YEARS OF WAITING

Growing up I couldn't wait to get my own place so I could decorate it how I wanted to. My mom would never take my designing tips growing up because our styles were completely different. Now that I'm married and have my own place she loves my style. (Funny how that works out.)
I've spent the last 3-4 years buying decorations and other home decor items for the time when I'd have my own place. Everything from dishes to pictures frames. And now it is finally coming together. I still have a lot of work I want to do and I know when we get a house one day things will have to be moved around but for now I'm having fun FINALLY getting the opportunity to do things my way. I really like black and white decor. One day when we get a house I'll have colored walls to make everthing POP.
Codee thought he'd do a lot of the decorating when we got married but c'mon... us women wait years to do this. And I was not about to have a camo couch and elk antlers on the wall. Maybe if we ever have a cabin I'll take those suggestions into consideration. ;)
I've spent the last year and half looking for lamps. I know right... lamps! But I am so in love with this lamp I bought 2 of them! Even though only 1 has a place right now.





















I made these frames with scrapbook paper and wooden frames from my work. I love the way they turned out and I found this metal "FAMILY" sign at Real Deals.



They sell these box signs at Gardner Village but I was so stoked when we started carrying them at my work and I could use my awesome discount.


"Kissing the War Goodbye" is my favorite photograph of all time. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture!

VALENTINES

Since Valentines was on a Monday this year we did things a little different. We planned on celebrating on Wednesday night because Codee has school till 10 o'clock on Mondays and Wednesdays are the only not he doesn't have class. But the stupid snow rolled in on and Codee spent the night in a plow truck.
So Friday we finally went out to dinner to our favorite restaurant Market Street (seriously to DIE for). And Codee gave me the cutest handmade card! And an all day trip to the day spa. Yes, I'm a lucky girl. But of course I forgot my camera so you'll miss my snazy outfit I wore that night.

But I do have some Valentines crafts pictures to share. Right after the Christmas tree came down, up went the Valentines. This was probably my next favorite holiday to decorate for next to Halloween.

TOP 10 OF 2010

NUMBER 10
Fun Times with Mariah
We always look forward to our time with Mariah. We've loved watching her grow this year (and not just taller.) We've been to Bees games with her, had craft nights, worked on homework, been to the science fair, coached her softball team, went to the Christmas Carol play and and who can forget the Justin Bieber conecert! And so much more. We love this girl to pieces!





















NUMBER 9
Honeybee
This is was my 4th year being a honeybee. I love going to the ballpark and I love a good baseball game. And I get paid to go! This year was extra special because after getting married I didn't get to see Natalie as much so it was something that we could still do together.


NUMBER 8
Crafting
My crafting skills have definitely come a long way this year. I started an etsy store and crafting has become my new #1 hobby. I've started teaching demonstrations and doing craft nights with my family and friends. I hope 2011 is an even bigger craft year for me.














NUMBER 7
Vacations
We went to some fun places this year. The Hoover Dam, Vegas, Colorado, Bear Lake, Midway.












NUMBER 6
114th South
Codee has been working on the new 114th South interchange for the past couple years. And his segment was finally finished in October.












NUMBER 5
No More Math! Well math classes that is...
Codee took his LAST actual math class this last semester. Differential Equations. Although he'll have tons of math to do throughout his major he has finally reached the highest level of collegiate mathematics.



















NUMBER 4
Wood Connection
My job has been a been huge blessing in our life. I started the end of February and I absolutely love it. I love going to work everyday. I was so unhappy with my work situation until the Wood Connection came along. My overall career aspirations are a bit confusing now but I can honestly say I love my job and I'd rather be doing something I love than be doing something I went to school for and hate it.


NUMBER 3
Zola
Although Zola has become "the big bully" in our house, she instantly became part of our family when we brought her home. She makes us laugh everyday. Zola and Togo couldn't live without each other and our the best kids we could ask for.














NUMBER 2
Home Sweet Home
Apartment hunting was the biggest headache for the first half of the year. We looked at sooo many places! Our apartment now is perfect and has become our "Home Sweet Home". It's been so much fun having a place of our own.


