Well, the world didn't end. That is a good thing, because 2013 is going to be a good year for us. I just know it.

We moved. We are renting a cute little townhouse in Provo. It is cold, there are boxes everywhere and I can't find anything I need. But it already feels like home. It is exactly where we need to be right now. Our heater is broken, I am blaming that for my laziness. It is too cold to get out from under this blanket and off of my big fluffy couch, so I'm blogging instead of unpacking. I am really excited to make a home out of this place. We can paint, we can hang stuff on the walls and I will have a lot more spare time... I'm so excited to decorate.

I quit my job. I'm kind of freaking out. 3 1/2 years ago I stopped going to school and started working full time. Mostly because I wanted to make sure Graphic Design was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I soon found out, it wasn't. I enjoy it, but it puts the kind of pressure on me that I know I couldn't handle all day, everyday for the next 45 years. I am creative and I have a good eye for design... but I don't like being paid to be creative or someone telling me how to be creative. I just don't. Anyways, it took me a long time to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Once I figured it out, money was what stopped me from going back to school. Not necessarily the lack of if, but the fear of the lack of it. I get stressed when money is tight, and I'm not good at budgeting. I suck at it. Not having two incomes is going to be rough, but it will be worth it.

I am going back to school to be a teacher. Elementary Education. I had my first class last night. It was a math refresher course (haven't taken math for almost 7 years! help me!) At first I was sort of surprised at how quickly it came back to me, but then again, I've always been good at math. :) One more refresher course tonight, then real classes start Monday! eek!

The original purpose of this post was for me to write out some goals for 2013. But most of my goals are related to my news, so I thought I'd better fill you in first. Now that I've written the news, I think my time will be better spent unpacking my closet.

Marriage is the best thing in the world. I love it so much. It is awesome to find someone that you can spend every waking moment with and not get sick of. Dan is the wow-butter to my jelly, the general tso to my chicken.

No, but really. He has become a part of me, that I never even knew I needed. He knows me better than I know myself. We went to St. George & Vegas for a little weekend getaway this weekend, I surprised him with it and I had a few other little things planned for him. He got me a DSLR (told you I loved him) and I couldn't really compete with that. So since the 1st year anniversary theme (we're nerdy like that) is paper, I printed off all his gifts & put them in envelopes so he would have to open them before we did them. For example, the address to the condo we stayed in, then the tickets to Aladdin at Tuachan. Anyways, so we were about to go to vegas to do a little shopping for Dan & I told him we needed to get the last envelope. So he goes and grabs it and sits on the bed, meanwhile I'm checking the battery on my new camera and he thought I was getting it ready to take a picture of him & so he opened the envelope. I looked up and panicked, because I suck, and I kind of sort of yelled/snapped at him because he wasn't supposed to open it yet. Then I just started bawling. Um hello, over reacting? It was a picture of a dang hamburger. Who cares. But I had this whole thing planned that we would shop and then he would be so tired and hungry and then I would say, but wait, one more surprise!! and then he would open the envelope and there would be a picture of that huge 2 lb hamburger with 4 patties & 20 slices of bacon that we saw on Man vs. Food and he would love me forever for remembering. Then we would go eat it. So anyways, here I was crying my eyes out over the fact that I wasn't going to be able to surprise him, or was it PMS? Or am I just a freaking beyotch? and he just came over and hugged beastly old Michelle & told me it was ok that I snapped. Because he knew that was why I was crying, because I felt bad for snapping. I didn't even know that. See how perfect he is for me?!!

So here I am, thinking about the past year. There were ups, there were downs, I got chubby, then got skinny, then I got chubby again. haha. And I honestly wouldn't change a thing. The ups brought us closer together, the downs just make us realize how much we need each other. We ended up together by chance, the right place, the right people, the right time (thanks Tiff!!) And I know I couldn't have found anyone better. Cheers to the past year, and here's to many, many more. I love you Dan!!

Today marks Michelle's and my 1st year anniversary. It started out with us both scared to be naked in front of each other, and ended with us both being spanked by a skeezy nurse in front of a bunch of drunk guys in Vegas...long story.

I'm actually a bit embarrassed to write this post. But here it goes.

I mentioned a few (TWELVE) weeks ago that I was doing a "Biggest Loser" contest with my co-workers. Let me start with this. I've honestly been really blessed and I have never really struggled with my body image. I mean, yes, there was a point in my life when I was taller than all the boys and thought I was a freakishly tall (5'11") GIANT. But I got over that pretty quick. I love myself and I love my body. I love my height and I love my curves. I really, truly do. Even when I'm at my heaviest, I still pretty much think I'm hot shiz... because I can, and I am. ;)

That being said, thanks to the stress of planning a wedding, I did gain a few (7-8ish?) lbs before I got married. I know, I know. I should have been working extra hard to look good naked and stuff, but I wasn't. And oh well.

So my work announced this contest, I joined because I'm competitive and I didn't want to be the girl that gets super fat after she gets married... and to be honest, I was probably on my way. Remember, celebration mode?? Haha. I'll wait until I have a baby to blame for that, thank you very much.

So the 12 weeks came and went, and I didn't do anything crazy, just started making better choices. I still ate pizza, taco bell and hamburgers. I just felt guilty everytime I did. I didn't want to let my team down, and yes, sometimes I would get bitter. I would say, DAN! I HATE THIS. IF I'M GOING TO GET SKINNY I'M GOING TO DO IT FOR ME!! but really, I loved it. My team didn't win. But we should have. We had 4 of the biggest losers, but unfortunately for us... one of the biggest gainers as well :-/

So... the results. I lost 19 pounds. I honestly didn't think I looked much different, but I knew I felt healthier, and my jeans did fit a little better. A lot of people said they could see a difference in my face... So I looked at some pictures. Um yeah, you can definitely see it in my face. Haha.



Roughly the same angle... Taken by Dan, sitting across from him at a restaruant. This happens a lot. oops.


Same hoodie & both mirror pics.  Tay and I were matchy, so we documented it. And yes, we just woke up.. And then again to document my progress.

So there's that.

1. First glimpse of Hogwarts!

2. I just thought this display of giant Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans was cool. :)

3. Tay and I in Hogsmeade!

4. Inside Honeyduke's Sweet Shop. Everything was so dang expensive, so I didn't buy anything, but I wanted to... $12 for a chocolate frog that doesn't even really move? Not a chance.

5. Pumpkin Juice. I didn't try it (gross) but the bottles were super cool.

6. ME DRINKING A BUTTERBEER. YES, IT WAS DELICIOUS. I want to try to make some at home, I found a recipe that sounds about right... but I've been doing the biggest loser with my work. Four more days.

7. Tay in front of Platform 9 3/4. So cool.

8. Jay Carl with his butterbeer 'stache. He's pretty cool.

All in all, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is awesome. And you should go visit.