Guess who showed up on my Pandora station the other day?

My Mom!!!!! We were listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Pandora station and her version of Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing came up! She did this song with a group called Fiddlesticks. Doesn't she sound lovely? I had to stop recording because I was starting to cry. Sorry for the abrupt cut off...

Sweet dreams

Ander and I finally bought a new bed. A brand new Tempur-pedic memory foam bed. Cloud Luxe to be exact. This was the final trade-off for Ander's new boat.

And I could not be happier!

We still have to break it in, because memory foam mattresses start out on the firm side, but it's getting softer by the day and I am in love with it. After it's all broken in it will be so incredibly soft, I can't wait!  The very best part about it is I can't feel Ander move around at night at all. I can hardly even feel May-May jump on the bed! It's wonderful. It's the nicest thing I've ever owned... and that includes cars.

Ander and I have been married for over six years now. SIX YEARS and we have never once had a headboard. So naturally I had to change that. I had started making this headboard before we got the new bed... amazing how that works out. I found the tutorial here (yes, I found it on Pinterest!) and it was pretty easy. Hers looks way better than mine, but I think her fabric choice was better. I chose a deep purple to go with our green duvet, and the duvet is really busy. I didn't want to have a busy headboard and a busy duvet. I'm quite pleased with it! Especially since it's my first one I've ever made!

My next project will be our bathroom. I guess it's not much of a project, really. I just need new rugs and a new shower curtain. I'll have to make the curtain though. I have some pretty exciting ideas! You know me, I always have to have SOMETHING crafty to work on.

You say hello, and we say goodbye

Goodbye to Austin that is...

Ander and I took a well deserved small vacation to Galveston Texas this past weekend. We both needed it, although I don't think Ander realized that until we got there. I kept thinking to myself, "Why do I feel like I need this vacation? I just went home for Christmas and that was only four months ago!"

REASONS WHY THESE LAST FOUR MONTHS HAVE BEEN SECRETLY SORT OF AWFUL:

1. I usually go home to Utah at the beginning of each April. That's when my mom's Spring Break is. I've gone home to spend that time with her for the last three years. This year Ander and I are going to California in June for a week, so we couldn't take a Utah trip this month.

2. Brooke, one of our busiest Lash Stylists just up and quit out of the blue. Brooke was pretty much booked solid most days, and usually for weeks at a time. We had nowhere to put her appointments.

3. Jamie, another one of our busiest stylists found out she was pregnant and had the worst morning sickness she had ever had. She called in sick constantly so therefore we had to constantly reschedule her appointments. Her whole entire first trimester was that way.

4. We hired on a new stylist, Stacy, and her training was pretty bad. She just wasn't getting the technique... she just didn't have what it took. She was very dramatic about everything and made mountains out of molehills on a daily basis.

5. We hired two more stylists, Kayla and Rachel, that have actually worked out! But I still had to train them and check their work for two weeks.

6. Stacy broke crushed her thumb knuckle bone completely, ending her career at the Lash Lounge.

7. Kayla found out she was pregnant and also got really sick. She is now currently working part time. She also had to quit smoking cold turkey and went through major nicotine withdrawals.

8. Kayla's older sister died in an accident and Kayla had to go home for a week. When she returned not only was she still suffering nicotine withdrawals, but she was grieving, pregnant, sick, and stressed out.

9. We hired yet ANOTHER new stylist, Emily. And she has been a delight, but I still had to train her and check her work for another two weeks.

10. I've had to address client complaints regarding almost all of my technicians for one thing or another, which is exhausting because I hate having those depressing conversations with my techs.

11. My sister has been struggling a lot in her life, just crappy things happening at crappy times. I worry about her a lot.

So one Saturday night I had a meltdown. I couldn't really handle it anymore. I was tired of putting everyone else's fires out, and trying to balance my church duties, my duties as a wife, my duties as a Master Stylist, my duties in the home... and Ander being the sweet husband he is told me that I needed a vacation.

So we took one.

We took Ander's truck because on the way back from Galveston we were going to pick up his new (used) Legend bass boat. I'm sure we used twice as much gas then we would have if we would have taken my car, but whatevs... the seats are bigger so May-May mostly hung out on my lap. And in case you're wondering, she's 55 pounds.

We stopped in Houston for breakfast at Denny's. Why is it that I have a feeling that Texas is the ONLY place that is offering bacon desserts? Ander said they could be good, but I decided to steer clear. And another thing: Denny's breakfasts really aren't that good. I prefer IHOP.

 Full stomach = happy husband.

