playing and partying all the time just like a college student should!

What a BEAUTIFUL day!

2010-01-20T06:56:00.000-08:00

January 19th ....
Yesterday was a great day! I actually woke up on time! I made a smoothie and eggs for breakfast, I wore a new shirt and felt very cute! I had a great busy day at work, then I went home and rested and made dinner. While I was home I got a letter and a package from my boy :) Then I went to school and had the best suprise! FLOWERS sitting on the front desk for me! I got my hair done and was pampered for the evening! Then I had a date with myself, watched one of "our movies" and finished putting together my scrapbook of letters!
Just as a tribute to my boy I have to share how happy I am for where we are both at right now! He is serving, working, and growing so much! He inspires me to be better and closer to my Heavenly Father! I'm getting things on my to-do list done and working and playing incredibly hard so that I can be the best I can be for him and for me! He's been gone for an incredible 8 months as of today which has gone by rather quickly and I'm so proud of him!
I LOVE LIFE!

New Year's Eve!

2010-01-09T18:36:00.000-08:00

I can't say that this New Year's Eve was the most

exciting but I spent it with people I love!

Gretchen - Me - Lincoln - Taylor - Terry - Cindy - Mom - Dad

Fun with my siblings hanging out!

2010-01-09T18:28:00.000-08:00

The Classic Cook picture! :) Link and my parents at the table during games!

Bentley got "spy gear" for Christmas, he looks like he's ready for work! Lexus and I!

My boys are growing up! :)

Home for Christmas

2010-01-09T18:16:00.000-08:00

Christmas is the best time of the year and going home this year made it even better! Here are a few pictures from the week home...

I had to be the donkey again! Mom helped out while Dad read the nativity story out of the scriptures.

Christmas morning and opening presents:

I LOVE my FAMILY!

I can't WAIT to go HOME!

2009-12-16T11:04:00.000-08:00

I am SOOOOOO excited to go home and see my family and can I just say I have the cutest family in the world!!!

Reason #1: my dad had to call me to ask "permission" to move the piano and get a smaller tree for our house this year

Reason #2: my mom left me a message singing like Buddy the Elf while watching Elf and making cinnamon suckers and missing me :)

Reason #3: my brother Link couldn't contain himself when expressing his excitement about the Christmas present he bought me

Reason #4:my little sister is just cute!

Reason #5: my little brother Bentley started crying when he found out I wasn't coming home before the 23rd!

Cute huh?! I LOVE them!

It's beginning to look a lot like CHRISTMAS!

2009-12-06T20:16:00.000-08:00

So for those of you who know me you know that the Christmas tree is pretty high up there on my favorite things about Christmas and I really like really big Christmas trees!
Seeing as I live in Utah now and trees are quite a bit more expensive here then they are in Oregon having a Christmas tree is a slight dilema. Allie's (my roommate) parents have Christmas trees on their property so we went and cut one down off of their property. Little did we know this was going to be true Christmas Vacation event as we hiked up a snowy mountain, chopped down our tree, and then dragged it down snowy mountain! By the time we got to the bottom I had too much snow in my boots to even pull them off! Although we were all freezing it was so much fun and we have a tree!

We didn't get any pictures on the trip but here are a few at home.

All decorated!

New York (minus the pictures...)

2009-12-06T20:15:00.000-08:00

Life has been so busy that I haven't had a chance to get my New York trip up here! I do have all my pictures on facebook so check out my facebook for pictures. Here's the short version of our trip...

Thurs: we arrived in New York, the beautiful city! and can I just say contrary to popular belief people in New York are soooo nice! Everywhere we went people were always willing to help with direction, or if we looked lost they would just offer to help, we even had people helping with our suitcases up and down stairs or into the subway. It was amazing! That night we went to Serendipity and had frozen hot chocolate, so delicious! I love how alive the city is! We went around 11 but even being that late you would have thought it was dinner time!

Fri: It was Allie's birthday and unfortunately when we went to have her birthday breakfast it was closed! so we settled for 2nd best. We went to Community Food and Juice, it was delicious! I have a BLET (bacon-lettuce-egg-tomato) so simple yet a brilliant idea! Then Allie and I did a lot of shopping! We were stopped in Saks and had our make-up done at the Lancome' counter, that was so fun! That night we met Mindy in Times Square which was just as fabulous and just as bright and alive and it is in the movies! I loved Times Square! We also went to Junior's Cheesecake and I had a delicious pumpkin pie cheesecake!

