a tiny peek into our home

Eric and I have been planning on moving after our lease was up ever since we signed the 1 year contract.  Living in apartment style condos can be pretty difficult when the family that lives above you has 4 kids.  4 kids that aren't quiet, and don't care what time of night/morning it is.  But I won't get into these frustrations we have :) 

 We are ready to have our own space but it did make me sad to think about leaving the area and all of the friends we have made in such a short amount of time!  Well, with Eric's new calling we decided that it's not time for us to move yet.  Since we are staying for another year I decided I needed to make our place a little homier. 

I kept most of our decorations boxed up...I mean why unpack them if we were going to turn around and pack them back up so soon?!  I just didn't care to put effort into our place.  Haha how sad, right?  No worries though, Eric and I got to work and added a couple things to our living room...



I'm not very good at taking pictures, but I promise it all looks right when you walk into the room :)

I am not very creative, definitely not a DIY kind of girl, and I have no clue where to begin when it comes to decorating but I'm pretty happy with how our living room looks/feels.  White walls are the worst to decorate with but I feel like I brought enough color into the room....hopefully :)  I can't wait to go through the condo, room by room and spruce it all up a bit!  And I definitely can't wait to own our home, buy nice furniture, paint the walls, etc. haha!

And I'm glad I have this bloggy to post pictures!  The first 15 months of marriage we lived in a studio apartment.  We called it our box :)  It was a very nice studio....but it was definitely small.  Don't ask me how Eric got me to live there that long haha!  Then we moved into a 2 bedroom apartment.  Now we're in a 3 bedroom.  I guess Eric did it right to start us out small, each time we move it's definitely an upgrade haha :)  But I really don't have any pictures of our box or the 2 bedroom apt. so at least I'll be documenting our homes from here on out! :)
p.s.  I know I need to get pinning, and once I do I'm sure I'll find all sorts of home decor ideas that I'll absolutely need (Eric's gonna kill me when I start that addiction haha) but I'd love some decorating tips/ideas/help until I get going with pinterest! 

an update for the journal

Life has been so good for us lately.  We are feeling very blessed and happy :)
We are currently enjoying the last day of our 4 day weekend.  It's noon and we're still in our pj's ;) haha!  Utah celebrates pioneer day and I love it!  More bbq's and firework fun for July!  We spent the weekend visiting my in laws and we had such a great time!  We enjoyed a parade, tons of food, relaxing, and fireworks.  I was enjoying myself so much that I didn't even think to take any pictures.  Shame on me.

Anyway, here's a little update on me.  I've been so busy doing hair and loving it.  I feel so blessed to have a job I love, and clients that love me :) 
Lately I've been getting excited for the holidays but then I remember that I want summer to last as long as possible!  I am loving the warm weather and I spend as many days at the pool as I can! 
I've been trying to be a good wifey and bake for my man, but I just hate baking more than ever...haha!  I will not be that mom that has a fresh batch of cookies waiting for my kids when they get home from school :)

And here's the update on Eric.  Work has been keeping Eric so busy (such a blessing!  It hasn't always been this way for us.  I'll have to share our story on the bloggy.) He is such a hard worker and I appreciate everything he does for our little family!
School will start back up for him in August.  Does school feel like it's never-ending for anyone else? :)
Eric was just called as the young men's president in our ward.  We were shocked when he received this calling.  He's thinking it's payback for being a rotten teenager haha!  Even though this is going to make his life even busier, we're bother really excited about it!  My only complaint is that these boys are going to use up all of my camping points.  Remember how I've been wanting Eric to take me camping?!  I guess he'll be taking the boys camping instead....bummer!

The next few weeks of our lives are going to be crazy busy but I will have lots to blog about :)  As I said before, we are so blessed and happy, and we are so grateful for how great life has been for us!

Because every post needs a picture :)  And I don't always follow that rule haha!

If you'd like to get to know us better and have any questions about us (not saying you do-ha) please, ask away! :)

my dad is a rock star :)

St. George has one tourist attraction that I just LOVE!  Ever heard of Tuacahn?  It's an outside amplitheater that is surrounded by the gorgeous red rocks.  Each summer you can go see a couple different musicals and this year they have Grease and The Little Mermaid.  We saw Grease (but we'll be going back for Little Mermaid and I can't wait!) and I loved it!!  I had no clue what to expect because I've never even seen the movie!  Crazy right?  Haha :)  One of the best parts of these musicals is the orchestra pit.  My dad plays the guitar for Grease (and has played just about every year for Tuacahn's musicals!) and his talent never ceases to amaze me!