 Ander and I thought it was funny that everything on the bridge to Galveston island was wavy. The dividers, the street lamps, even the road was a little bumpy. I guess that's Galveston saying WELCOME TO THE OCEAN.

We left Austin around six in the morning, so we got to Galveston with plenty of time to hang out at the beach with May-May before we checked into our beach house. May-May did not know what to think of the waves. Well, that's not true. She hated them.

This is a totally relaxed couple NOT thinking about work.

This is the cute beach house we got to stay in! The lady that lives there rents it out for the weekends for $125 a night on the weekends. We were able to bring May-May and not pay a pet fee and we got the whole house to ourselves. And it was only a block away from the beach!

On our way to our beach house we passed Pleasure Pier. Galveston was ripped to shreds a couple of years ago by a hurricane, and they apparently rebuilt this pier to be even cooler than the last one. We tried to walk in with May-May on her leash and the attendant told us no pets were allowed. "Can you imagine if we let people bring their pets in here?" she asked, "it would be an absolute zoo." True story. We decided that since we had brought May-May with us to Galveston there was no reason to leave her at the beach house. Why would we have brought her to leave her alone in a strange place? Naw, we never went to Pleasure Pier. The roller coaster looked scary anyway.

As we were walking across the street to get to Pleasure Pier I tripped on a metal track running down the road. I almost went down to the ground THREE different times, but I magically kept myself up. I probably looked like a complete idiot to all the cars waiting at the red light. When I finally got my footing I raised my hands high above my head as if I had just won a gold metal. A group of people walking

We saw a bunch of people fishing out on a jetty, Ander couldn't help himself, he had to go and ask them if they were catching anything yadda yadda yadda. Ander was so sweet, he didn't bring ONE SINGLE fishing pole on this trip. He told me this trip was for me, not for fishing. But he did tell me that the next trip we take to Galveston he will totally be bringing some fishing stuff. I guess it's all well and good since I just want to read and get some sun on the beach anyway.

 Wind makes May-May look like a fruit bat.

Ander took me to the Rainforest Cafe for lunch. This was the only time we left May-May at the beach house. You definitely don't go to the Rainforest Cafe for the food... but the atmosphere is cool. We sat next to a giant waterfall and the animatronic gorillas a couple tables down from us made a commotion every ten minutes. Thunderstorms happen every 30 minutes. I had never eaten at a Rainforest Cafe before. 

 Sunday morning we headed back out the beach for the earlier part of the day. Ander bought a boogie board and spent his time in the water with May-May while I caught some rays and read a bit. The weather was absolutely perfect. Breezy, sunny, and warm. I wish I could do this every weekend.

 On our way to grab lunch we saw the coolest colored dog we've both ever seen in our lives. Black and white face with a perfect line down the middle. This jeep stopped next to us at a stoplight a little later. I told Ander to ask the guy what kind of dog it was but Ander said, "No, he probably gets that question all the time." Lame. I'm sure it was a mutt, but it was a beautiful one at that.

The woman that owns the house we stayed in was kind enough to show us this article right before she handed us the keys. Apparently this wreck happened right in front of her house just a few days ago. Literally. That car that is parked to the right of the picture is her car. That wreck missed her car by inches. Some guy was intoxicated and going 90 miles an hour down this quiet little street while running from the cops. He crashed into another car and obliterated both vehicles. It was unnerving walking around the block and finding pieces of car everywhere. Every stop sign we came to I said a little prayer, "Please bless that no one is going 90 miles an hour down this road this very moment so we don't die..."

Saying goodbye to the ocean for the time being. Headed to Houston for a boat and then back home!

Waiting on 'Merica, Ander's new bass boat. It's purdy.

Texas is famous for it's Blue Bonnet flowers. We drove past a huge field of them and decided to stop. They were beautiful. These babies are a staple for family photos in the state of Texas.

May-May was pretty exhausted by the end of our weekend. The first night we stayed in the beach house she stayed out on the couch and woofed and barked at every noise she heard. Thank goodness for ear plugs. As much as I appreciate her being a watchdog, it got old. Fast. So the next night I put some white noise on for her through my laptop and she didn't make a peep!

Sleepy puppy.

After our weekend we both felt rejuvenated. And my work week was actually somewhat slow so it was a nice transition. Buuuuuuuuuuuut I would go back to Galveston in a heartbeat. It wasn't the nicest city I've ever been to, but it was definitely worth it. We had a blast! Now we have a Father's Day weekend trip to California in June to look forward to!

Painting the roses red

Well, not roses exactly...

An accent wall to go with our NEW COUCH! I was talking to my mom yesterday and she told me she still hadn't seen a picture of our new couch! Shame on me!! It's actually thanks to her because she gave us those canvas art pieces for Christmas, so I decided to take painting an accent wall into my own hands. I think our wall turned out brilliantly!

