Beautiful View

I did some home inspections on Saturday in Heber and saw this awesomeness when I was going through the canyon back to Provo. I actually turned around to take these pictures.

This is Deer Creek and I took different exposures.

Deck The Halls!

Happy Birthday Mom!

It's my favorite mom's birthday!

I know I have already posted this pic but it is the most recent one of my mom...she's not really into letting me take her picture. We will change that at Christmas!)

I am so blessed to have the best mom in the entire world. She is such an amazing woman. She is the kindest, most loving, least selfish person I know. She would do anything for anyone and I'm so thankful we're close. (I'm also grateful that I get more 'mom time' now that Jordan's on a mission!) She has always been there for anything I've needed all my life. She is super supportive and my biggest cheerleader. She even wants to come all the way to Utah just to be with me when I close on my home. She's the best!

I love you mom!

*****

And, Happy Half Birthday To Me!

Pretty cool that my 1/2 birthday is my mom's birthday and vice versa!

(I am very aware that I am a dork, don't worry about it).

So, aside from the great news of a new house, I just found out (thanks Anna!) that my celebrity boyfriend is in another (hopefully awesome) love story movie!

The Lucky One is based on Nicholas Sparks' novel which I loved, so the movie is bound to be great!

I'm also excited to see him in New Year's Eve that opens this Friday.

Just can't get enough.

So...

Remember that day that I bought a house?!?!

That day is TODAY!!!

I know...HOLY CRAP!

(sorry for the lame Google image - pics of the actual house to follow soon!)

Yes, I am completely freaking out. I have never been this physically ill due to stress and anxiety - ever before. I have pretty much ALWAYS lived my life in the path of least resistance which, I guess, has worked pretty well because I've been pretty happy all my life.

Path Of Least Resistance = Low Stress Levels

Well, that ALL changed this very day! I feel like this has all happened really fast. I mean, I only first laid eyes on my new casa a mere month ago, but so many little (and big) things have just fallen into place and (aside from the ulcer in my stomach and the bald spots on my head), I feel pretty great and really excited to take this next big step. It's so funny because I keep saying (to myself and out loud) that I don't feel old enough to do this. I guess I don't really know how old is old enough, but I'm in!

So, technically, it's not all final until I sign my life away at closing (fingers crossed for 12/21/11!), but it's all looking and feeling good, so I'm just planning on it! There are still a few things that I need to figure out - someone to buy my current contract (pretty much the only thing that stands between me and freedom from that is figuring out how to adhere the 'For Rent' sign to my frozen garage door - super glue?). I also want to have a roommate (maybe 2?) for the first year or so just so I can get grown-up things like a washer and dryer and blinds. Plus, I've never lived alone and I imagine that it would be...well, lonely.

One of the coolest things that I found out recently is that like 10 people/families I know and love live in or around my new neighborhood. Cool, huh? Oh, I forgot to mention that my new home is in Spanish Fork.

I know...it's about 30 miles farther south then I wanted, but this house is perfect for me (DID YOU SEE THE KITCHEN?!?!) and Sp Fork is actually quite beautiful and quieter than Provo.

Anyway, fingers crossed that the rest of the process is simple, painless and FAST! I would love to have the keys by Christmas!

I Want This So Bad!

So, I've been looking for a house to purchase for a couple of years. It is a super scary decision and one I never planned to make on my own. But really, when will be a better time to buy? Prices are low (it still blows my mind how much houses are though) and interest rates are unheard of.

3.75%?  Yes, please.

So, my friend/realtor Nikki found this home. Well, technically her mom (my new neighbor!) did, but she was definitely involved. We walked through the front door and into the living room. It was nice, but I didn't immediately fall in love. However, as soon as I set foot in the (heavenly) kitchen, I was like, "Where do I sign? Get me the papers!"

Okay, it didn't really go like that, but the kitchen is awesome.

We are still in negotiations, but I really, really want to live here, so please wish me luck!

(I am so stressed/anxious about this that I am literally losing sleep...and hair!)

Something New

33. Take Voice Lessons

I have wanted to sing, really sing, for as long as I can remember. I have just never taken the opportunity. I've sung in choirs and even a couple of quartets, but I want to be good.

It's a big step because it's hard for old people to learn new things.

A couple in my ward moved in a few months ago and when the wife, Karen introduced herself, she announced that she was accepting new voice clients. Perfect.

So far, I've had 3 lessons and it's way harder than I thought it would be. I knew it wouldn't be a piece of cake, but I had no idea it would be so mortifying! To start every lesson, I have to warm up my tongue and lips by sticking my tongue out and making it rumble. Yes, a lot of saliva is involved. I can't help it.

Does anyone have a tarp?

Karen sits at the piano and plays notes that I (make every ounce of effort possible to) sing and I stand right by her, facing her, so she's most definitely in the splash zone.

So. Embarrassing.

And the rest of the lesson doesn't usually go much better. We're starting with basics like how I breathe and stand and how I hold (and/or relax) my tongue. I feel like such an epic failure for 30 minutes once a week. In fact, I was so embarrassed at my first lesson that I was super close to crying. I hope it gets better soon!

But, she keeps scheduling more lessons and lets me come back (she even told me that I'm doing well!), so maybe there's hope for me!

Archie

I haven't been into American Idol since Kelly Clarkson won 100 years ago, so I haven't really been on the David Archuleta bandwagon for too long. I have always thought that he is super adorable (you know, in a cute little brother kind of way) and I was excited to hear that he was coming to a book signing at a Deseret Book in Orem. I thought it would be super cool to meet him, so I put it on my calendar.

I went back to L.A. a couple of weeks ago (more on that in another post - hopefully) and had a great weekend with Rachel and co. Her husband took Julia (18 months) to church on Sunday and Rachel and I hung out with the babies. After they got home, I remembered that I was planning to meet David Archuleta the next day. When I told Rachel, her husband yelled from the other room that he had just seen him at church like 20 minutes earlier.

Um...What?

Yeah, he's a regular visitor to their ward. I guess that's my punishment for not going to church. The really sucky (yes, that's a word) part is that when I went to Deseret Book the next day to meet him, the line (of teenage girls) went all through the store, out the door, down the side of the building and around the corner.

Uh, I wanted to meet him, but I didn't want to stand in line, in the cold for hours. 

By myself.

(Yeah, not one of my friends was even remotely interested).

Sorry Archie.

I'll just have to be sure I go to church next time I visit Rachel.

I did buy an autographed copy of the MoTab Christmas CD, so it's almost like I got to meet him.