My dad absolutely loves the guitar and he has worked so hard to become such an accomplished musician.  His band has opened for Kansas, Styx, Beach Boys, etc.  Best of all...they played at my wedding :) and we had the best time dancing to their music! 

Now that we know how my old man ;) parties it up at night... let's talk about his day job!  He teaches guitar classes at Dixie State College as well as individual lessons.  Who watched NBC's The Voice?  Dia Frampton and her sister Meg are former students of his (when Meg is visiting she still meets up with my dad for some lessons) and the list goes on. 

My dad is so passionate about his career and I really admire that.  I love my job because he taught me how important it is to love what you do.  He is one of the best role models a girl could have, and anyone who meets Lisle Crowley will agree with me! :)

Now, you MUST do me a favor and check out the latest project my dad's been working on.  He has started up a couple different websites where you can find online guitar lessons, musical arrangements, and other musical resources.

www.stgeorgeguitarlessons.com

If you're interested in lessons or setting up a gig, this is an easy way to get connected!

And be sure to check out the e lessons tab! :)

www.ldshymns4guitar.com

He has arranged some LDS hymns specifically for the guitar here.

www.classicalmusic4guitar.com

And some classical music.

Let me know what you think! :)  And if you get the opportunity, definitely see a musical at Tuacahn!  And while you're at it, take a husband who is happier to take cute pictures than mine is... deal?  Haha!

inspired by a...license plate?

And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.
Alma 7:24

As Eric and I were driving home from St. George we passed a car whose license plate read Alma7:24.  Naturally, I looked it up in the Book of Mormon and it put a smile on both of our faces.  What a great reminder (especially for Eric, road rage is a common occurrence when he's driving and this was a nice change of atmosphere... haha!) But more than a reminder, it really hit home with me.
Lately I have been thinking about my relationship with my Heavenly Father and how I need to strengthen it.  I do have hope and I definitely have faith but I think, at times, I take it all for granted.  Life has been good to us lately and I am extremely grateful but at the same time I feel as if I my relationship with God is on the back burner.  It is very easy for me to have faith and to just believe...so easy that I forget that I need to ponder, pray, and build on what I know to be true.  And not just during the hard times in my life, or when I'm suffering, but during the good times as well.  But you know what?  Not anymore.  Eric and I make it a point to center our marriage around Heavenly Father and Christ.  And now I am making it a point (again.  Is this how it works?  To be reminded again and again?) to center my life around Him as well!
Something else that has been on my mind as well is my personality.  I am a very out going girl and I just love people.  Honestly, I thrive on socializing.  It drives Eric crazy sometimes haha.  But want to know a secret?  I'm only that way when I want to be.  And I don't always want to be.  And I am so mad at myself for acting like that.  If I see someone at the grocery store that I know, depending on my mood I'll make it a point to stop and visit with them, or I'll turn and get away as fast as possible hoping I haven't been seen.  What the crap is that?  It absolutely makes my day when an old friend stops me and says hi.  When a complete stranger compliments my purse, hair, or asks me a question it makes me so happy!  Seriously, I can't wait to tell Eric just how happy it made me!  Something as simple as a kind smile will change a bad day to a good one!  So this is something else in my life that I am making a point to change.  I have friend's that you can't help but want to be around because they are so sweet.  I'd love to be like that.  I want to make some one's day better.  I want to be a kind, loving, charitable kind of girl!
I know that as I work on my relationship with God and those around me, it will stop feeling like work and start to feel natural.  I can't wait to feel this change in my heart.  I've been yearning for it and am SO ready to work my booty off for it!  :)

weekend highlights

We stood in line for 2 hours to watch the final Harry Potter movie.  Loved it!

Yes, we were first in line.

Yes, I was slightly embarrased :)

Yummy sushi.  Ok, I admit it... I am not a sushi girl.  The Las Vegas roll is amazing because it tastes like deep fried cream cheese.  ;)  Yum!

No, I am not embarrased to be seen in public with Eric!

Yes, my shoes are amazzzzzing!  I'll have to take a close up picture to show them off!  LOVE them!

We spent Saturday at the lake finally.  It was such a fun time!  The only bummer is that I can't jump at all while wake boarding.  I twisted my ankle in December and it still hurts sometimes.  Yuck!

Yes, my mom took literally over 100 pictures and about 98 of them were blurry :)

Yes, Eric's muscles make my knee's a little weak ;) Those tan lines are a different story!  Haha.

We went out to dinner to celebrate my dad's birthday!

Yes, he may be getting old.  But I sure do love him ;)

We had the best weekend ever!  I'm so glad we got to get out of town together!  And I'm so grateful for our amazing family :)

cheers to our early weekend!

