Bridal Showers Bring...March Weddings.

The highlight of my week was when my cute wittle baby sister had her bridal shower. It's so weird that my 5'0 little smooshy, that I could throw up in the air if I wanted, is getting MARRIED. Like she is going to be a wife people. And knowing her, I mean the 50s kind.

Anyway, the day OF her bridal shower was complete chaos. Rachel and I were shopping pretty much all day (okay okay, we messed around and giggled all morning long. So sue us) looking for prizes, last minute decorations, and anything my mom needed. It was fun though. I love her. She and I laugh and have fun everytime we go shopping. Plus, thank GOODNESS we didn't get that unfortunate trait of taking HOURS to shop like my dearest mother. Haha So it was fun just to spend the days with my sis.

And shout out to my mom, who seriously put a LOT of time, effort, and money into making this party really special for Rae. She really got the ball rolling and I know Rachel was really thankful. My mom is the Kris Jenner of our Martin klan. She's awesome.

Once we got all the decorations hung, the games ready, the prizes laid out, the food prepped, and ourselves all prettied up: it was time to party!!

My mom, Aunt Laura, and Grandma all got the food ready and we had chicken salad crescent rolls, fruit, Erin brought veggies, and then we had Hot Fudge Lava Cake (Holy. Moly. That stuff is GREAT) and red velvet cheesecake...BUT. The best thing I ate the whole night I would have to be......drum roll please.......the ADORABLE cookies that the looovely Mechelle Welch made for Rae!! Yes, they are lingerie cookies. Amaz. Ing.

I know. She's beyond talented, right? But the rest of the night was just plain fun. Watching Rachel be so excited to get married and you could feel how happy everyone was to support her and it was just plain fun. We had a good time playing games and watching Rachel open her presents (and making her turn blood red when we whistled and hooted when she opened her "VERY little bags" Haha) These are a couple of my most favorite pictures from the red-and-white night.



Alex just happened to be down from Idaho!!! I was SO excited and happy to have her there!!!

All in all, I loooved doing this for Rae and it was SO much fun. I'm glad she enjoyed it. She's a great sister and she's going to be one rockin wife.

21 Questions (and then some)

Blame the boredom. I found this so I might as well. It's as good an update as I'm going to get lately.

0: My middle name is: Anne
1: I was born in: The Grand Canyon State
2: I am really: shy actually
3: My cell phone company is: It's the Network
4: My eye color is: It's complicated
5: My shoe size is: 6 or 7
6: My ring size is: 5
7: My height is: 5'3
8: I am allergic to: cats, dust, Bermuda grass
9: My 1st car was: 98 Ford Contour
10: My 1st job was: Albertsons Bakery
11: Last book you read: Scriptures?
12: My bed is: Impossible to get out of in the morning
13: My pet: should've been named Snoop (because she's a dog? I know. I'm hilarious)
14: My best friend: (s) are currently in all different states: Idaho, Texas, Utah. Kill me.
15: My favorite shampoo is: Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion (Naturals? Something)
16: AIM name: used to be second nature.
17: Piggy Banks are: practice
18: In my pockets: there's probably some loose change, but always bobby pins
19: On my calendar: recipes, birthdays, and a countdown.
20: Marriage is: so precious. NOT to be taken lightly. Ever.
21: Sponge Bob can: make the BEST Mac & Cheese.
22: My mom: puts up with a lot and I admire her for it.
23: The last three cd’s I bought were: on iTunes.
24: Last YouTube video watched: was made by my lovely friend, Aaron Allsop, starring the dashing J Renshaw.
25: How many cousins do you have? A TON.
26: Do you have any siblings: all girls
27: Are your parents divorced: Nope :)
28: Are you taller than your mom? Nope :(
29: Do you play an instrument? I can mess around on piano...that's it.
30: What did you do yesterday: Worked. Shopped. Watched the Bachelor with my fam and made a special package.

You're welcome world.

So This is the New Year

So who had an AWESOME New Years Eve?! These ladies.

You can't tell from the pictures, but we had glitter all over our eyelids and we were ready to party. :) Alex and I decided to ring in the New Year, FINALLY, in the best way we could've: we went down to Vista and Alex's grandma was nice enough to offer us her home while she stayed over at her friend's house! So we got ready there, sipped our sparkling cider (it's tradition and you CAN'T have a proper New Years Eve without it) and headed off to the dance!! After passing a Jehovah's witness gathering place and driving through suuuper "freaky deaky" thick fog, we finally made a U-turn and found it. And this place was AWESOME.

(Don't worry it, was pretty packed by the end of the night) It was seriously like a club in there, and if you know Alex and I at ALL, you'd know we've wanted to go to a club on New Years Eve forEVer. So we basically did! Just without all the crazy sleazy people on the dance floor.

But don't get us wrong. We want to go to a full-fledged rave eventually too. We can't help it, we like to party!

Anyway, the tickets also got you pizza (I've never seen SO SO SO many pizzas in one kitchen-there were seriously at least 70, if not 100), water, games, and this AWESOME photo booth where you can take as many pictures as many times you want! We walked away with a couple of winners. But we also walked out with an entire pizza. Haha

Then we went home, watched Jersey Shore while we ate about half the pizza and made pina colada drinks-both of which were divine. Then we went to bed.