Sat: We went to Chinatown which was very interesting! and to the Metropolitan Museum of Art during the day. Then at night we went to a broadway play. Allie and Mindy went to Wicked while I went and saw Lion King! It was such a fun production and was so well done! I loved it and would reccommend it to anyone!

Sun: We attempted to go to church but we had some malfunctions in the morning that prevented that from happeneing :( However we still had a great day. We went to ground zero and walked through a memorial showing the plans for the site and it also had videos and pictures it was really touching. Unfortunatly Mindy had to leave to get back to school. Allie and I then took a ferry ride to Statten Island (by accident haha) but it was fun because we got to see the Statue of Liberty and hang out at Central Park and do some people watching! New York is so fun! We also went to this incredible chocolate resturant Max Brenner's! Amazing fondue! That night we had some extra time so we jumped on the subway and went to Coney Island and walked on the boardwalk and had famous Frank's hotdogs!

Mon: We went to breakfast at the place that was closed for Allie's birthday and it was worth the wait, so good! Allie headed for the airport and I went and hung out in Central Park and did a little window shopping before making my way to the airport to head home.

It was an amazing trip and I'm so glad that we went! We had so much fun! it was the perfect amount of adventure and a break from life that I needed!

Thanksgiving!

2009-12-05T22:29:00.000-08:00

This Thanksgiving I didn't get to go home but I've been so grateful for family! I was able to spend Thanksgiving at Dale and Sasha's and I was able to be with the Cook's for the whole weekend! Thanksgiving was great! Then Friday morning Sasha and I got up way way too early to hit up the Black Friday sales! Although it was very early in the morning and we were wiped out by the end of the day we had a lot of fun and it was good to have a shopping buddy! We also went to a couple of Mason's basketball games. Then Saturday I spent the day with Nana and Grandpa and Shane and Linda. It was Linda's birthday and we went and saw New Moon, had In N Out Burger for lunch, and hung out all day. To finish off the great weekend Nana made chili and scones for all of us on Sunday! and I even got to bring some home with me!

While they were putting up the Christmas lights Dallas came into the house dressed as a snowman! Too cute to pass up a photo opp!

Me and my favorite little cousin! Morgan has become like another little sister since I've moved to Utah. I love her!

Life is Beautiful!

2009-10-27T11:14:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been so happy and so grateful for so many things! I thought I would take a minute and list some of the things that have been making me happy:

the Gospel, the temple, institute, amazing friends! an incredible family immediate and extended, an opportunity to go to New York, blessings from tithing, blessings from a missionary, mail, packages, school, weekends! it's almost November! a great home (away from home), sunday school, pictures, journal writing, writing letters, pumpkin carving, BYU football games especially with family! late nights with my roomie! phone calls, my fish Buzz, and blogs :)

my first dramatic change! what do you think?

2009-10-22T21:03:00.001-07:00

Monday:

Thursday:

Aaron's Birthday party!

2009-10-22T21:03:00.000-07:00

Kayti and all of her creativity (and Aaron :) decided to throw Aaron an Alice in Wonderland Birthday Party! It was so fun! They decorated the backyard so cute with random teacups and teapots, there were twinkle lights, and lots of fun food! Great Party!

Sarah's Visit

2009-10-20T10:18:00.000-07:00

This weekend I was surprised with a much missed visitor! Sarah Taylor (my friend from hair school who graduated a few months ago) came to stay with me for the weekend and we had so much fun and stayed up way too late! Here's just a couple of pics from the weekend.

It was so fun to have a girls weekend full of girly things and wedding planning! haha We also made these really cute shirts! Sarah's creativity inspires me!

Thanks for coming Sarah!

ANTS ANTS ANTS!!!

2009-10-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

On Saturday afternoon Sarah Taylor and I were working on making some t-shirts and I decided I wanted some cookies, I went into my room, grabbed the Ziploc bag of cookies sitting on my nightstand and started to eat a chips ahoy chocolate chip cookie. I then handed the bag to Sarah and as she looked inside to grab a cookie she started to freak out! "ANTS! EWWW!" I looked down and ants were swarming the bag of cookies...now let me just remind you that one of those cookies was in my MOUTH! We were both freaking out! I was just holding my mouth open cause I froze up and didn't know what to do. Sarah had to remind me to spit out the cookie that was in my mouth so who knows if I ate one of those ants or not?! All I know is that it was disgusting and that wasn't the worst of it...