And I am also in love with my new chevron striped bookcase. I matched the colors to the colors in the wall art on the opposite wall. Taping the stripes was the hardest part, but it sure paid off!

All I need is an area rug and the room will be complete! This new living room sure makes the apartment feel a little more like a house. I sure can't wait to get one of those....

And to top it all off, I added a Zelda keychain holder right next to our door. Good Old Timey Zelda. I saw this on Pinterest and thought it was a great idea, so I made one for my brother for Christmas last year and decided to make myself one too.

Can you guess whose keys are whose? Yeah, that's what I thought.

In other happy news, Ander and I are going to Galveston, Texas this coming weekend for a little getaway (and we're even bringing May-May!), and in June we're going to California to visit my father-in-law and my brother Joe! I can hardly wait! It'll be a good chance for us to get away from the billion degree heat of Texas summer for a week.

May-May is snoring next to me, guess it's time to hit the hay.

"if The Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don't eat the tourists."

I never saw Jurassic Park on the big screen. When Jurassic Park came out in theaters I was in first grade, and my parents knew that I wouldn't be able to handle it. I remember getting scared when I saw it on our small home television when it came out on VHS.

So that is why I INSISTED that Ander take me to see Jurassic Park 3D tonight.

And it. was. FANTASTIC.

We saw this movie on a screen that was three stories tall. I literally had to move my head back and forth to look at the characters on screen. It was so giant, I don't think I've ever been in a theater that big. And I must say that the 3D effects were the perfect addition to such a flawless movie. Sure there are moments when I was watching where I thought, "Why in the world would they put the main power controls near the raptor pen?" or "Why didn't Tim and Alan just climb around to the other side of the tree until the car fell?"

BUT THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT.

The movie is, and always will be a classic. I don't think they could ever remake the movie because everything about it fits so well. Do all of yourselves a favor and get out there and see this movie before it leaves the theaters!!!

And on that happy note, I thought I would leave you all with this little gem as well. Enjoy!

I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll BURN your house down

My body finally caught up to me. I caught a cold. Not a really bad one, but a cold nonetheless. Which bums me out to no end because I had to take a day off of work, and I can't ever seem to be able to breathe out of both nostrils at the same time. But last night I took some Nyquil and fell nicely into a drug induced dreamless sleep.

4:30 AM:

Beeping. Beeping. Beep. Beep. Beep. What in the world? Beep. No, not even beeping. Alarms. Alarms going off all around me. LOUD alarms! Ander gets out of bed and leaves the room. I'm still in my Nyquil haze. The hall light is on, I fall back onto my pillows. I could sleep some more if that loud wailing would stop... I hear the front door open. More alarms. "Susie?" Ander yells. I can barely answer him back. "What?"

"This is not a drill. We have to go."

We have to go? There's really a fire somewhere? Instantly my Nyquil stops working. What did I leave on? My straightener? A burner on the stove? The oven? Nothing. Our apartment was quite fire free. I grabbed my phone and my Kindle and a change of clothes. I don't really know why I grabbed my Kindle... honestly. I remember thinking to myself, "This is expensive and I don't want it to burn." Nyqil logic. Clearly. Ander grabbed a change of clothes and May-May and we were out the door.

The apartment on the second floor kitty corner to us was where the fire happened. Someone's couch caught fire. "How does someone's couch just catch fire, Ander?" I ask. "Well, either some kids were smoking pot or someone fell asleep with a cigarette in their hands. That's all I can really think of." I think he's right... why else would a couch catch fire at 4:30 in the morning?

Five fire trucks. Five. The whole apartment was drenched, they had it all under control. Everyone was standing outside just watching. There wasn't anything anyone could do but watch. Water was streaming off of the balcony and below it were the charred remains of a futon. The window frame was black and the glass on the balcony door was broken. What a mess.

5:00 AM:

We got back into our apartment, the alarms had stopped. The night wasn't over for those poor firemen and the people who had been living in the now charred apartment. I thought about how frustrated I would be if I were a fireman and I had to go put out someone's couch that they had ignited with a cigarette. That's mean though, I don't know if it was a cigarette. It could have been anything. But still, we were all dragged out of our homes at 4:30 in the morning because someone was probably just being careless. I didn't sleep at all between 5 and 7:30 when my alarm went off. And when it did finally go off I felt like I had been sat on by an elephant.

It was going to be a long day.

A week in a winter wonderland

One of my many reasons Ander and I moved here to Austin was because Austin lacked snow. I grew up with snow... so you'd think I would enjoy living in a place where snow is abundant in the winter. This is not the case...