....and our weekend begins!  I am so excited to spend my weekend roasting away in St. George with Eric!  We have so much planned and I can't wait to share it all!  We also get to celebrate my dad's birthday with my parents and that will be so great!  Happy Birthday on Saturday dad :)
One thing I am definitely looking forward to this weekend is getting out on the lake!  I am such a water girl and I love the beaches, lakes, and swimming pools.  We haven't been out on the boat yet this summer and I've been dying to go!  Here's a little flashback of good time's I've experienced in the water....

hahahaha!

Yep, this is me and my famous sister in law Alycia from the Crowley Party. :)  Does it get more attractive than these?? ;)

hahahaha!

Here's to an exciting, fun-filled weekend! :)

derby snob alert!

I have something to admit..... I'm a derby snob.  Oooooh my lanta.  Who would've thought?!  It's scary for me to think that Eric's hometown has had that much influence on me :)  But let me explain.
Saturday night as soon as I got back into town, Eric and I met up with my cousins (who are also amazzzing friends!  I love it when family means that much more to us!)  for dinner and a demolition derby.  Since we missed the 4th of July derby I was super excited for this!  Honestly, I get quite the adrenaline rush when the cars rev up and go at each other :) haha!  But this derby only had 3 rounds!  Seriously?  The derby I'm used to has 10-15 rounds of crazy small-town red-necks that put on the best show ever.  You can count on a roll over or two, some cars starting on fire, and a fist fight every now and again.  Haha!  Oooh the things that entertain us ;)  Needless to say, this snob was just not too impressed with the derby.  At least we got to spend a beautiful night with some of our favorite people in the world!

Mark my words people, someday I will be competing in the powder puff round of the derby, and you will all be invited ;)

4th of July.. a week late

Eric is from a small town that is in the middle of nowhere :)  I love to go visit my in laws but other than that, I could care less to go spend time in that town.... except for the 4th of July.  Every year since we've been married, we'd go celebrate with Eric's family and have the funnest day.  Small town's really know how to put on a good show all day long!  There's a parade that involves tons of candy, booths and food at the park, bbq's, the best demolition derby's ever, and amazing fireworks.  It truly is the funnest and has a way of making you feel very proud to be an American. 
This year we weren't able to go :(  Stupid work.  Being an adult is not the funnest sometimes haha!  We missed it SO much!  We are definitely going next year, and I'll be sure to take tons of pictures to show you all how great it is!  Luckily, my parent's came up to celebrate with us so we were able to spend the 4th with family and I was so grateful!  We had a bbq, watched fireworks, and just enjoyed catching up with family! 
I am so grateful to live in America.  I know our country is going through a crazy time right now but there isn't anywhere I'd rather live!  I'm so grateful for the opportunities that Eric and I have.  I love my freedom and am so grateful to those who sacrifice their lives for our freedom!

The only picture we took on the 4th.  Does it get more patriotic than the Red Sox, TapOut, and Jordan's...all in one outfit? :)

p.s.  I've seen some bloggers go to balloon fests and get to see hot air balloons up close and I've wanted to go to one so bad!  Well there was a balloon fest 4th of July at 6:30am and I was so excited to go!  But when my alarm went off that morning I shut it off and went right back to sleep.  Dang it!!  I was so mad I missed it!

p.p.s.  I started a Pinterest but haven't pinned one thing!  What the?!  I really need to get on the ball and get addicted!

p.p.p.s.  What is google+ ?

an adventure with my Honey

"And it makes me wanna take a back road
Makes me wanna take the long way home
Put a little gravel in my travel
Unwind, unravel all night long
Makes me wanna grab my honey
Tear down some two-lane country, who knows
Get lost and get right with my soul
Makes wanna take, makes me wanna
Take a back road..."

Take a Back Road - Rodney Atkins

I don't know what it is about country music right now, but it just makes me so happy!  All I want to do when I am listening to the music is spend my day exploring with Eric.  Sooo....

I made us a country play list
And packed a picnic lunch.

We hopped in my honey's truck
I put my feet up on the dash...

"Oops!  Better aim with the camera next time?  Haha I swear I'm in that picture with hubs!

And enjoyed the beauty we live around!

p.s.  I got girl sunglasses...finally!  I love going to Dillard's for sunglasses.  They always have name brand's on clearance!  (Not that I care about name brand, but who doesn't love getting $50-$100 sunglasses for $10-$15?)
p.p.s.  I'll be posting about the 4th next week since I am out of town working but I just have to say... I am grateful for this beautiful country that I live in.  I am grateful for our freedom, and even more grateful for those who sacrifice and fight for our freedom!