(*just to note, my carpet has black specks in it so the carpet looks worse then it really is)

Because there were so many ants all over the bag I went to my room to check the spot that cookies were sitting and literally thousands of ants were crawling all over the carpet and all over the bottom of my nightstand, and the freaking out and screaming continued! Especially when we thought of how we were sitting on the ground in my room right next to that very spot for hours the night before! I immediately took my nightstand outside, sprayed Windex EVERYWHERE! Called the landlord and set out ant poison. Thankfully the ants are all gone now but I'm still grossed out to think that I ate half of an ANT COOKIE! Yuck!

NEW YORK CITY!

2009-10-04T17:33:00.000-07:00

So here's my big news of the week...

I'm going to New York City!!!

I can't believe it! My roommate Allie and I are taking a trip to visit our old roommate Mindy and we're meeting her in New York for a weekend get away during Allie's birthday weekend! We found really cheap flights and a good deal on a hotel just outside of Manhatten and we're going to go play!

Modge Podge gone crazy!

2009-09-12T10:14:00.000-07:00

It still feels like we are kind of moving in, putting up decorations and such. Allie and I have gone modge podge crazy! We covered frames with the insides of comics for the basement and we covered our kitchen table with old vintage food ads. Everything has turned out so good I figured they were blog worthy! :)

Fishy Fishy!

2009-09-12T09:44:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting a fish for a long time and since I have now moved into a place where I can have one, I bought a new little friend! He's pretty spazzy for a beta fish and provides some good entertainment, I'm in the porcess of training him because YES beta fish can be trained!

and this is Buzz the Blue Beta fish!

Just a week after I got Buzz my roommate Allie decided that she needed a ball of fur, so now we have Buzz the Beta fish and Harley the Hamster! Hopefully nothing else is moving in!

Just another day in hair school...

2009-09-04T19:04:00.000-07:00

This month at school I have to do 3 perms and we all hate perms so I asked my friend Kelsey if I could do a perm (which was really just a wet set so it would go away when she got it wet) on her. And this is her sitting under the dryer looking like a grandma reading! haha

Later that day I had one of my clients come in, now this guy is a little weird... He has a funny sense of humor and I have to be quick to keep up with him. While I was cutting his hair he asked if I liked dates and nuts which turned into a joke about me going on dates and I did tell him I didn't like nuts. Well I had forgotten about that until as I went to make a ticket at the front desk he went running out the front door and called out that he had something for me... Pretty soon he came walking in with an extremely large zuchini and a large container of nuts and although he was only showing me the zuchini he left the nuts with me! Yes like I said this guy is weird! So conclusion of the story ends with the rest of the students enjoying the nuts in the lunchroom while I got questioned the rest of the night about what he came running in with. Weird! Just another day at hair school!

and this is Kelsey with her perm and my nuts!

Going HOME!

2009-08-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

I got to go home this past week for a visit and also for Elder Cameron Jackson's homecoming! It was so fun to be with my family and to see relatives and friends! I miss Oregon! but it's interesting because being back home it's like I can feel that I don't belong there anymore, so it was bitter sweet to come back - home.
While I was home we went to the coast, the pool, did some shopping (thanks mom!), played lots of games with the family. It was so fun! I love being HOME!

I've joined the blogging world!

2009-08-30T15:05:00.000-07:00

I've joined the blogging world and after many requests to see pictures of my new place I'm posting them here! I recently moved into a townhouse in Orem. I live here with 3 other girls, Allie who I lived with at my last apartment, Tara Allie's co-worker, and Tara's sister who hasn't moved in yet. It is a 3 story house with a deck and backyard, 2 family rooms, a kitchen, laundry closet, 4 bedrooms, and 3 1/2 baths. It's really cute and after quite the adventure of searching for our new ward today we are starting to feel more settled. We still don't have our lovesacs or TV's that are coming and we're in the process of decorating so there are a few unfinished things buts it's so fun! So here they are! Oh and take note of the gorgeous view with the temple and the stadium!!!