official

It's official - I'm a bad blogger (sorry).
It's also official - I'm engaged!

But I'm kind of a bad blogger because I'm engaged. Since my last post, pretty much all I've done is work way too many hours and plan a wedding. Which is why I couldn't post - because I couldn't say that I was planning a wedding until June 9 when it became official (yes, I know that it is now mid July). And really, that's all I've done. Wedding planning has consumed my life.

And to be honest, I'm not so sure I want a detailed account of this life event. Wedding planning sucks. I want everything to be perfect. I want it all to flow together and match, of course. And I'm indecisive. Which makes things a little more difficult. But I do have lots of people trying to help me. Which is nice because working overtime + trying to plan a wedding = I would totally love to elope (but I had a nightmare about that going horribly, so I think I'll stick to the wedding idea).

So forgive me if I'm awful at blogging for the next few (3, to be exact) months. And who knows, maybe the next time I blog will be when I'm a Mrs. :)

five

I love anniversaries

m.i.a.

Not only has my blog been missing in action, so has my life - which is probably why my blog has been m.i.a. the past few months. That, and the fact that my laptop is beyond ancient and barely functions. And it can be a pain to update from my kindle or iPhone (which I am using to update right now...). Pretty much all I do is work and spend time with the boy. Do you really want me to update all the time with that?!?

But, things have become a little more lively. Remember my posts about "step 1" and "step 2"? Well, step 3 might be coming. But not in Phoenix. In Laguna Niguel, CA or Dallas, TX. And I have to decide (by Monday) which location I want to live in choose. The only problem is that I really don't want to move. In fact, I would LOVE to live in Arizona my entire life. But this opportunity is a life changer. Things could get so much better for me. And the location choices aren't that bad. They just aren't Arizona.

Whatever happens in the future is meant to be. Maybe this is a lesson I need to learn.

In the meantime, I'll try to add some action to my life :)

happy new year?!?!?

I seriously CAN NOT believe it is already 2012! I think there were less hours in the day or less days in the week last year because time went by wwwwaaaayyyy too fast. This past year, I made a list of highlights from each month on the side of my blog. This is the list:

January
- new little Audrey
- learning to sew - pajama bottoms

February
- shooting guns
- winning a tv stand in a raffle at a work function

March
- (attempting to) donate blood
- bikram yoga

April
- more learning to sew - skirt
- new foods (veal and salmon AND shrimp)
- fixing my car: valve gasket
- Vegas... twice - ice bar!
- baseball game

May
- wedding crasher. for real.

June
- MeXiCo
- Steve's visit!
- fixing my car: headlight module
- girl's weekend

July
- Devin's play
- Grandpa's birthday... in Vegas
- LAKE!
- Expensive sunglasses

August
- fixing my car: spark plugs
- back to back birthday weekends
- car "dying" (refer to post)

September
- Utah!
- camping
- interview with a Federal agent (not for me...)

October
- new fuel pump
- State Fair
- pumpkin carving!

November
- my BIRTHDAY!
- Thanksgiving
- Disneyland

As you can see, I did not update my blog for December. Between work, family time, work, holiday festivities, and more work, I didn't get a chance to post. A few highlights from December were:
- winning a Kindle Fire from work (another raffle!)
- holiday parties - both at work and home
- Christmas

This past year was a year of "firsts". First full year at my job. First full year as a claims adjuster. First full year in my apartment (which I loved every second of!). First attempt at sewing. And a lot of firsts for trying new things. It was a great year and I am so thankful for all of the experiences I had. It definitely was exciting!

This year has already started off with a bang! On Monday, an apartment above me had a huge water leak, causing some water damage to my apartment. Maintenance spent the whole week fixing dry wall in my bathroom and carpet in my closet. The best part is I had spent several hours cleaning my entire apartment the week before... So I guess I get to clean my apartment again! And yesterday on my way to Tucson, my 1-liter water bottle emptied in my purse. Everything in my purse was soaked, including my digital camera (but not my phone - luckily!). Thankfully, everything dried and my camera still works! Quite the week...

So here's to hoping 2012 is a great year! Happy New Year indeed!

birth-month

This year, I didn't have a birthday. I didn't have a birth-week. I had a birth-month. And I'm kinda sad that it ends today :(

It all started on the 3rd when my bf surprised me with my birthday gifts (yes, plural) - a pair of Toms shoes and a new sweater. Thanks B, I love them!

Then my Tucson birthday trip started early on the 4th when I got my iPhone :D I never knew I could love an object as much as I love this phone! Thanks to my brother Christopher for staying at the Apple store and getting my phone while I went to the doctor! On the 5th was my birthday dinner with my family - I love them! The girls got pedis and we all celebrated Steph's birthday on the 6th with tacos. And before I left Tucson on the 7th, I got the best present of them all - no cavities when I went to the dentist (total joke, but I was super happy about it)!

When I returned from Tucson on the 7th, I got a haircut and had a massage - my birthday gift to me! And on the 8th was my birthday dinner with the bf's family, so nice of them! When I returned to work on the 9th (yes, I actually took three days off work), my desk was decorated with balloons and confetti and streamer paper and my team got me a space heater along with a "happy 13th birthday" card (yes, I'm the baby in the group) - totally love my work family! My co-workers Jeremy and Liz both took me to lunch that week too! My consecutive birth-days finally ended, but that Saturday, my friends and I went dancing in Old Town for my joint birthday bash with Jenna. And the following Saturday I got my sewing machine - thanks mom and dad!

Thank you to everyone who had a part in my birthday this year, you made me feel so special and loved!
(and I know I used lots of "!" this post, but this month was just that good!)