Ander and I spent the week of Christmas in Utah with our families, and boy was it SNOWY! Deep down inside I was really hoping that we would get a white Christmas, and we totally did!!! And actually, I slipped on ice standing in this very spot a couple days later. No injuries... just injured pride.

But just look at those gorgeous mountains! I have to say, that is one thing I really do miss about Utah. The terrain is beautiful.

Poor Ander had to scrape ice off of our rental car. We haven't done that in YEARS! Although Austin still does get ice sometimes... but hardly ever.

Christmas Eve morning we had breakfast and presents with my mom and my step family on my step dad's side.

My brother and sister know exactly how to pose for a picture.

What a good looking bunch!!! This picture will be going up in my house somewhere.

I feel the need to explain: Ander doesn't really like taking pictures. So usually when a camera is facing our way he pulls something like this:

But then sometimes he really does try to smile, and it can end up looking like this:

Or this:

 

 Totally cracks me up. He is very capable of taking wonderful pictures, but most of the time he claims he's too lazy to actually hold the smile for very long. He's admitted this to me many times.

My sister Katie and my stepsister Brandi. Lovely girls.

My step-dad Michael loves Christmas shopping. Loves, loves, LOVES it! He starts Christmas shopping in January, and does it all year long until everyone can finally open all the little things he's purchased over the past year. But he buys most of these little trinkets at the dollar store... so Christmas morning there are one million presents under the tree for all of us (mostly the little grandkids). So opening presents takes hours, and most of the presents themselves are silly things. But my little step-niece Evie got some hilarious bunny glasses and a rainbow wig and I just had to take a picture. She was so stoked. (And of course my cute sister in the background.)

Ander's sister Cozette made this beard beanie for Ander and we all got the biggest kick out of it! I've seen them on Pinterest and have always wanted to get one for him, and now he has one! It's hysterical. So naturally we didn't limit the wear to only Ander...

My sister Katie got me some darling socks and a lovely scarf, and wrapped them in this box. I have to admit, the first thing I saw on the box was the word "shoes". I appreciated the fact that Katie let me know right off the bat that that was not what the present was.

More Christmas morning photo gems:

See those earrings? Those came from my sweet Mama for Christmas.

Beautiful Mama Lisa.

I had to take a picture of my dad's neighbor's Christmas lights. Apparently he doesn't unwrap them off of their plastic after he takes them out of the box, he just hangs the wrapped plastic square on his house and calls it a holiday. 

And of course what trip home to Utah would be complete without HALO? This picture is so perfect because it shows how my brother watches TV. Ever since he was very little he has watched TV out of the side of his eyes like he is in this picture. It has actually crept into his daily life when he focuses on something important. He pulls the same face. I think it's wonderful and I never get tired of seeing the famous "Joe look".

Nor would any trip be complete without some sort of photobombing.

We took some family pictures with my dad at Thanksgiving Point. It was so cold outside, so we had to do them inside. I thought they turned out pretty nice given the fact we just used a regular digital camera.

This one will go in my house somewhere too. Soon... very soon. My darling family.

 Ander and I ate at all the yummy restaurants that we had hoped to while we were there. In-n-Out Burger, Zupas, Beto's, and of course the Purple Turtle and their fantastic shakes. I didn't remember that this was considered a small. Both cups are full to the brim with cookies and cream goodness.

And only in Utah will you find a squeeze bottle full of fry sauce.

Katie and I got to go to a friend's wedding reception together, and it was so much fun! Me and my sister. Always a blast.

Our last night there we stayed up late and played games with Katie and Joe. It was an absolute blast. I don't think our trip would have been the same without that night. I love my siblings so much it hurts sometimes.

And check out the hoodie Katie is wearing! I did that!!!

Gosh I love those two.

 No words...

My beautiful, lovely sister. She is one of the coolest girls I know. Just look at her! Simply lovely.

 And my lovely, silly brother. Once again, I love this kid so much sometimes I can hardly stand it. When I think about how much I adore my brother and sister my heart feels as though it's going to burst out of my chest. I wish we all lived closer to one another so we could do this more often

Ander throwing cards at my camera.

This trip to Utah was so much fun and completely amazing. We got SO many things done with each of our families, I was amazed at our glorious efficiency. We saw the Hobbit, went bowling, went to the aquarium in Sandy, Utah, had three different Christmas mornings, saw old friends, sang Christmas songs, attended church, played games, watched family videos, ate yummy food...

But most of all we were able to spend time with the people we absolutely love, and that was really all that mattered. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

THAT'S ALL FOLKS!