So, eventually I'll probably post my "New Years Resolutions" but there's too many words already on this post. Later. So I hope EVERYONE had such a fabulous time and ringin in the new year was one to remember! Love you all!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

New Years! Bring On 2012!

Highlights from 2011

Greatest lesson learned: Just tell it how it is. Don't try to make everyone feel bad. Just be completely honest.

Hardest thing of the year: Rachel quitting school. I don't know if it was school pride or my guilt that I should've been there with her more. She might've stayed had I given her the time of day.

Favorite memory: Well there's quite a few. But I can narrow it down to these for now...
-tanning with Alex
-CABIN TRIP, 'nuff said.
-pulling pranks with my roommates
-going to random places I've never been before
-dance parties...seriously. Without these, my days would've never have gotten better
-Ben's Manhood Trip
-Being there for nephew's birthday
-Working at Mango Tango with Rachel
-Skype played a BIG part of my year
-Camping in Boise
-The bike ride in Boise
-Just Dance at Nick's house
-Thanksgiving trip with James
-General Conference with my awesome FHE family
-Scroll Digital, especially filming the show!!
-Dessert competitions with my FHE family
-Playing truth or dare until the early morning
-Glow in the Dark Hide and Seek with Ben
-Watching terrifying clips from scary movies with Andrea (then watching Mormon Messages to feel better)
-Walking around, playing Hide and Seek in a dark giant cabin
-Getting attacked my two murderers in the cabin
-Talking a long, dark, scary walk with Alex and James & James scaring the CRAP out of us
-Staying out ALL night long for Nick's birthday
-Hanging out with James and his roommates
-Making homemade Touscana soup with Aaron
-Johnny's JamCakes

Okay okay, I'll stop there. I didn't realize how LONG that sucker was gettting!

What I loved most about 2011: It was an amazing year. I did a whole lot of growing up, that's for sure. My best friend and I are closer than ever and I couldn't ask for a better person to share everything with. She's amazing in every way and I strive to be just like her.

I also met the perfect gentleman of a cowboy and who is the Lamar to my Khloe. Haha (Sorry, it's been a while since I had a K-dash reference) The smile to my face, the tune to my song and all that other lovey-dovey stuff. Haha
And education-wise, I learned a LOT. In my classes, I was actually absorbing everything and realizing this is what I'm meant to do because I just absolutely LOVE it!! And of course, my testimony grew tremendously, especially being the Relief Society president and I am so blessed to be in such an amazing place where I can feel the spirit and people are just so nice and friendly. I have President Clark and great teachers and a great bishopric all looking out for me and I pray more that I may have ever before. Plus, I am really starting to figure myself out. Plus I had SO many friends get married and have babies! I am so happy for everyone.

Looking forward to 2012

Want to learn: More skills. Technical skills. Piano, guitar, sewing, etc.

Want to get better at: exercising...EVERYDAY. And becoming a better chef.

Biggest goal: Lose. That. Weight. And be the best Maid of Honor ever!!

I'm Ill, ya hear that Lil Wayne?

Things I would die for right now...

1. Rock climbing
2. Swedish Fish
3. Camping trip
4. The Tootsie Maki or Viva Las Vegas rolls at Ra Sushi

5. A car so I can drive around listening to music
6. A nice set of colored pens so I can journal all artsy-like
7. The obvious one-a nice, big bag of Lifesaver gummies.

And a partridge in a pear tree. :) Being sick makes me a loopy. On the bright side, I do get to have as much soup as I can eat! Aaand I get to watch home videos. That's the best part of being sick EVER.

Winter Bucket List

Ok so I did saw this same thing for fall and I really hope I can check off every single one of these things by March!! Well, I mean, some I'm sure I won't...but it's the thought that counts right?

UPDATE: January 6th 2011
Okay. So far, I have...

-Eaten Peppermint Bark (thank you, James!)
-Looked at Christmas lights, multiple times
-Been ice-skating...okay it was tubing, but I'm counting it!
-Volunteered
-Eaten Gingerbread
-Made cookies for "Santa" (you're welcome Dad. Haha)
-Drank hot chocolate
-Filled stockings
-Decorated the Christmas tree by myself (so making ornaments)
-Gave a Secret Santa
-Saw Reindeer Food-it counts.

California Cat

DUMBEST THING EVER.

Maybe you've heard, maybe you haven't. But a stray cat that was taken in by a woman in Rome was just left with a GIANT fortune....Let's just take a second to let that settle in.

Who the heck leaves a $13 million dollar fortune to a stupid cat?! What is that cat going to do with it, make a nice bed? So dumb. People, do something worthwhile with your money! Give it to a nice charity if you really don't care about it that much. I mean, I get it. She didn't have any children so she left it to the closest thing she had. But does anyone else see that as just a wee bit irresponsible? There are people starving or trying to recover from HUGE natural disasters all over the world. We're in an economic crisis! So yes, obviously the smart thing to do with your leftoever money is to give it to a dumb, lazy cat.

Okay. Sorry. The world these days, I'll tell ya. Common sense is getting less and less common.

On a somewhat better note, I go home on Friday!! I have mixed feelings. I love home and California and my family, but I definitely am going to miss Rexburg. There is always something productive I can be doing, people to see and play with, places to go...and a couple of my favorite people. All together in one place, where it's nice and easy to get together.

Ah. Well. This is how it always is. And hopefully not MUCH will change just because of distance. Ah well. Back to my final project....there are definitely some things I would LOVE a break from.