NUMBER 1
Getting Married
I can't believe we've been married for 6 months already. Our wedding day has definitely been the best part of our year. The best decision I've ever made is making my best friend my husband.

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. I have so many blessings in my life and so much to thankful for. I love taking the time to reflect on what I have in my life.

The number one blessing in my life is CODEE. He is seriously my best friend and I am so lucky to have him as my husband. I know I've said it before he honestly saved my life. He treats me so good. He works hard for us and the life we together. And I am so.. so thankful for him and for everything he does. I would truly be lost without him.

I am thankful for my JOB. I LOVE going to work everyday. How many people can say that? I love what I do. And I love the people I work with. Employment is still a hard thing to find these days. I was talking to the owner of a business we do work with and he just laid off one of his workers that had been with him for 17 years. I am so thankful I have a stable job and that it's something I love.

I am thankful for CODEE'S JOB. The benefits are awesome. The work is busy and I don't have to worry about him being laid off. Sometimes the hours he work aren't the greatest. But I'm just grateful we both have jobs.

I am thankful for our FREEDOM in this country. The troops who lose and risk their lives everyday for our country. God bless our troops and their families.

I am thankful for FAMILY. My parents, my seester Natalie. Codee's parents and siblings. Both of our grandparents. They are our support system, the ones who love us and are always on our side. I am thankful that we now have our own little family.

I am thankful for our APARTMENT. Yes... our apartment, our HOME. I love our little love nest. Half the time its a complete mess but I love that it is "our place". A place that we can call our own.

I am thankful for TOGO & ZOLA. These little monsters bring so much happiness into our lives. Yes they poo on the carpet and drag out all 30 of their toys everyday. And Togo never eats out of the dog bowl he wacks it out of the bowl and all over the floor and then eats it and leaves a mess. And they start a fight at 3 a.m. But these little terrors complete our little family.

I am thankful for MARIAH. We love this little girl so much. We have so much fun with her. We love doing things with her and helping her with her homework. She makes us laugh all the time. For instance...
Mariah: "How do you wake up Lady Gaga?"
Us: "How?"
Mariah: "You POKER face"
We LOVE her!

These are just a few of the things I am thinking of and grateful for this year. Always be sure to take the time to think of things that YOU are grateful for in your own lives.

And here are a few of my thanksgiving crafts...

FAMILY PHOTOS

Now that I am officially a "Raymond" I wanted to get family pictures done with my new family. Of course the fabulous Nathaniel Ray Photography took our photographs and he did an awesome job as always. Here's a few of my favorite...





Nykele, Darith, Daimyn & Londyn


Clint & Shoni


Us

I've been wanting to do this post for a while. I put my Halloween decoations up the first week of September, Halloween is my favorite holiday. I've been collecting Halloween decorations for years... just waiting to have a place of my own. And I wanted to have them up as long as possible. They finally came down today but here is how fun our little aparmtment has been the past couple months.

SPOT BOT

Potty training a puppy isn't easy... especially when there are 3 flights of stairs between the carpet and the grass. So we bought this.... Bissell Spot Bot

This little carpet cleaning machine is amazing! It takes all the back breaking work out of scrubbing carpets. And we found an screaming deal on KSL. $40 bucks instead of the regular $130. I love you Spot Bot!

And here are some pictures of the kids...

Swiss Days

I haven't been to Swiss Days since I was a little girl but this year I really wanted to go. Crafts have pretty much consumed all my spare time since graduating from college. And Swiss Days is a craft girls dream.
My mom, Natalie and I headed up first thing in the morning so we could get there and get all the good things before they got picked over. Dang... did I clean up good. I can't wait till next year to do it all over again.

My favorite purchase was this hat... I LOVE hats! I'm obsessed with hats! I'd wear one every day but then people would think I'm too lazy to do my hair.


Next, almost every booth had cute fabric flowers. These are a few I bought to interchange on my favorite hat.


This was my other favorite thing. I saw someone walking around with one and I immediately went on a mad hunt for one. It's a huge metal spider. I stuck Zola in front of it so you could see how giant the thing is.




This adorable pumpkin goes amazing with my Halloween decor.


Natalie and I both bought headbands from this booth.


And finally... I've always wanted a tile magnet board and I finally found one. I still just need to find a place for it.